Police just confirmed the identity of the Dallas man killed just after 1 a.m. today. The 31 year old man has been identified as Dexter Walpool. The accident occurred in Van Zandt, on Interstate 20 near mile marker 538.

The accident occurred when Walpool lost control of his Kia Sorento and crashed into the concrete median. Unfortunately, he was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown into the road and run over. Following the impact, his car burst into flames. Interstate 20 was closed for several hours following the crash.

Have you been involved in a car accident in the Dallas area? If so, contact Dallas accident attorney Kris Barber at 817-329-5095. You may have legal rights in connection with the accident.

Early this morning, a driver going the wrong direction on a divided six-lane street crashed into a motorcycle. The accident occurred on Robert B. Cullum Boulevard, north of Grand Avenue. The motorcyclist was taken by ambulance to the hospital. The driver was given a field sobriety test and failed and is expected to face criminal charges later today. The driver may have also been involved in another recent crash, because his vehicle had damage not related to the accident with the motorcycle.

Drunk drivers are a danger to everyone on the roads. This tragic accident could most likely have been avoided if the vehicle’s driver had chosen to call a cab, used a designated driver, or waited until sober to drive. Now, the driver faces criminal charges and the motorcyclist is recovering in the hospital. If you have been injured by a drunk driver in the Dallas area, contact Dallas automobile accident attorney Kris Barber at 972-231-5800.

If you have been involved in an automobile accident, move safely to the side of the road and steer clear of oncoming traffic, if possible. Turn your hazard lights on, and call 911 to report the accident. Wait a safe distance from the road, if possible, for help to arrive.

It’s important following an accident to get as much information as possible from the other driver(s) involved in the accident and witnesses to the accident. Write down the driver’s address, phone number, license plate number and other vehicle information, and insurance information. You should also get contact information for any witnesses to the accident.

After you’ve gotten contact information, make as many notes about the accident as possible. Write down a detailed description of exactly what happened, including each car involved in the accident, the locations of the vehicles before and after the collision, where the collision occurred, and what caused the collision. If your cell phone has a camera, take pictures from as many angles as possible of the damage to the vehicles involved.

Following the accident, you should file an accident report with your DMV or the police station if police did not come to the scene of the accident. You should also contact your insurance company to report the accident.  However, you should refrain from giving too many details about the accident or your injuries until you have consulted with a personal injury lawyer.  It is important to know your rights and know what to expect before speaking with either insurance company.  If you decide to hire a lawyer, they will make contact with the insurance companies for you and handle all of the negotiations.

If you are in the Dallas area, contact accident attorney Kris Barber from The Barber Law Firm for a free consultation and to learn more about your options following the accident. Call today at 972-231-5800.

Tragically, a man from Midlothian died from injuries he suffered last week in a crash at an intersection in Grand Prairie. The man was riding on a motorcycle when a van pulled into his path. After colliding with the motorcycle, the van collided with a Chevrolet pickup. The motorcyclist was transported by helicopter to a Dallas hospital after the accident. Police are still investigating the accident.

Unfortunately, accidents that may not be all that serious if involving automobiles can be deadly when a motorcycle is involved. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries because of a motorcycle accident, call Kris Barber, Dallas motorcycle accident attorney to learn more about your legal options. Contact him today at 817-329-5095.

Recently released statistics show that 24.1 percent of all drivers in Dallas County are uninsured. Among Texas’s largest six counties, that is the highest percentage of uninsured drivers in the state. These statistics are surprising since state law requires that drivers maintain minimum levels of coverage. The state has also maintained a three-year initiative designed to reduce the number of uninsured drivers.

Texas requires drivers to maintain minimum insurance coverage. The minimum coverage amount is $30,000 for each injured person ($60,000 per accident), and $25,000 in property damage. Texas has a program, called TexasSure, which allows police officers and county tax officials to electronically confirm whether a Texas vehicle has insurance coverage. The program is aimed at preventing drivers from using counterfeit insurance cards or canceling insurance coverage later.

If a driver is found to be violating the insurance laws, the first conviction can result in a fine between $175 and $350. Later convictions may result in fines of between $350 and $1,000, a driver’s license suspension, or even impoundment of your vehicle.

It’s imperative for all drivers to obtain uninsured motorist insurance coverage. This insurance is designed to protect you if you’re involved in an accident with a vehicle that doesn’t have insurance coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage doesn’t add much to the costs of most insurance premiums, and it can be crucial in the event of an accident.

Have you been involved in an accident in the Dallas area? If so, contact Dallas automobile accident attorney Kris Barber at the Barber Law Firm today at 817-329-5095. He will provide you with a free consultation on your accident case.

Determining fault is very important following a car accident. The party who was at fault typically has to pay for the other party’s medical expenses, damages to his or her vehicle, and other expenses.

Fault is determined by figuring out who was negligent. Sometimes fault is obvious. Both parties involved in the accident will submit their claims to their insurance companies. The insurance companies will determine who they believe is at fault by examining the scene of the accident or photographs, talking to eyewitnesses, and reading the police report. If one of the insurance companies involved believes the driver it covers is at fault, it may offer a settlement to the injured victim. If that settlement is accepted, the case is over.

If the insurance companies do not agree on who is at fault, they may do arbitration or mediation. In those situations, the arbitrator or mediator would determine who was at fault. A last resort is taking the case to trial. At trial, evidence regarding fault would be presented, including testimony from eyewitnesses to the accident, expert witnesses, a police officer at the scene, and perhaps the parties involved in the accident. Following the presentation of the evidence, a judge or jury will determine whether the defendant was negligent or not. If the jury finds the defendant was negligent, it will award appropriate damages to the plaintiff.

