Jessica Longbrake Injured in Truck Accident off I-35W in Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth, TX — June 4, 2022, 21-year-old Jessica Longbrake was injured in a crash with a commercial truck off the North Freeway in Fort Worth.
According to reports the incident happened around 7:25 a.m. on the North Freeway service road at Presidio Vista Drive. Preliminary investigation suggests a Freightliner semi-truck and Longbrake's Ford Escape SUV were headed south on the service road when the freightliner changed lanes from left to right and crashed into the Ford. Both vehicles then veered off the road and crashed into a light pole and stop sign at Presidio Vista.
Longbrake reportedly received minor injuries in the crash. The truck's two occupants were unhurt.
No further information is currently available.
Commentary on Jessica Longbrake Accident in Fort Worth
Considering how the crash was described it seems almost miraculous that no worse harm came to the victim. Obviously I'm relieved to see her injuries were said to be minor, but it's still important to take the crash seriously and investigate it carefully. Having all the facts is generally prudent after any wreck, even if preliminary reports suggest the damage done wasn't grave. Police at the scene don't always have all the facts needed to be sure of that, and so-called "minor" injuries aren't always as minor as they may first seem.
Not long ago, for example, I represented a client who was injured in a commercial vehicle accident. At first it seemed like he'd only ended up with a sore back, and after giving him a once-over doctors sent him home with the all-clear. Days later as he tried to recuperate, however, the pain swelled to almost-paralyzing levels.
When he returned to the ER, scans showed that the crash actually ruptured a disk in his spine. He ultimately needed surgery, lengthy physical therapy, and months of back-and-forth with the insurance company and the at-fault trucking company before they agreed to help him get back on his feet. Very little about his experience turned out to be "minor."
That's an ordeal no one should have to go through, but at least he didn't have to face it alone. If he hadn't reached out to us, though, he might not have gotten all the help he needed. That's why I encourage people to take all commercial vehicle wrecks seriously, even if they may not seem dire at first glance. At worst they're overprepared and don't need it, which is always far better than the opposite.
