Fort Worth Injury Lawyer Blog

Students riding on a Decatur ISD school bus had a narrow escape on Thursday afternoon when their bus drove over a rural bridge which collapsed beneath the vehicle. Wise County officials reported that they had received several phonecalls regarding the condition of the bridge throughout the day, but the crew responsible for shutting it down did not arrive until after the bridge collapsed. Fortunately, none of the children on the bus at the time of the accident were injured. Thanks to the quick thinking of the driver, Debbie Brady, the bus was quickly and safely evacuated, despite the bus slipping further into the growing hole in the road every minute.

As a Decatur personal injury lawyer, I would like to applaud the actions of Ms. Brady for keeping a cool head under crisis and for rescuing the bus load of kids from would otherwise surely have been a far worse disaster. Photos taken by emergency responders show that the bridge eventually collapsed completely beneath the weight of the four-ton bus, into the stream below. According to children on the bus, the rear of the vehicle was as much as eight feet in the air following the collapse, which meant it was necessary for them all to evacuate from the front doors of the bus.

Less than two weeks ago, it emerged that there are a total of 1,551 bridges throughout Texas which are considered structurally unsound by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Dangerous road conditions need to be addressed by the local authority in charge of their maintenance. Regardless of whether they are heavily-traveled ramps over major interstates or small single-lane bridges over rural creeks, if they are expected to carry cars, trucks and buses they must be regularly inspected and maintained to ensure that they are in fact safe to do so. Had circumstances been just slightly different, Thursday’s incident could have been a dramatically worse tragedy.

Any time that you are involved in a traffic accident involving a large truck, it’s usually a necessity that you seek good, trusted legal advice. Of course, if you’ve been badly injured, you’re probably unable to get to a lawyer’s office because you’re stuck in the hospital. That doesn’t mean that you can’t learn about your legal rights, so that you are aware of your options before you start looking for legal representation.

I’ve been a Fort Worth personal injury and wrongful death lawyer for 21 years. In that time I’ve handled a lot of cases where my client suffered terrible injuries due to a negligent 18 wheeler driver. The fact of the matter is, commercial trucks cause a lot of damage due to their size and weight. The medical bills alone are often in the tens of thousands at minimum. It is vital that you are fully informed before you start attempting to deal with the insurance company.

To try to make life easier for accident victims who have not yet hired an attorney, I have put together an online resource which I hope you will find helpful. It’s called “Truck Accidents 101” and gives you a brief oversight of the key bits of information you need to know to protect yourself and your legal rights, before you hire qualified legal representation.

If you have any further questions or would like to discuss your personal claim in detail, please call me at any time for a completely free, no obligation consultation. You can call me toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900.

A former Massachusetts dentist due to be charged next week after pleading guilty to fraud. Michael Clair, 53, of Fall River, MA, defrauded Medicare of $130,000 by using metal paper clips in root canal operations rather than medical stainless steel posts. This is not just disgusting, but it’s highly dangerous as the unsanitary material could cause pain and infection to patients. Clair also faces charges of assault and battery, illegally prescribing prescription drugs and witness intimidation, some of which stem from the fact he was suspended in Medicare in 2002, but continued to treat patients at his practice by filing paperwork under the names of other dentists.

This is perhaps one of the most bizarre cases of medical malpractice I have come across in my 21 years as a Fort Worth personal injury and wrongful death lawyer. This man not only breached the trust of his patients, he did so in order to financially exploit a publicly-funded program. Most medical malpractice cases are typically the result of a mistake on behalf of a doctor, nurse or other medical professional, but this disturbing individual intentionally provided sub-standard care for his own greedy financial gain. He deserves to face the harshest punishment possible for his crimes.

As we all struggle to work in the dark early mornings, it’s important that we’re all wide awake before we get behind the wheel. It seems like not a day goes by without some fender bender or major auto accident on DFW freeways, but we should also take care when driving on neighborhood streets both in residential areas and near schools.

This morning, two children were hit by a vehicle near Handley Middle School in east Fort Worth. Authorities reported that one of the victims, an as-yet unnamed 15-year-old boy, was taken to hospital to be treated for minor injuries. The other victim was reportedly treated at the crash scene. The pedestrian collision occurred at approximately 7:00 am this morning in the 2700 block of Hitson Lane. No further details regarding the accident are available at this time.

Driving in and around schools during both the morning and evening rush hours requires all motorists to use additional caution. While many ISDs use flashing amber lights to notify drivers of a significantly reduced speed limit at times when children are likely to be walking along the road, some schools just have posted times when the slower speed limits are in effect. It is illegal in Texas for drivers to use a handheld cellphone while driving in school zones. Violators face a fine if caught. It is also important that drivers are cautious when driving near school buses and are up-to-date with the law in this regard also.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I would like to say that I hope the two students hurt in this morning’s accident make a full and speedy recovery. If you or your child are ever injured in a collision with a car, truck or motorcycle while out walking, jogging or cycling, it is important that you are fully informed of your legal rights as you may be entitled to compensation for any wreck-related medical costs you may have incurred. For a free no obligation consultation with an attorney please call 817-294-1900.

2012 is already off to a good start with the news that as of today, interstates and city streets alike will be far safer than they’ve ever been in the past. The reason is because a new law comes into effect today courtesy of the US Department of Transportation (DOT) which prohibits commercial truck and bus drivers from using a hand-held cellphone while operating their vehicle.

As a Fort Worth auto accident injury lawyer, I welcome this ban which was championed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). Distracted driving is the cause of far too many car wrecks in DFW and throughout Texas – and given the unique threat posed by commercial delivery vehicles I think this ban has come not a moment too soon.

Truckers and coach drivers are professional drivers. It’s their job to transport their cargo or their passengers to their destination safely. If they’re texting or talking on their cellphone then they do not have their full attention on the road ahead. Since the average 18-wheeler weight in at around the 80,000 pound range it takes long enough to come to a complete stop in the event of an emergency. Every second counts. If the driver is focused on their phone call instead of the road ahead, the result could be – and often is – disastrous.

From today onwards, any CDL driver caught using a handheld phone from behind the wheel will be faced with an automatic fine of $2,700 which is strongly hoped will be enough to deter all drivers from the habit. Drivers are not permitted to hold, operate or reach for a phone while driving; however cellphones which are completely hands-free are still permitted.

Although this ban only affects CDL drivers, there could be similar restrictions facing all motorists in time. Just two weeks ago, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSA) announced that they would begin urging both federal and individual state legislatures to introduce blanket bans on cellphone use for all motorists. As a personal injury and wrongful death attorney who has seen far too many pointless tragedies caused by distracted driving, I truly hope that the rules governing cellphone use while driving become increasingly strict for all drivers.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I view consider the cause of most traffic collisions throughout DFW to be the result of a reckless motorist. Any negligent activity behind the wheel, whether it’s texting on your cellphone, speeding or tailgating is reckless. Driving while intoxicated is perhaps the most reckless thing any driver could do.

Unfortunately, however, there are some car, motorcycle and truck drivers on North Texas who seem especially reckless. We’ve all seen them. More than likely you’ve had the same thought I have: how has your stupidity not resulted in a fatal crash already?

