Fort Worth Injury Attorney Blog

Toyota Accelerator Defects Could Have Been Avoided According To Its Own Workers

2010-03-09T16:35:30Z

Toyota was warned by its own employees years ago that its insatiable desire to sell more vehicles would result in serious collisions.

According to a memo released yesterday, assembly line workers in Japan noted a steady deterioration in product quality and working conditions in 2006 and told Toyota to repair its vehicles. However, rather than address the problem, the company "completely ignored us," one of the workers reported.

Toyota had already recalled more than 5 million vehicles -- a whopping 36% of the ones it sold -- between 2000 and 2005. This was one of the highest rates of any company.

I am currently investigating whether the horrific crash of a Lexus IS 250 into a tree that severely injured my young client was caused by a faulty accelerator.

]]> Worse than that, Toyota also issued what these workers called "secret recalls," in which owners were told to bring in their cars for "routine checkups," the dealer replaced defective parts, and then billed the owner for the work that it should have paid for.

Just yesterday, a Toyota Prius accelerated to 95 m.p.h. on a San Diego highway before California state police were able to help the driver slow it down.

The government has received complaints of 34 deaths linked to sudden acceleration of Toyota vehicles since 2000, including the California police officer and his family whose Toyota crashed after careening out of control at over 100 m.p.h. and which I previously wrote about. The family of Mark Sayles filed suit yesterday to recover its damages.

"Everything Toyota does is hidden," Fumio Matsuda, 84, often called the Ralph Nader of Japan for his investigation into shoddy car making practices.

Matuda added: "I believe there will eventually be criminal charges. They knew there were problems with their cars, but they didn't do anything until they were pressured."

You may remember that Nader, an attorney, got his start documenting the unsafe features of the Chevy Corvair and other models in his ground breaking book Unsafe At Any Speed. published in 1965. Nader showed that American car manufacturers deliberately designed cars that lacked vital safety features and used that money to add fancy and confusing styling that could even hurt drivers, like metal dashboards, mismarked gear shift knobs, over weighted front tires, faulty rear suspensions, etc.

In response, rather than fix its defective cars, GM outrageously tried to silence Nader by bullying him, illegally wire tapping his phone calls, following him, interviewing every one he talked to, libeling him in the press, and even sending women to lure him into sexual liasons so they could blackmail him.

Last week, an Illinois engineering professor released his test results which showed that Toyota engines could rev without a driver even pressing on the accelerator!

I challenge Toyota to do the right thing and to stop blaming floor mats and gas pedals,but instead get to the bottom of this horrific problem and fix it already.

Death in Fort Worth DWI Case Leads to Dram Shop Lawsuit

2010-03-05T20:34:27Z

Sonia Baker was tragically killed early on the morning of December 15, 2009 when an intoxicated off duty Fort Worth police officer traveling twice the speed limit crashed into her PT Cruiser. I previously wrote about this horrible case.

HERE

and HERE

Yesterday, her family filed a lawsuit against the Pour House bar and grill restaurant which just moved from downtown to West Seventh Street. It served the already drunk Officer Jesus Cisneros four beers and four shots of alcohol. He had already had about six beers before he arrived to meet 30 other police officers to celebrate a birthday.

Officer Cisneros, who has been charged with intoxication manslaughter, is free on a $25,000.00 bail and quit the police force.

]]> Under the so-called Dram Shop Act, Article 2.02 of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage, a bar may be held liable if it knew a patron was "obviously intoxicated," continued to serve him alcohol, and that is the proximate cause of a tort.

Cisneros's blood alcohol content was measured at .17% -- more than two times the legal limit. It is safe to say that he was obviously intoxicated at the Pour House, but that the bar continued to serve him and his fellow oficers.

No disciplinary action has been taken against the other officers. I cannot believe that these professionals who arrest motorists for DWI would allow their fellow officer to stumble out of the bar at 1:00 a.m., knowing he could crash into an innocent victim. And how many of them drove away drunk? And since Cisneros was not authorized to take his FWPD cruiser home with him, surely someone must have noticed. Shame on them all.

The lawsuit was filed by an able Dallas attorney and I know he will see that justice is served for Sonia's surviving husband and two children.

I have handled many of these cases before -- I just settled another one yesterday for a generous sum of money when my client was hit on Belknap Street in Haltom City by a drunk driver who was fleeing the police -- and am angered when my clients are crashed into by drunk drivers.

