Practice Areas

Sep 8, 2013 - Drunk Driving Accidents by Cross & Smith

Authorities reported the recent Tuscaloosa DUI arrest of a 20-year-old woman near the University of Alabama campus, after she had allegedly struck a utility pole, causing a power outage. Although the driver and two passengers suffered injuries, our Tuscaloosa DUI accident lawyers know these types of collisions are often far more tragic. With class back in session for college students and football season in full swing, we unfortunately suspect this is just the beginning of the near-campus DUI crashes.

Sep 3, 2013 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

How many Tuscaloosa car accidents could be prevented if every vehicle on the road was equipped with technology that allowed it to “talk” to other vehicles to determine when a crash is imminent – and then take measures to avoid it? While it sounds somewhat futuristic, officials with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say they are “on the verge” of a breakthrough in such technology. The agency has just wrapped a year-long trial of some 3,000 cars, buses and trucks that were connected by Wi-Fi signals intended to curb the number of wrecks and help improve the flow of traffic. It is believed that this kind of technology, had it been in place last year in New Jersey, could have prevented the death of a young girl riding on a school bus that was struck by a dump truck and flung into a utility pole. A total of 17 other children were seriously injured – including the girl’s two sisters.

Sep 2, 2013 - Birmingham by Cross & Smith

A recent report by the National Safety Council indicates that while Labor Day marked the close of a period known as the 100 deadliest days for teens on the road, these issues don’t stop being a concern just because class is back in session. Rather, awareness and prevention of teen roadway fatalities should be a year-round priority. It’s estimated that some 1,500 young driver-related crashes occur from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Because parents recognize this as a particularly dangerous time, they practice a kind of hyper-vigilance in ensuring their teens are following safe driving practices. But as this tragedy reveals, our vigilance can’t stop there.

Aug 29, 2013 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

Alabama car crashes are expected to soar this Labor Day weekend, as traffic forecasters are predicting a surge in travelers this year, due to a brighter economy and cheaper gas prices. Our Tuscaloosa injury lawyers understand that a new report from the American Automobile Association predicts a 4.2 percent spike in overall Labor Day holiday travel. Meanwhile, the National Safety Council is anticipating a nearly 6 percent increase in the number of Labor Day weekend fatalities on the roadway, from about 375 last year to nearly 400 this year. About 56 percent of those, the NSC estimates, will be alcohol related (as compared to roughly 33 percent on any normal weekend). Of those, the majority of drivers are expected to be males, particularly those between the ages of 18 and 34.

Aug 26, 2013 - Birmingham by Cross & Smith

Her identity was concealed, but she hoped to bring the truth to light. Reporters at WKRG News 5 in Mobile interviewed a nursing home staffer recently who revealed the too-often silent horrors of the industry, including patients with infected bed sores so severe their tailbones were exposed. Though the account was given anonymously, our Birmingham nursing home neglect lawyers have learned that a new report lends credence to these tales of woe, with Alabama earning a state grade ranking of “D” when it comes to quality of nursing home care.

Aug 19, 2013 - Pharmaceutical Litigation/Dangerous Drugs by Cross & Smith

It’s been several months since compounding pharmacies in New England came under severe scrutiny by health officials, following a fatal outbreak of fungal meningitis that affected patients nationwide. Our Alabama pharmaceutical litigation attorneys predicted that, given the lack of oversight, such hazards were sure to repeat. Sure enough, they have – this time at a Texas compounding facility called NuVision Pharmacy. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a second warning regarding the facility’s supposedly sterile products, which the company has refused to recall, despite the FDA’s mandate. The first warning about the company’s products was issued back in mid-May.

Aug 18, 2013 - Birmingham by Cross & Smith

A recent scene on I-65 in Birmingham, just south of Chilton County Road 59 caused traffic to grind to a halt, as a trailer hauling some 20 cows overturned. It was nearly three hours before officials could get things moving again. Our Birmingham personal injury attorneys understand that farm equipment traveling on the roadways can create a dangerous condition. Although thankfully no one was seriously hurt in this most recent incident, 2007 study published in the Journal of Rural Health revealed that there are a number of factors that contribute to increased injuries and fatalities when crashes involve farm equipment.

Aug 15, 2013 - Birmingham by Cross & Smith

With the start of the new school year comes the beginning of school-sponsored sports — something in which Alabama students, coaches and parents take great pride. However, our Birmingham personal injury lawyers know that such activities sometimes come at an enormous risk to the students involved, particularly if all precautions aren’t taken prior to the start of the season. While some states like Illinois are just now beginning to kick off discussions about insurance for student athletes who may incur catastrophic injuries, it is already required in Alabama by both the Alabama Independent School Association and the Alabama High School Athletic Association, with coverage capped at $1 million.

Aug 12, 2013 - Birmingham by Cross & Smith

Our Birmingham personal injury lawyers handle cases involving Alabama ATV crashes. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that there have been nearly 300 ATV-related deaths in Alabama from 1982 through 2011. Nearly a third of those occurred within the last three years of that time frame, and 80 were children under the age of 16. There is no state agency that regulates ATVs. The state is one of only four in the country with no ATV laws. That almost changed in 2/car-accidents/alabama-traffic-accidents-likely-to-increase-with-economic-recovery/, but the effort sputtered out. The only formal restriction is that ATV’s may not be driven on sand dunes or on beaches along the Gulf of Mexico. Still, even in states that have stricter laws, sometimes it’s not enough to prevent tragedy.

Aug 7, 2013 - Birmingham by Cross & Smith

Kevin Pearce was a skilled snowboarder. So skilled, in fact, it was believed he stood a strong chance to claim the Olympic gold medal from Shaun White, recognized to be the reigning king of the sport. But our Birmingham brain injury lawyers know that was before a training run crash in Park City, Utah on Dec. 31, 2009. He suffered massive trauma to his body, and his brain. He lapsed into a coma. Some thought he might die. He survived, but he emerged a different athlete, and a different person.