Texas Injury Law Blog : Dallas Accident Lawyer & Attorney : Fears Nachawati Law Firm : Personal Injury, Wrongful Death : Ft. Worth, San Antonio, Austin, Houston, Texas

Every year in the United States, around 2.5 million rear-end collisions are reported. Any number of factors can lead to a rear impact crash, including distracted driving, tailgating and poor weather conditions.

Even at slow speeds, a rear-end car accident can lead to serious injuries. The impact of being struck from behind causes the driver or passenger to rapidly and unexpectedly pitch forward, which can cause spinal injuries, whiplash or even a concussion.

While even the safest drivers cannot prevent all car accidents, there are steps that we can take to reduce the chances of being involved in a rear impact car accident. Protect yourself, your loved ones and your vehicle by being a defensive driver and following these tips to help avoid rear-end car accidents:

• Begin to brake well in advance of your need to stop to alert the driver behind you that traffic is slowing, which gives them more time to react.
• Avoid braking abruptly. Rather than slamming on your brakes to try to catch a missed turn, it is much safer to drive past it and turn around.
• Exercise caution when pulling out in front of moving traffic. Wait for a sufficient break between cars.
• Never tailgate other drivers. Always maintain a safe distance between your car and the vehicle ahead of you.
• Pay attention to the traffic down the road, not just the car directly ahead of you. That way you will be alerted to traffic coming to a stop.
• Give driving your full attention. Never drive distracted, such as driving while eating, talking on a cellphone or texting.

If you have been injured in a rear end collision caused by someone else’s negligence, contact a personal injury attorney today for legal advice.

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A Texas woman is suing after a car accident she claims was caused when the other driver failed to yield to her right-of-way and failed to obey a traffic control device.

The car accident lawsuit was filed on February 26^th by accident victim Perla Sanchez. Included as defendants in the suit are the driver of the car, Gerald Garcia, as well as Standard Alloys and Manufacturing Sales Co. and Blue Tee Corp.

In her lawsuit, Sanchez claims that Garcia was driving the Ford F450 pickup truck that hit her car on January 21^st.

Sanchez has also blamed the two companies for the accident, arguing that they should not have allowed Garcia to operate the vehicle because they knew him to be an incompetent and unfit driver.

Sanchez is seeking actual, compensatory and exemplary damages for her physical pain, physical impairment, disfigurement  and mental anguish. Sanchez also claims to have incurred lost wages and medical expenses.

Click here to read more on Sanchez’s Texas car accident lawsuit.

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To preserve your right to bring a personal injury claim if you have been involved in a car accident in Texas, there are 5 important steps you should take:

1. Call police to the scene of the accident: An accident report is critical evidence that can be used to support your Texas personal injury claim. You should call the police even if you believe the accident was “minor.” Severe injuries and serious damage to your vehicle may not become apparent until days or even weeks after the accident has occurred. Bringing police to the scene of your Texas car accident guarantees that there will be an official record of how the accident occurred, who was involved and any witnesses that may have been present.

2. Gather as much information as possible: Again, even a seemingly minor accident can have major consequences. Before you leave the scene of the accident, gather as much evidence as you possibly can. You need all of the other driver’s contact information, including their insurance information, as well as the contact information for witnesses. Take lots of pictures of both your injuries and the damage to your vehicle before you have your vehicle repaired.

3. Get immediate medical attention: To prove your personal injury claim, you need documented records of the pain and injuries you have suffered as a result of the car accident in Texas. If you believe that you were injured in any way at all because of the car accident, seek immediate medical attention. It’s in your best interest not to try to “tough it out,” but rather to get an official, professional opinion about your condition.

4. Never admit fault: The other driver’s insurance company will attempt to use your words against you if you later bring a personal injury claim. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding the accident, do not admit fault to anyone. Only speak to the other driver as much as necessary to exchange contact information.

5. Seek the advice of an experienced Texas personal injury attorney: Your Texas personal injury lawyer is there to represent your interests – and your interests alone. By having your case evaluated by a Texas personal injury attorney, you can be sure that you are receiving a fair settlement offer for your claim. If no settlement agreement can be reached, then your attorney can take your Texas personal injury lawsuit to court.

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Three Texas men have brought a lawsuit against Toyota after they were injured in a car accident earlier this month. The men were riding in a Camry when it suddenly accelerated and crashed into a telephone pole.