I’m talking about dangerous drivers who realize they’re about to miss their freeway exit and so cut across several lanes of traffic at the last second, brazenly risking a multi-vehicle wreck and putting countless lives at risk. I’m talking about those idiots who fail to turn on their lights even though the Sun has firmly set for the evening. I’m talking about those anti-social motorists who arrogantly seem to believe that stop sights and red lights aren’t meant for them.

Reckless driving costs lives. Hazardous driving habits such as those I’ve referenced about will inevitably lead to critical injuries and possibly even death. It’s not just your own life you’re putting in jeopardy – it’s the lives of any passengers (family members and friends) who happen to be riding with you at the time – and anyone else who is unfortunate enough to be sharing the road with you at the time.

If you or someone you love has been hurt due to the negligent actions of an irresponsible driver, it’s important that you consult with a board certified personal injury and wrongful death attorney. To schedule your free, no obligation appointment with a lawyer today, please call me toll free at 800-354-MARK (6275) or call locally in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900.

A Tarrant County motorist has been arrested following his collision with a Weatherford ISD school bus yesterday morning. Charles Morgan, 31, of River Oaks, crashed his pickup truck into the back of a bus full of kids near the intersection of Bethel Road and South Main Street at approximately 9:30 am on Tuesday morning. The bus (which had been headed to Weatherford High School Ninth Grade Center) subsequently was rammed forwards into a sedan, at which point Morgan fled the scene. He was arrested several blocks away and charged with driving with an invalid license and failing to stop and render aid at an accident involving injury.

Fortunately, only one student passenger who had been riding on the bus at the time of the wreck suffered injuries and no-one in the sedan was hurt. As a Parker County personal injury lawyer, I know that while this is certainly a serious incident, it could have been far worse. Each year, more than 12,000 children are injured in accidents caused by another vehicle crashing into a school bus, so this incident could have been far worse than it actually was.

In cases such as these, Texas law grants the injured party the right to make a claim against the negligent party responsible for the case. Similarly, the owners of the sedan can claim for property damage against the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

For more information about your legal rights if you or someone you love has ever been injured in an auto accident which wasn’t your fault, I’d like to offer you a complimentary copy of my book 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Case. You’re also free to check out my website, which has a comprehensive collection of information to help personal injury and wrongful death victims understand their rights and responsibilities. Of course, as an attorney, I also offer completely free, no obligation consultations to those who are considering making a claim. To discuss your case today, please call me toll free at 800-354-6275.

A Denton County Transportation Authority A-Train crashed into an automobile in Lake Dallas yesterday evening. An older model pickup truck apparently did not completely clear the Hundley Drive crossing, meaning the commuter train was unable to avoid a collision. Fortunately, no injuries are believed to have occurred in the wreck. Police have yet to disclose the cause of the accident. There are two sets of red warning lights either side of the crossing where the accident took place so it is unclear whether the driver was tailgating another vehicle over the crossing or if there was a technical malfunction with the crossing signs.

This is the fifth serious accident involving the Denton County rail line since the passenger train began to run in June this year. Just last Friday, a pedestrian was killed in a fatal collision with a train in Carrollton. Dustin Odell, 23, of Garland, was apparently walking along a secluded section of railway when he was hit and killed.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, my thoughts are with Mr. Odell’s loved ones and those of other recent train victims in the North Texas area.

I don’t know the details of each of the individual accidents involving the A-train, nor do I know the extent of the injuries in each case. It may well be that victims and their families are entitled to compensation. However, the fact that there have been five accidents in fewer than six months suggests to me that DFW motorists need a reminder to be cautious when driving near railroads. Trains cannot avoid cars or motorcycles; they are on a fixed path and take a considerable time to stop. It’s up to you to stay out of their way. In a train-versus-car wreck, the train will win every time.

There was a time when most people in the DFW area would laugh if they saw someone out and about riding a Segway. It’s still a relatively unusual site today, although the two-wheeled personal transportation vehicles are increasingly growing in popularity – especially with mall security companies, guided tour groups and some wealthier local citizens.

Although Segways are generally still quite rare in Dallas, Fort Worth and Arlington, there still exists the potential for serious injuries to occur in a range of potential accidents involving Segways.

Pedestrians are at risk of suffering serious injuries if they are hit by a Segway rider, just the same as if they were hit by a car or a motorcycle. Of course, the potential for a transporter-pedestrian collision is drastically higher since Segways typically ride along the sidewalk rather than in the roadway which even bicycles rider must do.

Of course, Segway riders themselves are just as much at risk from suffering life-threatening injuries if they were involved in a wreck with another vehicle such as a car or truck. They don’t have any protection which means they are extremely vulnerable in the event of a serious collision.

Given the nature of upright two-wheeler transporters, there is a steep learning curve to learn how to safely operate them. Added to this, there have been numerous reports of defective problems with certain Segway products which have prompted almost 30,000 Segways to be recalled since the devices were first released to the public in 2003.

If you have been injured in an accident involving a Segway – regardless of whether or not you were the operator/passenger – it is important that you seek legal advice on your personal situation. If you were not at fault for the accident occurring, you may be entitled to compensation. Call the Anderson Law Firm toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally at 817-294-1900.

If you’re a fan of my Facebook page, you’ll already know that I dressed up as Superman for Halloween this year, but a Corsicana policeman is being hailed as a real-life superhero after saving a three-year-old girl from a house fire. Officer Dan Putman was the first emergency responder on the scene of the home owned by Marilyn Massey. All the adults had already gotten out of the house safely, but a young child, Jayden Jones, was still trapped inside.

In order to rescue the toddler, Officer Putman displayed what the family is calling “a burst of superhuman strength” as he pushed a four-poster bed and dresser away from a window in order to save the girl’s life. Officer Putman has been awarded the Medal of Valor and a Life-Saving Award for his incredible actions.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth child injury lawyer, I would like to add my voice to the chorus of praise for Officer Putman’s bravery and selfless actions.

I know how easily a residential fire can begin and the extent of the devastation it can cause. Given the epic wildfires we’ve had in Texas this summer, it should be something we are all mindful of. Since fires can start so easily, it’s important to make sure that you are properly insured in the event a house fire does occur. If you haven’t reviewed your home insurance policy recently, now might be a good time to make sure you have all the protection you need.

We see them every time we walk into a shop; they are so commonplace that we don’t think of them as unusual. But we should. Retail hooks used to display merchandise in all kinds of stores across Dallas-Fort Worth are dangerous.

As a personal injury lawyer, I know that accidents can happen anywhere, which is why I constantly advocate for safety precautions to try and prevent as many accidental injuries from occurring in the first place. Display hooks are one hazard which is completely unnecessary.

A close examination of any such hook will demonstrate to you just how dangerous these devices could potentially be. Most are thin metal wires with an unprotected, blunt-cut end. If someone was to fall against them they would likely suffer a cut, scratch or piercing of the skin. Even those hooks which do have some kind of protection (usually a small plastic cap or the hook has been rounded rather than having a sharp end) still pose a danger.