Toyota Acceleration Nightmare to Lead to Change?

2010-03-02T15:41:41Z

President Obama just announced this morning that he may require ALL vehicles to be sold iwith brake override systems that willl prevent these horrific sudden accelerations.

This safety feature -- that is already sold in many other countries but not here for some reason -- will prevent the throttle from sticking in an open position.

Yesterday, the U. S. government finally released records showing that 12,700 owners previously complained about defective Camrys that were built before the recalled 2007-2010 models but which were never recalled. The 2002 Camry, for example, had 175 speed-control defects which were never repaired, even though a shocking 50% of those resulted in collisions -- double the number in 2007 Camrys, where 25% of the sudden accelerations caused crashes.

Don't think this is a problem that affects us? Just this Sunday night in Southlake, a poor woman named Waynoka Ricord, age 77, who was driving home from her job at DFW Airport, died when her 2004 Corolla veered out of control and crashed into a tree.

]]> And my previous blog entry reported that on December 26, 2009 four local DFW residents also died in Southlake when their Toyota Avalon suddenly sped up, crashed through a fence, and flipped upside down in a lake where they tragically drowned. The driver's wife told police that the car had previous problems with its gas pedal, which they had reported to the dealer. A passenger has already filed suit against Toyota. See Toyota accelerator may have killed 4 in Southlake wreck

What's even scarier, thousands of other people have complained that their GMs, Hondas, and other vehicles suddenly sped up and crashed, including 3,500 Fords alone. None of these vehicles have been recalled.

Who knows when his or her car will suddenly accelerate to 60 mph or faster -- or when one of those cars will crash into you as you drivie down Hulen or Lancaster? It's frightening. Talking about an accident just waiting to happen!

Please contact this office if you have any questions about a crash caused by any car, truck of SUV that suddenly accelerated beyond control.

Toyota Lawsuits

2010-02-24T23:13:15Z

Shame on you, Toyota.

It was not until August of 2009, when an off-duty California Highway Patrol officer and three members of his family were killed did Toyota finally have to take notice - and only then due to the release of this horrifying video on the Internet:

So what did Toyota do? Did it immediately recall ALL of the defective cars it had sold and repair them? No, it blamed the floor mats! But when 4 people in Southlake were killed in a terrifying sudden acceleration collision the day after Christmas and the mats were found in the trunk, clearly the gas pedal or the engine were the problems. Click here to read the latest on this case

]]> Finally, on January 26, 2010 Toyota halted U.S. production and sales of several models. And eight million Toyota vehicles have been recalled worldwide, seven million in the U.S. But it limited the :repair" to the models listed below.

HoweverToyota did not fix the problem and the life threatening injuries and deaths continued unabated.

Then Toyota tried to blame the maker of the accelerator and brake pedals. And the driver who crashed when their cars unexpectedly sped up to speeds exceeding 100 miles and hour and crashed into other vehicles and buildings. Toyota blamed everybody but itself.

But today, in an unprecedented and shocking admission by any company -- let alone one with a preiously sterling reputation -- admitted that it had valued profits over safety and finally took full responsibility for these needless deaths and injuries.

The CEO of Toyota, Akio Toyoda, told the U. S. House of Representaties that his company was aware that pedals had been sticking for over a year and had even fixed them in Europe. This is even though it had previously claimed it only knew of problems in the U.S. beginning in October 2009. The real truth is that these vehicles have been defective since the 1990s, and Toyota has engaged in a massive cover up to hide the truth from the world.

It is believed that some Toyotas suddenly accelerate when they are subjected to ielectrical magnetic nterference from radios and other devices

This was the second day in a row that company executives testified before Congress. Yesterday, one admitted that its repairs might "not totally" solve the problem.

The president of Safety Research who criticized Toyota for not doing enough to examine its electronics--which he suspects are causing surges in acceleration--or to undertake safety recalls.

And a shocking company memo revealed that Toyota had saved $100 million when the U.S. government allowed it to only replace its floor mats, rather than actually repair the defective vehicles. One congressman said that "it's one of the most embarrassing documents I've ever seen."

Toyota is one of the most profitable corporations in the world, grossing over $270 billion a year.

Today, in stunning testimony, the Toyota president admitted he had put growth ahead of quality and apologized to the American public "for any accidents that Toyota drivers have experienced."

