Commercial Truck Accidents

March 31, 2021

New 18-Wheeler Law Will Make Texas Roads More Deadly

Guest blog written for MADD by Bill Berenson, personal injury lawyer and member of MADD’s North Texas Advisory Board of Directors

We have an alarming crisis on our Texas roads you need to know about:

Texas has been #1 in the nation for the most commercial truck crashes for the last five years.
These wrecks took the lives of 685 Texans and injured 6,204 others – many severely – in 2019.
By comparison, California which has over 10 million more people, only suffered 463 deaths that year.
The number of fatalities caused by 18-wheeler crashes rose by almost 30% here since 2016.

Further, some of the drivers of these gigantic vehicles were driving while intoxicated or drugged.

Reckless and drunk driving have to stop or, at the very least, be curtailed.

We should not think that violent crashes like this one caused by a speeding trucker who crashed into vehicles on the opposite side of LBJ Freeway in North Dallas are acceptable.

March 15, 2021

Fort Worth’s Deadly Crash Must Be Investigated

by William K. Berenson

After the horrific February 11th chain reaction that took the lives of six people and injured scores of others, it was announced that a federal agency would investigate. Well, that was the least that could happen. We need to find out what caused Fort Worth’s deadly crash and how another tragedy like this can be avoided.

However, the Fort Worth Star Telegram reported that the National Transportation Safety Board will only look into whether the toll lanes had been deiced before the historic storm shut down Texas for a week – if it makes a report at all.

Critics say a complete investigation and remedial action is needed. We wholeheartedly agree.

March 12, 2021

Fort Worth Tractor-Trailer Crash Settled

by William K. Berenson

Fort-Worth-tractor-trailer-crash-1

Two women and their three children were driving on Loop 820 when they were rear-ended by an 18-wheeler. But the driver’s insurance company initially refused to pay them for their medical treatment and other damages. The women hired us so they could be fairly compensated after their Fort Worth tractor-trailer crash.

We went to work immediately and

conducted an investigation of the scene
researched the driver and his company
put them on notice and demanded that all evidence be preserved

February 23, 2021

Texas Wrongful Death Lawsuits Filed After I-35 Crashes and Winter Storm

by William K. Berenson

Texas wrongful death lawsuits will provide answers; Griddy also sued for price gouging

A lawsuit was filed by three people injured in the massive 133-vehicle pile-up on the express lanes of I-35 on February 11. Six people tragically lost their lives and at least 60 people were injured. Many other Texas wrongful death lawsuits and personal injury suits will be filed to establish liability and collect damages.

The plaintiffs accuse five companies of failing to hire, train and supervise capable drivers. The drivers are accused of driving too fast for the icy road conditions.

February 11, 2021

Massive Fort Worth Collision Causes Six Deaths and Multiple Injuries

by William K. Berenson

Horrifying series of collisions shuts down I-35

Early this morning, a thin layer of ice coating the high-speed toll lanes near North Side Drive on Interstate 35 North caused one of the worst series of crashes that Fort Worth has ever seen. The catastrophe made national headlines.

This video shows the clean-up of the estimated 133 vehicles in the pile-up.

Berenson Injury Law has handled many crashes on I-35, including a death caused when the reconstruction of the highway happened.

January 18, 2021

Need Help Paying Your Medical Bills?

by William K. Berenson

How much will your medical bills probably cost after a Texas car accident?

A lot! Total costs for your medical bills could cost as much as $10,000 and possibly more. If surgery is required, expenses can exceed $50,000, even $100,000. And a catastrophic injury can cost over $1 million.

So as you can see, this is a very important topic. The problem is that you will not know in advance which doctors you need to see, what they charge, and who is paying them.

August 24, 2020

$950,000 Recovered For Elderly North Texas Couple

by William K. Berenson

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Maximum Denton County settlement obtained

Our clients were driving their SUV on Interstate 35 in Denton County in December of 2017 when traffic came to an unexpected stop. They were rear-ended by a young man driving a company van.

The wife was rushed to a hospital complaining of pain to her head and neck. CT scans showed that she had fractured her C2 disc. The husband fractured his right leg and injured his right arm. Several months later, she had to have her neck fused.

February 25, 2020

10 Star Review After Good Recovery For Client

by William K. Berenson

Joshua’s story

Berenson Injury Law has successfully resolved the highly unusual case for a young man who was driving this commercial truck (the company’s name was deleted) in East Dallas last year.

The dump truck driver in front of Joshua stupidly activated the dump mechanism. As the bed raised, the top grazed a bridge which sheered off a piece of the truck. Our client swerved to avoid the road debris and a collision resulted. He was taken to a hospital and diagnosed with a strained back.

We immediately investigated the scene and obtained critical evidence that we needed to win the case.

We also researched the truck driver and his company and learned that he did not have a commercial driver’s license, but that he did have a criminal history.

February 6, 2020

$375,000 Recovered For Client in Truck Crash

by William K. Berenson

Alfredo’s story

Berenson Injury Law has successfully resolved a case for an 18-wheeler driver who was side-swiped by another tractor-trailer driver. This happened three years ago in Fort Worth early on Halloween morning.

The vehicles bumped where the lanes slowed and merged on Interstate 35 just north of downtown in the construction area (back then). Alfredo’s cab and trailer (which are pictured in the distance) and the other driver’s big rig (in the foreground) showed minor physical damage.

September 24, 2019

North Texas Highway Deaths: Another Terrible Weekend

by William K. Berenson

Funeral
We don’t know why every weekend produces another round of fatal car and truck crashes across the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Or why we treat this news as if it is inevitable. Or that there is nothing we can do about it. But we all know that it can be frightening to drive on our North Texas highways. This past weekend produced more tragedies including these:

South of Fort Worth: two people lost their lives in Burleson Sunday evening at 6:30 when a car traveling north on Interstate 35 crossed through the cable barrier and hit a southbound vehicle head-on. Two people in the north-bound car perished and other people were injured, some critically.
South Dallas: a woman crashed into a truck and car that had already collided and were on the shoulder on Interstate 20, taking her life.