The lawsuit, which accuses Toyota of negligence and product liability, was filed last Thursday in Bexar County District Court.

Named as defendants are Toyota Motor Corp. as well as Alamo Toyota, the dealership that sold the 2009 Camry involved in the accident.

The car accident occurred on February 4th when 30-year-old James Martinez was driving his boss' Toyota Camry.

According to Martinez, he applied the brakes as he approached a stoplight but the vehicle continued to accelerate. To avoid colliding with other vehicles, Martinez steered the Camry off the road, smashing into a telephone pole.

Last month, Toyota recalled more than 2 million vehicles in response to complaints of unwanted acceleration.

While Toyota linked the unwanted acceleration problems to sticking gas pedals, the police report of Martinez's accident indicates that a malfunction with the throttle control was the cause of the accident.

According to their lawyer, Bob Hilliard of Corpus Christi, Texas, Martinez suffered back and shoulder injuries as well as a concussion. The two passengers in the Camry suffered back and neck injuries.

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When you choose to get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle and drive, you are taking on certain responsibilities.

Texas law requires you to exercise reasonable care when driving to avoid harming others. A person who fails to fulfill this responsibility may be found negligent and be held legally and financially responsible for the injuries and damage they caused as a result of that negligence.

In Texas, one of the most important driver responsibilities is the duty to maintain a “proper lookout.”

“Proper lookout” is a term used to describe a driver’s responsibility to intelligently and carefully observe the road, other motorists and their general surroundings while driving. As a driver, you have a duty to take reasonable steps to avoid car accidents.

The proper lookout standard is used by Texas courts to help determine who is at fault for a car accident.

Other driver responsibilities include:

• Driving at a reasonable speed for the current conditions
• Keeping your car in good repair and working order
• Maintaining control of your vehicle

If you have been injured in a car accident caused by a negligent driver, you should seek the immediate advice of a qualified Texas personal injury attorney. At Fears | Nachawati, we provide free legal advice to car accident victims.

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The National Safety Council provides some sobering statistics on teen car accidents. According to the NSC, young drivers are involved in a staggering six million collisions every year.

Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of teen deaths, accounting for 38% of all teen fatalities in the U.S. In fact, every day, more than 10 drivers in the 15 to 20 age group are killed in car accidents. An additional 745 are injured.

Sadly, reckless behavior on the part of the young driver causes a considerable number of these accidents. Alcohol is involved in about one fourth of crashes killing young drivers. Speed is also often a factor in deadly teen car accidents. Twenty six percent of young female drivers and thirty nine percent of young male drivers were speeding at the time of their fatal crash.

However, even the most cautious and responsible teen drivers can be injured in a car accident through no fault of their own. If you or your child have been hurt in a motor vehicle collision caused by someone else’s negligence, contact a personal injury attorney today to learn about your legal rights. You may be able to recover compensation for your lost wages, medical bills and even your pain and suffering.

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A new study suggests that the majority of older drivers take one or more medications, but that few of them are aware of the effects that these medications can have on their driving ability.

For the study, which was conducted by researchers from the University of Alabama and released as a report by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 630 drivers between the ages of 56 and 93 were interviewed.

Of those interviewed, 78% were taking one or more medications. However, only 28% of them knew about the potential risks of driving while medicated. Also, of the respondents takings medication known to impair driving ability, only 18% were warned of the risk by their doctor or pharmacist.

According to the results of the study, use of prescription drugs increases with age while the awareness of the risks of driving while medicated decreases.

Peter Kissinger, president and chief of the AAA Foundation, notes that the problem of impaired medicated driving is only likely to worsen as our population ages and the use of multiple prescriptions becomes more prevalent.

To help combat this problem, the AAA Foundation has created Roadwise RX. The free website will include a searchable database listing the effects that drugs, whether taken alone or in combination, have on a person’s driving ability. Users can customize the information they receive by inputting information such as age and weight.

According to the AAA Foundation, the database is intended to serve as a tutorial for individuals who have only a general understanding of the impaired driving risks associated with the medicine they take. Roadwise RX will explain potential side effects and drug interactions in simple, everyday language. Both prescription and over-the-counter medications will be included in the database.

The web-based resource is set to go live in early 2010.

There have been multiple studies linking certain drugs and drug combinations to an increased risk of auto accidents. While the link between certain medications and impaired driving is not questioned, what is unclear is exactly how many car accidents are caused by drivers who are impaired by a medication. Except for cases involving alcohol, there is no routine testing for drugs in a driver’s system after a motor vehicle collision.