Lawsuits have already been filed, here in Texas and across the United States. We believe that Toyota is guilty of design, manufacture, and marketing defects, negligence, breach of express and implied warranties, and misrepresentation of quality, reliability and safety. Furthermore, since Toyota knew of the safety problems but lied to government regulators, it has violated federal racketeering laws.

U.S. Transportation Department chairman Ray LaHood said that the recalled Toyotas are 'not safe'" and that Toyota "had grown 'safety deaf' over the years. No kidding!

According to a column in the Wall Street Journal, private lawsuits are the best way to guarantee our safety: "For all the demonizing of trial lawyers, the reality is that product-liability litigation has become an ever more important means of keeping consumers safe.

We intend to file suit and vigorously represent those who have been unfortunately injured in an accident relating to the suddent acceleration of a Toyota or Lexus, please contact us immediately for assistance.

RECALLED MODELS

Due to sticky gas pedals (affecting 2.3 million U.S. vehicles):

2009-10 Corolla
2009-10 Matrix
2005-10 Avalon
2007-10 Camry
2010 Highlander
2007-10 Tundra
2008-10 Sequoia
2009-10 RAV4

Due to gas-pedal entrapment under floor mats (affecting 5.3 million U.S. vehicles):

2007-2010 Camry
2005-2010 Avalon
2004-2009 Prius
2005-2010 Tacoma
2007-2010 Tundra
2008-2010 Highlander
2009-2010 Corolla
2009-2010 Venza
2009-2010 Matrix
2007-2010 Lexus ES350
2006-2010 Lexus IS250/IS350
2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe (built by a joint venture between Toyota and General Motors Co.)

The following models, encompassing 1.7 million vehicles, are affected by both recalls:

2005-10 Avalon
2007-10 Camry
2007-10 Tundra

Hybrid models recalled for brakes that seem to fail momentarily (affecting 147,500 U.S. vehicles):

2010 Prius
2010 Lexus HS250h

Model recalled to check a power-steering hose that may be in contact with a brake tube, potentially creating a hole in the tube, leading to loss of brake fluid and longer stopping distances (affecting 7,300 U.S. vehicles):

2010 Camry
Source: Toyota Motor Corp.

Toyota and Lexus Crashes

2010-02-22T16:45:44Z

Questions for Mr. Toyoda

In the weeks since Toyota's safety problems have become international news, Akio Toyoda, the company's president, has apologized repeatedly.

When he testifies on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, he is expected to apologize again and, according to a prepared statement, admit that his company's "priorities became confused" in its quest for growth over the last decade. It isn't enough.

Mr. Toyoda owes consumers a complete explanation of why his company failed -- for years -- to fully respond to complaints about its cars' sudden and uncontrolled acceleration, a problem that may have caused 34 deaths since 2001.

]]> He must disclose full details on when the company first learned of the problem, why it waited so long to address it and why it believed that a series of minor and inexpensive fixes would be enough -- even after complaints continued to pour in.

He also must explain when and what the company told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about these problems. Americans have good reason to fear that regulators failed to do their job.

Among the subpoenaed documents Toyota has given to Congress is a chilling presentation bragging about how the company secured "favorable recall outcomes" -- including negotiating a deal with the federal safety agency in 2007 to recall only 55,000 optional floor mats that were supposedly causing unintended acceleration.

Two years later, in August 2009, a California highway patrol officer driving a Lexus with a different mat was killed in a crash. Only then did Toyota decide to recall another 4.3 million vehicles of various models to install "smart pedals" that would allow drivers to brake even if the gas pedal was pressed.

Earlier this year, after more complaints, Toyota recalled more than three million cars to fix a different problem with a pedal that stuck, leaving the throttle open.

In testimony before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on Tuesday, James Lentz III, the president of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., grudgingly admitted that these recalls may not have entirely solved the problem and that there may be other instances of "mechanical, human or some other type of error."

But, in his prepared testimony, he insisted that its electronic throttle is not at fault. Critics note that the number of cases of uncontrolled acceleration spiked after the system was introduced in 2001. And Toyota still has not performed a rigorous investigation into the electronic devices.

In a letter to Mr. Lentz, the committee's chairman, Henry Waxman, and Bart Stupak, a subcommittee chairman, said that the study Toyota says proves the throttle isn't the cause had a very small sample size and failed to test for real-world conditions.

