Air bags are a great safety device, if used correctly. It’s estimated that frontal air bags have saved over 25,000 lives between 1987 and 2008. Air bags haven’t only saved lives; they are also very effective in preventing debilitating head and chest injuries. A recent study showed that over two-thirds of those who would have suffered head or chest injuries in a crash did not because of air bags. However, keep in mind that air bags are only intended as supplemental safety devices – you should always wear your seat belt.

 As wonderful as air bags are, people have been killed by them, although it is rare. It’s important to remember that air bags can be dangerous for children under the age of 13. Place everyone under age 13 in the rear seat. If they must be in the front, check the on-off switch (if your air bag has one) to ensure that the switch is off.

 Every person who has been killed by an air bag has one thing in common – they were too close to the air bag when it deployed. Sometimes, this occurred because their seats were too close to the air bags. However, it more often occurred when they were not wearing seat belts or sitting in child seats, which allowed them to be thrown forward into the air bag.

 In order for air bags to be effective, you can make some minor changes that will minimize the risk of serious injury. Short drivers should adjust the position of their seats. Those under age 13 should only sit in the back seat. Everyone should buckle up. It’s also important that those with unusual medical conditions who have been advised that air bags are dangerous to them should turn the air bag off, or avoid sitting near an air bag.

 If you have been injured in a car accident in the Dallas area, contact the Barber Law Firm, which works extensively with accident victims. Call today at 972-231-5800.

A 43 year old woman was killed in Dallas over the weekend after being struck by a patrol car. The woman was leaving her daughter’s home in Dallas at 3 a.m. Sunday morning and attempting to cross the street when she was stuck by a police cruiser.

 The police car did not have its lights on. According to police, the officer behind the wheel was following an ambulance to the scene of a disturbance. The ambulance did have its lights and sirens on. The speed limit on the road where the accident occurred is 35 miles an hour. Police have not publicly said how fast the car was going when the accident occurred, although a witness said it was speeding.

 Although this tragic accident probably could not have been avoided by the victim, there are rules you should follow in order to avoid accidents with police and other first responders. If you are driving and see an emergency vehicle, such as a police car, fire truck or ambulance with its lights or siren on, pull to the right edge of the road and stop, if possible. If traffic is too congested for that to be a safe option, or if there is nowhere to safely stop, slow down and leave a path for the vehicle.

 Have you been injured in an accident due to the negligence of another driver in the Dallas/Fort Worth area? If so, contact the Barber Law Firm at 817-329-5095. Our experienced attorneys will help you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries and/or damage to your vehicle.

An accident that occurred in Dallas over the weekend is causing more people to call for additional bike lanes on Dallas’s roads. The accident happened on Saturday when a car slammed into a 32 year old bicyclist who was riding his bicycle on the Jefferson Boulevard viaduct. The impact of the crash threw the bicyclist into the car’s windshield and broke his neck, but doctors are hopeful the man can make a full recovery. The man is a very experienced bicyclist – he bikes 40 miles around Dallas daily.

 Last year, city officials announced plans to add hundred of bicycle lanes across Dallas. However, city planners realized in December that the city didn’t have the $16 million needed for the project. City officials are looking for extra money in the budget to cover the lanes, but say that donations will probably be necessary.

 In the meantime, there are steps you can take to avoid an accident with a bicyclist while you are driving. Probably the best thing you can do to avoid an accident is to focus on the road rather than allow yourself to become distracted by a cell phone or passengers. You should also, of course, obey all traffic laws. If you are riding in an area that is used a lot by bicyclists, make sure to allow room in your lane in case they ride beside you.

 Have you been injured in a bicycle or car accident? If so, contact the Barber Law Firm at 972-231-5800. We are experienced at helping accident victims get the compensation they deserve.

Dallas police are asking parents of teenagers to discuss the dangers of street racing, after two tragic wrecks occurred in the past two months involving teenagers racing. According to police, the racing is not occurring late at night in empty areas. Instead, racing is occurring on main roads with heavy congestion.

The most recent accident happened on January 1 on Singleton Boulevard in West Dallas. A 16 year old driver was racing and killed a 53 year old father who was making a left turn in his pickup. The other accident occurred in November, after two teenagers in BMWs were racing at speeds over 100 miles per hour. One of the drivers lost control and caused a crash that killed another 16 year old. In both of the accidents, minors are facing charges.

