The reason for the discrepancy is that government and insurance industry crash tests are based on front-end collisions between similar-sized vehicles – but if a smaller passenger car is hit by an SUV or pickup, the laws of physics dictate that the property damage to the smaller car – and the bodily injuries to its driver and passengers – will be far worse than in the case of the larger vehicle. As a Fort Worth injury attorney, I’ve certainly seen this demonstrated in auto accidents which have involved a semi-truck or other heavy goods vehicle.

Fortunately, head-on collisions are not the most common form of motor vehicle wrecks in the DFW area. T-bone, rear-end, and sideswipe collisions are far more frequent. However, every so often we get some drunken idiot driving the wrong way down the interstate - and the result is often a head-on crash of catastrophic proportions.

As a Tarrant County car wreck lawyer, I don’t think that this study should cause people to seriously reevaluate their vehicle choice, but it should prove additional food for thought. Remember that even if you have an SUV which might provide you and your family greater safety in a head-on wreck, SUVs are still more prone to roll over in a broadside collision.

Stay safe out there – and if you do have need for a board certified personal injury lawyer, give me a call for a free, no obligation consultation at 817-294-1900.

Unfortunately, lots of people are put off from pursuing a personal injury claim for compensation because they are scared of having to go to court. The truth is that most of the time an injury claim can be successfully resolved for maximum damages long before a lawsuit ever has to be filed.

What’s important is that you choose an experienced Tarrant County injury attorney who has a proven track record in winning big settlements for his clients. Most of the time, an injury claim can be resolved without the need for a court case. Since most of the time the insurance company knows their insured was negligent, they don’t actually want to go to court because they know they will lose. However, it is generally advisable to make sure the lawyer you hire is board certified in personal injury trial law regardless – just in case your case does need to go to trial in order for you to get every penny you deserve.

While few road rage incidents culminate in gunshots, as a Fort Worth personal injury attorney, I know that many such incidents do result in wrecks which cause serious bodily injuries and in many cases fatalities. I handled one just last year where some yahoo got mad at my client, gave her an unfriendly hand gesture and then sped up to get in form of her, cut her off and slammed on his breaks as they were going down I-35 near downtown. She received injuries, but luckily survived the road rage wreck. Yes, road rage is serious business.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident in or around the Fort Worth-Arlington area which was sparked by road rage, it is important that you consult with a board certified attorney who can help you recover the full and fair compensation you deserve from the at fault driver.

Despite the dangers commonly associated with brain injuries, however, rehabilitation is possible. If you or someone you love has experienced a traumatic brain injury as a result of a Fort Worth auto accident, it is important to remain positive and to seek comfort from the stories of other TBI survivors.

I recently learned of a book, Long Unwinding Road: An Inspiring Story of Natural Self-Healing, which tells the story of Andrew Penman’s recovery from a traumatic brain injury after he was injured in a freak car crash in 1981. He was left in a coma after his accident, but eventually taught himself to walk, talk and drive again. The goal of the book, according to Penman, is to help and inspire others on the road to recovery.

As a Fort Worth car accident lawyer, I know that distracted driving in all its forms is very dangerous. Cellphone use in the driver’s seat is just one part of the problem. According to the NHTSA, distracted driving is now responsible for more than ten percent of all U.S. highway fatalities.

However, the problem may be far worse than even I realized. The National Safety Council has reported that motor vehicle accidents involving cellphones are vastly underreported. By comparing admissions of at-fault drivers, statements by callers or texters on the other end of the line, statements by passengers, and evidence collected by police, the NSC found that official figures of distracted driving wrecks compiled by the NHTSA were off by as much as 1,250 percent.

Of all wrecks reported as attributable to distracted driving by the NSC, the NHTSA had identified only 52 percent as cellphone-related in 2011, only 35 percent in 2010, and only 8 percent in 2009.

While these revelations are shocking, it doesn’t completely surprise me. Every day I see people driving next to me looking down at their cellphones instead of at the road. Distracted driving is a huge problem here in DFW. Fortunately, if you are hit by a distracted driver, our law firm is well equipped to aggressively pursue their insurance company for the maximum compensation available to you.

Only two weeks, ago Fort Worth launched its innovative bike share program allowing people across the city to rent a bike to get about town or to enjoy the Trinity Trails. Hopefully the increased number of bikes on our city streets will make drivers more accustomed to safety driving alongside cyclists, but accidents will doubtlessly still happen nevertheless.

This week is Bike Helmet Safety Week. Given the recent launch of the Fort Worth B-Cycle program, I think the timing is wonderfully serendipitous – especially since most people who rent a bike to cycle alongside cars on the road probably won’t have a helmet.