Representatives Waxman and Stupak also have been highly critical of American regulators. In a letter to Ray LaHood, the transportation secretary, they say that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's only investigation into the many complaints about Toyota, made in 2004, was "cursory" and "marred by highly questionable assumptions."

If there is any good news, it is that the federal safety agency is now taking a much more aggressive stance. It pushed Toyota hard to recall vehicles. It also opened inquiries into how Toyota responded to complaints and whether it communicated problems to the safety agency in a timely manner. It has decided to look again into whether there may be a problem with the electronic throttle controls.

Consumers need to hear the answers to those questions soon, and they need to hear how the federal safety agency plans to change its procedures so it can't be sweet-talked or flimflammed by the companies it is charged with overseeing.

Toyota has even more hard work ahead if it hopes to regain the confidence of drivers around the world. The first sign that it has the right priorities is to tell the full truth about how it went so badly wrong -- and prove to consumers that this time it has really fixed the problem.

The New York Times

Fort Worth tractor trailer wreck kills driver

2010-02-21T15:48:06Z

A 23 year old Fort Worth man was sadly killed early Sunday morning on East Rendon Crowley Road when he was thrown from his car after collided with a tractor-trailer

Police have not said whether speed, failure to yield right of way, alcohol or drug use, or seat belt use were contributing factors.

In cases where the injured party may possibly be at fault, an immediate and thorough investigation by an accident reconstruction expert is needed to determine liability.

If you have been hurt in a wreck with an 18-wheeler, you need an experienced and aggressive attorney who only handles collision cases. Trucking companies and their insurance carriers may repair the vehicles and dispose of incriminating driver logs, bills of lading, receipts, beer bottles and prescription bottles.

I spoke on the topic of "How to Obtain Critical Documents in Commercial Trucking Cases" to fellow members of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and have handled many of these cases. Click here to read about the case I successfully handled on behalf of the family of poor Robert Walters who was tragically killed in a crash (see photo from the scene above) with a an 18-wheeler on I35 in Gainesville.

18 wheeler accident results in huge verdict

2010-02-19T18:29:03Z

An Anderson County jury just rendered an enormous $8.6 million verdict on behalf of a young 18 year old Palestine woman who was seriously injured in 2006. Martha Gaines' car was crashed into by a poorly maintained tractor-trailer driven by an unlicensed driver hauling heavy oil field equipment.

Martha lay in a coma for nearly two months and suffered life-threatening injuries. Her medical bills were well over one million dollars. Martha had just received a soccer sholarship to attend college. Her life, once so promising, was destroyed.

But Martha's nightmare is not over. The truck company is appealing the verdict.

I had a similar case several years ago where a (fortunately) empty gas tanker crashed into the rear of my clients' car. The 60 year old wife was severely injured, was in a coma for several weeks, and required multiple surgeries to her shoulder and extensive physical therapy. Her 65 year old husband sustained neck and back injuries.

]]> Our extensive investigation did not revealed any mechanical defects in the tractor or tanker. The driver was properly licensed and had a good driving record. My clients medical bills were much less, but I was able to force the insurance companies and their attorneys in Dallas to pay my wonderful clients the sum of $5,500,000 -- one of the largest amounts in the history of Johnson County - just before trial.

The case was reported from start to finish on the front page of the Fort Worth Star Telegram, Dallas Morning News, and other local newspapers.See our Case Results page for one article. Others are listed in the section of this site called "In the News."

Toyota Accidents - Call Us

2010-02-11T15:50:43Z

The acceleration and breaking defects on Toyota and Lexus vehicles have been blamed for numerous collisions resulting in injuries and deaths over the past 10 years in the U.S.

Drivers have filed thousands of complaints about 17 Toyota and Lexus models that suddenly accelerated like a rocket. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received more complaints about these supposedly safe vehicles than from any other manufacturer in history.

My firm is investigating cases involving injuries or deaths resulting from the faulty accelerators and breaking systems. If you, a family member, or friend has been involved in a wreck while driving one of the vehicles listed below, you should call as soon as possible to discuss your case.