 Unfortunately, speeding is a big problem that often gets overlooked. According to studies, speed is a factor in almost one-third of fatal crashes. Another study found that when many states raised their speed limits on interstates in 1996, motor vehicle fatalities went up significantly in those states. Speeding not only reduces the amount of time available to avoid a crash, but it also increases the severity of a crash once it occurs. For every 10 mile per hour increase in speed, crash forces on impact double, greatly increasing the chances of fatalities. When you factor in inexperienced teen drivers, speeding can be particularly deadly.

 Have you or a loved one been seriously injured in an accident in the Dallas area involving speeding? If so, contact the Barber Law Firm. Our attorneys have significant experience in helping accident victims get the help they need. Call us today at 972-231-5800.

It is a very common misperception among non-lawyers that almost any attorney can represent a client in almost any matter as long as the case is a common one. Many clients think that if they need a routine bankruptcy or a will prepared, they can go to the same attorney who handled their divorce or did the closing on their home. In addition, some attorneys will agree to handle a case outside their specialty in order to collect the fee.

 However, the truth is that the law is increasingly becoming more complex, so it is much better to find an attorney who specializes in what you need. Also, you may think you have a very simple, straightforward case. While this is sometimes true, more often a simple case can be filled with complexities that only an experienced attorney will recognize. Instead of finding any random attorney to handle your case, a better approach is to find the most experienced attorney in the field of law your case is in who you can afford to hire to handle your case.

 This is particularly true in personal injury cases. Although personal injury cases are very common, they can be very complex. Only an attorney with substantial personal injury experience should handle such a case. Also, once a case is settled, an injured party cannot get more compensation later if their medical circumstances change. Therefore, you should hire an experienced attorney to help you get the maximum amount of compensation available.

 Have you been injured in an accident due to another party’s negligence in the Dallas area? If so, contact the Barber Law Firm, a personal injury law firm dedicated to helping accident victims recover. Call them today at 972-231-5800 for a free consultation.

A tragic accident occurred in southeast Dallas on New Year’s Eve. A minivan was waiting to make a turn when a sedan slammed into the right side of the van. An eight year old boy and his seven year old brother were sitting in the cargo area of the van when the accident occurred. When the sedan slammed into the van, it knocked a jack into the head of the eight year old, killing him.

This horrible tragedy illustrates how vitally important it is to use child safety seats. It’s estimated that between 1975 and 2008, almost 9,000 lives were saved by child restraints. Unfortunately, crashes are still the leading cause of death for children between the ages of 3 and 14.

 Under Texas law, anyone under the age of eight must be secured in a safety seat. In addition, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends keeping children in a car seat for as long as possible, as long as they fit the seat’s height and weight requirements. Children under 13 should always ride in the back seat.

 When you are selecting a car seat for your child, choose it based on your child’s age and size, and choose one that fits well in your vehicle. Read your vehicle’s owner’s manual on how to install the car seat using the seat belt or LATCH system, and also consult the car seat’s instruction book. If you are uncertain whether it’s installed correctly, locate a child car seat inspection station. 

 Have you or your child been injured in an automobile accident in the Dallas area? If so, contact the Barber Law Firm at 972-231-5800. Our attorneys will help you pursue your legal options.

One of the biggest safety concerns on Texas’s roads is drunk driving. In 2009, there were 1,235 deaths in Texas due to drunk driving. Among those, 185 were individuals under the age of 21.

However, there is good news – DWI arrests in the Dallas area declined this New Year’s Eve when compared with previous years. There were 31 arrests this year, and 34 last year. More drivers were also voluntarily giving breath tests. Last year, officers got 10 warrants ordering DWI suspects to give blood samples, and this year they only got six.

So how can you stay safe on Dallas’s roads in the New Year? First, if you are going out and you anticipate you will be drinking, have a plan in advance on how to get home. Line up a designated driver or put a taxi company’s number in your cell phone. If you don’t have a plan before drinking, you are much more likely to attempt to drive yourself home. If you decide to walk to your destination, be aware there is still a danger. Use the buddy system and stay in areas with which you are familiar. Finally, if you are going to be away from home for an evening, don’t let others know online that you will be gone, such as by posting that information on a social media site like Twitter or Facebook.

