Blog

Apr 22, 2013 - Tuscaloosa by Cross & Smith

A new study shows that more children are being rushed to emergency rooms across the country for swimming pool injuries than they were two decades ago. Our Tuscaloosa swimming pool injury lawyers were troubled to learn that there were more than 1.5 million injuries from swimming in the U.S. involving people of all ages from 1990 and 2008. That number has increased yearly from roughly 80,000 back in 1990 to 93,000 in 2008. That’s an overall increase of 16.25 percent. When the researchers broke it down to examine only those injuries to children, the results were even more dramatic. For children 7 years of age or older, the rate of swimming pool injuries increased by 30 percent. It went from 9 injuries for every 10,000 to 11 injuries for every 10,000. Children under the age of 17 accounted for almost 60 percent of all swimming-related injuries.

Apr 17, 2013 - Medical Malpractice by Cross & Smith

Our Birmingham medical malpractice lawyers have learned that a widow was recently awarded $3 million in a wrongful death lawsuit filed against Birmingham Surgical, P.C. and a doctor employed therein. It took the jury roughly an hour to reach their verdict, following a 17-day trial. The cause of his death was negligent delay of gallbladder surgery. Gallbladder surgery is supposed to be a fairly routine procedure, called a cholecystectomy. Some 500,000 people undergo the surgery each year.

Apr 12, 2013 - Construction Accidents by Cross & Smith

A jury has awarded $1.7 million to an Alabama man who incurred severe injuries as a result of a 2009 manlift accident at a steel mill. Our Tuscaloosa construction accident lawyers understand this incident occurred in Daphne, which is in southern Alabama, not far from Mobile. According to news reports, the incident happened the day before Halloween, while the worker was using a manlift to install an overhead crane. He was nearly 80 feet in the air. Suddenly, the wire ropes in the equipment failed. He plunged some 25 feet. The manlift’s boom retracted, similar to what you might see with an accordion, only on a much greater scale. As the worker fell, his right femur bone snapped. His head struck the control panel and he was knocked unconscious.

Apr 11, 2013 - Construction Accidents by Cross & Smith

Spring is widely recognized as “construction season,” as the warming weather brings a host of demolitions, new projects and repairs. Our Birmingham construction accident lawyers want to make sure every worker, contractor and owner out there is doing all that is necessary to ensure safety at ever level. There is a misconception that commercial job sites are somehow riskier than residential construction sites. It’s true that more workers and heavier equipment may present more opportunity for danger. But residential job sites pose their own unique risks. For example, fewer workers means less oversight and more opportunity to potentially overlook critical safety standards.

Apr 10, 2013 - Birmingham by Cross & Smith

Distracted driving is responsible for thousands of accidents and injuries each year and is always dangerous behind the wheel. However, distracted driving can be especially dangerous when it is done by a commercial driver who has a large truck under his control or who is responsible for transporting passengers.  Our Alabama trucking accident lawyers know that commercial drivers are expected to pay careful attention when behind the wheel. It’s an appropriate focus as April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month nationwide. A new survey conducted by Aegis Mobility aims to find out whether professional drivers are actually living up to their obligations and avoiding distracted driving, or whether drivers are paying attention to things that they shouldn’t be as they travel the roads. Distracted Driving Survey For Fleet Operators The Department of Transportation has banned texting and driving for all drivers of large trucks and buses. The U.S. Department of Transportation reported that the ban was an important safety step. The civil and criminal penalties for a driver who breaks the rules could be up to $2,750.

Apr 9, 2013 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

A Mississippi man recently stopped in Mobile is the perfect example for just about everything you should never do behind the wheel. Our Tuscaloosa car accident lawyers are amazed that this individual didn’t cause a crash sooner. The 19-year-old driver and his 22-year-old passenger were passing through the George Wallace Tunnel when they were stopped. Officers say not only was he text messaging, he was doing so on two different phone simultaneously. Obviously, with no hands free, he was forced to steer the vehicle using his knees, something he said he’s been doing since he learned how to drive – three years ago. He called this “double texting.”

Apr 3, 2013 - Birmingham by Cross & Smith

On March 25, 2013, the News Courier reported speeding is the number one factor in traffic crashes in the state of Alabama. The News Courier also explained that high traffic volumes played a role in causing crashes. But when speed and traffic congestion combine, the results can be disastrous.  Our Birmingham accident attorneys urge every driver to respect the risks associated with speeding. Hopefully, when drivers are reminded of the serious likelihood of a car wreck caused by speeding, it will encourage more drivers to slow down to stay safe and ultimately reduce the chances of hurting themselves and others in a speeding-related traffic collision. Speeding is a Top Accident Cause According to the News Courier:

Mar 30, 2013 - Wrongful Death by Cross & Smith

A falling airport sign killed a 10-year-old boy and seriously injured his mother, Reuters reported. The Kansas woman and several of her children were pinned beneath a flight display sign in a newly renovated area of Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport. Media reports indicate the sign weighed as much as 400 pounds. Authorities say an 8-year-old boy received inpatient treatment at Children’s of Alabama. His 5-year-old brother was treated and released. Unfortunately, the 10-year-old did not survive his injuries. AL.com reported the mother’s injuries include two broken ankles and a broken pelvis. The family had been in Birmingham enroute back home after Spring Break in Florida.  Our Birmingham wrongful death attorneys know this tragedy will be thoroughly investigated; but who does the investigating may ultimately help determine whether those responsibility are held accountable. Airport officials would not speculate on the cause. However, the investigation should include the contractors and subcontractors who recently remodeled that area of the airport. The incident occurred in a pre-security area of the modernized terminal — Concourses A and B. The area re-opened March 13. Birmingham Mayor William Bell is also calling for a thorough review of the incident.

Mar 26, 2013 - Tuscaloosa by Cross & Smith

Our Tuscaloosa car accident attorneys urge Alabama residents to participate in Distracted Driving Awareness Month this April. Sometimes is seems we’re always talking about distracted-driving risks, and yet we haven’t directly addressed it yet this year on our Alabama Injury Attorneys Blog. And that’s how it is with distracted driving: An obvious risk factor that we too often ignore. The National Safety Council provides a wide range of resources for parents and employers. Teens and those who drive on the job face some of the highest distracted-driving risks.

Mar 21, 2013 - Birmingham by Cross & Smith

As the weather gets warmer, many kids are going to be taking to the streets to play on their bicycles. Bicycles provide a great method of transportation for young kids who want to go to their friends’ houses nearby but who are too young to drive a car to get there. Bike riding in the neighborhood or in the driveway can also be a lot of fun for kids of all ages.  Unfortunately, our Birmingham bicycle accident lawyers know that hundreds of people die each year as a result of bicycle accidents and that many more are injured. A large number of those who get hurt on bicycles are children who may be in grave danger due to a lack of skills on the bicycle or a lack of understanding of the risks of the road. The Dangers of Bicycle Accidents for Kids Any time a child or an adult rides a bicycle, there are some potential risks. There is a risk of becoming involved in a car accident while riding the bike, and there is also a danger of falling off of the bike and getting hurt.