Children are the group most at risk from suffering display hook injuries since many of these hooks are place within their eye level range. If they were to hit a hook with their eye they would suffer serious eye damage which could possibly result in permanent vision loss. Even those hooks which have “protection” can cause serious eye damage because the surface area is still insufficient to distribute the pressure which can result in a penetration injury.

Retail stores need to be held accountable in the case of such injuries occurring. They have a responsibility to ensure the safety of all of their customers – which includes children in addition to adults.

If you or a loved one have been injured in any kind of accident which was not your fault, call me today at 8517-294-1900 to get a free copy of my book 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Case.

The recent spate of hit and run accidents in Dallas over the past decade have taken a particular toll on one DFW family. Andrew Green Sr. lost his father due to a hit-and-run accident in 2003 and his son, Andrew Green Jr., 14, was also killed by a negligent driver who failed to stop to render aid this week.

Green Jr. was run over by an SUV while crossing Skillman Street and Church Road in Northeast Dallas on Saturday morning. The car allegedly dragged the boy 20 feet before the driver disappeared from the scene. The teenager’s cousin, Jordan Green, was a witness to the collision and he has told police that the dangerous driver didn’t even stop to check Green Jr. was okay. Instead, he sped away from the scene, leaving the boy dead in the road.

As a North Texas personal injury and wrongful death lawyer, I have handled many hit-and-run accident cases for clients and their families over the past 20 years. There are generally two courses of action:

The first course of action is to find the guilty driver who committed the crime. In addition to taking criminal action against them, you are also entitled to make a civil claim for compensation against their insurance company. Obviously, no amount of money can relieve the grief of losing a loved one, but it can at least repay the financial costs you may have endured because of their death and offer some sense of justice. Finding a hit-and-run driver isn’t always easy, but by hiring an experienced attorney their in-house investigator will continue to pursue the at-fault driver in addition to the police department’s investigation.

The second course of action is to make a claim against your uninsured motorists insurance coverage if you have it. This is optional coverage you might have in addition to your basic auto insurance and it even covers you as a pedestrian if you are hurt by a hit-and-run driver. For more information on making this kind of claim, feel free to give me a call at 214-327-8000.

My thoughts are with Andrew’s family and loves ones at this most difficult time. I am incredibly sorry for your loss. I sincerely hope that the driver who hit your son is found and brought to justice.

If you believe you may have any information which might be helpful identifying this driver, please call the Dallas Police Department at 214-671-3661.

A Texas soldier was killed by a truck driver in a fatal South Carolina auto accident on Friday night. Sergeant First Class Maurice Collier, 48, of Killeen, was attending a motorcycle rally in Aiken, near Eureka when the accident occurred. Witnesses reported that Collier, who was stationed at Fort Hood, was helping to direct traffic leaving after the motorcycle event, when he was hit and killed by a Ford 350. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

The truck driver, identified as Glenn Otts, of Trenton, was then allegedly attacked by other bikers and reportedly stabbed and beat in retaliation for the deadly accident. He was subsequently treated for non-life threatening injuries.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I know that pedestrian accidents are highly likely to result in a death such as this, as the human body offers no protection against the blunt force of a heavy vehicle.

I would like to offer my sympathies to Sergeant Collier’s family and loved ones. I am deeply sorry for your loss.

I would also like to wish Mr. Otts a full and speedy recovery. Even though it does appear that his negligence as a motorist was responsible for causing Sergeant Collier’s death, there is no excuse for the violence perpetrated against him. Justice for wrongful deaths should be sought through the legal system, not through a mindless vigilante assault.

It’s always nice to know that as a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I’m not alone in understanding the very real danger of distracted driving. That’s why I was pleased to find myself behind a four-wheel drive this morning heading into work, where the owner had installed a custom spare-tire cover loudly proclaiming their belief that texting while driving should be made illegal throughout the United States. I wholeheartedly agree.

According to the US Department of Transportation, 20 percent of all traffic accidents are directly caused by one or more drivers being distracted. The Center for Disease Control estimates that 15 people are killed nationwide every day because of distracted drivers.

The big local news this week is that Arlington City Council officially approved a proposal to outlaw texting behind the wheel. This is a fantastic decision that will save countless lives, and prevent many more injuries.

So why are so many people against it?

That’s a psychology I cannot comprehend. Distracted driving is just as deadly as drunk driving, so it makes sense that neither should be allowed. Unfortunately, many people have become accustomed to using their cellphone while simultaneously operating their cars, trucks and motorcycles so it’s natural they should bristle when told they can’t do it anymore. But trust me; your life is far more important that any text, tweet or email you might feel compelled to read. It can wait until you’ve arrived at your destination.

Others complain that the ban is going to be difficult to enforce. That’s an unfortunate truth. Not every person who decides to drive while intoxicated gets pulled over by police. Not every cellphone user will either. But many will. It may not be a perfect solution, but for many people simple knowing that they are breaking the law by checking their phone while in control of a vehicle should hopefully be enough to prevent a significant number of injuries and deaths.

As a wrongful death attorney, I hope that other North Texas cities follow Arlington’s example.

Proof that accidents can happen anywhere and at any time occurred last week when a pedestrian was injured by an out-of-control car driven by her own husband at a church in downtown Dallas. On Wednesday, Maria Cerellio and her husband went to Crossroads Community Service near the intersection of St. Paul Street & Young Street to pick up free groceries offered to low income families.

Mr. Cerellio got into the driver’s seat and apparently lost control of his vehicle, accelerating towards a crowd of people, most of whom were able to dive out of the way. Mrs. Cerellio was not so lucky, and soon found herself pinned between the couple’s car and a brick wall. Eyewitnesses said that Mr. Cerellio was clearly panicked and managed to get the car into reverse, only to speed backwards across the street. He was stopped only by an iron fence across the road, his wheels still spinning in the dirt.

Mrs. Cerellio was taken to Baylor Hospital to be treated for serious head injuries. Investigating police officers found no malfunction with the car and no charges are being brought against Mr. Cerellio. The incident is being treated as a freak accident.

My thoughts are with the Cerellio family, and I wish Maria and speedy and full recovery. As a North Texas personal injury lawyer, I hope that the couple has good auto insurance as they will be able to make a claim against their policy to help pay the co-pays and deductibles that their health provider won’t cover. It is very normal for a wife to make a claim against her spouse if she was injured in a wreck where he was the negligent driver, and the same precedent would apply here. Assuming that the couple does have car insurance but no health coverage, I would suggest they consult with an experienced car crash attorney to explore other options to make sure Mrs. Cerellio receives the best medical treatment possible.

As a Fort Worth truck accident lawyer, I know that it’s important for drivers and passengers who have been hurt in a collision involving a commercial truck to contact an experienced accident and injury attorney as soon as possible following the crash. Many individuals decide not to, however, and that decision usually ends up costing them in the long run. It’s true that there are certainly some personal injury claims that can be handled just fine without the aid of an attorney, but wrecks involving 18-wheelers, big rigs or other large trucks are rarely situations where I would recommend this.

