Fort Worth Injury Attorney Blog

Today the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended that states lower the legal blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.05 percent from the 0.08 percent. I applaud this action.

More than 10,000 Americans are killed and 170,000 people are injured each year due to drunken driving crashes. Every hour one person is killed and 20 people are injured. Over 440,000 Americans have been killed by drunk drivers in the last three decades. That's shocking.

Continue reading "Are DWI Blood Alcohol Limits Too High In Texas?" »

It's been a very busy couple of weeks here. I've settled five cases for good money. One was concluded just before trial. Four were automobile/ truck collisions, one involving a drunk who crashed into my wonderful client at 3 pm then fled the scene. The other involved a pedestrian who was struck and critically injured on the side of an interstate. I'll post more details when I get a chance.

The best part was hearing how pleased my clients were with their financial recoveries. I took one client (and now a friend) to lunch today at a favorite restaurant, The Wood Shed, and I loved hearing him tell me "You've made me rich." (This was their second crash, and their third recovery of money.) Two others said I was "awesome." No, I said they were the ones who were awesome, going through all of the pain they had endured with such grace.

Please contact my office if you need help with a collision.

Have a great weeekend.

Neck and back spinal cord injuries are among the most serious injuries you might experience if you have been injured in a Dallas-Fort Worth automobile or truck accident.

As a Fort Worth personal injury lawyer who has been practicing law here for over 33 years (over 31 in the same office building, the River Plaza Tower on University Drive), I have seen countless spinal cord injuries as the result of automobile, truck, cycle and pedestrian collisions.

Here's a photo of a wonderful client of mine who was side swiped by an 18 wheeler in east Fort Worth and had to undergo a three level cervical fusion. The only good thing is that this led to a substantial court recovery of money and he could retire from his job. Then my client got hit in Burleson and even though I got the maximum insurance amounts for him and his wife from three different policies, he wishes the wrecks had never happened.

The best personal injury attorney is critical if you are to obtain justice and full compensation.

Continue reading "Spinal Cord Injuries From Motor Vehicle Crashes" »

As a long time member of the board of directors of the Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Association, I try to attend all of the monthly luncheons at Joe T. Garcia's. Today's was informative -- and had surprising news.

Judge Terry Means, after discussing procedures, rules and new cases in his court, announced that he had just decided to take senior status. For the first time in 22 years, we will only have one full time federal judge in our busy Fort Worth Division. Cases will be referred to judges in other cities.

It may take a long time to seat a new judge. Due to political infighting, judgeships across the country have remained empty for years.

Continue reading "Federal Judge Means' Talk Today" »

Texas isn't the most expensive state (we're #19) but we all know how high rates are, so here are some tips on how you can get lower rates on your car and truck insurance:

1. Drive safely; a good driving record reduces your premiums;

2. Drive a car that's cheaper to insure, usually a mid size, standard car. Make sure you are being given credit for your vehicle's safety features like air bags and anti-lock brakes;

3. Drive as much as you can for non business reasons;

4. Apply for all available discounts, including defensive driving courses, driver education

Continue reading "How To Save Money On Your Auto Insurance" »

Almost 50% of adults questioned in a recent survey admit that they text and drive, even though nearly all of them know the habit is dangerous. Only 43% of teens acknowledged doing this. The numbers were pretty close and there's no way to know how honest the responses were, but the numbers are on the rise. Ever notice how many people around you are texting or dialing?

I was hired on another one of these cases yesterday to help a man who was rear ended by a teenager who admitted "I never even saw you." The kid got out of his truck holding his cell phone. Think he was looking down and texting at the time? I'm going to subpoena his cell phone records and find out. Another new client is coming in later and told us the same thing on the phone.

Continue reading "Texting While Driving: Adults The Worst Offenders" »

I am pleased that I just settled this car crash for favorable amounts of money for the father, mother and their two children. And I represented this very nice family several years ago when they were unfortunately crashed into by another vehicle and I appreciate the chance to be of service again. Thank you, Chris and Sara.

The best way to decide who to hire is word of mouth. If you are shopping around for the best Fort Worth personal injury attorney, please read over 200 positive client reviews here. Another way is to compare credentials and mine are listed here.

Continue reading "How To -- And How Not To -- Hire A Good Injury Attorney" »

If you saw some of the headlines in the Fort Worth Star Telegram -- just from today -- you know just how dangerous our roads are here in Tarrant County:

* Benbrook Man Dies In Rollover Wreck

* 3 Killed in Two Wrecks Involving Motorcycles

* Fort Worth Police Looking For Driver of Black Mercedes Involved In Hit-And-Run

* Man, 57, Dies After Car Hits Pole In Hurst

* Passenger Killed In Three Vehicle Collision Identified

* Cyclist Fatally Struck Near Arlington School

Unfortunately there is a chance that you will be injured in a motor vehicle collision here in North Texas. There were 23,433 crashes just in Tarrant County in 2011 which seriously injured 5,721 people and caused fatalities to 148 people.

