wrongful death

August 27, 2021

Fatal Motorcycle Accidents Rising in Tarrant County

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Some people ride motorcycles for the freedom and excitement they provide. But that unfortunately comes with an increased risk of death or serious injury since they offer no protection after a collision. Tragically, there were another three fatal motorcycle accidents in the past few days in Tarrant County. That made us want to get the word out about motorcycle safety.

In the first crash, a Honda motorcycle and Kia car collided at an intersection in south Tarrant County on Rendon New Hope Road which took the motorcyclist’s life. Then a 30-year-old driver of a Kawasaki lost control on Morris Dido Newark Road and perished. And a man riding his motorcycle the wrong way on Loop 820 passed away.

We extend our condolences to their families and loved ones. But we hope there are fewer collisions, not more lawsuits. This post provides some ideas on how that can happen and what you should do if you have been injured in a crash.

July 23, 2021

Injured in a Car Accident in Fort Worth?

by William K. Berenson

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The most maddening thing about being in a car accident in Fort Worth — or anywhere in Texas — is that it was easily avoidable. It would not have happened if the other driver had followed basic traffic laws.

But sadly our number of motor vehicle crashes is soaring along with our sky-rocketing population. What used to be a sleepy Cowtown when Mr. Berenson moved here back in 1979 after graduating from SMU Law School in Dallas is suddenly the 12th largest city in the country. Almost one million people live in Fort Worth and there are 7,500,000 in the Metroplex — and more every day.

Cattle ranches are now bustling suburbs. A sprawling new subdivision in North Fort Worth with 10,000 houses was just announced. But more people = more vehicles = more roads = more collisions. And to make the chances of being injured even higher, it seems that almost every one has an oversized truck or SUV and and is texting as they race around town.

May 26, 2021

Deadly Crashes Soar in DFW

by William K. Berenson

9 people lost in 3 days in 3 deadly crashes

MedStar-ambulance

Tuesday’s collision north of Fort Worth

In the first of the three deadly crashes, a high-speed wreck happened between two pickup trucks. They collided outside of Springtown on FM 51 (Main Street) two miles north of the intersection with State Highway 199. Tragically, there were no survivors.

It is not known at this time what caused this wreck. The police report has not been released yet. If this happened at an intersection, either the silver truck failed to yield the right of way or the other truck failed to slow down and it turned.

We see that young men driving oversized trucks and speeding, wrongfully passing or turning, and driving while looking down at their cell phones – or all of the above – often cause deadly crashes like this one.

April 23, 2021

Street Racing and Speeding Are Serious Problems in DFW

by William K. Berenson

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Street racing has been deadly in North Texas

EDITED: Last night after street racing had closed a Duncanville intersection, a 54-year-old woman who was walking was fatally struck by a bullet.

Last month, a Frisco couple tragically lost their lives after two 19-year-olds who were street racing crashed into their vehicle. They were shockingly driving over 100 mph on a a road with a 40 mph limit just after lunch.

April 19, 2021

Fatal Crashes in Fort Worth Area Alarming

by William K. Berenson

Three fatal crashes in one day is insane

Texas may be fully open for business but there are less vehicles on the roads thanks to remote working, shopping, and schooling. So you would hope that at least the number of car accidents would have decreased. But looking at how many fatal crashes happened in the Fort Worth area just on Friday, it is apparent that our local highways are as dangerous as ever.

This is what happened in those eight hours:

1. In Far North Fort Worth

A tractor-trailer, flatbed truck and pickup were involved in a crash about 10:00 a.m. on Highway 114 at an intersection near the Texas Motor Speedway in Justin. Apparently a woman driving the flatbed truck died. Other people were injured, two of them seriously.

2. In Arlington

A man who was driving while intoxicated took the life of a 21-year-old woman around 2:30 a.m on Interstate 20. Her car collided into an 18-wheeler that had jack-knifed and blocked all lanes of traffic after it was crashed into by the drunk man. The young woman was a college student, worked, and was loved by many. And shockingly, this was the third child that her parents had lost in a DWI collision, adding to the heart break.

3. Near Decatur

Also about 2:30 a.m., the 47-year-old assistant basketball coach at the University of North Texas died after his car hit a culvert in on U.S. 380. His vehicle flipped over and traveled through a fence. Other details were not reported. His team had finished its first NCAA tournament in the history of the school just several weeks before.

These stories are devastating. Any one wrongful death from a car crash or due to any other reason is heart-breaking. There are so many ways someone can get hurt out on the roads.

We send our condolences and prayers to their families and everyone impacted by these tragedies.

March 19, 2021

Fatal Car Accidents Up — But Driving Down — in 2020

by William K. Berenson

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The pandemic caused people to drive less last year. Roads were almost empty for months due to lockdowns, virtual work and school, and home deliveries. So a new report showing that 2020 was one of the worst years for fatal car accidents came as a shock to safety officials.

All time high for fatal car accidents

According to the National Safety Council

Over 42,000 Americans lost their lives in car accidents in 2020 — a huge increase over the year before and the highest total in 13 years;
A shocking 5,000,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes last year;
For the first half of 2020, while the number of miles dropped by 17%, the number of fatal car accidents increased by 20%;
Collisions are now the leading cause of death for our children and young people from ages 1-25; and
The cost to our country is an astonishing one-half trillion dollars a year.
Almost 4,000 Texans perished in a vehicle crash, the highest total in years. Year after year, Texas has the highest number of fatal car accidents in the United States.

This is crazy. How could this possibly have happened?

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.

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.

December 11, 2020

Pedestrian Injury Rate Soaring in Texas

by William K. Berenson

This is probably the best walking photograph of all time. Maybe some of us Baby Boomers have this etched into our brains as we have been trying to get some exercise during the unending pandemic. But just crossing the street should not be the cause of a pedestrian injury.

Unfortunately, this is more common every year. In 2019, 668 Texans and 6,227 Americans lost their lives when they were on foot, the highest numbers in three decades. One would have been too many.

Read: Pedestrian deaths in Texas alarming