Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children in the U.S. between the ages of 3 and 14. Unfortunately, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about three out of four car seats are not installed correctly.

The first step in making sure your child is correctly placed in a car seat is figuring out which seat is right for your child. From birth up until a child reaches age one and at least 20 pounds, your child should be in the back seat in a rear-facing car seat. Between ages one and four, your child should ride in a forward facing car seat in the back seat. After your child outgrows that seat (around age 4 and 40 pounds), the child should ride in a booster seat in the back seat. Under Texas law, the child must ride in a booster seat until he or she reaches the age of 8 or is taller than 4’9”.

Besides insuring you have the right type of seat, you should also be sure that the seat you buy is the safest. Purchase one with a five point safety harness. Don’t buy a used seat if you don’t know the history of the seat or if it has visible cracks or a missing label. You may also wish to see the ratings of various car seats at www.nhtsa.gov.

After you make sure you have the right car seat for your child, the next step is to have it properly installed. In Texas, there are Child Passenger Safety Technicians who provide free safety checks and one-on-one training on car seat installation. You can find one at www.texasclickitorticket.com.

Car safety seats are the primary defense we have for our child if we are ever involved in an accident. If you’ve been involved in an accident in the Dallas area, contact Dallas personal injury attorney Kris Barber at 817-329-5095 to learn more about your legal options.

Tragically, an average of 10 teens die every day in teen-driven vehicles in the United States. The deadliest time of the year for teen drivers is the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day, because more teens die in car crashes during this time of the year than any other. This period is sometimes referred to as the “100 Deadliest Days”.

According to data from Allstate Insurance, the two most accident-prone roads for teens in Dallas are I-635 and I-35E. On I-635, there were 1,489 crashes involving drivers between the ages of 15 and 19 from 2006 until 2010. On I-35E, there were 1,162 crashes involving teen drivers from 2006 until 2010.

So how do you keep your teen drivers safe on the roads this summer? First, remember that you are a role model. Show your teens safe driving habits and seat belt use. Discuss the consequences of using drugs or alcohol while driving, and let them know this behavior is completely unacceptable. Let your teen do as much practice driving while you are supervising as possible. Drive in a variety of settings, including heavy traffic, daytime and nighttime, urban and rural settings, and bad weather.

You may wish to set firm rules about certain situations your teen may encounter while driving. You should consider restricting the passengers your teens can have in the car. Having more passengers, particularly other teens, is very distracting for a new driver and can lead to carelessness. You should also limit night driving – most teen crashes occur between 9 pm and midnight. Finally, restrict a teen’s cell phone usage while driving.

If you take certain precautions now, your teen stands a much greater chance of staying safe on the roads. If you are involved in a Dallas car accident with a teen driver, contact the Barber Law Firm at 817-329-5095 today to learn more about your legal rights.

Most of us have driven while we were sleepy at one time or another. However, recent studies show that driving while drowsy is much more common and dangerous than previously thought.

A 2010 study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that drowsy driving was a factor in one in six deadly crashes. Drowsy driving was also a factor in one in eight crashes in which a vehicle occupant was hospitalized. These numbers are much higher than previous estimates.

According to the study, sleepiness can cause drivers to have slower reaction times, impaired vision, and delays in processing information. Previous studies have found that being awake for more than 20 hours can cause an impairment equal to a blood alcohol level of .08 percent, or the equivalent of being legally drunk.

About one-third of Americans have admitted they have fallen asleep behind the wheel in the last year. Over half have said they have driven while drowsy. Shockingly, over a quarter of adults have admitted to driving despite being so tired they had trouble keeping their eyes open in the previous month.

Experts recommend that you quit driving if you have trouble focusing, keeping your head up, an inability to remember the last few miles driven, if you are yawning repeatedly or are missing exits or traffic signs. If you are exhibiting those behaviors, stop driving and if possible, take a short nap. Drinking caffeinated beverages can also help.

