Dallas, TX — February 9, 2025, Cecilia Smith was injured in a car accident at about 2:15 a.m. on U.S. Route 75/Central Expressway.

A preliminary accident report indicates that a 2019 BMW 750 was headed north near Northaven Road when it crashed into the back of a 2020 Lincoln Mark MKX, knocking it into a concrete barrier.

The driver of the Lincoln, California resident Cecilia Smith, 58, was seriously injured in the crash, according to the report. The driver of the BMW and a passenger were listed as maybe injured.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Dallas County crash.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

After a crash like this, I think most people have plenty of questions. However, some questions tend to be overlooked by crash investigators. Often, the biggest challenge isn’t what’s in the initial reports; it’s what gets left out. That’s why I always start by looking into three things that don't always get enough attention.

First, did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? When a vehicle rear-ends another on a major highway like U.S. Route 75, it might seem straightforward: someone wasn’t paying attention or didn’t react in time. But that assumption can be dangerous. The timing, location and speed all play critical roles in understanding what actually happened. At 2:15 a.m., reduced visibility and driver fatigue could have been factors. Were there any witnesses? Did the authorities document skid marks or collect surveillance footage from nearby traffic cameras? These are basic steps, but they sometimes get skipped, especially during overnight hours when fewer resources may be available.

Next, has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash? This isn't as far-fetched as it might sound. With two fairly recent-model vehicles involved, it's worth asking if something went wrong mechanically. Could there have been a brake failure or a stuck accelerator in the BMW? Did the Lincoln have working hazard lights if it was slowing or stopped before impact? Sometimes, it’s not driver error at all; it’s a failure in the machine. A proper inspection of both vehicles could shed light on these possibilities, but unless someone takes the time to dig into the car systems, that angle might never be explored.

Finally, has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected? Both the BMW and the Lincoln likely have engine control modules, what many people call “black boxes.” These can reveal vehicle speed, braking activity and even steering input right before the crash. That data can be the difference between a guess and a solid understanding of what happened. But here's the problem: that information won’t stick around forever. If no one collects it soon after the crash, it might be lost or overwritten. That’s why it’s so important to act quickly.

The goal in any crash investigation should be to figure out what really happened, not just what seems to have happened at first glance. When questions like these go unanswered, the people affected are left with guesswork instead of truth. And that’s never good enough.

Takeaways:

• Just because a crash looks simple doesn't mean it is—thorough investigations matter.
• Vehicle defects are often overlooked but could play a major role in rear-end collisions.
• Crucial electronic crash data may vanish if not collected quickly.