If you’ve recently had an accident that resulted in injuries, and someone else was at fault, your first priority is most likely recovering from those injuries. After the recovery process has begun, you are likely to consider taking legal action. However, choosing an attorney can be overwhelming. There are some steps you can take to make the process easier.

First, you should consider hiring someone who specializes in personal injuries. Some personal injury attorneys take some types of personal injury cases but not others, so keep that in mind while you are looking for an attorney. If you already have an attorney who has done other work for you, ask him or her for a recommendation. Also ask family and friends for recommendations. Contact the State Bar of Texas. Search online for attorneys who seem knowledgeable about personal injury.

Once you’ve compiled a list, narrow down the list to your top choices and call the attorneys. Are they willing to consult with you for free? Do they promptly return your calls? Has the attorney ever handled a case like yours before? How much are fees and how are they paid? Does the attorney seem like he or she is concerned about your case? Does the attorney seem knowledgeable about the area of law? Do you feel comfortable with the attorney? Since you and the attorney you choose could be working very closely together, it’s important to choose someone you feel comfortable with.

If you have been injured in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, contact Dallas personal injury attorney Kris Barber at 972-231-5805. He has extensive experience in personal injury cases and will work hard to protect your rights.

When most people choose a vehicle to purchase, they consider the vehicle’s safety ratings when making a decision. However, a recent analysis of rental cars shows that consumers typically do not consider safety when renting a car. Most of the vehicles that rental agencies use are highly rated when it comes to protecting against head-on collisions. However, many of the cars are not rated as safe when hit in the side or the rear, or if they are involved in rollover accidents.

Experts recommend that when renting a car, a customer should act as if he or she is buying the car. That’s often easier said than done – vehicles at rental agencies are constantly changing and many models may not be available. In general, if vehicles have the same crash ratings and safety equipment, a larger, heavier vehicle is a safer bet, although they often cost more to rent.

Another issue involved in renting a car in recent years is safety recalls. In 2004, a car rental agency failed to fix a power steering hose defect in a recalled PT Cruiser. That failure led to the death of two sisters whose rental car caught on fire, causing them to lose steering and crash into a tractor trailer. Since then, safety groups have petitioned the FTC to keep that car rental agency from renting cars that have been recalled but not repaired. The company says that it has improved its approach to vehicle recalls. Before renting a vehicle, consumers may want to check to see if there have been any recent recalls and whether any repairs have been done.

Automobile rental companies have also been accused of failing to purchase vehicles with the latest safety features because of the added cost. An investigation found that a rental agency deleted a standard safety feature (side curtain air bags) from Chevy Impalas bought from GM in order to save millions of dollars.

Car rental agencies have a duty to provide safe vehicles for their customers. If you have been injured in a Dallas automobile accident involving a rental car, contact Dallas car accident attorney Kris Barber at 972-231-5805. You could be able to recover against the rental agency, the other driver involved in the accident, or possibly the car’s manufacturer. Call today to learn more.

Under Texas law, people who drive in Texas are required to maintain automobile insurance. The minimum insurance limits allowed are $25,000 for each injured person, with a total of $50,000 per accident. This coverage is required so that if you are at fault in an accident, the other party involved in the accident can have medical expenses and other damages paid. 

However, although automobile insurance is required, many Texans do not purchase it. When that person causes an automobile accident, the other party often does not have a way to recover for property damage and medical expenses. For that reason, I highly recommend that drivers purchase uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.

Uninsured motorist coverage pays for damages caused by a driver with no insurance, and underinsured coverage pays for damages caused by a driver with an insufficient amount of coverage to pay for the damages suffered in the accident. Typically, uninsured / underinsured (also known as UM/UIM) motorist coverage does not add a large additional premium cost to the insurance policy, and the coverage can become invaluable in the event of an accident.

If you are involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist, and you do not have uninsured motorist coverage on your vehicle, it may be difficult to recover. In some situations, the driver may have a sufficient amount of assets that you can pursue in a personal injury lawsuit. However, this is usually not the case – if the individual had a lot of assets, he or she would most likely have automobile insurance.

Have you been injured in a Dallas automobile accident that was caused by another driver? If so, contact Dallas automobile accident attorney Kris Barber at 972-231-5805 or email main@thebarberlawfirm.com to learn more about your legal options.

The Texas House Committee on Transportation heard testimony on March 9 about the dangers of texting while driving. The House is currently considering a statewide ban on the practice of texting while driving. Currently, the cities of Dallas, San Antonio, El Paso, Galveston, Austin and Missouri City have a ban on texting while driving. 

The bill, HB 243, would ban text messaging, instant messaging and composing emails while driving. Over 20 states already have such a ban in place. Surveys show that most Texans support a ban on the use of cell phones while driving. However, some groups oppose a blanket ban, releasing reports that show no change in traffic accidents and a difficulty in enforcing such a ban. One report released showed that crash rates went up in four states after they enacted a ban on text messaging, and no states with a ban in place had a reduction in accidents.

The state already has laws in place putting limits on texting statewide. Drivers younger than 18 cannot text while driving. Neither can bus drivers while children are present, or drivers in a school zone.

Regardless of whether Texas enacts a statewide ban on texting while driving, drivers have a duty to other drivers, as well as passengers, to drive safely. Drivers who cause accidents due to any type of dangerous behavior, including texting while driving, can be held liable for that negligence. Individuals who are injured because of the driver’s negligent behavior can recover monetary damages, which may include medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering.

If you have been injured in a Dallas automobile accident due to the fault of another driver, contact Dallas personal injury attorney Kris Barber at 972-231-5805 for a free consultation on your accident.