The main reason why you should never attempt to recover compensation from the trucking company or their insurance adjusters alone is simply because there is so much at stake. A regular car does not stand a chance versus a large flatbed trailer. Substantial property damage and severe injuries are extremely likely to occur. The law in Texas does of course give you the right to seek full and fair compensation for any damages you’ve suffered in such a wreck there the trucker was at fault. However, the insurance company for the truck driver is going to do their best to minimize their losses. They will try to get you to accept the smallest settlement possible.

This happens all the time, and I’ve had many individuals come to me in tears because they took an early settlement offer that just wasn’t enough to cover all the medical bills they’ve since accumulated in the years following the accident. Unfortunately, I have to tell these people that there is absolutely nothing I can do to help them. They tried to go it alone and they accepted what the insurance company offered them. They’ve forfeited their right to the compensation they deserve.

Please don’t make the same mistake. I’ve been practicing personal injury law throughout Tarrant County and across Dallas-Fort Worth for over 20 years. Give me a call and I’ll give you a free no obligation consultation on your personal situation. It might well be that in your case you truly don’t need an attorney, but in my experience, it is always far better to be safe than sorry. Call toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally at 817-294-1900.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I know that no-one is invincible. Accidents can happen to anyone at any time. Even if you’re the safest driver in Texas, there is still no way you can protect yourself from the idiot who decided to drink and drive, or any other negligent motorist. Given the sheer size and weight of 18-wheeler trucks, it’s obvious that they can cause massive devastation and injury to any car or motorcycle unlucky enough to get in a collision with them. But what about the trucker himself?

Truck drivers are just at risk from suffering critical injuries in a traffic wreck as any other motorist or passenger. When two big rigs crash into each other, the property damage and personal injuries can be horrendous. Fortunately, truckers have the same legal rights as any other road user in Texas.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident while driving a commercial truck, it’s important that you consult with an experienced Texas truck wreck attorney who can explain your legal rights and options as they apply to your personal situation. Even if you’re benefitting from worker’s comp or a personal insurance policy, you might still be entitled to seek additional damages to help cover your past and future medical expenses and any loss of income stemming from the crash.

Call the Anderson Law Firm today toll free at 800-354-6275.

Friends of Fallen Riders gathered for the funeral of a Texas motorcycle rider, Robert Walker, Sr., who was killed last week when he was accidentally shot while trying to protect his family from a violent animal attack. The tragedy unfolded when a neighbor’s pit bull jumped over the fence and into Mr. Walker’s son’s back yard where his young granddaughter and her cousins were playing. The dog tried to attack Mr. Walker when he defended the children, so his wife, Betty Walker, attempted to shoot the dog and accidentally mortally wounded her husband in the process.

This is an absolute tragedy. My heart goes out to Mrs. Walker and entire family. As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I know that dog bites can happen unexpectedly. All Mr. and Mrs. Walker were trying to was protect their grandchildren from the dangerous animal. Sadly, this story also goes to show that in moments of panic, terrible gun accidents can also occur. It is a terrible thing that has occurred. My thoughts are with the extended Walker family and their friends.

Mr. and Mrs. Walker are residents of Houston, Texas, but the accident occurred in Jackson, Mississippi. Mark Anderson is a Texas personal injury and wrongful death attorney based in Dallas-Fort Worth.

After two years of uncertainty, due to a legal challenge and a subsequent appeal, Texas House Bill 148 has finally become law. The legislation, which was signed by Gov. Rick Perry in 2009, makes it illegal for lawyers or medical professionals (such as chiropractors) to solicit car wreck victims within the first 30 days following their accident. As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury attorney with 20 years’ experience, I wholeheartedly support this law. The so-called “ambulance chasers” that this law targets are fortunately few and far between, but they give my industry as a whole a bad name. I do not sue negligent drivers for the sake of winning a windfall payout for my clients; I help people that have been injured through no fault of their own make a successful claim against the at-fault party’s insurance company. The victim of a drunk driver should not have to ruin their credit or put themselves at risk of bankruptcy due to the medical expenses incurred simply because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time – the negligent motorist’s insurance company should.

While I welcome this legislation into law, however, I feel there is still work to be done. Traffic collision victims and their family members need time to comprehend the often life-changing event which has unexpectedly taken place. The injured person needs time to both mentally and physically recuperate. So why are insurance adjustors allowed to visit them in their hospital room? It’s true and it happens every day. Why do they do this? They can exploit the patient’s vulnerable state and get them to sign a release accepting an offensively low settlement figure, which will not even come close to covering the debt they will incur as a result of being in an accident. This is all about the insurance company minimizing their losses. I think it is a most unethical practice. Texas law gives accident victims the right to a fair settlement which compensated them for all medical costs and any loss of income caused by being involved in a crash.

It is a great thing that Texas accident victims are now protected from unscrupulous lawyers and medical professionals, but they also need protection from the equally bad insurance adjustors.

Mark Anderson is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is the author of the books 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Case and Roadmap To Winning Your Texas Motorcycle Accident Case.

At the Anderson Law Firm in Fort Worth, potential clients ask our accident attorneys all the time if their injuries are serious enough to hire a lawyer.

As you’ll see in this video, the scope and extent of your injuries will determine if you need to hire a Fort Worth personal injury attorney.

The lawyers at the Anderson Law Firm will never take advantage of our clients and we’ll tell you if your injuries aren’t severe enough to warrant hiring us. It’s important to be aware of the statute of limitations in Texas when you’ve been injured in an accident. Many injuries aren’t fully realized until months or even years after the wreck or accident, so you need to know that time is ticking if you want to pursue a personal injury claim.

If you think that the injury lawyers at the Anderson Law Firm can help you with your car accident or other personal injury claim, give us a call at 817-294-1900 to set up a free, no obligation case review with one of our attorneys.

If you've been unlucky enough to have been injured in a Dallas-Fort Worth traffic wreck, it's important that you understand that your chance encounter with a negligent driver could have long term implications which continue long after you complete your medical treatment and your wounds have healed. You may not know this, but unpaid medical bills are the number one reason for bankruptcy in America. Doctors and hospitals are very expensive. Even with really good health insurance, the money you personally owe can be quite substantial. As a Tarrant County personal injury lawyer, I have seen too many of my clients' lives ruined by the bad credit they were stuck with following their accidents, even after their claims have been successfully resolved and the bills paid.

Regardless of whether you were injured in a car wreck, a motorcycle collision or some other accident, chances are high that you're going to incur significant medical expenses over the course of your treatment. Added to that, you're probably going to be out of work for a while, so the loss of income makes the problem even worse. The good news is that in Texas you have the legal right to pursue a claim for compensation against the at-fault driver's insurance company. This will allow you to recover money to pay off your medical debt, replace those lost wages and compensate you for the very real pain and suffering you and your family have endured.

If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident which was not your fault, give me a call for a no fee, no obligation consultation on your personal situation. Call toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally at 817-294-1900.

If you live in Texas and have received compensation for an accident that was caused by someone else, there may come a time when you receive a subrogation letter.

