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.

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.

DALLAS, TX –On the heels of an announcement last week that Toyota would recall approximately 2.3 million vehicles to correct sticking accelerator pedals on specific models, Toyota announced today that it has instructed dealers to temporarily suspend sales of eight models involved in the recall, including the following:

• Avalon (2005-2010)
• Camry (certain 2007-2010 models)
• Corolla (2009-2010)
• Highlander (2010)
• Matrix (2009-2010)
• RAV4 (2009-2010)
• Sequoia (2008–2010)
• Tundra (2007-2010)

Spurring the recall and subsequent halting of sales is the possibility that certain accelerator pedal mechanisms may mechanically stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position.

Though the car maker reports that this product defect is quite rare, a local tragic accident proves that ‘rare’ does not mean ‘never.’  In fact, a sticking accelerator is being investigated as one possible cause of the December 26, 2009, crash in Southlake last month that killed four people driving in a 2008 Toyota Avalon. Investigators say that the Toyota Avalon was going 40 mph when it sped through an intersection, smashed into a metal fence, hit a tree and landed in a pond, upside down.  Witnesses reported that the vehicle never slowed down. This is consistent with the fact that there were no signs of braking.

Our Dallas accident law firm offers free initial legal consultations on defective products and personal injury cases. If you have been injured, you should contact a Dallas injury attorney immediately to help you determine what insurance coverage may be in place to cover your medical expenses and lost wages, and so that you can take steps to protect your legal rights. Call our Texas Personal Injury Lawyers at (972) 231-5800 or click here to contact us by email.

Arlington, TX — Slippery roads caused by rain are suspected to be the cause of a one-car accident in Arlington that left one man dead and his female passenger injured.

Arlington police were called to the scene at approximately 10:30 p.m. Sunday night, November 15, on Interstate 20 near Green Oaks Boulevard.  Apparently, the driver’s car veered off the highway and hit a guardrail.

Tragically, fatal traffic accidents like these happen often in our local communities. This same weekend, a toddler was also killed in Oak Cliff when he was run over by a family member driving an SUV. In West Oak Cliff, a 16-month-old boy who was not restrained in a child seat died from injuries sustained in a rear-end collision.  In addition, a crash on Jim Miller Road in Pleasant Grove claimed the life of a 37-year-old man while two motorcycle wrecks in Dallas, TX were responsible for the death of two others.
Regardless of the cause, if you have been involved in an auto accident in Mesquite or a nearby area, a local, experienced personal injury attorney can help you.

Our Dallas personal injury law firm offers free initial legal consultations on personal injury cases. If you have been injured, you should contact a Mesquite, Texas personal injury lawyer immediately to help you determine what insurance coverage is in place to cover your medical expenses and lost wages, and so that you can take steps to protect your legal rights. Call Texas Personal Injury Lawyer Kristopher Barber at (972) 231-5800 or click here to contact us by email.