For more on the study and the effects of medication on driving, see this NY Times blog entry. To learn more about Roadwise RX, see this release from the AAA Foundation.

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Do laws that ban hand-held cell phones and texting while driving actually decrease car accidents? Common sense would suggest the answer is yes, but a new study by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) is calling that assumption into question.

The HLDI study, the results of which are expected to be released at a conference in Washington, D.C. on Friday, suggest that laws banning texting and the use of hand-held phones while driving do not result in a significant decrease in motor vehicle accidents.

The results of this study come on the heels of an announcement by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood of new rules forbidding commercial truck and bus drivers from sending and receiving text messages while driving.

The Transportation Department criticized the HLDI findings in a statement released on Friday, saying “it is irresponsible to suggest that laws banning cell phone use while driving have zero effect on the number of crashes on our nation’s roadways.”

In the study, the HLDI analyzed data on monthly collision claims from four states that have banned the use of hand-held cell phones by drivers. The study looked at data from before and after the bans took effect in New York, Connecticut, California and Washington D.C.

According to the HLDI, a research institute funded by the car insurance industry, the data indicates that car accident rates didn’t change after the bans were put in place.

In a release, Adrian Lund, the president of the HLDI and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, stated “The laws aren't reducing crashes, even though we know that such laws have reduced hand-held phone use, and several studies have established that phoning while driving increases crash risk.”

In response to these findings, experts are suggesting that distracted driving in general, not cell phone use in particular, is the real danger.

The laws have been effective in getting drivers to switch to hands-free devices, but, some are suggesting, talking while driving, whether on a hand-held or hands-free device, is where the actual risk lies. It’s the distraction, not necessarily the cell phone per se, that causes car accidents.

Focusing on distracted driving, says Russ Rader, a spokesman for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, is not the same thing as focusing on distracted driving. “Distraction is what has always caused car crashes, and cell phones don’t appear to be adding to that,” says Rader.

Texas is among the many states that now has a partial ban on using hand-held cell phones while driving.

For more on the HLDI study, see this piece in the Wall Street Journal. Also, this article on CNET News offers further insight into the HLDI study and the issue of distracted driving.

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As spring approaches, we’ll be looking at more and more wet weekends in the Dallas and Fort Worth areas. Driving in the rain can be nerve-wracking even for experienced motorists, particularly in busy metropolitan areas such as Fort Worth and Dallas. To help you stay safe on the roads and avoid accidents, we’ve put together this list of tips for driving in the rain:

1. Slow down: Keep in mind that speed limits are set for ideal driving conditions. It takes longer to stop when roads are wet, so adjust your speed accordingly.
2. Keep your distance: Increase the distance between your car and the vehicle ahead of you.
3. Stay back: Don’t follow large vehicles, such as 18-wheelers or busses, too closely. Their tires create a large spray that could reduce your vision.
4. Stay alert: While we should always give driving our complete attention while behind the wheel, we must remain even more alert when driving in the rain.
5. Turn on your headlights: Even in light rain, turn your headlights on so other cars can see you better.
6. Check your wipers: Before you head out to drive in the rain, be sure your wipers are in good working condition. If you know the forecast is calling for rainy weather, be proactive and replace old or brittle wiper blades.
7. Allow yourself more travel time: Leave earlier than you normally would for your appointments to avoid the temptation to rush or speed.
8. Check your tire pressure: Low tire pressure is one of the leading causes of skidding and hydroplaning.
9. Drive in the middle lanes: In general, water tends to pool on either side of the road, so stay in the middle lane when possible where there are fewer puddle collections to reduce your chances of hydroplaning.
10. Don’t use cruise control: Maintain complete control over your vehicle when driving in the rain. A split second could mean the difference between safe driving and a car accident. Also, if you hydroplane, cruise control could actually cause your vehicle to accelerate.
11. Pull over: If the rainfall becomes so heavy that you can no longer see the vehicle in front of you, pull off the road to a safe location until rain lets up and visibility improves.
12. Avoid moving water: As a rule of thumb, don’t drive through moving water unless you can see the ground. The force of the water could sweep your car off the road.
13. Avoid pools of standing water: What appears to be a shallow puddle could actually be hiding a deep pothole. If possible, drive around pools of water.
14. Watch out for debris: Rain can wash debris such as tree limbs or leaves onto the road. It’s important that you keep your eyes on the road at all times.
15. Defog your windows: The moisture from rain can quickly cause your windows to fog. Using your defroster with your air conditioner will keep the air in your car dry.
16. Stay informed: Before heading out, check weather and traffic reports so you can avoid areas with congestion or flooding.