What is a subrogation letter you may ask? Well, it’s a piece of paper usually from an outside collecting company that wants you to pay back your insurance company for the services they paid for after your accident. This usually means the medical bills your insurance company covered.

You see, buried deep in your insurance policy is a few paragraphs that discuss the issue of subrogation should your recoup damages from a lawsuit or personal injury claim.

Is it fair that you might have to pay back your insurance company? Heck no, it's not fair. I hate paying back health insurance companies because I think that if you pay premiums, then you deserve coverage and shouldn't have to pay them back. But, unfortunately, health insurance contracts give the health insurance companies rights to raise their hand and ask for payment back from you.

After more than 20 years as a personal injury lawyer in Fort Worth, I think that your best option is to discuss the issue of subrogation with your attorney at the beginning of the lawyer-client relationship. At the Anderson Law Firm, we could begin going over this at the free case consultation we offer to all our potential clients. A good accident attorney will collaborate a plan to negotiate subrogation matters with the insurance company at the beginning of the client’s personal injury case so that no matter what, they can be fairly compensated for their injuries and pain and suffering.

As a Flower Mound personal injury lawyer, I’ve learned that many people who have suffered an injury due to someone else’s negligence are often hesitant about making a claim for compensation to pay for their medical treatment or loss of income. Typically they rationalize this by saying the car wreck they were in was an accident; accidents happen, they’ve completed their months of treatment now, it’d be better to put this whole unpleasantness behind them and forget about it… Sometimes people don’t want to bring a claim because the at-fault person is someone they know and are afraid of destroying a personal relationship by suing their friend or neighbor. This is the deal: you’re not suing your friend – you’re claiming against their insurance company. That’s why they’ve paid their insurance premiums all these years – that’s why you pay yours.

Full disclosure: I will never pursue a claim against an individual who does not have an insurance policy. I don’t know any Texas PI attorney who does. We are not in the business of ruining people’s lives, our job is simply to help those who have suffered physical injuries get their lives back on track. Hospital bills are the number one cause of bankruptcy in the United States. If it wasn’t your fault, you have the legal right to claim for damages.

In some situations, you don’t even need to claim against an individual if the at-fault person was at work and performing a duty related to their employment when they caused your injury. A common situation where this occurs is when a truck driver crashes his big rig, injuring other motorists in a traffic collision. Another example might be a nurse who gives the wrong medication to a patient. While the nurse is of course responsible, the hospital is vicariously liable for her actions too. Therefore the patient who was injured as a result of receiving the incorrect meds does not have to worry about the nurse not having the ability to pay the damages incurred, because they can seek compensation from the hospital directly.

If you or a loved one have been hurt and someone else was to blame, please contact the Anderson Law Firm for a free no obligation consultation on your personal situation. We will explain your legal rights and let you know whether there is a legitimate cause for you to seek compensation. Call us toll free at 800-354-6275, or locally at either 817-294-1900 or 214-327-8000. Alternatively, you can contact us online and we will call you back as soon as possible.

A video of a Dallas motorcycle accident released by the North Texas Tollway Authority yesterday serves as a reminder that wrecks often come out of nowhere. Even as a DFW personal injury attorney I find this video quite shocking, so be warned before you watch it. The collision occurred on March 17, 2011. Zacharie Perez (25) was riding home when a car failed to slow with the rest of the traffic, rear-ending him and caused him to be thrown from his bike and sandwiched between cars, ultimately landing between lanes.

Miraculously, Perez is already back at work a little over a month later, but he did suffer serious injuries as a result of the crash. He was hospitalized due to a ruptured spleen, torn muscles, a fractured rib and four fractured vertebrae. His bike (a Triumph Daytona 675) was totaled. The fact that really makes my blood boil? The driver of the car that hit him had no license and no insurance and yet wasn’t arrested. I hope Mr. Perez had significant uninsured motorist coverage! Either way, as this video demonstrates, he was extremely lucky to have survived.

Mark Anderson is a board-certified PI lawyer who has been helping injured motorcyclists across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex since 1991. He is also the author of the book Roadmap To Winning Your Texas Motorcycle Accident Case. To request a complimentary copy of the book, or to schedule a free, no obligation consultation on your traffic wreck case, call 800-354-MARK (6275).

In my 20 years of helping people as a Fort Worth personal injury attorney, I’ve learnt that insurance firms who claim to “get you back where you belong,” or who will be there for you “like a good neighbor,” often fail miserably – and purposefully - when it comes to crunch time. I’ve seen firsthand the dirty tricks insurance adjustors pull to try to avoid paying out money. It is an abuse of the trust of the consumers who pay premiums year after year so they’d have help when they need it - only to find out that then they need help most, the insurance company is only concerned about protecting their own bottom line.

State Farm Insurance Company’s unfair treatment of their loyal customers has been in the spotlight this week, as the company was yesterday ordered to refund approximately $350 million to home insurance policy holders due to excessive premiums. More than 30 companies were ordered to reduce their rates by the Texas insurance commissioner following new legislation in 2003, and State Farm was the only company that failed to do so. Instead, they continued to rip off 1.2 million policyholders between 2003 and 2008.

You might think that you can count on your insurance company to be there when you need them, but the sad truth is that while they might be your friend when you’re paying your monthly premiums, as soon as you put in a claim they are anything but. Fortunately, if you’ve been injured in an accident or hurt due to someone else’s negligence, I can deal with the insurance companies for you. They’ll still try to get away with delaying or denying the claims, but as a board certified trial lawyer, I know how to make them pay you the compensation you deserve. Check out my website for more information, and if you want to set up a free consultation, just give me a call at 800-354-MARK. There is no obligation and you don’t owe me a penny until I win your case.

In my 20 years of helping people as a Fort Worth personal injury attorney, I’ve learnt that insurance firms who claim to “get you back where you belong,” or who will be there for you “like a good neighbor,” often fail miserably – and purposefully - when it comes to crunch time. I’ve seen firsthand the dirty tricks insurance adjustors pull to try to avoid paying out money. It is an abuse of the trust of the consumers who pay premiums year after year so they’d have help when they need it - only to find out that then they need help most, the insurance company is only concerned about protecting their own bottom line.

State Farm Insurance Company’s unfair treatment of their loyal customers has been in the spotlight this week, as the company was yesterday ordered to refund approximately $350 million to home insurance policy holders due to excessive premiums. More than 30 companies were ordered to reduce their rates by the Texas insurance commissioner following new legislation in 2003, and State Farm was the only company that failed to do so. Instead, they continued to rip off 1.2 million policyholders between 2003 and 2008.

You might think that you can count on your insurance company to be there when you need them, but the sad truth is that while they might be your friend when you’re paying your monthly premiums, as soon as you put in a claim they are anything but. Fortunately, if you’ve been injured in an accident or hurt due to someone else’s negligence, I can deal with the insurance companies for you. They’ll still try to get away with delaying or denying the claims, but as a board certified trial lawyer, I know how to make them pay you the compensation you deserve. Check out my website for more information, and if you want to set up a free consultation, just give me a call at 800-354-MARK. There is no obligation and you don’t owe me a penny until I win your case.