Be sure to make staying safe in 2012 one of your resolutions. If you have been injured in a Dallas area accident due to the fault of another driver, contact the Barber Law Firm at 972-231-5800. They will help you pursue the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

Although Texas law requires drivers to maintain only a minimum amount of liability insurance (designed to pay for damages you cause to other drivers), many Texans choose to get “full coverage”, which will also pay for your own damages you cause. Full coverage policies also typically cover damages from theft, weather conditions, or fire. Many automobile owners mistakenly believe that if they have full coverage automobile insurance they will not have to pay any amount if they are involved in a car accident. This is not always true.

If you choose to purchase full coverage automobile insurance, you should closely examine the policy to find out what the limit is that will be paid out for each accident, and what happens if an accident you cause exceeds that limit. You may find out that you have to pay any excess costs. You also will be responsible for your deductible. In most full coverage policies, when a vehicle is a total loss, the insurance company will only pay out the current market value of the car. If you or another driver happens to owe more on the car than its current market value, you will be responsible for making up the difference, which in some cases can be significant.

There are also other expenses vehicle owners incur that will not be covered by full coverage, such as normal wear and tear and expenses related to failing to properly maintain a vehicle. Full coverage insurance may also not pay for the theft of some items from your vehicle, such as stereo systems, GPS units, radar detectors, DVD players, and more. You should ask your insurance company or examine your policy to determine which items are insured.

 Have you been involved in an accident in the Dallas area? If so, contact the Barber Law Firm at 817-329-5095. You may be able to recover from the other driver for your medical expenses, damage to your vehicle, and more. Call us today for a free consultation.

More than ever, holiday shoppers are turning to the internet to purchase some or all of their Christmas gifts. Although the internet is very convenient and shoppers can score some great deals, cyber thieves are out there looking for a way to steal your credit card and other personal information. So how can you stay safe while shopping online?

 The Federal Trade Commission recommends a three-pronged approach.

 1. Deter. Safeguard your information in order to deter identity thieves from obtaining your information. Some ways to do this include:

• Do not click on links in unsolicited emails or pop-up advertisements. Use anti-virus software on your home computer and keep it updated.
• Do not use obvious passwords.
• Don’t give out your Social Security number online unless absolutely necessary.
• Make sure each website on which you make purchases is a secure website.

 2. Detect. Detect suspicious activity involving your identity by monitoring your financial accounts.

• Be alert for bills do not arrive as expected.
• Be alert for calls about purchases you did not make or accounts you did not open.
• Monitor your credit report, either by obtaining free credit reports or by signing up with a monitoring service.
• Review your account statements for suspicious charges.

 3. Defend. Once suspicious activity is detected, defend yourself against identity theft.

• Place a fraud alert on your credit reports by contacting the three major credit bureaus – TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax. Creditors will then have certain procedures in place if someone opens an account in your name within 90 days.
• Close accounts that are fraudulent.
• File a police report.
• Make a complaint with the FTC.

 Have you or a loved one been the victim of identity theft or another legal problem? If so, contact the Barber Law Firm in Dallas at 972-231-5800. We will help you evaluate your legal options. Call today to learn more.

More people than ever before are using social media as a way to stay connected with family and friends. Many of those who use social media forget that the information they post is either public or can be made public at a later date. Unfortunately for some of those users, information posted on social media sites has proved damaging for lawsuits the parties were involved in.

Although social media websites are relatively new, there are already numerous instances of individuals whose personal injury lawsuits were damaged or ruined by posting information online. For example, a woman who sued an office furniture company after falling off an office chair claimed she suffered serious injuries and was confined to her home and bed. However, the furniture company saw that on her Facebook and MySpace pages, from the limited information she had made public that she appeared to have an active lifestyle. A judge later ordered the plaintiff to give the defendant access to her private Facebook and MySpace postings.

As social media continues to become more prevalent, we should see more and more cases like this. Social media can not only damage a personal injury lawsuit – there have also been published cases of debt collectors using Facebook to find debtors, although many courts have banned them from doing so. Facebook can also be a gold mine of information for divorce lawyers. If you are using social media, be smart about it. Be aware that everything you post ultimately has the potential to be made public.

If you are in the Dallas area and you have been injured and expect to be involved in a personal injury lawsuit, contact the Barber Law Firm at 972-231-5800. Our attorneys can guide you through the best way to proceed with your claim. Call us today.