By following these safety tips and using common sense, Texas drivers can stay accident-free while driving in the rain and other inclement weather.

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USA Today offers up an interesting opinion piece on laws that ban texting while driving. Texting in and of itself, the piece points out, is not a bad thing. In fact, texting has even saved lives, such as in the case of the Texas kidnapping victim who sent a text message from the trunk of his car that ultimately saved his life.

It’s where and when the texting occurs that presents a problem. Distracted driving accounts for nearly 6,000 deaths each year, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data cited by the article.

Texting while driving, the piece notes, is not the only form of distracted driving. Distracted driving also includes things like eating while driving or talking on a cell phone. Texting, however, poses an even more serious risk because it requires the driver to take their eyes off the road.

The columnist contends that it will take a combination of education and awareness as well as laws to effect real change. The piece mentions FocusDriven, the nonprofit organization started by a Texas woman that we spotlighted in a recent blog post.

The column ends with an interesting tidbit – distracted driving was selected by Webster’s dictionary as its word of the year for 2009. We echo the columnist’s sentiments in hoping that 2010 is the year that paying attention to the road while driving makes a comeback.

If you have lost a loved one in a car accident caused by a distracted driver, contact Fears | Nachawati today to receive free legal advice from a Texas personal injury attorney.

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Toyota Motor Corp. announced Thursday that it is recalling 2.3 million vehicles due to a problem with their gas pedals.

According to Toyota, there are mechanical problems with the accelerator pedals that can cause them to become stuck. The recall affects eight models, including recent versions of the Camry, Tundra, Corolla and RAV4.

This latest recall comes mere months after Toyota recalled more than 4 million vehicles due to a gas pedal that could get trapped under the floor mats and cause sudden acceleration. That particular gas pedal problem was the cause of several fatal car accidents.

The problem at the center of the latest recall has nothing to do with floor mats. In certain rare cases, said Toyota, the gas pedal mechanism wears down, which makes the accelerator harder to press and slower to return and, in some cases, it becomes stuck.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration calls the problem a “serious safety issue.”

A spokesperson for Toyota says the company is unaware of any car accidents or injuries caused by the gas pedal problem associated with this most recent recall.

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More than 24,000 vehicles are being recalled by Chrysler after a defect that could result in brake failure was discovered.

Chrysler Group LLC is recalling a total of 24,177 vehicles after a routine quality inspection revealed that some of the vehicles were built with improperly formed brake booster push rod retaining clips or with no clip at all.

According to Chrsyler, the defect could “result in brake failure without warning which could cause a crash.”

Included in the recall are nearly 17,000 Dodge Ram pick-up trucks from the model years 2009 and 2010. Also included are the 2010 models of the Dodge Avenger, Dodge Nitro, Chrysler Sebring, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Commander and Jeep Liberty.

Chrysler says there have been no owner complaints or reports of car accidents or injuries.

The missing or faulty clips will be replaced for free by Chrysler.

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In order to ensure that you get fair compensation for your injuries and losses, it is important that you document the facts surrounding your car accident. Here are the most important pieces of information you should obtain after you have been in a car accident:

1. Contact information for the other driver or drivers involved in the car accident including: name, address, telephone number and driver’s license number.
2. Name of the other driver’s insurance company as well as their policy number and contact information for the insurance company.
3. Contact information, including names and addresses, of any passengers in the other car(s) involved in the accident.
4. Make a written record of any statements made by the other driver(s), such as “I’m sorry. This was all my fault.”
5. The time the accident occurred.
6. The precise location where the accident occurred, including street names, landmarks and addresses.
7. The weather conditions at the time of the accident, such as fog or rain.
8. The name and badge number of the police officer(s) who responded to the accident.
9. Take pictures of the damage to your vehicle and make a written record of the damage as well.

If you have been seriously injured in a car accident, one of the first things you should is contact a Texas personal injury lawyer for legal assistance. An experienced Texas personal injury attorney will help you understand your rights and explain your options so you can make the best decision about how to proceed with your accident claim.

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A Dallas man was killed in a Plano car accident early Saturday morning.

