Blog

Oct 29, 2013 - Workers' Compensation/Work Injury by Cross & Smith

There were close to 500 workers killed in the agriculture sector in 2012. The fatality rate in this industry is more than 21 per 100,000 full-time equivalent worker, which is the highest fatality rate of any sector. In addition to these fatalities, there were close to 48,500 workers injured in 2011. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), there are more than 2 million people who are employed in the agricultural industry in the U.S. Those who work and farm are at serious risks for critical injuries, death, work-related lung diseases, cancer, skin diseases, noise-induced hearing loss and even heat exposure. farm accidents in Alabama are an all-too-common threat during harvest season. The number one cause of death for farmworkers between 1992 and 2009 was tractor overturns. These accidents account for more than 90 fatalities each and every year. Each day, there are close to 250 farm workers who suffer from a serious injury and are forced to take time away from work. About 5 percent of these injuries result in permanent impairment.

Oct 16, 2013 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

When we think about distracted driving, most people will think of talking on a cell phone or text messaging behind the wheel. But according to Allstate, the top five driver distractions include, eating and drinking, adjusting music, interacting with passengers, playing music loudly and reaching into the back seat. Those are things we’re all guilty of, and they are activities that could result in a potentially fatal accident. Between 4,000 and 8,000 crashes related to distracted driving occur daily in the United States alone. In North America, distracted driving contributes to as many as one-half of crashes reported annually. Our Tuscaloosa car accident lawyers understand that’s just the tip of the iceberg. According to Insurance Hotline, Americans are also guilty of grooming, smoking, playing with car controls and tending to babies while in the driver’s seat.

Oct 15, 2013 - Personal Injury by Cross & Smith

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.

Oct 3, 2013 - Birmingham by Cross & Smith

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.

Oct 2, 2013 - Birmingham by Cross & Smith

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.

Oct 1, 2013 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

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.

Sep 24, 2013 - Medical Malpractice by Cross & Smith

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.

Sep 23, 2013 - Amputation by Cross & Smith

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.

Sep 18, 2013 - Birmingham by Cross & Smith

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.

Sep 17, 2013 - Birmingham by Cross & Smith

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.