In a tragic accident that occurred Saturday night, a man fell from a platform and was dragged beneath a Dallas Area Rapid Transit train and was killed. The accident occurred inCarrollton. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Although it’s possible DART was not responsible for the accident that occurred Saturday night, common carriers do have a responsibility to keep passengers safe. “Common carriers” are those whose business it is to transport individuals from one place to another for compensation, and whose services are open to the public. Some examples of common carriers include commercial buses, trains, subways, airplanes, taxis and ferries.

Common carriers owe their passengers a special duty to passengers. In general, common carriers are required to use the highest degree of care and diligence in transporting passengers to their destinations. The common carriers must have the equipment and skill to transport passengers.

Although common carriers do owe a high degree of care for their passengers, they are not considered insurers of their passengers’ safety. They are only required to exercise that degree of care that could reasonably be expected. If a passenger is injured, it’s not automatically the responsibility of the common carrier – the accident could have been caused by the passenger’s negligence.

If you have been injured in a common carrier accident, contact the personal injury attorneys at the Barber Law Firm at 972-231-5800 as soon as possible. It’s important to preserve evidence and investigate the accident before it’s too late.

A motorcycle rider was tragically killed in an accident Wednesday night in Dallas. The accident occurred on Northwest   Highwayat Pickwick Lanewhen a female driving a Hyundai turned east onto Northwest   Highwayand hit a motorcycle that was driving westbound on Northwest Highway. The motorcyclist, who was about to celebrate his 24^th birthday, was speeding. He died at the scene. The driver of the Hyundai suffered only minor injuries.

Speeding on a motorcycle poses serious risks, primarily to the motorcyclist, but also to other drivers on the road. In 2010, 4,502 people were killed in theU.S.in accidents involving motorcycles. An additional 82,000 were injured. Among fatal accidents, approximately 35% of those bikers were speeding. That means almost 1,600 people in theU.S.died because they were speeding on a motorcycle. In addition, 27 percent of motorcyclists in non-fatal accidents had prior speeding convictions. Speeding is an especially big problem with motorcyclists under the age of 30.

Drinking and driving can be a contributing factor – when people drink, they can lose their inhibitions and do something they might not normally do. About 28 percent of all motorcyclists in fatal accidents have blood alcohol concentrations over the legal limit.

It’s always tragic when a young person loses his or her life because of an avoidable accident, such as this motorcycle wreck. If you or a loved one has been injured in a wreck with a motorcycle, call theDallaspersonal injury attorneys at the Barber Law Firm at 972-231-5800. We will advise you on the best course of action to take.

Spring break season is upon us. Thousands of high school and college students across the country are enjoying time off and travelling with friends. However, spring break season can be notoriously dangerous. Last week, a 21 year oldDallasman was beaten and stabbed nine times on South Padre Island during his spring break. He has suffered a collapsed lung and two surgeries and is fighting for his life. Friends and family say he probably would not have survived if he had not been in such great physical shape.

It’s important to take safety precautions whenever you travel, but especially on spring break. First, before you leave, pack some essentials, like medications, proof of insurance, identification, and copies of itineraries with your loved ones. Once you finally leave, it’s important to arrive safely. Buckle up. When alcohol is involved, if you plan on driving make sure there’s an assigned designated driver before you leave. If you are in an area in which there are dangerous neighborhoods, map out your route before you go to ensure you don’t end up in lost in a bad part of town.

While you are having fun on the beach, remember that the beach poses its own dangers. Use lots of sunscreen applied frequently throughout the day to avoid sun poisoning. Drink lots of water to avoid dehydration. Be sure to wear life vests when needed. Don’t swim or drive a boat if you’ve been drinking.

Finally, be sure to surround yourself with people you know and trust. Travel in groups, particularly to places such as ATMs. Make sure you get enough sleep throughout your trip so that you are able to make wise decisions.

Spring break can be a great time as long as you take some basic safety precautions. If you have been injured on a spring break trip due to the negligence of another person, contact the personal injury attorneys at the Barber Law Firm at 972-231-5800. Our attorneys will fight for your legal rights.