The victim was 33-year-old Albil C. Bernal. According to witnesses, Bernal ran a red light at the intersection of West Park Boulevard and Custer Road. His pickup truck then struck a Hyundai sport utility vehicle.

As a result of the accident, Bernal was pinned underneath his truck. He died at the scene.

The driver of the Hyundai suffered non-life threatening injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

Click here to read more about this Plano, Texas, car accident.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident, contact the Texas personal injury lawyers of Fears | Nachawati. Email us or phone us toll free at 1.866.705.7584 today for free legal assistance.

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A Texas man was killed Friday night when he lost control of his pickup truck and his vehicle flipped into oncoming traffic.

The victim was 52-year-old Charles McAfee of Fort Worth.

McAfee was traveling northbound on U.S. Highway 287 near Turner Warnell Road shortly after 11:00 p.m. For reasons that are unclear at this time, his truck crossed the median and flipped into the lanes of southbound traffic.

McAfee was found lying in the road when officers arrived on the scene. Police believe he was ejected from his vehicle during the accident.

To read more on this Texas car accident, click here to access the complete article.

Fears | Nachawati is a Texas personal injury law firm that represents car accident victims in bringing legal claims. To receive free legal advice from a Texas personal injury lawyer, email us or phone us toll free at 1.866.705.7584 today.

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A 12-year-old boy was killed in a four-car accident Tuesday in Flower Mound, Texas. The accident took place on U.S. 377 at around 4:00 p.m. where the highway intersects with Stone Crest Road.

The chain reaction accident started when a car rear-ended a pickup truck that was waiting to turn left off the highway. The truck was then pushed into oncoming traffic. An approaching driver lost control of their vehicle while attempting to avoid the truck, striking a fourth vehicle.

The child was a passenger in the car that lost control. He died at the scene of the accident. Two others were injured and taken to area hospitals.

U.S. 377 was shut down for more than three hours while investigators worked the scene.

To read more about this Flower Mound, Texas, car accident, click here for the full story.

Have you or someone you love been injured in a car accident? Then contact the Texas personal injury lawyers of Fears | Nachawati. To receive free legal advice about your car accident claim, email us or phone us toll free at 1.866.705.7584.

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Two people are dead and a third is injured after a single-vehicle car accident on U.S. Highway 82.

The accident took place on Sunday morning as the driver, 18-year-old Dale Everett Thomas, was headed west on Highway 82, near Highway 289. For reasons that remain unclear, Thomas’s car rolled several times across the center median and landed on the pavement in the east lane of the highway.

Thomas died from injuries sustained in the accident, as did one of his passengers, 16-year-old Kendall Breigh Golden. A third passenger, a 16-year-old boy whose name has not yet been released, was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

Traffic on Highway 82 was shut down for several hours as police completed their investigation. At this point, all investigators can say is that speed definitely played a role in the accident.

To read more about this Sherman, Texas, car accident, click here for the complete article.

If you have been injured in a Texas car accident, contact the personal injury law firm of Fears | Nachawati today to receive free legal assistance. Email us or phone us toll free at 1.866.705.7584 to speak to a Texas personal injury lawyer at no charge.

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Three teenagers were killed and another three were injured in a one-vehicle car accident that took place shortly before midnight on New Year’s day.

The accident occurred when the car struck a traffic barrier in the 1800 block of North Loop 288 in Denton, Texas.

Right before the accident occurred, a state trooper clocked the car traveling at 78 mph in a 60-mph zone. The trooper was preparing to stop the car when it crashed into the traffic barrier head-on.

Toxicology tests are being performed. However, Captain Lenn Carter of the Denton police department says there is no signs that drugs or alcohol were involved. According to Carter, no determination has been made on whether charges will be filed.

This accident marks the second fatal collision on North Loop 288 in the past 30 days. Two 21-year-old men were killed in an early-morning car accident on December 6^th.

To read more about this Denton, Texas, car accident, click here for the complete story.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident, contact the Texas personal injury law firm of Fears | Nachawati today. To receive free legal advice from a Texas personal injury lawyer, simply email us or phone us toll free at 1.866.705.7584.

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A car accident in Fort Worth, Texas, ended with two injured drivers.

On Wednesday afternoon, an on-duty police officer was involved in a collision with a gold four-door Oldsmobile Cutlass.

