Category: Car Accidents

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 10, 2013 - Birmingham by Cross & Smith

A horrible tragedy unfolded recently when a traffic accident in Birmingham claimed the lives of an elderly couple on Highway 280. Authorities say the senior driver, in a passenger vehicle, pulled in front of a semi-truck and was subsequently struck. Although the crash is still under investigation, it’s an awful reminder of how quickly an ill-fated, snap-second judgment can change everything. It’s especially important for older drivers to offer up an honest analysis of their own driving abilities, particularly in terms of sight and reaction time.

Sep 3, 2013 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

How many Tuscaloosa car accidents could be prevented if every vehicle on the road was equipped with technology that allowed it to “talk” to other vehicles to determine when a crash is imminent – and then take measures to avoid it? While it sounds somewhat futuristic, officials with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say they are “on the verge” of a breakthrough in such technology. The agency has just wrapped a year-long trial of some 3,000 cars, buses and trucks that were connected by Wi-Fi signals intended to curb the number of wrecks and help improve the flow of traffic. It is believed that this kind of technology, had it been in place last year in New Jersey, could have prevented the death of a young girl riding on a school bus that was struck by a dump truck and flung into a utility pole. A total of 17 other children were seriously injured – including the girl’s two sisters.

Sep 2, 2013 - Birmingham by Cross & Smith

A recent report by the National Safety Council indicates that while Labor Day marked the close of a period known as the 100 deadliest days for teens on the road, these issues don’t stop being a concern just because class is back in session. Rather, awareness and prevention of teen roadway fatalities should be a year-round priority. It’s estimated that some 1,500 young driver-related crashes occur from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Because parents recognize this as a particularly dangerous time, they practice a kind of hyper-vigilance in ensuring their teens are following safe driving practices. But as this tragedy reveals, our vigilance can’t stop there.

Aug 29, 2013 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

Alabama car crashes are expected to soar this Labor Day weekend, as traffic forecasters are predicting a surge in travelers this year, due to a brighter economy and cheaper gas prices. Our Tuscaloosa injury lawyers understand that a new report from the American Automobile Association predicts a 4.2 percent spike in overall Labor Day holiday travel. Meanwhile, the National Safety Council is anticipating a nearly 6 percent increase in the number of Labor Day weekend fatalities on the roadway, from about 375 last year to nearly 400 this year. About 56 percent of those, the NSC estimates, will be alcohol related (as compared to roughly 33 percent on any normal weekend). Of those, the majority of drivers are expected to be males, particularly those between the ages of 18 and 34.

Jul 28, 2013 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

We just recently passed the halfway mark of the 100 Deadliest Days for Teen Drivers. It was July 15, and while you may have let out a sigh of relief, just know that it’s not over yet. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), this is the middle of the most dangerous time for our teens to be behind the wheel and out on our roadways. Our Tuscaloosa car accident lawyers understand that there are 2 million teenagers in the United States who are under the age of 18 and are currently within their first year of driving. Break that number down, and it’s more than the population of Houston. These drivers are always at serious risk — but never more so than through the long summer months. Yearly, there are close to 1 million teen drivers who are involved in a motor vehicle accident. When you break that down, that means we’re seeing close to 3,000 of these accidents on U.S. roadways each and every day.

Jul 21, 2013 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

Every driver should have auto insurance because it is required by law. However, there are a lot of things that many people just don’t understand about their policies. Unfortunately, this can lead to confusion and problems in the event that an accident happens.  Our Birmingham injury attorneys know that understanding your insurance coverage is important to protecting your rights and making informed decisions. A good place to start is to consider some of the myths and misconceptions about auto insurance recently discussed by the Digital Journal. Some Common Auto Insurance Misconceptions

Jul 18, 2013 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

Over a weekend in early June, off-duty Alabama law enforcement officers in St. Clair and Bibb counties stopped traffic in several locations. The researchers asked the drivers to participate in a “voluntary” anonymous study. The study involved asking the motorists to answer several questions, provide a blood sample, provide a throat swab and undergo a breathalyzer test. The motorists who gave blood were paid $50.00 and those who gave the throat swab were paid $10.00.  The survey is called the “2013 National Roadside Survey of Alcohol and Drugged Driving.” It aims to determine how many drivers may be driving drunk or with illegal drugs in their system. Our Tuscaloosa accident lawyers know that answering this question is important to determine how the safety of our roads. Yet, while the study may have a noble purpose, some have expressed concern over the manner in which it was conducted. Concerns Over Research Safety Study According to Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, which is the group that coordinated the study, the public was “very receptive” to the study and the experience was “all very pleasant.”

Jul 3, 2013 - Birmingham by Cross & Smith

A crash recently in Central Florida claimed the lives of two developmentally disabled women, one in her late 70s and another in her 40s, who were being transported back from a day trip in a van when a tire blew out on the interstate, causing the vehicle to flip. Our Birmingham accident attorneys understand that in addition to the two women killed, two others, both staffers, were severely injured in the wreck. According to a spokesman for the agency, the van tires had been inspected prior to the trip. One of the tires was replaced when mechanics who, initially inspecting the vehicle for an oil change and windshield wiper replacement, noticed it had dry rot. However, it was a different tire that blew. The agency spokesman insists the vehicle was inspected after that tire replacement and was found to be “in good shape,” adding that the firm’s vans are routinely inspected, particularly prior to longer trips, such as this one.

Jun 27, 2013 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

Laws related to cell phone use and education campaigns related to distracted driving usually stress the dangers of handheld phone devices. In fact, drivers may be required to use hands-free tools or urged to make use of Bluetooth and text-to-speech as a means of reducing the risk of a distracted driving crash. Unfortunately, recent studies indicate that hands-free devices may not actually be any safer than using a phone that you are holding onto. Our Tuscaloosa accident lawyers know that your brain is still focused on something other than the road whenever you are texting or talking, regardless of whether you have a hands-free device or not. The recent studies confirm not only that you face cognitive distractions from the use of a hands-free phone but also that texting via voice may be even more dangerous than sending a text the old fashioned way.