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.

A worker at the Texas Instruments chip fabrication unit in Dallas was tragically killed last week after a water purifier explosion. The explosion caused flying glass to impale the victim. The accident remains under investigation.

In general, when an employee is injured or killed on the job, such as occurred in this tragic accident, the worker or the worker’s family (if the worker is killed) is entitled to workers’ compensation. This compensation is provided in exchange for the employee forfeiting his right to sue the employee for negligence. Most employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance for their employees. Workers’ compensation is administered on a state by state basis. In Texas, this program is called the Texas Workers’ Compensation System.

Usually, employees who are injured at work and make a workers’ compensation claim can receive wages, payment of medical expenses, and compensation for future economic loss. If a worker is killed in the course of employment, workers’ compensation benefits are available to dependents. Usually, compensation for pain and suffering or punitive damages against employers is not available under workers’ compensation programs.

If you have been injured in an on-the-job accident in the Dallas area, you should contact an experienced workers’ comp attorney as soon as possible. The workers’ comp insurance provider may refuse to pay in a timely fashion or to pay at all. Contact Dallas work accident attorney Kris Barber at 817-329-5095 to discuss pursuing your legal claim.

Tragically, a motorcyclist was killed on Monday afternoon on the ramp that connects US 75 and I-635. The man hit the guardrail on the ramp and was thrown 150 feet to the ground. His motorcycle kept moving for another quarter of a mile before stopping. According to police, it’s unclear what caused the crash.

Motorcycling can be very dangerous, because a small mistake by either the motorcyclist or another driver, or a minor condition on the road, such as a pothole, can be deadly for motorcyclists. Have you been involved in a motorcycle accident due to another driver’s negligence? If so, contact Kris Barber, Dallas motorcycle attorney, at 817-329-5095 to learn more about your legal option.

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.

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.

Tragically, a two year old Dallas boy suffered an accidental gunshot wound to the abdomen late last week. This week, he was upgraded to good condition. According to police, the shooting was an accident that also involved the boy’s three year old brother. The boys were in a room together at the time of the accident. The parents were home at the time. Investigators have not determined how the boy got the .380 semi automatic or who fired it. It’s unknown whether criminal charges will be filed.

This story illustrates the importance of keeping guns properly secured. The Dallas Police Department offers free gun locks to the public. The NRA also offers gun safety programs in schools, which teaches children what to do if they find a gun. However, we cannot be with our children every second, and despite our best efforts, some children may not know what to do if they come into contact with a gun. Tragically, guns account for one in every 10 deaths of children between the ages of 5 and 14.

If you own guns, there are important steps to take to keep them safe from children. First, they should be stored unloaded in a locked cabinet, safe, or vault. The containers that store the guns should be kept out of the reach of children. Ammunition should be stored in a locked container and kept separate from the guns. When the guns are taken out of storage, keep them pointed away from other people, even if unloaded. Also, keep your finger off the trigger.

Talk to any adults in whose homes or vehicles your children spend time. Ask them if they have guns and if so, how they are stored. In addition, teach your children about gun safety, even if you don’t think they will ever encounter a gun. If they do encounter a gun and aren’t aware of gun safety, it may be too late to prevent an accident.

Have you been injured on another person’s property by a dangerous condition, such as a firearm? If so, you may be entitled to compensation for those injuries. Contact Kris Barber, Dallas premises liability attorney today at 817-329-5095 to learn more.

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.

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.