]]>
From Toyota.com

Which models are involved in the sticking accelerator pedal recall/stop sale?
Toyota's accelerator pedal recall and suspension of sales is confined to the following Toyota Division vehicles:

• Certain 2009-2010 RAV4*,
• Certain 2009-2010 Corolla*,
• 2009-2010 Matrix,
• 2005-2010 Avalon,
• Certain 2007-2010 Camry*,
• Certain 2010 Highlander*,
• 2007-2010 Tundra,
• 2008-2010 Sequoia

*Highlander hybrids and Camry hybrids are not involved in this action and will remain for sale. Further, Camry, RAV 4, Corolla and Highlander vehicles with VINs that begin with "J" are not involved.

Which models are involved in faulty ABS breaking system?

This recall involves approximately 133,000 2010 model year Prius vehicles and 14,550 Lexus Division 2010 HS 250h vehicles.

If you have not been injured but drive one of the recalled vehicles, please immediately contact your local Toyota dealership to discuss repairs or replacement vehicles. However, if you have been injured, you want an attorney who is Board Certified in Personal Injury Law who can help you get the medical care you need and fight to get you the money you deserve for your injuries.

Fort Worth death caused by New Mexico wreck

2010-02-09T20:02:06Z

A Fort Worth firefighter was tragically killed and two other firefighters were injured Sunday in a one-vehicle rollover wreck on a New Mexico highway.

David Eaves, 40, an 11-year veteran of the department, was headed to a ski trip Colorado, according to a Fort Worth Fire Department spokesman.

The wreck happened around 1 a.m. Sunday on U.S. 64 near Raton, according to the New Mexico Department of Public Safety. The 2007 Ford pickup in which Eaves, Eric Thompson and Michael Josh Pool were traveling apparently slid off the roadway.

Eaves was ejected from the truck and pronounced dead at the scene, according to the accident report.

Tragic accidents like this happen too often. I am representing a man from Fort Worth in a similar case. He was driving home from a trip to New Mexico when a man lost control of his car and moved into my client's lane. The head-on collision knocked my client unconscious and caused deep lacerations and severe bruising and scarring to his arm, legs, and chest. He was forced to walk on crutches for weeks due to his injuries. Because he was unable to work, he has since lost his high-paying job for Thornton Steel. This is a picture of his car.

]]> The insurance company for the man who hit him has made an offer, that while substantial, is not enough to fairly compensate my client. They don't think he is entitled to collect money for the huge disfiguring scars on his arm because "they're not on his face and he's not a woman." Click here to read the lawsuit I am preparing to file on his behalf if they do not increase their offer substantially.

If you have been injured in an automobile wreck, the insurance company for the other driver is not on your side. They want to pay you as little as possible because the less they pay out, the more profit they make. Without an attorney, you have little recourse when they make a low offer. You need a Board Certified Personal Injury Attorney on your side to protect your rights. Call or e-mail my office today for a free case evaluation.

Dallas accident kills woman hit by driver evading police

2010-02-05T16:05:11Z

I sadly have to report that a 21 year old DeSoto woman unfortunately died last night after her car was struck by a Chevy Tahoe driven by a man fleeing the police.

Late Thursday night, an officer tried to pull over the Tahoe due to a defective headlight, but the driver failed to stop, The driver ran the stop light and crashed into Gladys Barrientos's Honda Civic that she was turning left in front of him.

I am filing a lawsuit on behalf of a woman stopped at a red light when a woman also fleeing the police spun out of control while turning left and crashed head-on into my client. I am investigating how to recover additional sources of money for her.

Fort Worth car wreck caused by drunk driver - this time a fire fighter

2010-02-03T15:14:43Z

Police are saying that a Fort Worth fire fighter was drunk when he crashed his Dodge Ram pickup truck into a stopped Volkswagen on Airport Freeway on Tuesday.

Shea Oneill, 37, of Benbrook was released from a Bedford jail Wednesday morning after posting a $1,500 bail.

According to reports, an officer smelled alcohol on Oneill after the crash. The fire fighter refused a breath test and a field sobriety test and was arrested.

]]> Drunk drivers are a threat to all innocent drivers on our roads. Intoxicated drivers often drive faster and without regard for other drivers around them. That combined with the significantly slowed reaction time obviously makes them extremely dangerous to other motorists.

I have gone successfully taken on many drunk drivers over the last 30 years to recover money for my injured clients. I hate people who drink and drive and prosecute them with a special vengeance. I also donate a portion of my attorney's fee to MADD. If you have been involved in a crash with a drunk driver, I want to help you. Please Call or E-mail me today to discuss your case.

