Category: Car Accidents

Jun 6, 2013 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

Dangerous vehicles and vehicle parts can be a contributing factor to serious Tuscaloosa car accidents resulting in injury and even death. Most of the time, when companies become aware of design flaws that could make their products unsafe, they issue a recall. Currently, we have one manufacturer who has issued a massive recall and another that is refusing to do so. It’s worth noting that a company can be held liable for accidents and injuries caused as a result of their defect, regardless of whether a recall is issued. Still, the issuance of one, particularly when there is a recommendation from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, shows good faith that the manufacturer is doing all it can to protect the safety of consumers.

May 24, 2013 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

We kick off the summer travel season with the Memorial Day weekend holiday. Unfortunately, it also kicks off the most dangerous time of the year for motorists on the road. According to The Selma Times-Journal, Alabama State Troopers will be out in full force looking to bust irresponsible drivers. Our Tuscaloosa car accident lawyers understand that there were three fatal car accidents that happened during the 2012 holiday. That’s a number that’s down from seven in 2011. We’re hoping for zero this year. Alabama State Troopers will be out hunting dangerous drivers from Friday, May 17th through Tuesday June 4th. Through this safety campaign, troopers are urging drivers to buckle up, drive sober, avoid distracted driving and use caution while crossing highways and railroad tracks.

May 20, 2013 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

A measure has been proposed to lower the legal blood-alcohol content for motor vehicle operators. The proposed limit seems to be gaining support in Congress. Our Tuscaloosa car accident attorneys understand that the National Transportation Safety Board is urging the federal government and all 50 states to back a measure that would reduce the legal BAC threshold from the current standard of 0.08 percent down to 0.05 percent. The proposal was prompted by the fact that over the last 10 years, the number of DUI fatalities nationwide has hovered around 10,000 people annually. Impairment from alcohol plays a role in about one out of every three fatal crashes in the U.S.

May 19, 2013 - Birmingham by Cross & Smith

There is no question that distraction behind the wheel is deadly, especially for teens. However, new research reveals that distraction – or more specifically, texting and cell phone use – results in more U.S. teen fatalities than drunk driving. Our Birmingham car accident attorneys know that this revelation may come as a surprise to some, but it’s been some time in coming, given the number of teens who now carry cell phones and how frequently they are used.

May 15, 2013 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

Alabama needs to get better about buckling up. Our Tuscaloosa car accident lawyers know that you can’t always prevent a crash from occurring, but your first line of defense is to make sure you and your passengers are strapped in. A report released recently by the Alabama Department of Transportation indicates that nearly 60 percent of people who died in traffic crashes in Alabama last year weren’t wearing a seat belt. Of course, it’s worth noting that some of those incidents involved vehicles that did not have seat belts, such as school buses. However, of the approximately 425 traffic fatality victims who were inside vehicles equipped with seat belts, 251 of those weren’t wearing them.

May 10, 2013 - Birmingham by Cross & Smith

There is no question that the primary responsibility to remain distraction-free behind the wheel lies with the driver. However, given the huge scope of the problem and the enormous price we pay as a society, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is requesting some help from vehicle manufacturers. Our Birmingham car accident lawyers understand that USDOT Secretary Ray LaHood has released a list of voluntary guidelines for automakers that would help to reduce in-vehicle distractions, thereby making us all safer. The recommendations, which include limits on built-in electronic devices for navigation, communication and entertainment, are part of the NHTSA’s Blueprint for Ending Distracted Driving.

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.”

Mar 12, 2013 - Birmingham by Cross & Smith

Part of the allure for many hybrid and electric vehicle owners is that they are easy on the ears.  It seemed an achievement, as carmakers for decades had been working to make cars that were quieter. But it’s actually a little too quiet for the those at the U.S. Department of Transportation. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the lack of sound emanating from these vehicles poses a sharp risk to pedestrians and children – who can’t hear if the vehicle is approaching, backing up or rounding the corner. Our Birmingham accident lawyers know this is the reasoning behind the latest NHTSA proposal to require these vehicles meet minimum sound standards. Of particular concern is the risk to those who are blind or visually impaired.

Mar 1, 2013 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

We recently reported on the number of teen driver fatalities going up in Alabama and throughout the country.  Now, our Tuscaloosa car accident injury lawyers understand that overall motor vehicle deaths are up 5 percent nationwide, according to the National Safety Council, which released its report earlier this month. In 2012, the number of traffic deaths totaled 36,000, a sharp increase from the 34,600 recorded the previous year. Injuries and costs too were up by about the same amount, with injuries reaching the 4 million mark and economic damages nearing $277 billion (including productivity and wage losses, property damage, medical expenses and employer costs).

Feb 28, 2013 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

For all the ways that we have worked to improve the safety of new teen drivers, there is apparently much more to be done.  A new report, based on preliminary 2012 data, indicates that Alabama saw a 9 percent spike in the number of teen driver fatalities in the first half of last year, as compared to the first half of 2011. Our Tuscaloosa car accident attorneys find this deeply troubling, especially as local news reports seem to indicate anecdotally that the trend is nowhere near slowing.