The officer, whose name has not been released, was responding to an emergency call. He was headed eastbound in the 1800 block of East Lancaster Avenue.

The driver of the Cutlass, whose identity has also not been released, was traveling northbound in the 2300 block of Riverside Drive. The cutlass and the police vehicle collided in the intersection.

Both individuals were taken to the hospital for treatment. According to police, the officer was released from the hospital the same day, but the condition of the second motorist was unknown.

Click here to read more on this Fort Worth, Texas, car accident.

If you have been injured in a car accident, contact the Texas personal injury lawyers of Fears | Nachawati for free legal advice. To receive your free legal assistance, simply email us or phone us toll free at 1.866.705.7584.

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Four people are dead after the car they were in crashed through a fence and landed upside down in a Southlake pond.

Shortly before 11:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, a Toyota Avalon ran a stop sign, smashed through a fence and bounced off of a tree before ultimately landing upside down in a six-foot-deep pond outside a Southlake home.

Two of the four victims, 56-year-old Monty Hardy and 35-year-old Hadassah Vance, died at a Grapevine hospital within an hour of the accident. The two remaining victims, 38-year-old Wendy Akion and 56-year-old Sharon Ransom, died overnight at the hospital.

According to Officer Roderick Page, a spokesman for the Southlake Department of Public Safety, traffic investigators have yet to determine whether the car accident was caused by driver error or a vehicle malfunction.

The possible vehicle malfunction being referred to is a stuck accelerator, a problem that forced Toyota to recall over 4 million vehicles this year. The Toyota Avalon is one of the models subject to the recall.

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administrations, the floor mats can interfere with the functioning of the accelerator pedal, causing the throttle to stick open.

To read more about this fatal Texas car accident, click here for the full story.

If you have been injured in a car accident, contact the Texas personal injury law firm of Fears | Nachawati for free legal assistance. To speak with a Texas personal injury lawyer, email us or phone us toll free at 1.866.705.7584.

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Three people are dead after a multi-car accident on Highway 380. The accident took place at around 4:35 p.m. Thursday afternoon on the overpass between Preston Road and Dallas North Tollway.

A gold passenger car was headed eastbound on Highway 380 when its driver lost control of the vehicle. The car then spun into oncoming traffic. Two vehicles headed westbound on 380 crashed into the gold passenger car.

The gold car was carrying three passengers. Two of the passengers were killed instantly, 92-year-old Katherine Nelson and 62-year-old Richard Wilbourn. The driver of the car, 66-year-old Patricia Wilbourn, was seriously injured and later died at a hospital.

Three people from the other two vehicles involved in the accident were transported to area hospitals for non-life threatening injuries.

Investigators believe inclement weather and icy road conditions are to blame. No charges will be filed.

Highway 380 remained closed for several hours following the accident.

For more on this Texas car accident, click here for the complete article.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident, contact the Texas personal injury attorneys of Fears | Nachawati today. For free legal advice, simply email us or phone us toll free at 1.866.705.7584.

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A one-car accident at a Texas shopping center has left one teen dead and three others injured. The accident occurred at around 4 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon.

Robert Tucker, 16, was killed in a one-vehicle accident in a Richardson, Texas, shopping center parking lot on Plano Road. Tucker was a passenger in a white Ford pickup truck that crashed behind a SuperTarget.

Three others were injured in the accident, but their names have not been released because they are juveniles.

Richardson police investigator Jonathan Wakefield says that initial evidence indicates that the driver of the truck may have been speeding and lost control of the vehicle. The truck rolled over and struck a tree.

Click here to read more about this Texas car accident.

Fears | Nachawati is a Texas personal injury law firm. To receive free legal advice about car accidents and other personal injury claims, email us or phone us toll free at 1.866.705.7584.

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Diminished value is the automatic loss in value of your car that occurs as a result of a car accident. Even if your vehicle is fully repaired after the collision, it will still be worth less simply due to the fact that it has been in accident.

For example, say your 2007 Mercedes-Benz was worth $30,000 before the car accident. Your bumper was crushed in the accident, but the other driver’s insurance company paid to have it repaired. That should mean your car is still worth $30,000 since it was fully repaired, right?

Maybe in theory but not in reality. The reality is a person is not willing to pay as much for a car that has been in an accident as they would pay for the same car if it hadn’t been in accident. Because of the accident, you might now only be able to get $25,000 if you sold your car. That’s a diminished value of $5,000.