In my opinion as a Fort Worth bicycle accident injury attorney, I think that wearing a helmet is a must. Cyclists have absolutely no protection if they are involved in a collision with a car or truck. A helmet can provide valuable protection to a biker’s head and skull. Traumatic brain injuries are among the most severe types of injuries that one can suffer.

Protect yourself – always wear a helmet.

A second auto accident involving a school bus occurred in Fort Worth yesterday morning. A school bus carrying children from Elliott Elementary School collided with another car. Six students and one adult – a field trip chaperone – were taken to hospital to be treated for their injuries. The cause of this crash is also still under investigation.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I have represented many accident victims who have been injured as the result of a drunk driver’s negligence. However, I was stunned to read a statistic published by the NHTSA which claim that motorcyclists are the group of road users most commonly intoxicated.

According to the NHTSA 29 percent of motorcyclists killed in fatal accidents were per se intoxicated (which means they had a blood alcohol content of .08 or greater), compared to 24 percent of passenger car drivers, and 21 percent of light truck drivers.

This is an astonishing revelation – particularly since motorcycle riders are perhaps the most vulnerable people on DFW roads to begin with.

It should go without saying that you shouldn’t drink and drive anyway, but motorcyclists who attempt to ride after drinking are particularly at risk of being killed because alcohol impairs one’s sense of balance and coordination – both skills that are crucial when it comes to safe riding.

Another thing to take into consideration is that whereas a drunk driver poses a risk not just to themselves, their passengers and anyone else they come into contact with on Dallas-Fort Worth roads, a drunk motorcycle rider poses a risk primarily to themselves only. According to the NHTSA, 42 percent of the 1,997 motorcycle riders who died in single-vehicle wrecks in 2011 were intoxicated.

Mr. Wiggs was thrown from his bike in the collision. He was rushed to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth where he later died.

The driver and a passenger in the vehicle that hit him were also taken to hospital following the crash, although it is not believed that either suffered serious injuries.

I don’t know any of the facts other than those reported in the local media. However, it is my experience that the motorcyclist usually have flashing lights turned on when they are escorting a procession—which should make them more visible. However, I am currently representing a different motorcyclist involved in a funeral procession accident so I know that even with lights on, some folks still do not see the motorcyclists.

Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of Mr. Wiggs.

A concussion occurs when a driver or passenger in a motor vehicle hits their head during a crash. The injury victim may or may not lose consciousness. If not, it may not be obvious that a concussion has occurred.

If you are unsure whether you have suffered a concussion or other head trauma as a result of your Dallas-Fort Worth auto accident, here are some common symptoms to watch out for:

• Increased tiredness
• Withdrawn behavior
• Irritability
• Easily upset
• Headaches
• Less tolerant of noise
• Difficulty concentrating

If you suspect that you or a member of your family has suffered a concussion in a car wreck or other Dallas-Fort Worth accident, it is important that you seek medical attention from a doctor who has experience treating traumatic brain injuries.

You should also consult with a board certified personal injury lawyer for a free consultation to find out how to make a claim for compensation against the negligent driver who caused your traumatic brain injury. The experienced attorneys at the Anderson Law Firm offer free, no obligation consultations to all Dallas-Fort Worth accident victims. Call us toll free at 800-354-6275 today.

Many times, I know that they offer is far too low – in many cases a fair and reasonable amount would be 20 to 30 times higher than what the adjustor is offering.

Of course, every case is different. There are plenty of cases where I do recommend that people handle their claims on their own, because I think they’ll do just fine. If they’re unhappy with how things progress down the road, they can always give me a call back and I’ll be here. But in cases where the injuries sustained are very severe – or in cases where the at-fault motorist was driving a commercial vehicle or grossly negligent (for example - driving while intoxicated) then it is nearly always better to hire a board certified personal injury attorney to handle you case for you. Our Fort Worth injury lawyers deal with insurance carriers all the time and know all of their tricks.

If you do decide to represent yourself, then please, make sure you do your research. In particular, be aware of statute of limitations. You have two years from the date of the collision to file a claim. If you don’t, you are out of luck. It is very important to file your claim as soon as possible. By doing this it will give your attorney more time to maximize how much money your case is worth.

Our law firm works on a no win, no fee basis. This means that if we agree to represent you, we will work for free if we fail to make a recovery on your behalf. Of course, we will never take on a case if we believe that we cannot win – or that the accident victim would be better off handling it themselves. Call us today for a free consultation at Fort Worth 817-294-1900.