I hope that you haven't been in a motor vehicle collision, but if you have, you owe it to yourself to hire the best personal injury attorney that you can find, just like you deserve the best medical care, or the best of anything.

Continue reading "Do You Need An Attorney To Help You With Your Injury Case?" »

I fought to obtain 100% of the proceeds from three insurance policies to make sure that this very nice woman was fully compensated for her injuries. I settled her case last fall, so I was delighted to read this email this morning:

Date: 3/9/2013
The following person filled out and has sent you information from a contact form on berensonlaw.com:

I would just like to say a big thank you for helping me with my case. You and your staff were very caring. You are the kind of people that are there to help when someone needs help and does not know what to do. Thank you for working so hard and for getting me so much money. D________R_________

Continue reading "Our Happy Clients" »

Having just represented two clients today during their recorded statements, it seemed like a good time to discuss this important topic.

This morning, after already fighting to get my client the maximum proceeds from the other driver's policy, which was difficult (his company denied the case, saying that the collision was unavoidable because he suffered a seizure after taking his heart medicines and he was racing to his doctor; I disproved that defense, settled the case for full value, then worked to get the District Attorney's office to file criminal charges against the driver for DUI, I then helped this very nice woman obtain more money from her underinsured motorist policy.

Continue reading "Recorded Statements: Should You Give One?" »

I hate drunk and stoned drivers and pursue them vigorously when they injure my clients. For example, I am pleased that P____ is about to receive the full policy limits from a man who crashed into her in Fort Worth after his insurance company claimed he was not at fault because he was recovering from heart surgery and was driving to a doctor's appointment; I proved he was driving while under the influence of prescription medications. L___ is about to receive a large settlement for relatively minor injuries caused by a drunk truck driver in Arlington. T__ will soon receive a good recovery after she was hit by an intoxicated Mercedes driver in Hurst.

Impaired driving is far too commonplace. This is just in today's paper:

1. After a two week trial, a Dallas jury returned a verdict of $10.5 million, primarily against the strip club bar that overserved a drunk man, to the family of a young woman run over in its parking lot. The driver -- whose BAC was more than two times the legal limit and who was already on probation -- didn't even know he had hit the woman with this illegal "monster truck." Under the Texas Alcohol Beverage Code, bars, restaurants, and liquor stores can be held liable if they serve alcohol to clearly intoxicated customers.

Continue reading "Drunk Driving in Dallas/Fort Worth Is Out Of Control" »

I am truly honored to have just been reelected to the Board of Directors of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association in Austin. This is the fifth year that I have been named to this prestigious board and it is humbling to be included in the ranks of the best plaintiff lawyers in the state of Texas.

TTLA is a tremendous organization of Texas plaintiff attorneys that was founded in 1949 to protect the rights of injured people. It is the only defender of the civil justice system in Texas. TTLA conducts cutting edge legal seminars, lobbies for consumer-friendly legislation, and assists attorneys as we fight multi-billion dollar insurance companies and corporations to obtain damages for our wrongfully injured clients.

I have also served on the Board of Directors of the Tarrant County Trial Lawyers for the past 18 years and am involved in other legal organizations.

A case involving a woman hit by a pickup truck as she was leaving the WalMart in Arlington has been settled.

I am pleased that I was able to obtain 100% of the truck's liability policy as well as my client's underinsured motorists policy and personal injury protection benefits. I also greatly reduced

Continue reading "Pedestrian Struck By SUV Case Successfully Resolved " »

Distracted drivers have no business on Texas roadways. They are a major nuisance and danger. State regulations are necessary.

Several Texas cities including San Antonio have passed local laws banning texting while driving, and an effort is under way to make it illegal across the state.

The move to ban texting and driving in Texas is not a new campaign.In 2011, the Texas Legislature approved a measure banning texting and driving. The legislation had bipartisan support but was vetoed by Gov.

Continue reading "Texting While Driving: Texas Must Veto This Dangerous Practice " »

I wanted to wish every one a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

I will pause to thank God for my blessings, be with my wonderful family, see some movies and football games and exercise. And my birthday is Friday (how did I ever get to be 58?).
But unfortunately driving during the holidays can be dangerous.

Continue reading "Happy Thanksgiving And Safe Driving" »