At the Anderson Law Firm, we have had several of our clients get spied on by the insurance company. This mostly happens when an insurance company brings in an investigator in situations where a client is pursuing a workers' compensation claim simultaneously to pursuing an injury claim. Our experience in Fort Worth personal injury law tells us that workers’ comp insurance carriers are far more likely to spy on our clients. They will send out sneaky investigators who will film our clients conducting their normal every day activities… We have even had films of our clients eating at What-A-Burger! To this day I cannot possibly understand what such a film is hoping to show.

On one occasion, the legal team for the insurance company produced a film of one of my clients pushing her daughter on a swing set. Needless to say, our client was quite disturbed to know that somebody was watching her family, but that is level to which insurance companies will stoop. Their alleged purpose of filming such activities is to show that our clients they are not as hurt as they claim to be.

But the insurance company doesn’t just camp outside your house and wait for you to come out. In today’s digital age they are spying on your social media accounts. Facebook and twitter are often used as a means to destroy your personal injury case and there are many reasons why injury claimants be careful with social media sites.

An injury victim should always be aware of what they were doing and make sure that they are conducting themselves consistently with what they are telling their lawyer and their doctors – and, of course, with what their doctors tell them!

Medical records note an injury victim's limitations, so it is important that the injury victim always follows their doctor’s advice. An injury victim should always be honest about their limitations. You can read more about the why the insurance company watches you on my Web site.

Finally, if you think the insurance company is watching you, or if you’ve been injured in an accident, call my law firm at 817-294-1900. Our lawyers are skilled at taking on the insurance company and can get you the medical treatment and compensation you deserve.

With tax day right around the corner, a lot of Texans may be a little strapped for cash and looking for ways to pinch pennies. Take some advice from a Tarrant County personal injury attorney: don’t ever cancel your auto insurance as a way to save a dollar.

Not only is it the law to carry auto liability insurance, but a program called TexasSure is going to make sure you do just that.

TexasSure is a huge database created by the Texas Department of Insurance, Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Public Safety and Department of Information Resources. It is updated weekly by insurance companies all over Texas and let’s authorities know who has insurance and who doesn’t.

Get caught driving without insurance and you’ll face stiff penalties, just read about it in an article I wrote on TexasSure.

Studies show that 1 in 3 people will be in a car accident in their lifetime. If you’ve ever driven in the Metroplex, you know it seems like the risk of being in an auto accident is a lot higher than that. Trust me; don’t hurt yourself and everyone else on the road by driving without insurance because in the end, you’ll be the one who pays.

If you have been involved in a car accident in the Fort Worth Dallas area, chances are a car insurance liability insurance company will be involved. All companies are motivated to pay out as little as they can on claims, but the fact is that some are fairer than others. Some refuse to pay out money even when it is clear they owe it. My quick list of the five worst insurance companies in Texas are United Auto, Fred Loya, ACCC, Affirmative and Sante Fe. If you are insured by one of these companies, it will mean there is a much higher chance that you will get sued if you are the one who causes the car accident. And if you were not at fault for the car wreck, but the responsible party for the accident was insured by one of these companies, then get ready for a long and hard battle for fair compensation.

If you have questions on your Fort Worth or Dallas Car Accident claim, please call Texas Injury
Lawyer Mark Anderson at 817-294-1900 or at 214-327-8000.

A new law goes into effect today that raises the minimum car insurance liability limits in the state of Texas from $25,000 to $30,000. This may not sound like that big of a deal, but believe me, it is a great new law. As a personal injury attorney, I handle car accident cases in the Ft. Worth/Tarrant County area and I see time and time again the following situation: a client of mine is seriously injured in a car wreck that was caused by someone else's bad driving, but the only compensation available is the minimum limits policy of the bad driver. That minimum limits policy must be used to pay for all the bills (ambulance, hospital, doctors.....). Oftentimes, that one policy is not enough to pay for all of the damages.

The new law, which applies to all auto liability policies renewed beginning today, is a big deal as it makes $5,000 more money available for those claimants who have claims whose value is equal to or exceeds the minimum limits. Since the cost of medical care is so high, many claims' value is well above the $30,000 amount. The extra $5,000 does not solve all problems, but it does help pay these bills and hopefully come closer to fully compensating the injury victim.

Just discussing the high cost of medical care reminds me to suggest (again) that everyone carry uninsured motorists protection. It's cheap and is great insurance to carry as it compensates YOU for your injuries if the bad driver has no insurance or does not have enough insurance. There are tons of uninsured drivers out there, so this is the best kind of insurance to carry.

If you have been hurt in a motor vehicle accident anywhere in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, feel free to call Fort Worth Injury Lawyer Mark Anderson at 817-294-1900. All consultations are free.

Several patrons were injured and a Fort Worth restaurant was damaged when a car driven by Phil Record crashed into the building Sunday. The incident occurred at Carino's Italian restaurant at 5900 S. Hulen St. after Record, a TCU instructor and longtime Star-Telegram editor, suffered an apparent heart attack.

Record was taken to Harris Methodist Hospital, where he later died. He was reportedly on his way to dine at the restaurant. A ruling on the cause of death had not been released by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner as of Tuesday morning. Record and four other people were taken by MedStar ambulance to a local hospital.

This is a very sad story and my thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved in this tragic accident. I hope that everyone that was taken to the hospital has a quick recovery.

Medical illnesses sometimes lead to motor vehicle collisions. Whether these are the types of wrecks that are actually preventable sometimes determines the ability of the injured parties to recover compensation for their medical bills.

Information and commentary provided by Fort Worth Injury Lawyer Mark A. Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be contacted in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900. If you have questions about an automobile accident, please fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.

No matter what type of injury accident you are involved in, it is probably a traumatic experience. It is only natural that you would want to resolve the issue as soon as possible. State Farm’s catch phrase is “like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.” The truth about insurance companies like this is they aren’t the good neighbor. Insurance companies have two goals: 1) Not pay you a dime over what they have to and 2) They won’t pay you until they are ready. Then once they are ready to give you a number of how much you will be compensated, that number is much lower then it should be.

For example, let’s say that you are in a car accident in Fort Worth, Texas. You might first think your injury is minor, but it could turn out to be very serious in the months to come. But if you’ve already settled your claim for a small amount of money, then there is nothing you can do, you simply have to pay for the additional medical expenses yourself. The best thing to do is to wait and see how your injuries will affect you down the road before accepting any sort of car wreck settlement. An experienced Board Certified Texas Personal Injury Lawyer can advise you on the appropriate amount of time to wait in order to evaluate the full extent of your injuries.

Insurance companies try to settle these claims quickly because it is more cost efficient for them. The sooner they get you to settle, the less money it costs them. An important tip to remember is that when you accept the check the insurance company gives you, you can no longer reopen the claim. You only get one chance! Before you accept any offer from an insurance company it is in your best interest to talk to a Texas Personal Injury Attorney who can evaluate your claim and help you battle these “good neighbors.”

Information is provided by Fort Worth Personal Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson. Anderson Law Firm can be reached in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900. If you have questions about any personal injury accident, please fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.

