Trevor Gage was killed in a hit-and-run crash (shown here with his wife)
Road Rage Claims One Of Our Finest
Yesterday a White Settlement firefighter tragically died after his motorcycle was intentionally struck by a pickup truck on Spur 341 the day before.
If this weren’t horrifying enough, the hit-and-run driver then sped off without stopping to check on the young man who selflessly helped people in need every day.
Police are looking for the driver, a Mexican-American man with slicked-back hair, as well his black Ford F-150 Super Crew pick-up truck with scrape marks along the passenger side bed of the truck.
The truck driver had chased the firefighter and another motorcyclist for miles down Interstate 30, starting near my office building on University, before trying to run over both of them.
The 30 year old man left behind a wife and three children. One has medical problems. A go fund me account has been set up to pay for his family’s expenses. I urge others to also contribute.
Texas law requires driver to stop at crash scene
A driver who flees faces felony criminal charges if the crash causes injuries or death. Texas passed a law increasing the penalties of hit-and-run crashes several years ago after lawmakers finally acknowledged that a drunk driver had the opportunity to sober up and avoid a DUI charge — or escape jail altogether.
Drivers flee the scene because they are intoxicated/under the influence of drugs, want to escape prosecution, lack liability insurance, are not legal citizens, and/or had outstanding arrest warrants.
Road Rage is a Huge Problem In Dallas-Fort Worth
We have over 1,000 crashes caused every year caused by aggressive drivers who speed, change lanes erratically, tailgate, fail to obey traffic signals and stop signs, fail to yield the right of way, and are easily offended by other motorists.
And one-third of drivers nationally said that they felt like they had been the victim of one of these immature drivers in the last 30 days.
Obviously these road ragers often crash into other vehicles.
Recovering damages in a hit-and-run or road rage collision
Being hit by any negligent driver can be incredibly painful and frustrating. And if he takes off, you may feel like you won’t collect the compensation you need to pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.
Fortunately hit-and-run drivers do get caught and jurors hearing the resulting civil court lawsuit get angry and often award substantial actual and punitive damages. Let’s hope the man who hit the firefighter is brought to justice.
During my 36 years of practicing auto accident injury law, I have helped many hit-and-run victims. My office was just hired to represent a seriously injured man and we are investigating the case to see how we can best help him.
I share the desire to bring these heartless drivers to justice. My staff, investigators, and I conduct a diligent search for the driver and work with the police, eyewitnesses, and representatives from my client’s liability and health insurance companies.
Even when negligent drivers are not caught, I have often been able to recover good recoveries from my client’s uninsured insurance policies, then negotiate down their medical bills.
If you have been involved in a automobile collision caused by an aggressive driver, you would be smart to consult an injury lawyer immediately before you call the insurance company for the at-fault driver and before you sign any documents.
Please contact my Fort Worth law office here or by dialing (817) 885-8000 for a free evaluation if you have unfortunately been crashed into.