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Jul 27, 2012 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

If your daily commute seems to have gotten more perilous recently, you might not be imagining things. The number of traffic fatalities in the first quarter of 2012 soared by nearly 14 percent, resulting in nearly 1,000 more deaths on the nation’s roads. Tuscaloosa personal injury attorneys may see an uptick in all types of accident cases as the economy improves. While the federal government and safety advocates have trumpeted declining traffic fatality numbers throughout the downturn, many economists predicted those numbers would soar again with economic recovery. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates 7,630 people died in motor vehicle accidents during the first three months of 2012. That’s up 13.5 percent from the 6,720 fatalities reported during the same period one year ago. If the estimate holds true, it would be the second-largest quarterly increase in traffic fatalities since the government began keeping modern records in 1975. First-quarter results had been declining since 2006, when 9,558 motorists were killed through March 31.

Jul 24, 2012 - Truck Accidents by Cross & Smith

Serious consideration is being given to requiring all tractor-trailer’s traveling on the nation’s roads to incorporate automatic speed-limiting technologies. Officials with the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety have joined the debate with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regarding the potential requirement for large truck speed-limiting technologies. This was the result of petitions filed by Road Safe America and the American Trucking Association to help to get large commercials vehicles to slow down on our nation’s highways. Slower traveling trucks help to reduce the risks of serious injury and death in the event of a trucking accident in Alabama. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is in on it too, saying that speed governors for large trucks should be required on all commercial vehicles. The technology is already mandatory in many other countries.

Jul 17, 2012 - Personal Injury by Cross & Smith

As we reach the height of summer, our Tuscaloosa personal injury attorneys would like to take time to talk to you about the importance of water safety and avoiding swimming pool accidents in Alabama. The Centers for Disease Control reports about 10 people a day die as a result of drowning accidents. About 3,500 drown while swimming, and another 350 die from drowning as a result of boating accidents. In addition, thousands are seriously injured by near-drowning. And the data shows many will need significant hospital care for serious injuries, including brain injuries. Brain injuries caused by lack of oxygen can result in long-term disabilities, including memory and learning problems. Half of near -drowning victims treated in hospital emergency rooms require extended care, including those whose injuries result in permanent vegetative state.

Jul 16, 2012 - Truck Accidents by Cross & Smith

One person was killed in a Calera, Alabama trucking accident recently. The crash involved two tractor-trailers and a passenger vehicle that claimed the life of a 26-year-old Bessemer man who was a passenger in the 1990 Ford Clubwagon. Three other occupants of the van were injured and taken to the hospital, as well the driver of one of the semi-trucks. The The driver of the other rig was not injured. Our Alabama personal injury attorneys know that the occupants of passenger vehicles are most at risk in accidents with large trucks. As we recently noted on our Alabama Injury Attorneys’ Blog, the government reported 110 large trucks were involved in trucking accidents in Alabama in 2010.

Jul 11, 2012 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

If you are between the ages of 5 and 34, you are more likely to die in a motor vehicle accident than by any other means. And Alabama is among the nation’s deadliest states in which to drive, according to a 24/7 Wall Street analysis. The analysis is based on a report by The Trust for America’s Health, which looked at recent state-by-state data on causes of injuries and death. Our Alabama personal injury attorneys were not surprised to learn that Alabama is the nation’s third-deadliest state for motorists.

Jul 5, 2012 - Personal Injury by Cross & Smith

Identifying all of the at-fault parties, and their associated insurance carriers, are among the most critical tasks of a Tuscaloosa personal injury lawyer. Progressive Northern Insurance Co. v. Mohr, a case decided by the Delaware Supreme Court, involved a pedestrian accident victim. The victim recovered $15,000 from the insurance carrier of the vehicle involved in the accident. But he also sought to recover from Progressive Northern Insurance Company, which had a policy in place on a vehicle owned by the victim’s mother. The policy excluded coverage of Mohr as result of a pedestrian accident. The question before the court was whether such an exclusion was permissible or whether an insurance company had to include pedestrian accidents in its personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. In this case, the Supreme Court decided Mohr could collect from the PIP policy in place on his mother’s vehicle. And that the exclusion conflicted with Delaware’s automobile insurance laws. Thus, in addition to the $15,000 collected from the at-fault driver’s insurance policy, the court ordered Progressive, which insured the victim’s mother, to pay an additional $85,000! The court ordered the $15,000 be subtracted from the $100,000 policy limit in place.

