Category: Car Accidents

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.

Feb 7, 2013 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

The AAA Foundation released its annual Traffic Safety Culture Index report late last month, revealing that while public attitudes toward risky driving behaviors tend to be widely recognized and chastised, far fewer motorists actually practice what they preach.  Our Tuscaloosa car accident lawyers understand this double standard has long been noted by traffic safety officials. The question is how we work to go about turning beliefs into better behaviors. Survey takers – nearly 4,000 in all, polled last September – put a premium value on roadway safety, holding firmly to the extensive data that reveals speeding, cell phone use, road rage and impairment are dangerous behind the wheel. As such, most support strong laws to restrict those kinds of actions and impose significant penalties on offenders.

Jan 24, 2013 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

When it comes to road safety, Alabama has a long way to go, according to a newly-released national study by the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.  Our Tuscaloosa car accident attorneys note the 10th annual study, called the “2013 Roadmap of State Highway Safety Laws,” has been released. Unfortunately, there are a number of improvements our legislators have yet to enact, including graduated driver’s licensing laws, measures bolstering booster seat laws, stronger cell phone limitations, and the requirement of ignition interlock devices for all DUI offenders. Overall, Alabama ranked “yellow” (out of a possible green, yellow or red), meaning we have made advancements in recent years, but still have numerous gaps in our highway safety laws. To look at it another way, researchers rated our road safety legislation for 2012 with an 8 out of a possible 15 points.

Jan 22, 2013 - Birmingham by Cross & Smith

Last year, more than 650 vehicle and vehicle product recalls were issued, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  Our Birmingham personal injury attorneys understand that of the total 664 recalls, 586 were for the entire vehicle, 56 were for the vehicle equipment, 4 were for child safety seats and 18 were tire recalls. Overall, this is a slight increase from the number of recalls we had in the previous year (654), though the number has fluctuated greatly in the last 10 years, with as many as 781 (in 2008) and as few as 506 (in 2002).

Jan 10, 2013 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

On December 19, 2012, Money News published an article indicating that the American Academy of Sleep Medicine had just accredited its 2,500th sleep center. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has been accrediting centers since 1977 but the number of centers is now at an all time high. In fact, there are double the number of centers than were available just a decade ago. Our Tuscaloosa injury attorneys are pleased that more attention is being given to the problem of sleep disorders and that more people are seeking treatment. When people get help with their sleep problems, it could cut down on the high number of drowsy driving accidents.  The news that more people are getting help with sleep issues couldn’t come at a better time, as a recently released study by the CDC demonstrates that drowsy driving is a very widespread problem.