Have you been involved in a Dallas accident that was caused by a sleepy driver? If so, contact Dallas automobile accident attorney Kris Barber at the Barber Law Firm at 817-329-5095 to explore your legal rights.

The Centers for Disease Control has just released a study showing the costs of deaths from motor vehicle crashes. In one year alone, deaths from motor vehicle crashes resulted in approximately $41 billion in medical costs and costs from loss of work. Texas was number two in the nation among states with the highest medical and work loss costs, only second behind California. Motor vehicle crash related deaths cost Texas $3.5 billion per year.

The CDC has recommended that states implement some strategies in order to save both lives and money. First, the CDC recommends that states adopt primary seat belt laws. Primary seat belt laws allow law enforcement to pull over motorists and issue tickets only for failing to wear seat belts. In some states, police officers are allowed to issue citations for failing to wear a seat belt, but only if the vehicle is pulled over for another reason. According to the CDC, wearing seat belts reduces the risk of death to those riding in the front seat by about half.

The CDC also recommends that states adopt tough child passenger safety laws. Such laws require children to be placed in appropriate safety and booster seats according to their age and size. Using the appropriate safety seats, and making sure they are properly installed, can greatly reduce injuries and deaths to children who are involved in motor vehicle crashes.

The third strategy the CDC recommends that states adopt is a comprehensive graduated driver licensing system. Graduated driver licensing systems are aimed at reducing teen crashes by gradually increasing driving privileges in stages gradually over time. Graduated driver licensing systems have been associated with up to a 40 percent decrease in crashes among 16 year old drivers.

Finally, the CDC recommends that states adopt universal motorcycle helmet laws. Such laws require motorcycle riders of all ages to wear helmets. The use of a helmet can reduce the risk of death in a motorcycle crash by over one-third and can reduce the risk of head injury by almost 70 percent.

Deaths from motor vehicle crashes take not only a huge emotional toll on the loved ones of the victims, but also a huge financial toll on the state. Have you been injured in a motor vehicle crash? If so, call Kris Barber at the Barber Law Firm today at 972-231-5800 to learn more.

When insurance companies and attorneys are examining car accidents to decide which party was at fault, usually an investigation is undertaken. The parties will look at police reports, any citations issued, accident photos and witness statements to determine which party was at fault. Usually, the determination of who was at fault is subjective.

However, in a rear end accident, typically the driver who rear ended the car is considered to be at fault. Driving laws require a minimum distance between vehicles, depending on how fast they are travelling. This is to allow enough time for the cars to be able to stop safely. If one car rear ends another, it can be assumed that that driver did not maintain a safe following distance.

There are some instances in which a driver who rear ends another may not be liable. If the driver who was rear ended did not have brake lights or tail lights, the driver who hit him or her may not be held liable. If your car was pushed into the back of another car, you should not be held liable for that collision.

Rear end collisions are one of the most common types of car accidents. More drivers are driving while distracted, which can cause them to fail to see a stopped car in front of their vehicle. In some high traffic areas, rear end collisions can be hard to avoid because of the sheer volume of cars on the road and the close proximity between the vehicles.

Have you been involved in a rear end collision? Contact Dallas automobile accident attorney Kris Barber at 972-231-5800. He will help you determine what damages you may be entitled to.

On April 6, the Texas House approved a bill that would allow the speed limit on some Texas highways to be 85 miles per hour. The Senate is also considering a similar bill.

The new speed limit of 85 would be the highest in the nation. The vote was passed as part of a large transportation bill. The bill authorized the Texas Department of Transportation to raise the speed limit on certain lanes or entire roads after traffic studies and engineering studies were performed.

There are currently over 520 miles of interstate highways in Texas with a speed limit of 80. Automobile insurers are against the measure for safety reasons. Insurance officials claim that increasing the speed limit to 85 will have a big impact on the death and injury rate on highways where the speed limit is raised. They claim that even if the speed limit was increased only on low traffic, flat roads, 85 is simply too fast a speed at which to travel safely. According to the Transportation Department, they haven’t studied the safety data or the speed data the legislation requires in order to raise the speed limit.

