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Monthly Archives: August 2018

Negligent Entrustment Claims in Alabama

Aug 31, 2018 - Car Accidents by

In Alabama, those who are injured in a motor vehicle accident that was caused by the negligence or otherwise wrongful misconduct of the driver are entitled to sue and recover damages — and under certain circumstances, may have a legitimate right of action against the owner of the vehicle itself. Oftentimes, motor vehicle accidents involve vehicles that are owned by different individuals than the drivers whose negligence actually caused the accident.   If a vehicle owner is aware (or should be aware) of an unreasonable risk of injury posed by the driver, but permits use of the vehicle anyway, then such conduct could expose them to significant liability pursuant to the doctrine of negligent entrustment. As the injured plaintiff, negligent entrustment represents an excellent opportunity for securing damages.  In many cases, the driver may not have the necessary insurance coverage to payout your damages in full — by looping in other liable defendants, such as the vehicle owner, you can spread liability around, thus maximizing your chance of a successful and adequate recovery. Elements Necessary to Prove Negligent Entrustment In Alabama, you can successfully hold the vehicle owner liable if you can prove that the following elements are true: The driver was incompetent; The vehicle owner permitted the driver to use the vehicle; The vehicle owner knew or should have reasonably known that the driver was incompetent; and The driver’s incompetence substantially contributed to the plaintiff’s injuries. For example, imagine that you suffer injures in a motor vehicle collision.  As it […]

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Cross & Smith Offering Annual $1,000 College Scholarship

Aug 29, 2018 - Firm News by

Cross & Smith is a Tuscaloosa law firm that handles personal injury, wrongful death and insurance cases throughout the State of Alabama. Attorneys Dell Cross and Justin Smith have been frequent lecturers statewide in the area of civil litigation and have written and spoken at several legal education seminars across the state.  The firm’s main office is located in Tuscaloosa, AL, but they have an additional office in Birmingham, AL. The firm believes giving back to the community is an important part of making a positive impact. To aid in this effort, each year the firm awards one student with $1,000 towards their college education. This is in hopes to ease the burden of college and help with the many expenses that students encounter each semester. High school seniors or current college students that plan to pursue a law degree within the U.S. are eligible to apply. How to Apply: Write an essay between 500 – 1,000 words that explains your motivation for pursuing a law degree including any obstacles you think you may encounter and how you plan to address them. Send an e-mail to both dell.cross@crossandsmith.com and justin.smith@crossandsmith.com with the below information and attach your essay Full name Phone number Address Current school Current GPA Intended college and major Any extracurricular or volunteer activities The winner will be selected based on a combination of writing skills, academic qualifications and extracurricular activities. Qualification Requirements: Must be a high school senior or currently in college Must intend to pursue a […]

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