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Monthly Archives: January 2012

School Bus Accident in Alabama Sends 20 Students to Hospital

Jan 30, 2012 - Bus Accidents by

A recent school bus accident in southeast Alabama sent 20 students to local hospitals. According to The Washington Post, the bus accident happened just after 7:00 a.m. as the bus made its way to Goshen’s Elementary and Goshen’s High Schools. On the school bus at the time of the accident were 40 students. Twenty-one were transported to ambulances to local hospitals and Troy and Luverne. Pike County Sheriff Russell Thomas says that the weather contributed to the accidents. He says that weather conditions were poor and it was raining hard when the bus flipped. Still, an official cause of the accident has yet to be released by authorities. Some reports indicate that the rear tire of the school bus left the roadways shortly before it overturned. “It’s just an unfortunate accident. Right now we’re focusing on providing support to the students and their parents,” said Dr. Mark Bazzell, the superintendent of Pike County Schools. Our Alabama school bus accident lawyers understand that there are about 9 billion school bus trips that are made every year. Less than 450,000 school buses make these 9 billion trips. On these trips are nearly 25 million students. The trips are made to and from school, athletic events, camps and religious events. It is estimated that more than 25 school-aged bus riders are killed in these types of accidents every year. Hundreds of others are injured.

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FMCSA Passes Final Rule to Help Reduce Risk of Trucking Accidents in Alabama, Nation

Jan 24, 2012 - Truck Accidents by

Ray LaHood, the Secretary for the U.S. Department of Transportation, recently announced a final rule that employs the most recent facts and stats of driver fatigue to help reduce the risks of accidents. The new rule is to help ensure that truck drivers get enough rest before setting out on our roadways and endangering innocent motorists. The newly-enacted rule is being used to revise the hours-of-service (HOS) safety requirements for commercial truck drivers, which was previously written by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). “Trucking is a difficult job, and a big rig can be deadly when a driver is tired and overworked,” said LaHood. LaHood added that this rule will help increase roadway safety, help reduce the risks of accidents and potentially save lives. To help spread the word and ensure this rule is effective, the FMCSA conducted a number of public listening sessions across the U.S. where trucking company owners, truckers, police officers, safety advocates and the public could share questions and concerns.

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Check the CPSC Recall List Often to Avoid Child Injury in Alabama in 2012

Jan 18, 2012 - Personal Injury by

Now, that the holidays are over it’s a good time to make sure children’s toys are not dangerous and do not cause child injury in Alabama and elsewhere. Be sure to check out the latest recall list from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to make sure none of your Christmas presents are dangerous. Our Alabama personal injury attorneys are here to offer you these latest child items on the recall list. Be sure to check this list now and to check it periodically throughout the year to make sure that you and your family are safe from any hazardous consumer products. Many common household items and children’s toys can be found on the recall list. Stay informed to help prevent injury in your home. Land of Nod Recalls Bed Frames: Nearly 2,000 Land of Nod Bed Frames have been recalled by Blake Bed Frames. Allegedly, the child’s torso can get dislodged in the gap between the footboard’s top rail and the mattress. This can cause an entrapment hazard. One report of these incidents has already been reported. Blake model bed frames fall under this recall. They were sold in both full- and twin-sized beds. The words “The Land of Nod” and “Blake” can be found on the bar code sticker on the bed. The beds were sold from The Land of Nod stores in both in Washington and in Illinois. They were also sold on the website from September 2009 through October 2011. If you have one of these […]

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Nationwide Ban on Portable Electronic Devices Proposed to Reduce Risks of Car Accidents in Tuscaloosa and Elsewhere

Jan 1, 2012 - Car Accidents by

All states should ban the use of cell phones and other portable electronic devices, recommends the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). During a meeting this month, NTSB officials suggested that all electronic devices should be illegal for all drivers. The meeting was held to discuss the 2010 distracted-driving accident that happened in Gray Summit, Missouri, in which two people were killed and dozens more were injured. Investigators concluded that the driver who allegedly caused this accident was making phone calls and text messaging just seconds before the accident, according to the Montgomery Advertiser. The NTSB doesn’t have the authority to enact such laws, but its recommendations carry significant weight with congressional and state lawmakers and with federal officials. In the state of Alabama, only novice drivers are prohibited from talking on a cell phone. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, only novice drivers are prohibited from texting behind the wheel, too. All other drivers are free to engage in whichever electronic distractions they choose. These laws are to help reduce the risks of distraction-related car accidents in Tuscaloosa and elsewhere for novice drivers but do nothing to protect older drivers and other individuals sharing our roadways. Our Alabama car accident attorneys understand that not all states have matching texting and cell phone bans. In 35 states, drivers are prohibited from texting at the wheel. Even less states ban drivers from using a cell phone at the wheel. As laws currently stand, enforcement is difficult because officers have a tough […]

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"ast year when my husband was injured in a car accident, I contacted Dell Cross. Immediately he and his wonderful staff went to work gathering all the information necessary to settle our claim. He explained every process, kept us informed and handled everything from the insurance companies down to the smallest bill. He made himself available to us anytime day or night, answering our questions and dealing with our concerns"
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