A 55-year-old man accused of trying to run down a Fort Worth police officer in a Stockyards alley last month was charged Tuesday with aggravated assault of a public servant. Police got an arrest warrant for William "Louie" Melear and found him Thursday morning after receiving a tip that he was at a friend's home.

The officer had been flagged down about 3 a.m. by a businessman reporting a suspicious vehicle in an alley in the 2400 block of North Main Street. About the same time, a caller to 911 reported that two men were "smoking drugs" in a Mercedes behind a bar on North Main.
The officer, unaware of the 911 call, was investigating the businessman's report when the driver of a Mercedes suddenly accelerated toward the officer. He dodged the car and fired several times at the Mercedes.

A civilian who heard the gunfire and thought the officer had been killed got a gun and also fired several times at the Mercedes as it passed him on West Exchange Avenue.

I am currently representing another local officer in a similar case, so I know these situations occur from time to time. Whether insurance will cover this accident will eventually depend on whether the act was found to be intentional or not. Car insurance policies do not cover intentional acts. But I guess that the car driver will not admit to intentionally trying to run over the officer, which will probably help the officer in trying to recover compensation for his injuries from that driver's liability insurance company.

Being a police officer is dangerous enough without someone doing something as crazy as this. The officer could have been seriously injured as a pedestrian. It is important to remember that there are laws that one must obey, and running over a police officer is certainly against the law. In 2007, 70,000 pedestrians were injured in vehicle collisions in the U.S. alone. Even though this accident seems more like a pre-planned attack, it is still a reminder to be aware of your surroundings while driving or walking as a pedestrian.

Information and commentary is provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Personal Injury Lawyer Mark Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900 and in Dallas at 214-327-8000. If you have any questions concerning a pedestrian or car accident, please fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.

With car wrecks happening every few minutes around the country, it is important to be prepared in the case that you are involved in any kind of car accident. The following is a basic guideline that will help take care of several things that need to be done in the case that you are in a car crash.

1) Call 9-1-1 and then refer to your accident scene checklist that you should have handy in your glove box. It will help you know exactly what to do, including taking pictures of your accident.
2) Seek Medical Attention. This needs to be done immediately. The longer you wait to be treated, the worse your injuries may get.
3) Contact an experienced accident attorney. We believe that all accident victims need professional help with this process.
4) Investigate your Accident.
5) Have an Accident Report Made. This will be done by the local police department and help the give the insurance company information about the details of the car wreck. Read more on how to obtain a police report.

I hope this outline is helpful and has better prepared you for what to do in the case that you are involved in an auto accident. With over 6 million traffic accidents reported in the United States every year, it is vital to always be prepared. This information and commentary is provided by Fort Worth Personal Injury Lawyer Mark Anderson. Mark can be reached in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900 or in Dallas at 214-327-8000. If you have questions about a car accident, please fill out our contact form for a free consultation.

Last year, our Texas Legislature passes a new law that prohibited medical professionals from contacting people who have been injured in an accident for at least 30 days after the accident. The law was aimed at a few unscrupulous chiropractors who would call and mislead people who had been injured in car wrecks. Usually, the marketers, as they are called, working on behalf of the chiros would obtain the information from the publically available crash reports completed by the local police department. The marketers would then call the injury victims and mislead them that the insurance company had authorized a medical visit.

A chiropractor from Houston filed a federal lawsuit challenging the new law and on Friday, a federal judge from Austin overturned the law saying the law violated the chiropractor’s right to free speech. The Texas Attorney General’s office has 30 day to decide if it wants to appeal this ruling. I certainly hope the AG’s office files an appeal, as this law seems to me to be a reasonable restriction on free speech. After all, it is done to protect the consumers from this misleading conduct while they recover or possible grieve the loss of a loved one.

On a related topic, The Texas Department of Public Safety recently enacted a change in the way crash reports are written in order to address this issue. No longer are phone numbers included on the accident reports. While this is a small deterrent, it has caused some marketers to resort to going to the home of the accident victims. While that makes the marketers’ job harder, ultimately it makes the contact more invasive.

I think the best way to handle this is to make the crash reports unavailable to anyone accept the people involved in the accident. That way, the reports could never get into the marketers hands and the phone calls (or door knocks) could never happen. Of course, there is always the possibility of someone selling the reports out the back door of the police station, but that is a whole different problem.

Commentary by Fort Worth Injury Lawyer Mark A. Anderson, who can be contacted at 817-294-1900 or through his website at www.maafirm.com.

In my book 15 Mistakes that Will Wreck your Texas Accident Case, I address some of the most important issues I have observed over the years while helping thousands of injury victims. I believe that with this information, you can take control of your unfortunate situation.

Mistake No. 2: Failing to promptly obtain medical treatment

If you are hurt in an accident, it’s absolutely crucial that you seek medical attention immediately. If you do not seek medical treatment soon after an accident you probably will not have a viable injury claim. Insurance companies and juries assume that if you are hurt you would have gone to the doctor.

It is vital that you do not try to “tough it out” or “hope it gets better” because it not only delays your recovery from the injuries but it negatively affects the success of your personal injury claim. Depending on the extent of your injuries, your initial treatment might very well be taking an ambulance ride to the hospital or visiting the emergency room on your own.

Do not let a lack of health insurance stand in your way to cause you to endure pain unnecessarily. A good place to start is by visiting an urgent treatment car facility near you. You can also rely on the local public health system.

Another option is to contact an attorney who specializes in injury cases. When requested, I will happily provide the names of various doctors who will provide proper treatment and delay billing patients until their case is resolved.

No matter which option you choose, it is extremely important that you seek medical attention promptly. Failing to do so will almost certainly “wreck” your case.

Hopefully, this helps to educate and inform you about how and when to seek medical treatment after an injury. I hope this makes you more aware of how important it is to not make a mistake that can “wreck” your case!

Information provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Board Certified Personal Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who can be reached in Dallas at 214-327-8000, in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900, or toll free across Texas at 877-294-1115. He can also be contacted by clicking here.

I was in Court yesterday in Tarrant County, Texas and the hearing before mine was about a lady who wanted to sell her structured annuity to one of those companies you see on TV, JG Wentworth. I don’t know the full history, but what I gathered is that she had been injured on the job with the railroad and had received a structured annuity as part of her personal injury lawsuit settlement. The lady was there alone and the only lawyer present was representing JG Wentworth. I learned that the lady received around $500 a month from the settlement (tax free) and that she was due to receive a lump sum payment of around $30,000 in 2017. Including that lump sum payment, she would receive a total of $72,000 over the next seven years. But in all her wisdom she had decided to sell her annuity for the whopping sum of $29,000. Wow, that was less than 50% of its present value.

The Judge quizzed her on her needs and it was not very clear why she needed the money. She had a job, had a car and had a house. The Judge made it very clear to her that he thought she was making a huge mistake. And he was absolutely right. She was truly making a horrible mistake and just giving away half her money. But ultimately, the judge approved it as she was an adult and if she wanted to make huge mistake, then that is her right.

