A new study shows that young women in the U.S. who choose to drink and drive are now at an increasing risk of being involved in a fatal accident. In 1996, men had double the odds of a fatal crash as women with the same blood-alcohol level. However, in 2007, the gap had closed, and now men and women with high blood-alcohol levels have the same risk of fatal crashes.

Researchers aren’t clear why more young women who are drinking and driving are being killed, but they believe it may be because women are taking more risks while driving than in previous years. Unfortunately, between 1996 and 2007, the risk of a fatal car crash doubled for sober men drivers as well. Researchers believe this is because distracted driving is on the rise.

Also, although this shouldn’t come as a surprise, regardless of a driver’s age or gender, his or her risk of being killed in a car accident increases as their blood alcohol levels rise. Drivers with a blood alcohol level between .02 percent and .049 percent, which is well below the legal limit of .08 percent, faced a three times higher risk of being involved in a fatal crash than sober drivers.

Accidents attributable to drunk driving are especially tragic, because they are so senseless, and because everyone of driving age should know the dangers of drinking and driving. However, thousands are killed in the U.S. each year by drunk drivers. If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident in which alcohol was a factor, call the Dallas personal injury attorneys at the Barber Law Firm at 817-329-5095. We will work hard on your behalf to obtain compensation for your injuries.

It’s so tragic when a highway worker gets hit by a car and killed or injured. However, it’s not uncommon – road workers have one of the highest injury and fatality rates of all occupations. In order to stay safe in work zones, keep in mind the three S’s: speed, space and stress.

First, watch your speed. It’s very dangerous, and not to mention illegal, to speed through a work zone. Maintain a consistent speed throughout the work zone. Don’t accelerate to your normal speed once it appears that you have left the work zone. Instead, wait until you see signs that say it is safe to resume your normal speed.

Next, it’s important to be aware of the space around you. Leave enough room for braking between your car and the car in front. If you become stopped in traffic, leave some distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you. If someone rear ends you, you could avoid hitting the car in front if there is sufficient space between the vehicles. Make sure to leave enough distance between your car and the highway workers, trucks, and equipment. Also, be aware of tailgaters in construction zones. Some drivers become impatient when forced to slow down. If possible, pull over and let them pass.

Finally, manage your stress in work zones. It can be frustrating to encounter a work zone if you are in a hurry to get somewhere, but calm down. Try not to become distracted, which could lead to an accident.

Have you been injured in an accident in a Dallas work zone due to another driver’s negligence? If so, contact the Dallas car accident attorneys at the Barber Law Firm. Call them today for a free consultation at 817-329-5095.

Tragically, a woman was killed in Dallas this week when her SUV crashed, rolling over several times. The accident occurred when the woman, who was speeding, clipped the curb with her tires. The SUV traveled about 100 feet, then started flipping. The woman was ejected before the vehicle stopped. She died at the scene. A passenger in the vehicle suffered only minor injuries.

Unfortunately, SUVs have been known in previous years to be susceptible to rolling over. Fortunately, technology changes have made SUVs safer than ordinary cars. According to studies, someone driving a 2009 car is almost twice as likely to die in a rollover accident as someone driving a 2009 SUV.

Emerging technology, primarily electronic stability control, has been the biggest factor in reducing the death rates for SUV drivers. Electronic stability control is a computer system that helps drivers maintain control on slippery roads and during sudden maneuvers. Electronic stability control is now available on all SUVs sold in the U.S. In addition, more stable designs have decreased death rates from SUV rollovers.

Today, SUVs have some of the lowest death rates due to crashes and are considered safer than large cars – only minivans are considered safer in a crash. However, keep in mind that if you have an older SUV without the safety features the newer SUVs have, you could still be at risk during a crash. That’s why it’s particularly important to always wear your seat belt and don’t speed.

If you have been injured in an SUV rollover in the Dallas area, contact the Barber Law Firm. Our personal injury attorneys have significant experience in dealing with automobile crashes and fighting for the rights of those who are injured. Call us 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.

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.