But I have never found myself in a situation where I was able to physically stop a drunk driver from causing a wreck. I am in awe of John Woods, 35, of Mansfield who did just that on Friday night.

At approximately 9:30pm on Friday night, Woods and his family were driving along SH 360 in Grand Prairie when they encountered an obviously impaired motorist driving what is believed to be either a gray or tan Ford F-150 or Chevrolet Silverado. Like many other drivers in the area, Woods pulled over to the side of the road in order to avoid a collision with the pickup. But when the vehicle came to a stop, Woods noticed that the driver had fallen asleep behind the wheel and decided to take action.

Woods reached in through the pickup driver’s open window and attempted to remove his keys from the ignition in order to prevent a crash. At this point, the pickup driver woke up and accelerated, dragging Woods alongside him. Unfortunately, the drunk driver got away. He fled the scene, leaving Woods unconscious on the side of the road. Woods suffered a concussion, bleeding on the brain, a punctured lung, broken vertebrae in his neck, broken ribs, and a broken collar bone.

Police are currently searching for the suspected drunk driver involved in this unusual hit-and-run accident. Woods was initially treated for his injuries at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, but since he has no health insurance he is currently recovering from his injuries at home.

I would like to extend my gratitude and awe to Mr. Woods for his brave attempt at stopping this clearly dangerous driver. I wish him a full and speedy recovery. Most importantly, I hope that the negligent pickup driver is identified by police and that he is brought to justice, so that Mr. Woods can recover the full and fair compensation he is entitled to under Texas law.

The Volkswagen was driven by Courtney Kay Smalley, 18, of Lipan. Kimberly G. Peacock, 19, of Fort Worth, was a passenger in this vehicle. Both were members of the Phi Mu sorority at Tarleton State University.

The Mercedes was driven by Matthew Keith, 29, of Searcy, AR. His wife, Tsanti C. Keith, 26, was in the passenger seat.

Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of everyone who lost their life in this tragic accident.

Teenager Deston Bibbs, 14, was cycling his bike eastbound along Sycamore School Road when he was stuck by an unidentified vehicle which is believed to have been attempting to turn southbound onto Crowley Road. Based on tire marks on the victim’s clothing, police investigators believe the negligent driver was in an SUV or a large truck.

Bibbs – a seventh-grader at H.F. Stevens Middle School in Crowley who enjoyed playing basketball and drums – suffered severe head trauma and broken bones in the collision. He was transported to hospital following the wreck, but was later pronounced dead.

Police are reviewing footage from cameras near the intersection in an attempt to identify the vehicle – and the driver - that hit the boy. They suspect that the car involved in this tragic accident suffered some property damage. Anyone who may have witnessed this crime or who may have information regarding the suspect is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 817-469-8477 to provide an anonymous tip. A reward of up to $1,000 will be given to anyone providing information that leads to an arrest.

As a Fort Worth wrongful death lawyer, I know that traffic accidents happen throughout the DFW area on a daily basis. This may have been an accident, but fleeing an accident scene where a child has been catastrophically injured is inexcusable. I hope that the driver at-fault is identified and brought to justice.

Our thoughts are with Deston Bibbs’ family and friends.

A 15-year-old boy, an elderly man, and a middle-aged woman – all of whom were sitting in the back seat of the vehicle – died after the car they were riding in was struck by a minivan at approximately 2:00pm on Sunday. The female driver and a female passenger in the front seat escaped from the burning wreckage and were treated by paramedics at the crash scene. The driver and a passenger in the minivan were uninjured. No-one was taken to hospital. The three fatalities were pronounced deceased at the scene.

Police are in the process of reconstructing exactly what caused the collision to occur.

Our thoughts are with those involved in this tragic accident, and with those who have lost their loved ones.

According to news reports, the tragedy started as a fire at the West Fertilizer Co. which is owned by Adair Grain, Inc. Emergency responders arrived on the scene at around 7:30 pm. Less than 25 minutes later, the plant exploded causing an earthquake of 2.1-magnitude on the seismic scale which both heard and felt as far away as Dallas.

Witnesses said the explosion was devastating. It sent a giant fireball up into the sky, followed by a nuclear bomb-like mushroom cloud. Devastation resulted. In addition to the slew of deaths and injuries, between 60 and 80 homes were destroyed, as were three nearby schools, and a nursing home was also seriously damaged.

The people responsible for this catastrophe must be held responsible.

As of right now, the cause of the fire and subsequent explosion has not been officially determined. But a task force of around 70 forensic investigators including agents from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives are working hard to determine exactly who was at fault. Then injured parties, survivors of the deceased, and families who have lost their homes and all their earthy possessions can begin to proceed with civil claims for compensation.

