205-391-0618

Practice Areas

Yearly Archives: 2013

Child Accident Risks Highest on All Hallow’s Eve

Oct 15, 2013 - Personal Injury by

Everyone loves a good scare on Halloween, but not when it comes to child safety. There are several easy and effective behaviors that parents can share with kids to help reduce their risk of injury. During Halloween, children are more likely to be killed in a pedestrian accident than any other night of the year. This is why it’s important that we not only instill safe habits before the big night, but that we also provide supervision to smaller kids who need it. It’s also important that we dress them in safe costumes that won’t cause any problems.

Read More

Alabama Railroad Accidents Still a Potential Safety Risk

Oct 3, 2013 - Birmingham by

We tend to think of railroads as a travel method of a bygone era. In reality, not only are Alabama railroad crossing injuries and deaths an ongoing risk, they are a rising one. According to new data from the Federal Railroad Administration, the number of pedestrians fatally struck by trains nationwide spiked by more than 25 percent in the first five months of this year. The figures indicate that while there were 158 railroad pedestrian deaths from January through May of 2012, there were 199 during the same time frame this year.

Read More

Airport Premises Liability Lawsuit a Reminder of Injury Risks

Oct 2, 2013 - Birmingham by

It’s been six months since a huge sign at the Birmingham International Airport came crashing down, killing a 10-year-old boy and severely injuring his mother and younger brothers. Our Birmingham premises liability lawyers know three other signs just like it were removed. We know, based on an investigation by Al.com, that there were advance warnings that the signs could pose a safety threat. And we also know that the family of the boy has filed a wrongful death lawsuit, that is slated to proceed in November of next year. What we don’t know is how much safer we are in the airport.

Read More

Tuscaloosa Car Accident Victims May Get Faster Help With Yellow Dot

Oct 1, 2013 - Car Accidents by

Involvement in a Tuscaloosa car accident typically happens suddenly and without warning. The only way to prepare is to steel yourself before each and every trip, no matter how seemingly insignificant. That means buckling your seat belt, making sure the kids are properly restrained, keeping your vehicle in good working condition and remaining alcohol and distraction-free. Now, it may also mean affixing a yellow dot to the back of your vehicle.

Read More

Hospital Infections and Alabama Medical Malpractice Claims

Sep 24, 2013 - Medical Malpractice by

Most people view hospitalization as the cure for what ails them. Unfortunately in too many instances, it’s the hospitalization itself that ails us more than what brought us there in the first place. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 2 million people annually are infected with drug-resistant germs annually and of those, about 23,000 die of infections. Our Tuscaloosa medical malpractice attorneys know that in many of these cases, the infection was picked up at a hospital or other clinical care setting.

Read More

Alabama Amputation Risk Higher in Certain Jobs

Sep 23, 2013 - Amputation by

Amputation injuries in the U.S. have been on the rise over the past decade, as numerous veterans returning from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are survivors who have lost limbs in the course of their service. But our Alabama personal injury lawyers know that veterans aren’t the only ones who have been at high risk. Those involved in certain types of motor vehicle accidents (particularly motorcycle wrecks) have had to endure such injury, as have those who have suffered on-the-job injuries – particularly in fields that require the routine use of industrialized, mechanical equipment. For example, recently in Missouri a glass manufacturing firm was cited by inspectors with the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration after an employee suffered a finger amputation while repairing a machine. Investigators would later learn that the incident stemmed from the employer’s failure to shut off power to certain energy sources before the maintenance was initiated. OSHA called the oversight “unacceptable,” and fined the firm $137,000.

Read More

Drunk Driving Accidents Increase With Game Day Tailgating

Sep 18, 2013 - Birmingham by

It is an exciting time to be a college football fan in the State of Alabama and as fans we look forward to watching our favorite team play on TV but we especially look forward to the games we actually attend. For some fans their tailgate party is more of a small gathering of friends and family, while for others it is the social team party of the century. These game day celebrations often include alcohol, and unfortunately statistics reflect a substantial increase in drinking and driving accidents on football game days. Several college football teams will play their first home game of the season this Saturday, including Alabama (vs. Colorado State University) and we here at Cross and Smith, LLC are encouraging all college football fans that if they choose to drink alcohol, that they drink responsibly, designate a sober driver, get a cab, use public transportation or contact a friend or family member to ensure they get home safely and without being a danger to others on the road. All fans need to be made aware that, if they drink and drive and cause an accident, not only can they can face criminal charges but they can be sued for damages suffered by anyone that was injured as a result of the accident.

Read More

Judge: Transvaginal Mesh Lawsuits to Continue, Despite Appeal

Sep 17, 2013 - Birmingham by

The first case in a series of multidistrict transvaginal mesh lawsuits against the manufacturer C.R. Bard did not go as the company had hoped. As a result, the health care products manufacturer intends to appeal, knowing full well that such a judgment sets the tone for the flood of future cases that are waiting in the pipeline. However, a federal judge has denied a motion from the defendant Bard to stay or hold the other pending cases while this one works its way through the appellate process. In the case of Cisson v. C.R. Bard, the jury sided with the plaintiff, awarding her $250,000 in compensatory damages and $1.75 million in punitive damages.

Read More

Amusement Ride Dangers at State Fairs

Sep 11, 2013 - Birmingham by

With the Fall season right upon us, we look forward to all the different State Fairs coming to town. Along with all the great food and prizes to be won, we also need to be reminded of the potential dangers of the amusement rides. Just this past weekend at a fair in Connecticut, 18 people including 12 children were injured after one of the amusement rides malfunctioned. The incident is currently under investigation as to the cause of the malfunction and the police are looking into whether the owner of the ride has been cited for any prior safety violations. Owners and operators of state fairs and/or amusement parks have a legal responsibility to ensure the safety of the riders and the visitors to their park. That includes ensuring the property and their attractions are properly maintained and kept in a reasonably safe condition. Although each incident may have different circumstances, legal responsibility for injuries incurred by the riders could rest on the amusement park owner, the ride designer or manufacturer, the ride operator and/or a ride owner. Among the potential claims made against these types of defendants are including, but not limited to, wrongful death, negligence, premise liability and/or defective product claims all of which our attorneys at Cross and Smith, LLC handle.

Read More

Senior Drivers in Alabama Face Unique Roadway Challenges

Sep 10, 2013 - Birmingham by

A horrible tragedy unfolded recently when a traffic accident in Birmingham claimed the lives of an elderly couple on Highway 280. Authorities say the senior driver, in a passenger vehicle, pulled in front of a semi-truck and was subsequently struck. Although the crash is still under investigation, it’s an awful reminder of how quickly an ill-fated, snap-second judgment can change everything. It’s especially important for older drivers to offer up an honest analysis of their own driving abilities, particularly in terms of sight and reaction time.

Read More

Hear What Our Clients Have To Say

"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"
Posted By: Alice Kirkland

Read More Reviews