Although it is tempting to drive on Texas highways at high rates of speed, especially on those highways with little traffic, increased speeds are dangerous. Accidents are more likely to occur when drivers are speeding.  Accidents that occur at high rates of speed are also more likely to cause serious injuries or deaths than those that occur at lower speeds.

Have you been injured in a Texas automobile accident because another driver was speeding? If so, you may have a cause of action against that driver for your property damage, medical expenses, lost wages, and more. Contact Dallas automobile accident attorney Kris Barber today at 972-231-5800 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.

Last Sunday, in Fort Worth, Hung Nguyen died around 2 a.m. after being involved in a seven-car collision on the bridge from the southbound East Loop 820 to eastbound East Freeway (Interstate 30), due to icy road conditions.

While standing next to his 2001 Honda and inspecting for any damage to his vehicle from the earlier crash, Nguyen and his car were struck by an on-coming vehicle that pushed Nguyen over the barrier, where he fell several hundred feet to the freeway below.

Police said that the pileup occurred due to icy conditions on the bridge, which initially caused two cars to collide after which a tow truck stopped to assist them. Nguyen’s Honda subsequently ran into the back of the tow truck while a black car crashed into Nguyen’s vehicle. With Nguyen outside his vehicle, he was struck by the sixth car which was then struck by a seventh car.

In Arlington, Texas police have stated that icy road conditions were also most likely a factor in the death of Paul Travis Smith, 36. That accident involved two 18-wheel tractor-trailers on Interstate 30 at Fielder Road.

In total, Fort Worth police reported 44 accidents on Sunday between midnight and 10 a.m. compared to 14 for the previous week, during the same time period.

In Dallas, 144 car wrecks were reported on city streets from midnight to 10 a.m. and 140 reported on freeways.

Unfortunately, auto accidents such as these can often be the result of poor weather conditions combined, in many cases, with a lack of judgement on the part of motorists. These accidents frequently occur in our local cities such as Irving, Southlake, and Arlington, TX, and can be quite catastrophic. If you’ve been involved in a Dallas metroplex or DFW area auto accident, you may wish to consult with an experienced local personal injury lawyer.

Our personal injury law firm will offer a free initial legal consultation on your potential personal injury case. If you, or someone you know, have been injured, you should immediately contact a Dallas, Texas personal injury lawyer in order to know your legal rights regarding compensation for medical expenses and lost wages. Call Texas Personal Injury Lawyer Kristopher Barber at (972) 231-5800 for more information or click here to contact us by email.

MESQUITE, TX—Mariana Aguilarde-Rodriguez died early Monday morning after causing a head-on crash with another vehicle.  The collision occurred just before 2 a.m. on Monday when Arguilarde-Rodriguez’ pick-up collided with another truck on I-30 between Motley and Big Town Boulevard in Mesquite, Texas.  Arguilarde-Rodriguez was reportedly driving the wrong way on I-30. She was transported to the hospital with multiple, critical injuries and died several hours later. The other driver and a passenger were taken to the same hospital with less severe injuries and are expected to survive.

Regrettably, fatal accidents like these happen all too often in our local communities like Mesquite, Garland, and Richardson, TX.  Some are caused by wrong-way drivers.  Some are the result of DWI or DUI. Many cause serious personal injury and even wrongful deaths. If you have been involved in an auto accident in Garland, Richardson, or Dallas, Texas or a nearby area, a local, experienced personal injury attorney can help you.

If you have been injured in an accident as a result of someone else’s careless driving, you should contact a Mesquite personal injury lawyer immediately.  Our personal injury law firm offers free initial legal consultations. Call Texas Personal Injury Lawyer Kristopher Barber at (972) 231-5800 or click here to contact us by email.