This accident was preventable. As a Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I know that accidents of any nature do not simply happen – they are a result of someone’s negligence. Already, investigation into the West fertilizer plant has uncovered that the facility had 540,000 pounds of ammonium nitrate on site – more than 1,350 times the amount legally required to be reported to the Department of Homeland Security since ammonium nitrate is known to be highly explosive and if stolen could be used to manufacture bombs. Yet West Fertilizer Co. never reported their stockpile to the DHS.

This Sunday is Workers’ Memorial Day. Although it is unclear whether any of the fatalities from the West explosion were employees at the fertilizer plant, as the worst industrial accident in years, this disaster should serve as a stark reminder that companies have a responsibility to the safety of their employees – and to all others who live or work nearby. As a railroad injury attorney, I know that approximately 13 workers die on the job in the US every single day, often as a result of criminal neglect by their employers.

Anyone who was been injured or lost a member of their family in the West explosion deserves to be fairly compensated by the negligent party when an official conclusion is reached regarding the cause of the West Fertilizer Co. explosion. Make sure that you are fully aware of your legal rights and seek experienced legal advice.

Along with the attorneys, she meets with each new client, and remains available to clients until their case is resolved. She ensures that each step of the claims process is performed as quickly and efficiently as possible. Elisabeth oversees the team that contacts clients on a regular basis, orders medical records, and works directly with insurance companies.

Elisabeth’s favorite part of her job is solving the many problems that inevitably arise when dealing with insurance companies. “Every case is so different,” she said, “I love getting in to each one and figuring out the best way to pursue the claim so that we can recover as much as possible for our clients.”

She enjoys working for Mark and Robert, and loves all of her coworkers at the Anderson Law Firm. She also enjoys being able to interact with clients on a daily basis. “I like that I get to help people every day. It’s a very rewarding job in that sense.”

An English graduate from the University of Texas at Arlington, Elisabeth loves reading and writing outside of work - and stays busy taking care of her 7-year-old son, Hunter.

Hopefully we’ll escape the worst storms this year. But just in case, here is some information which I hope you might find helpful before, during and after any storms that might come our way.

Before a Storm

Make sure that your car, home and health insurance is up-to-date. The 1995 hail storm injured 100 people and caused $1 billion in damage to vehicles and buildings. Last April, 1,100 homes were damaged and 349 were destroyed outright. Make sure that you know exactly what your insurance policies cover – and what your policy limits are. Consider buying additional insurance if you think it’s appropriate – this includes additional storm and hail coverage. If you’re currently renting a house or apartment, then make sure you have renter’s insurance which protects your belongings.

During a Storm

If you grew up in the DFW area you’re already familiar with the sound of tornado sirens – and you know to stay away from windows and move to an interior room to hide out the storm. If you’re in your car when a tornado strikes, you should get out of your vehicle and lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression. If you’re driving when a heavy hail fall hits, try to pull over under an overpass and wait out the storm. If that’s not possible, pull over and lie down in the back seat – covering yourself with a blanket to protect yourself from any glass or debris which might occur if the hail smashes the windows. If possible, try to angle your car so the windshield takes the brunt of the hail – windshields are reinforced to withstand greater forces than other windows.

After a Storm

Contact your insurance company as soon as possible to report your claim. Most of the time, insurance companies are somewhat cooperative when it comes to property damage claims – especially in areas where an official disaster has been declared. Even so, make sure that the insurance adjustor is fully aware of all the damage that has occurred. If the adjustor and the contractor have differing values of the repairs which need to be done, you may have to get another quote from an alternative construction company. If all else fails, consider contacting a licensed public adjustor or an attorney.

Hopefully we'll avoid any really nasty weather this year. Fingers crossed!

The crash occurred around 2:25pm last Thursday, on southbound I-35W in Burleson, just north of the FM 917 exit.

According to eye witness accounts, the driver of a 2005 Sterling commercial roll-off truck appeared to lose control of his vehicle, causing it to crash into a 2011 Ford Fusion which was pulled over and parked on the shoulder.

The driver of the sedan was killed in the accident. He was identified as Randy Long, 54, of Arlington.

After striking the passenger car, the truck rolled over and landed on its side. The truck driver - Mark Randall Mathis, 50, of Fort Worth - was transported to hospital to be treated for his injuries, the severity of which is unknown.

The affected section of Interstate 35 was closed down for several hours while emergency responders and investigators reacted to the collision.

We wish Mr. Mathis a full and speedy recovery. Our thoughts are with the loved ones of both victims.