Category: Car Accidents

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 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.

May 23, 2012 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

The Memorial Day holiday weekend is expected to be deadly. Safe driving advocates with the National Safety Council (NSC) are predicting that more than 400 people are going to die in car accidents in Tuscaloosa and elsewhere over the three-day holiday weekend. Experts are also predicting another 42,000 auto accident-related injuries during the weekend. The Memorial Day holiday weekend is defined as the time from 6:00 p.m. on Friday the 25th through 11:59 p.m. on Monday the 28th. During this time, motorists are asked to be extremely cautious on our roadways as the significant increase in motor vehicle traffic is expected to result in an increase in the number of serious and fatal accidents. Typically, the Memorial Day holiday weekend sees a 12 percent increase in the number of fatal car accidents compared to similar non-holiday weekends. During this time of the year, millions of Americans are expected to hit the road to kickoff the summer travel season. Our Tuscaloosa accident attorneys understand that long weekends offer residents and visitors with just enough time to hit the road and to get out of town. Unfortunately, everyone else has the same idea, too. For that reason, ocal and state law enforcement agencies will be out in force.

May 20, 2012 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

The roads can be dangerous for anyone driving. One moment of careless driving in Tuscaloosa can lead to a lifetime of injuries. If you have been in an accident and need guidance to get the compensation you deserve, it is critical for you to have an experienced Tuscaloosa injury attorney. Recently the Louisiana courts dealt with a lawsuit arising from an unusual vehicle accident. This case arose in 2006 when an ambulance had to pull over to the shoulder of a four lane highway to deal with transmission problems. Zito v. Advanced Emergency Medical Services, Inc., No. 2011-C-2382 (La. May 8, 2012).The ambulance was covered in reflective tape making it highly visible to cars on the highway, from a far distance. This ambulance was owned by Advanced Emergency Medical Services, Inc. (Advanced) and insured by Empire Indemnity Insurance Company (Empire).

May 10, 2012 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

When you are involved in a car accident in Tuscaloosa, you may be confused over your rights. Our personal injury attorneys understand your confusion and we are here to help you get the benefits necessary to pay for lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering and other expenses. Swartzbaugh v. Encompass Insurance Company of America is a recent Maryland case that shows the confusion that is often times created by language in automobile insurance policies. Mrs. Swartzbaugh purchased auto insurance from the defendant, Encompass Insurance Company of America, through a local independent insurance broker. The automobile insurance policy named Mrs. Swartzbaugh, her husband Mr. Swartzbaugh and their daughter Kelly as drivers. Mrs. Swartzbaugh purchased the minimum mandatory under-insured motorist (UM) but waived the higher UM coverage option. This waiver was done on a standard form and signed by Mrs. Swartzbaugh. As in many states, a waiver of further insurance coverage remains in effect until the clients withdraw the waiver and purchase additional insurance coverage.

May 4, 2012 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

Roughly 80 percent of the time, motorcyclists are faced with serious risks of injury and even death in the event of an auto accident. The occupants of motor vehicles suffer from severe injury or death only 20 percent of the time. Because of the risks that motorcyclists face on our roadways, the entire month of May is dedicated as Motorcycle Awareness Safety Month, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Safe driving advocates are calling on the help of motorists to remember riders as the spring and summer riding season begins. Our Tuscaloosa motorcycle accident lawyers understand that motorcyclists are oftentimes overlooked by the drivers of passenger vehicles. The Alabama Motorcycle Safety Program was designed to help our two-wheeled friends to defend themselves on our roadways. This program offers some serious motorcycle riding courses for riders in an attempt to teach them how to navigate our roadways as safely as possible. In 2009, there were nearly 100 motorcyclist fatalities in the state of Alabama. Most of these motorcycle accidents occurred in Tuscaloosa, Jefferson, Mobil and Baldwin counties.

Apr 3, 2012 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

This is the month! It’s the month to put an end to talking on your cell phone and text messaging behind the wheel. Why this month? Because it’s National Distracted Driving Awareness Month 2012! It’s as good of a month as ever. Every year, throughout the entire month of April, the National Safety Council, our Alabama personal injury attorneys and safe driving advocates across the country work together to help to spread the word about the dangers associated with distracted driving and to encourage more drivers to hang up the phone, put distraction aside, and focus on the road. The truth of the matter is that distraction-related car accidents took the lives of more than 3,000 people in 2010. That’s 3,000 people who didn’t have to die. They were killed by the irresponsibility of drivers. Our Tuscaloosa injury lawyers understand that about 25 percent of all motor vehicle accidents involve a driver who is distracted by the use of a cell phone. That’s no surprise when you consider that using either a hand-held or a hands-free cell phone makes a driver four times more likely to get into an accident. Texting increases a driver’s risk for an accident by nearly 25 times. It’s so bad that using a cell phone at the wheel gives a driver the same reaction time as a driver who is legally drunk. Using a cell phone while driving reduces the amount of brain activity that is associated with driving by about 40 percent.

Feb 21, 2012 - Birmingham by Cross & Smith

In an effort to curb Birmingham car accidents and crashes across the state, a new anti-texting bill is getting widespread support in Alabama’s House of Representatives. The Birmingham News is reporting that a number of high-level lawmakers are backing the bill, which would completely outlaw texting behind the wheel in our state. The way our Birmingham car accident attorneys understand it, anyone who violates this law would be slapped with a $25 fine for the first offense, $50 for the second conviction and $75 for the third or subsequent offense. Some wonder if the bill even goes far enough, considering the devastation that distracted driving can cause on Alabama’s roads.

Feb 15, 2012 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

A new bill is expected to be offered in Washington that will potentially rework federal transportation programs to offer millions of dollars in funding to deserving states for incentives to help to reduce the risks of drunk driving car accidents in Alabama and elsewhere. The goal is to help lawmakers enact tougher penalties for those convicted of a first-time drunk driving offense, according to The Hill. Not everyone’s on board though, saying that these kinds of programs require millions and millions of dollars to be successful. It’s takes community effort and seemingly endless funds for these types of programs. What we’re talking about is Title V. This bill could potentially free up about $500 million every year for highway safety grants in deserving states. About 5 percent, or about $25 million, of that funding would be handed over to states that already require ignition interlock devices for first-time drunk driving offenders. Drunk drivers scare us, too! Our Alabama drunk driving accident attorneys understand that every year, drunk drivers take the lives of thousands of innocent motorists across the U.S. What’s most sad about it is that these accidents are preventable. These victims didn’t have to die.

Feb 7, 2012 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

Teens are at high risks for car accidents in Montgomery, Alabama and elsewhere. Their inexperience behind the wheel hinders their ability to safely navigate our roadways. But did you know there are things you and your teen driver may be doing that can be increasing those risks? According to two new studies released in the Journal of Adolescent Health, passengers and parental involvement can make or break your teen’s safety behind the wheel. Both of the recent studies concluded that comprehensive graduated driver’s licensing (GDL) programs and parental oversight are effective ways to help to reduce the risks of teen car accidents. One of the studies looked at the driving habits of nearly 200 teenage drivers in 15 different states with graduated drivers licensing (GDL) programs. After analyzing their driving behaviors, researchers concluded that teens who had parents who were involved in monitoring the young driver’s habits were less likely to act dangerously behind the wheel. The teen drivers with parents who stayed aware of their teen’s whereabouts and their driving habits were typically safer behind the wheel.