Tragically, a pickup truck driver was killed and his passenger was seriously injured yesterday in Plano when the truck they were riding in flipped multiple times. When the accident occurred, the truck was traveling at a high rate of speed on E. Plano Parkway. The driver hit the curb, causing the vehicle to overturn. The truck eventually came to rest in a field.

The driver was ejected from the truck. He was rushed to the hospital where he died a short time later. The passenger was taken to the hospital in serious condition, but is expected to live.

Pickup trucks are more likely to flip than other vehicles because of their higher center of gravity. Have you been involved in a pickup truck accident in the Dallas area due to another driver’s negligence? If so, contact Dallas accident attorney Kris Barber at 972-231-5800 to learn more about your legal rights.

A recently released national survey conducted by the Ad Council has shown how prevalent and dangerous texting while driving is becoming in the U.S.

Tragically, distracted driving is the number one killer of American teens, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Sixteen percent of all drivers younger than age 20 who were involved in fatal crashes were reportedly distracted while driving.  Eighty-two percent of drivers between the ages of 16 and 24 have read a text message while driving. Shockingly, a driver who is texting while behind the wheel is 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash than a non-texting driver.

In order to encourage drivers to stop texting while driving, the State Attorneys General and Consumer Protection Agencies, the NHTSA and the Ad Council are joining forces to launch a new public service advertising campaign across the country. The campaign will include TV, radio, outdoor and digital ads. The campaign will also feature Facebook, Twitter and YouTube content. All advertisements will direct viewers to www.stoptextsstopwrecks.org, a website that will teach teens and young adults facts about texting and driving and tips on how to stop.

The promoters of the ad campaign are hoping it will have the same impact on behavior as prior campaigns which targeted seat belt use and preventing drunk driving. Texting is now becoming as much of a problem as drunk driving – research has shown that texting can delay a driver’s reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent, which is the legal limit.

There is no doubt that texting while driving is quickly becoming a major problem on our roadways. If you have been injured in a car accident with a driver who was texting while driving, contact Dallas personal injury attorney Kris Barber at 817-329-5095 to learn how to pursue your legal rights.

An accident in Grand Prairie over the weekend left one high school student dead and three injured. The accident occurred 11:30 on Saturday night on Texas 360 in Grand Prairie.

One of the students lost control of her Lexus while she was passing a slower vehicle at a high rate of speed. The Lexus ran into the center median and hit a tree. One of the students died at the scene. Another student was ejected from the vehicle and is in critical condition in a Fort Worth hospital. Police do not believe alcohol was involved in the crash.

This tragic accident reminds us of the dangers of inexperienced drivers behind the wheel. If you have been involved in an accident with an inexperienced driver, contact Dallas automobile accident attorney Kris Barber at 972-231-5800.

Just before midnight last night, a driver failed to see a road construction crew that was working on I-635 just west of Midway Road. At the scene of the construction, there were flares, flashing lights and cones surrounding the area. The driver drove through the construction zone and crashed into an empty police car. No one was hurt in the accident.

At the time of the accident, it was raining heavily and the streets were slippery, which could have contributed to the accident. The police are still investigating the crash.

It’s critical that drivers be alert near construction areas. When driving through construction zones, slow down and proceed with caution. Tragically, road construction workers are killed every year in construction zones. If you have been involved in an accident in a construction zone, call Dallas automobile accident attorney Kris Barber at 972-231-5800.

The police are attempting to locate a suspect in a hit and run accident that occurred in Irving. The accident occurred on Sunday. Police suspect Marvin Perez, age 27, drove a green Mazda 626 onto the sidewalk on East Grauwyler Road, hitting a seven year old girl and a 57 year old woman. The vehicle was then abandoned about a mile from where the accident occurred.

Both accident victims were transported to area hospitals, where they are listed in serious and critical condition. A warrant has been issued for Perez’s arrest. Police are asking anyone who knows of his whereabouts to call the Irving Police Department at 972-273-1010.

Have you been the victim of a hit and run accident? If so, you may be entitled to recover from the driver for your injuries. Call Dallas accident attorney Kris Barber at 817-329-5095 to learn more.