Mineral Wells collision injures 3 people

2010-01-21T18:29:53Z

Three people were injured in Mineral Wells yesterday when a teenage driver drove into their lane of traffic.

18 year old Meagin Reaves was driving northbound on Highway 281 when she veered left into oncoming southbound traffic, failing to yield and causing Wednesday morning's wreck.

Reaves' vehicle collided with a pickup truck driven by Bob Dempsey, 61, of Mineral Wells. Dempsey's brother, Bill Dempsey, 63, of Huckabay, Texas was a passenger. His injuries included a severe head laceration from the rearview mirror mount.

Reaves and Bill Dempsey were rushed by helicopter to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth due to their serious injuries.

I handled a similar case last year where my client was driving during a rain storm and another driver drove into her lane, causing a massive crash. She broke her leg, was hospitalized, then bed ridden for weeks. I fought to get her a huge settlement.

If you have been hurt in a wreck caused by the negligent driving of another driver, please contact my office at 817-885-8000 for a free no-obligation consultation to discuss your case.

Why hire me?

2010-01-19T16:00:21Z

How do you know if someone you want to hire will do a good job for you?

Probably the best way is by word of mouth -- by asking people who have used him before if they were pleased, right? That's what I do, and I bet you do too.

I just got these three unsolicited e-mails from clients and thought I would share them:

"Thank you, you are a great lawyer." Donnie B. January 19, 2010
"That offer sounds good to me! Thank you so much for everything! I really do appreciate all your help!" Nicole W. January 17, 2010
"I was extremely pleased with how you handled my case and for how much money you got for me!" Kristi M. January 15, 2010

In addition, we send out a review for clients to complete at the conclusion of the case.

I am delighted that 100% of our clients answered YES to these questions:

Were you satisfied with your results? YES

Were you satisfied with your treatment by this office? YES

Would you recommend this office to others? YES

Also, 100% of my clients said they were "very pleased" overall with my office (the highest rating they could give).

For other comments from my clients, please read the Testimonials page on my website

The first meeting with me is free. If you have an injury case that you would like to discuss, please call me and I will be happy to meet you with absolutely no obligation.

Arlington death: police officer killed when his motorcycle crashes with school bus

2010-01-14T17:34:30Z

Another tragedy on the roads of DFW: 34 year old Arlington police officer, Craig Story, who was trying to pull over a speeding vehicle on South Cooper Street, was killed early Wednesday in a collision with a school bus.

The tragic accident happened as the bus, which was travelling southbound on Cooper, attempted to turn left in front of the officer. Police have not yet stated whether the bus driver or the officer would have had the right-of-way at the time, but because the officer was in pursuit and had his lights and siren on, the bus driver was legally required to stop and grant access to the intersection at that time.

Witnesses stated that the motorcycle caught fire after the impact, and that they heard what sounded like an explosion.

The driver of the bus and 9 school-aged passengers were not injured.

Failure to yield the right-of-way is a leading cause of traffic accidents. I have handled numerous cases where a driver makes an unsafe turn in front of one of our clients and causes a needless collision due to his impatience.

Dallas Truck Wreck Causes Death of Driver

2010-01-13T15:56:47Z

NBC News has released a video of the tanker truck that caught fire after it crashed into a barrier on the Dallas North Tollway early on December 18, 2009.

View more news videos at: http://www.nbcdfw.com/video.

The Department of Public Safety has not publicly released a report with its findings about the crash. Sadly, we do know that the 18 wheeler driver died in the crash. Fortunately, no other vehicles were involved in this collision.

This plainly shows how the public's safety needs to be considered when dealing with the hazardous materials that so many 18 wheelers transport through the Metroplex and across the State of Texas every day.

Texas leads the nation in accidents involving 18 wheelers. According to a study by the National Transportation Safety Board study, 90% of the crashes involving 18 wheelers were attributed to driver error. In addition, a Texas Department of Transportation study showed that barring 18 wheelers from driving in the left lane resulted in a sharp reduction in the number of crashes involving 18 wheelers.

I have handled numerous cases involving 18 wheelers. I recently represented a man and his wife who were driving in a Ford Mustang when it was rear-ended by a fuel truck on I-35. Fortunately, the tank was empty, but the impact still nearly killed my both people. I negotiated a settlement of $5.5 Million dollars just before the case was set for trial in Johnson County.