My advice is to stay away from these type of companies. If you own a settlement and also need more money than the settlement stream provides, then do everything in your power to not sell the annuity—as you will lose over half its value in a sell. What can you do? Borrow money from others. Put a second lien on your house. Just don’t sell the annuity.

As an aside, I think structured annuities are great as they help make sure that the settlement money will still be there later. I encourage my clients that are receiving large settlement to at least consider the benefits of annuities. I refer them to Dirk Weeks at Structured Annuities, Inc. Dirk is extremely knowledgeable on these products and can provide lots of options depending on the future financial needs of the injury victim.

On a related topic, click here for my thoughts on Lawsuit Loan Companies.

Information provided by Texas Board Certified Injury Lawyer Mark A. Anderson, who can be contacted at 817-294-1900 in Fort Worth, at 214-327-8000 in Dallas and at 1-877-294-1115 across Texas. Also, please click here to contact online.

Seven people were injured in a car crash Sunday night at Mitchell Blvd and East Maddox Ave in Fort Worth. Everyone was taken to the hospital, but none of the injuries were life threatening, according to the Fort Worth Police Department.

The accident occurred when a Ford F-150 carrying four adults tried to make a left turn onto Mitchell from Maddox. The truck was traveling west and trying to turn south. Their vehicle hit a Mitsubishi Montero that was traveling east on Maddox. An adult and two children were in the Montero. According to Fort Worth Police, alcohol was not a factor in the wreck.

I sure hope all of those I injured in this wreck recover quickly. Even when the reports come out that the injuries are not life threatening, that certainly does not mean that no injuries occurred. Hopefully, there is enough liability insurance coverage available to fairly compensate the injured parties.

Information provided by Fort Worth Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who can be contacted online by clicking here or by calling 817-294-1900.

A wreck last Monday afternoon on U.S. 67 in Cleburne involving two trucks sent three people to the hospital.

20-year-old James Hall of Godley was driving a pickup hauling a flatbed trailer carrying a washer and dryer when he made an illegal left turn from the access road onto U.S. 67. Diana Dillard was driving her truck on U.S. 67 and Mr. Hall struck her vehicle, his truck sliding on its side then eventually landing upright.

Mr. Hall and Ms. Dillard were immediately taken by CareFlite into Fort Worth hospitals. 19-year-old James Peabody of Burleson was transported by CareFlite to Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth after being pulled from the truck when witnesses thought it was on fire. According to police, no one suffered life threatening injuries.

I am glad to read that no one suffered life threatening injuries. But that certainly does not mean that none of the occupants suffered injuries. A wreck of this magnitude certainly can result in severe and permanent injuries. I know from experience that the CareFlite bills are astronomical. Also, depending on the number of scans and type of treatment rendered, the hospital bills could also be staggering. I obviously don’t know the amount of insurance available, but I sure hope the driver not at fault, Ms. Dillard, carries under-insured motorist protection. In my opinion this is the best type of insurance to carry as it protects you, the policy holder, in case someone else causes an accident and does not have enough insurance.

Information provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Car Accident Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who can be reached in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900, in Dallas at 214-327-8000, or toll free at 877-294-1115. He can also be contacted by clicking here.

Motor vehicle accidents range from minor to severe. If another car taps your car at a stop sign going five miles per hour, and doesn’t leave a scratch on either vehicle, you probably aren’t hurt and, therefore, don’t need to seek medical treatment. But if you’re involved in a more serious accident with injuries, don’t try to ignore them; get medical treatment as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, it’s a fact that many people refuse medical treatment after an auto accident. Sometimes they think that they pain will go away. Sometimes they are worried about the huge hospital bill that they would incur. The bottom line is that your health is extremely important and should be a top priority.

Seeking medical treatment right away isn’t just a matter of taking care of your health, although that’s certainly the most important thing to consider after a car accident. It’s also about documenting your medical problems in the event that you need to prove they’re related to the car accident. If you have back problems after a car accident but wait two weeks to go to the doctor, it’s much more difficult to prove that it’s related to the car wreck than if you go the next day.

I have seen it time and again when folks tried to “tough it out” and they accomplish nothing. They endure pain unnecessarily and they “wreck” their potential insurance claim. Bottom line: seek medical treatment ASAP after a car accident. Not just for your case, but for your health.

Information provided by Fort Worth Texas Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who discusses this topic and many others in his book, 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Case. This book is available for free to Texas Residents at www.DontWreckYourCase.com.

This is a question I get from some of my new clients after they have been in some sort of an auto accident somewhere here in the Fort Worth Arlington area. The short answer to that is: yes, you absolutely should. PIP insurance is No-Fault insurance which you carry on your own automobile policy and it provides reimbursement to you (and any passenger in your car), for medical expenses and for documented wages up to the amount of the PIP coverage. In Texas, each insurance company must offer at least $2,500.00 in PIP coverage, but you can buy more. In order to turn down this coverage, you must reject it in writing.

The reason that PIP coverage is so good is that you are not penalized in any subsequent claim against the responsive party if you use PIP coverage. In other words, you can recover from the responsible party’s insurance company (if they were indeed at fault) and you can also recover on your own policy. You can also even use health insurance to pay for your bills, therefore utilizing yet a third type of insurance.

Some people are reluctant to make a PIP claim on their own policy, but it is against the law for an insurance company to raise your rates or drop you solely because you make a PIP claim. The reason, this is a no-fault claim. You can make this type of claim regardless of whether you were at fault or somebody else was responsible for your injuries.

So to me, a lawyer who focuses solely on personal injury, this is a no brainer. If you were fortunate enough to pay for the PIP coverage (and it is very cheap), you should definitely use it if you have been in an automobile accident.

Information provided by Fort Worth Arlington, Texas Board Certified Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who can be contacted at 877 294 1115 or by clicking here.

If you have been involved in an automobile, truck or motorcycle accident in Fort Worth, Texas, you must make some decisions to protect your potential insurance claim or you could suffer the consequences of a “wrecked case.” Fort Worth’s Board Certified Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson has recently authored a book which goes over the many ways an accident victim can destroy their own case, therefore making it harder to recover fair and reasonable compensation. This book, entitled 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Case, is for sale on Amazon.com, but is made available for free to Texas residents at www.DontWreckYourCase.com.

In this book, Mistake No. 2 is the failure to obtain prompt medical treatment. Insurance companies and juries tend to operate under the assumption that if you are hurt, then you need to go to the doctor. And that makes sense. But the problem I see often is most people try to tough out their pain and not go to the hospital or doctor unless it is absolutely necessary. If you have a broken bone or are bleeding excessively, you will go to the hospital. But it is human nature to try to tough it out if you have a less obvious injury. You might take over the counter pain medications and see if the injury will heal on its own. You might wait an entire month before you go to the doctor.

The problem with this approach is that without good medical documentation, it may look to an outsider like you weren’t really hurt. So in order to not hurt your ability to recover fair compensation, you will need to seek medial treatment within the first few days after an accident. This will allow you to get on the road to recovery much faster and will serve as proper documentation of your injury.

Fort Worth Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson can be contacted at 817-294-1900 or at www.maafirm.com.