The upshot is that you have suffered a $5,000 loss, and you should be compensated for that loss. That’s where a Texas diminished value claim comes in. If the accident was not your fault, the insurance company of the at-fault driver must compensate you for your car’s diminished value.

To learn more about the compensation to which you are entitled from your car accident, contact Fears | Nachawati today for free legal advice. Simply email us or phone us toll free at 1.866.705.7584.

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A driver lost consciousness behind the wheel and drove his pickup truck into a house in Rowlett, Texas.

The driver, whose identity has not been released, lives in the same neighborhood. He was on his way home after having blood taken at the hospital. Rowlett police say he blacked out, and the truck then smashed through a woman’s house.

The owner was at home at the time of the accident, but was at the back of the house and suffered no injuries.

An officer who responded to the 911 call says the truck was halfway inside the house. According to Rowlett police, a substantial amount of damage to the house was incurred.

The driver suffered non-life threatening injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

For more on this Rowlett car accident, click here for the complete article.

If you have been injured in a car accident, contact the Texas personal injury attorneys of Fears | Nachawati for free legal advice. Simply email us or phone us toll free at 1.866.705.7584.

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Eight people were injured in a five-vehicle accident in Plano, Texas, on Monday afternoon. The accident caused major traffic delays, with the southbound lanes closed between Park Boulevard and Plano Parkway for six hours.

The accident took place north of 15^th Street on Central Expressway. Plano police believe the accident was caused by an 18-wheeler careening into the southbound HOV lane and striking a Texas DOT truck located in a construction zone.

The 18-wheeler then struck a pickup truck. As a result of the impact, the pickup truck flipped over a box truck and crashed into a Mazda.

After being struck by the 18-wheeler, the Texas DOT truck smashed into a concrete median, pushing it into the northbound HOV lane.

Both the southbound and northbound HOV lanes will be closed while repairs are being made.

Five of the eight injured individuals were treated and released at the scene. The remaining three were taken to nearby hospitals.

To read more about this Plano, Texas, car accident, click here for the complete article.

If you have been injured in a Texas 18-wheeler accident, contact Fears | Nachawati today for free legal advice on your possible personal injury lawsuit. To speak with an experienced Texas personal injury lawyer, simply email us or phone us toll free at 1.866.705.7584.

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The family of a Texas car accident victim has filed a lawsuit against both the driver who caused the accident as well as the North Texas Tollway Authority.

The lawsuit also names as defendants companies who performed engineering, construction and maintenance work on the tollway.

William Bond was killed when Christopher Spicer lost control of his vehicle and struck a median, which caused a large chunk of concrete to smash through the windshield of Bond’s car. Bond was killed instantly.

The accident took place on December 20, 2007. Bond was being driven home from a cancer treatment by his brother.

According to the attorney for the Bond family, the median that broke apart in the accident had been previously damaged but was patched instead of replaced.

A copy of the lawsuit indicates that no specific dollar amount is being sought by the Bond family.

Spicer was indicted for criminal negligent homicide, but the district attorney declined prosecution, saying the case was better handled in civil court.

For more on this story, click here for the complete article.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a Texas car accident, contact the personal injury lawyers of Fears | Nachawati today. To receive free legal advice from a Texas personal injury attorney, simply email us or phone us toll free at 1.866.705.7584.

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A 21-year-old Denton, Texas, man was killed in a car accident early Sunday morning.

The victim, Cory Gilder, was traveling northbound on North Loop 288 at around 6 a.m. when the accident occurred. Gilder lost control of his vehicle, crossing over the median and crashing head-on into another car.

Gilder was pronounced dead at the scene. Gilder’s passenger, as well as the driver of the second vehicle, were airlifted to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas. Both were seriously injured.

The accident remains under investigation. Police are trying to determine whether speed or alcohol were contributing factors.

To read more about this Texas car accident, click here for the complete article.

For free legal advice on Texas personal injury lawsuits, contact Fears | Nachawati today. You can email us or call our toll free number at 1.866.705.7584.

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A car accident on LBJ Freeway in Dallas, Texas, claimed the lives of two people out for a birthday celebration.

The accident took place at 4:30 a.m. on Friday morning on Interstate 635, just north of downtown Dallas near the High Five interchange.

The deceased victims are 33-year-old Hugo Perez and 26-year-old Juan Balderas. The two were in a Volkswagen Jetta that was rear-ended by an SUV while the Jetta was parked on the shoulder of the freeway.