According to a new survey by Men’s Health magazine,Dallas,St. LouisandHoustonhave the most dangerous drivers in the country. Three ofTexas’s cities finished in the top 10: Dallas, Houston and Austin. Three moreTexascities were in the top 20:Ft.Worth,Lubbock, andSan Antonio.

To arrive at the rankings, the magazine studied accident statistics, including speeding, hit and runs, accident involving alcohol, seatbelt use, and fatal accident rates. The study also looked at cell phone laws and the number of years between accidents. The study used data from Allstate Insurance, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

So what can you do if you find yourself in a city full of bad drivers? If you find yourself surrounded by bad drivers, the best thing to do is practice defensive driving techniques. This means not only driving safely and responsibly yourself, but also keeping an eye on the drivers around you.

First, buckle up – not only yourself, but all of your passengers as well. Make sure all doors are locked. Drive with the flow of traffic – not too fast, not too slow. Don’t drink while driving, of course, and don’t use cell phones or other electronic devices while driving. Be very alert for other drivers – avoid those you think may be driving aggressively or may be under the influence. If you see such a driver, call the police. Finally, don’t follow too close – give vehicles plenty of room.

If you have been involved in an accident with a bad driver inDallas, call the Barber Law Firm at 972-231-5800. Our attorneys will help you pursue a case against the bad driver.

Tragically, a catering service employee was killed at Dallas/Fort Worth International airport on Sunday morning. The victim, who was in his 50s, was on the loading dock and was struck by a truck. The victim died on the scene. No details of how the accident occurred are being released. The airport’s Department of Public Safety is investigating. The accident did not affect flight operations at DFW, but did affect the catering services to some flights.

The loved ones of accident victims such as this man, who die in on-the-job accidents, are entitled to fair compensation. By law, most employers are required to provide workers’ compensation insurance for their employees. Employees that are injured on the job are entitled to receive money for medical expenses as well as any wages they lost because of time off from work due to an injury. In addition, if an employee is permanently injured, the employee is entitled to receive extra compensation which varies depending on the injury.

Some employees may choose not to accept workers’ compensation, or their employers may not have workers’ compensation insurance. In that case, the employee may choose to sue the employer for injuries.

Workers’ compensation cases can be complication and expensive. If you or someone you know has been injured on the job, contact the Dallas workers’ compensation attorneys at the Barber Law Firm at 972-231-5800. We will work hard to obtain the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Call us today.

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.

service road inIrving. He was attempting to avoid an accident. An employee at a radio station took the bus’s picture and contacted the school district. The driver was suspended pending an investigation.

Although no accident occurred and no one was hurt in this incident, school buses are occasionally involved in accidents and children are hurt from time to time. So how can you make sure your kids are safe? First, you need to be aware of the risks involved with children and school buses, and educate your kids about how to stay safe. About 22.5 million school age children ride school buses to and from school. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 40 children are killed in school bus-related traffic accidents each year. These statistics make school buses one of the safest forms of transportation available.

Of those students who were killed in school bus related accidents, most were pedestrians struck by school buses rather than passengers. Children between the ages of 5 and 6 represented more than half of all school-aged pedestrians killed by school buses over the last 10 years. Therefore, it’s especially important to educate your younger children about the dangers of walking near school buses.

Inform your children that in order to stay safe, they should try to arrive at their bus stop early. When crossing streets, look both ways and cross at crosswalks. Once you’re at the bus stop, stand away from the curb. Cross at least 10 feet in front of the school bus, and wait for the driver to signal before you cross. While you’re actually riding the bus, don’t lean out the window. Try not to distract the driver, and use a seatbelt if it’s available.

Have you or your child been injured in a school bus accident because of the negligence of another party? If so, contact theHoustonschool bus accident attorneys at the Barber Law Firm at 817-329-5095. Our attorneys will help you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

With the weather warming up, and with gas prices sky-high and most likely rising more before summer, increasing people are turning to scooters, mopeds, and other forms of transportation instead of their automobiles.