If you have been involved in an automobile accident in the Dallas area, you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney. An experienced attorney can help you work through the issues surrounding your injury and can help you get the compensation you deserve. Call Dallas automobile accident attorney Kris Barber at the Barber Law Firm at 817-329-5095 to learn more.

After a personal injury accident occurs, it can be very confusing to figure out who is responsible for paying your damages. Will any of your personal insurance policies cover the accident? What about the policies of any other parties involved in the accident?

Most automobile, homeowners’, and commercial liability insurance policies contain coverage for medical expenses incurred after an accident without regard to who was at fault for the accident. This coverage in automobile policies typically applies to the insured’s family members and the vehicle’s passengers only, while homeowners’ policies and commercial policies cover only visitors to the premises.

Health insurance, worker’s compensation insurance, or disability insurance carriers usually will pay benefits arising from accidental injuries. However, if you file a personal injury claim against another person or a business and that claim succeeds, then the insurance provider will probably require you to repay these benefits to the company. If the accidental injury is primarily your own fault, then only health insurance (such as through your employer), worker’s compensation, or medical payments coverage may apply. If you are in an accident caused by an uninsured driver, you can be compensated by your own “uninsured motorist” coverage (if you have it) applying the same general rules as insured drivers.

Dealing with your insurance company or companies, as well as any other party’s insurance company after an accident can be frustrating. If you have been involved in an accident in the Dallas area, contact Dallas personal injury attorney Kris Barber at 817-329-5095. He has extensive experience in working with insurance companies and can help protect your rights.

Soft tissue injuries are a very common result of automobile accidents. Soft tissue injuries include damage, such as sprains, strains, tears and soreness to the tendons, muscles and ligaments. Car accidents often cause damage to the body’s soft tissues because of the crash impact and the sudden jolting of the body. That impact can cause soft tissues to stretch, which frequently results in damage. That damage can include pain, limited mobility and swelling.

A big problem with soft tissue injuries is they are hard to diagnose. They can’t be found on an x-ray. It typically takes several hours, or sometimes even days, for a car accident victim to experience symptoms of a soft tissue injury. That means it can take time for victims to get the proper treatment. This also means that often accident victims with soft tissue injuries are viewed skeptically by the opposing parties in an accident case.

Whiplash is a very common type of soft tissue injury. Whiplash occurs when a person is in a vehicle that is hit from the rear, causing the head of the accident victim to jerk forward and back, causing a lot of pressure on the neck. Some symptoms of whiplash include headaches, neck pain, stiffness, and sometimes shoulder and back pain. Whiplash can cause spinal damage, joint problems and constant pain.

Automobile accident victims who suffer soft tissue injuries due to another driver’s negligence can recover money for medical expenses, pain and suffering and more. If you believe you have suffered soft tissues injuries, such as whiplash, in an automobile accident, contact Dallas personal injury attorney Kris Barber of the Barber Law Firm at 817-329-5095 to learn more about protecting your legal rights.

In Houston last week, a cab driver was transporting two passengers from a dialysis center when he crashed into a stalled tractor trailer, killing both passengers. The driver was injured in the wreck. According to witnesses, the driver was speeding and weaving before veering off the road and into the truck.

Taxi companies, as well as bus companies, passenger trains, airlines, and other transportation companies, are called common carriers under the law. Common carriers must use a high standard of care for their passengers. In many cases, taxi companies can be held liable for the actions of their drivers, especially if it can be shown the company was negligent in hiring the driver. In many cases, a driver may have a bad driving record but have been hired anyway.

It can often be difficult to determine liability in a taxi cab accident or other common carrier accident. In some situations, cab drivers own their own cabs, so they are solely responsible for damages in an accident. In other situations, taxi drivers rent their cabs from the cab owner, and both the driver and the company can be held liable. In some cases, the cab companies own the taxis and employ the drivers, which means the cab companies are liable for the actions of the taxi driver. If the accident was caused by a manufacturer’s defect with the vehicle, or by the actions of another driver, another party could be held liable for the accident.

Taxi accidents can be difficult to litigate. It may be hard to determine which party is responsible, or finding which insurer against which to pursue a claim. If you have been involved in a taxi accident or an accident with another common carrier, contact Dallas accident attorney Kris Barber. He will work hard on your behalf to determine the responsible party and to hold that party accountable for your injuries. Call him today at 817-329-5095 to learn more.

Texas House Bill 242, which imposes harsh penalties for texting, sending instant messages, or checking emails while driving, may soon become law. The bill is awaiting Governor Perry’s signature.

Under the new law, anyone who violates the ban on texting, messaging, and emailing could face a fine of up to $200 and up to 30 days in jail. If their actions cause serious injuries to, or the death of, another person the driver could face 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine. Currently, Austin, San Antonio and El Paso already have bans on texting while driving.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, in 2009, 3,308 crashes were caused by cell phone usage while driving in Texas alone. Among those crashes, 41 people were killed. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that distracted driving, which includes cell phone use, was to blame for 20 percent of traffic deaths in the U.S. in 2009. In 2005, distracted driving was to blame for only 10 percent of traffic deaths. Currently texting while driving has been banned in 33 states.

Texting while driving is especially dangerous for teens, most of whom are not experienced enough drivers to handle any outside distractions while driving. However, 50 percent of teens admitted to texting while driving in a survey. Some studies have shown texting and driving to be as dangerous as driving while intoxicated.

Have you been involved in an accident with a driver who was texting at the time of the accident? If so, the driver could be held legally responsible for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and more. Call Dallas personal injury attorney Kris Barber at 817-329-5095.