Police believe the driver of the SUV, a Nissan Xterra, was not paying attention to the road when it struck the Jetta.

The impact of the collision smashed the Jetta into the guardrail. The Xterra rolled over at least once. The driver was not injured.

A spokesman for the Dallas police says a charge of criminal negligence is expected against the driver of the SUV.

A 5-year-old girl, a passenger in the Jetta, was critically injured in the accident. She was riding on the lap of the right rear passenger.

Click here for more on this Dallas car accident.

If you have been injured in a Texas car accident, contact the Texas personal injury lawyers of Fears | Nachawati today for free legal assistance. To speak with a Texas personal injury attorney, simply email us or phone us toll free at 1.866.705.7584.

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In some cases it is still possible for you to bring a lawsuit against the other driver even if you were partly at fault for your car accident.

Texas uses a system of comparative negligence, properly referred to as “proportionate responsibility.” Comparative negligence occurs when the defendant argues that the plaintiff was responsible for some of their own injuries and shares the blame for the accident.

In a Texas car accident lawsuit involving comparative negligence, the jury will be asked to determine each party’s percentage of responsibility, which can range from 0% (no responsibility) to 100%. (complete responsibility).

While bearing some fault for an accident does not necessarily bar you from bringing a lawsuit, note, however, that in Texas, if you are found to be more than 50% responsible for your own injuries, then you cannot recovery any damages.

If you have been injured in a car accident, contact the law firm of Fears | Nachawati today to receive free legal advice. You will speak with a Texas personal injury lawyer who will help you understand your legal rights. Simply email us or phone us toll free at 1.866.705.7584.

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In the early hours of Friday morning, a 1997 Jeep Cherokee rolled down an embankment near Grapevine Mills shopping mall, killing one and injuring two others.

The Jeep was headed west on LBJ freeway when the driver exited onto southbound Highway 121. Police say it appears that the vehicle failed to make a curve, causing it to roll down the hill and stop in some nearby trees.

The driver, a woman was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. One of the two male passengers was taken into intensive care, and the other suffered nonlife-threatening injuries.

Police believe that neither of the passengers was wearing a seat belt.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

Click here for the complete article on this Texas car accident.

For free legal advice from a Texas car accident lawyer, email Fears | Nachawati today or phone as toll free at 1.866.705.7584.

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A man died in a single-vehicle car accident on Monday morning on Interstate 30 in Dallas, Texas.

The victim was 24-year-old Jamie Sosa of Kemp. Sosa was taking an exit ramp to the southbound lanes of I-30E when the accident occurred. For reasons that remain unknown at this time, Sosa’s pickup truck launched over a guardrail connecting southbound I-35E to I-30.

The vehicle overturned and landed on its side on embankment.

Sosa, who was not wearing a seatbelt at the time the accident, was partially ejected from his car.

The accident took place at 1:10 a.m. Monday morning. The ramp was closed for more than an hour as officials investigated the incident.

To read more about this Dallas, Texas, car accident, click here for the complete story.

If you have been injured in a car accident, contact Fears | Nachawati for free legal advice. To speak with one of our Texas personal injury attorneys, simply email us at info@fnlawfirm.com or call our toll-free number at 1.866.705.7584.

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Texas roadways can be a dangerous place. While it isn’t possible to entirely eliminate the risk of being involved in a car accident, there are simple steps that drivers can take to help avoid motor vehicle collisions.

You can avoid car accidents by:

Eliminating distractions: Distractions include eating, drinking, talking on a cell phone and changing radio stations.

Keeping your vehicle in good repair: Have your car maintenanced regularly.

Avoiding driving at night or in inclement weather: Darkness and poor weather conditions greatly reduce visibility, and night driving presents a risk of fatigue.

Remaining aware of your surroundings: One of the most important safety precautions you can take while driving is to simply keep your eyes on the road at all times and be aware of the other motor vehicles around you.

Obeying traffic laws: Always follow the rules of the road.

Exercising particular caution when driving through intersections: Intersections are where the majority of accidents occur.

Never drinking while driving: Alcohol impairs your judgment and slows your reaction time.

Following the speed limit: Excessive speed reduces your braking distance, which means you have less time to react to potential hazards.

If you have been involved in a car accident, contact Fears | Nachawati for free legal advice. You can email us at info@fnlawfirm.com or call our toll-free number at 1.866.705.7584.

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