Jun 28, 2012 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

Officers throughout the state are gearing up for the big travel holiday. Car accidents in Alabama will be a concern as everyone aims to get to and from their destination safely. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), more than 170 people are expected to be killed in traffic accidents during this holiday. In addition, experts are predicting that another 17,000 are going to be injured in motor vehicle accidents. Holiday periods typically see some of the highest accident rates of the entire year. That’s because we’ve got so many more motorists trying to share the road. Keep your temper, obey the rules of the road, and practice the kind of safe driving habits that can help you and your family get there safely! Our Alabama personal injury lawyers understand that Fourth of July travel is expected to be busier than it’s been in 5 years — despite the holiday falling in the middle of the week.

Jun 19, 2012 - Truck Accidents by Cross & Smith

According to recently-released statistics by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were nearly 110 large trucks that were involved in fatal trucking accidents in Tuscaloosa and elsewhere in Alabama in 2010. For statistical purposes, a large truck is considered a truck whose gross vehicle weight is over 10,000 pounds. Throughout the nation, there were nearly 3,700 people who were killed in these kinds of big rig accidents that year. There were also another 80,000 people who were injured in trucking accidents. Reports indicate that there were close to 280,000 trucks involved in traffic accidents in 2010. This is an issue of growing importance because the number of trucks on the nation’s roads is projected to grow substantially in coming years. And passenger vehicles are at an extreme disadvantage in the event of an accident with a large commercial vehicle. Large trucks operate differently than our passenger vehicles. They are also larger, heavier and more powerful. This is why so many of the fatalities in these kinds of accidents occur to the passengers of other vehicles involved. In 2010, nearly 73 percent of the fatalities were of passenger vehicle occupants, about 2 percent were non-occupants and close to 25 percent were of the occupants of the large truck

Jun 13, 2012 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

Texting while driving is dangerous. This is especially relevant when we’re talking about teenage drivers. As a matter of fact, teen drivers not only have the highest rates for car accidents in Alabama, but they are also the driving group that’s most likely to engage in distractions behind the wheel. There is no better time than the beginning of summer vacation to have a serious talk with the teens in your life. Various studies have concluded that drivers understand the dangers that are associated with this dangerous habit, but most of them are not willing to make the changes to increase roadway safety. Young drivers are most prone to ignoring the risks. Perhaps you heard recently about the Massachusetts teen who was charged with vehicular manslaughter and negligent operation while texting after a fatal distracted driving accident. At the conclusion of the ground-breaking case, the teen was sentenced to a year in prison and had his driver’s license suspended for 15 years because of the accident, according to FOX News.

Jun 5, 2012 - Tuscaloosa by Cross & Smith

For the entire month of June, officials with the National Safety Council (NSC) are promoting National Safety Month. Our Tuscaloosa workers’ compensation attorneys understand that there are small steps that we can all take to help to reduce our risks of injury — both on and off the job. Officials with the NSC will be featuring safety topics throughout the month. Follow along and work toward a safer time both at work and off the job. Here’s the setup for the month-long campaign: -June 3rd – 9th: Employee Wellness -June 10th – 16th: Ergonomics -June 17th – 23rd: Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls -June 24th – 30th: Driving Safety This annual observance is used to educate and encourage safe behaviors to help to reduce the risks of work accidents in Tuscaloosa and elsewhere. This year’s campaign is encouraging safe behavior — all day every day. Each week will be dedicated to a different type of injury, ones that are all too frequent in our everyday lives. Review each week’s materials to help to reduce your risks of needless and preventable injuries.