Many people don’t consider scooters to be dangerous. However, they can be. Scooters move faster than bicycles and do not offer many protections. To stay safe on scooters, there are a few safety tips to follow. First, obey all traffic laws. Try to keep on the right side of the road, like a bicycle. Be sure to use the proper safety equipment, including a helmet that is approved by the Department of Transportation. Although it may be tempting to wear shorts and other summer clothing, you may wish to consider wearing gloves, pants and a riding jacket to avoid hand, leg and torso injuries in the event of an accident.

It’s extremely important to be observant when riding a scooter. Many other drivers report having trouble seeing motorcycles, which are bigger and louder than scooters. Stay close to the edge of the road and use mirrors to see the area behind your scooter. It’s also important to follow safe riding practices, such as riding defensively. If you must ride at night, wear bright colors and use reflective strips to make yourself visible to other cars. Use your headlights. Finally, if you are in an accident, speak with the police officer at the scene. Get all necessary information from the other driver, such as insurance information and contact information. Take pictures if possible.

Scooter riding can be a fun and safe hobby if good safety practices are followed. If you have been injured in aDallasscooter or moped accident due to another driver’s negligence, contact theDallaspersonal injury attorneys at the Barber Law Firm today at 972-231-5800. Our attorneys have assisted numerous accident victims in obtaining the compensation they deserve.

A personal injury claim is valued and usually settled based upon an estimate of what a jury would likely award as reasonable compensation for your injuries. The jury will take into account how severe your injuries were and the effects of the accident on your life, both immediately and for years to come. In addition to compensation for medical expenses and lost wages, you are entitled to damages for personal injuries, including pain, suffering, and loss of companionship and of enjoyment of life. Severe injuries requiring substantial medical treatment, extended time off from work, and permanent physical or mental injuries may justify a large monetary award.

When it comes time to settle a claim, both sides should have a clear picture of the victim’s injuries and how they have affected the victim’s life. The difference between the victim’s life before the accident and the victim’s life after the accident is the value of the claim. For example, a previously healthy, productive, young worker injured severely by an obviously responsible defendant will demand substantial compensation. This is especially true if the victim has undergone substantial medical care, a large loss of earnings, and is facing a future of impaired earning capacity, disfigurement, pain, and suffering. On the other hand, the claim of an older person injured in uncertain circumstances resulting in complaints that can’t be medically proven may be substantially discounted both by a jury and an insurance adjuster.

If the injured person is found partially at fault for the accident, the amount of damages will be reduced. Also, if there is a substantial chance that the claim will not succeed for any reason, then any pretrial settlement offer will be reduced in most cases.

Have you been injured by an accident due to the negligence of another person or business in theDallasarea? If so, contact the Barber Law Firm at 972-231-5800. Our attorneys will help walk you through the process of filing a personal injury claim. Call us today for a free consultation.

Thursday afternoon, a tractor trailer loaded with 30,000 pounds of cardboard was involved in an accident, shutting down the Dallas North Tollway for hours. The accident occurred when the truck began travelling too fast, crossing all three lanes of Tollway traffic. The truck then pushed an SUV through a concrete barrier and into the southbound side of the highway. The truck fell over and landed on top of another vehicle. The drivers of the other vehicles were transported to area hospitals. The driver of the semi truck was not injured.

Large commercial trucks are far more likely to be involved in fatal vehicle accidents than passenger cars, partially because of their large size in comparison to other vehicles on the road. Every 16 minutes in theU.S., a person is injured or killed in a semi-truck accident. Surprisingly, the majority of large truck accidents occur in rural areas during the daytime, and on weekdays. Most also occur on dry roads in good weather.

Sadly, accidents caused by fatigued and overworked truck drivers are not uncommon. Most accidents between a tractor-trailer and a passenger vehicle end up badly for passengers in the smaller vehicle. If you have been injured in a crash caused by a fatigued truck driver, you may be entitled to compensation from the trucking company. Your compensation could include money for medical expenses, damage to your vehicle, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

If you have been injured in a tractor-trailer accident, contact theDallastractor trailer attorneys at the Barber Law Firm at 972-231-5800. Our attorneys will provide you with a free consultation and will work hard to obtain compensation for your accident.