Summertime and Personal Injuries in Alabama

Jun 30, 2023 - Personal Injury by Cross & Smith

Summertime in Alabama can be a time of fun and relaxation. Many of us look forward to spending time outside and enjoying lots of outdoor activities. Unfortunately, more activity and being out of doors can cause an increase in certain types of personal injuries. When the unexpected happens, we encourage you to contact a Tuscaloosa personal injury attorney at Cross & Smith, LLC to learn more about the options available to you. We are a firm dedicated to helping injured people recover the compensation they are owed. 

Swimming & Waterparks

There is nothing quite as refreshing as going for a swim on a hot summer day in Alabama. Every year, however, people end up being injured or passing away due to swimming accidents. From local ponds to private and community swimming pools, accidents can and do occur. When they are due to the actions of another, you may be able to recover compensation for the injuries you sustain. Common reasons swimming accidents occur include:

• Inadequate supervision of children and adults that are unable to swim
• Lack of safety measures (such as a pool cover or barrier fence)
• Use of alcohol or other substances that contribute to slower reaction times

Waterparks are also very popular on hot summer days, and accidents can easily occur while visiting them. In addition to drowning, there are other dangers, such as faulty equipment, overcrowding, and a lack of properly trained lifeguards. 

No matter where the accident occurs, a Tuscaloosa personal injury attorney at Cross & Smith, LLC, can help.   

Boating & Water Activities

Boating, skiing, fishing, and other water activities are a favorite pastime of many of our state’s residents. In Tuscaloosa particularly, we are lucky to have several lakes, ponds, and rivers that make time spent on the water a great way to relax. When accidents on the water occur, injured parties are often a long way from emergency services, creating a situation where recovery is difficult. At Cross & Smith, LLC, a Tuscaloosa personal injury attorney will assist you in recovering the compensation you deserve.

Causes of boating and other water activity injuries include:

• Lack of experience operating watercraft
• Interaction with wildlife
• Speeding 
• Lack of use of proper safety equipment, such as life jackets and first aid kits
• Improper maintenance of boats or other watercraft
• Watercraft operators under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Hiking & Biking

Hiking and biking are both popular activities in the summer when the days are long, yet both can lead to serious injuries. Not only can the wildlife prove dangerous when hiking, but inclement weather can also cause slippery trails and create a situation where even the most experienced hiker loses their sense of direction. Lack of proper safety precautions also leads to accidents.

Many people like to bike during the warmer months. Not only does it allow them to get fresh air, but it is environmentally friendly. Bikers should take extra precautions, however, because motor vehicle drivers often do not like to share the roadway, leading to accidents and injuries. While motor vehicle drivers can walk away with little to no injury, bikers often suffer extreme injuries including traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), broken bones, and internal injuries. 

A Tuscaloosa personal injury attorney from Cross & Smith, LLC, can explain the options available to you under Alabama law when you have been injured. 

Traveling On Vacation

Summer is the time when most children are out of school and families hit the road to travel for vacation. Busy roads can mean an increase in car accidents. Car accident injuries vary widely, from scrapes and bruises to injuries that result in death. 

If you have been in an accident on Alabama roadways, you need experienced legal representation. There are different types of damages you can receive when you have been injured by another party in a car accident, including economic, non-economic, and punitive damages. 

Economic damages are typically financial losses that are easily documented. They include medical costs, prescription costs, and ambulatory aids including crutches and a wheelchair. Also included are loss of income and damage to property.

Non-economic damages are not as easily documented and include more subjective losses, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and disfigurement. 

Punitive damages are not generally awarded, but in cases where the court deems them appropriate, they can be. Cases that involve punitive damages are those where “the defendant consciously or deliberately engaged in oppression, fraud, wantonness, or malice with regard” to the injured plaintiff. 

Dog Bites

Pets and their owners also enjoy the warm weather and use the summer months to take long walks and travel. When pet owners, especially dog owners, fail to adequately restrain their animals, they can attack other pets and people. Dog bites can cause extensive injuries and disfigurement. There are several laws under which you can recover if you are a dog bite victim in Alabama, and a skilled Tuscaloosa personal injury attorney at Cross & Smith, LLC can review your case to determine the damages you are owed.

The Alabama dog bite statute reads as follows:

If any dog shall, without provocation, bite or injure any person who is at the time at a place where he or she has a legal right to be, the owner of such dog shall be liable for damages to the person so bitten or injured, but such liability shall arise only when the person so bitten or injured is upon property owned or controlled by the owner of such dog at the time such bite or injury occurs or when such person has been immediately prior to such time on such property and has been pursued therefrom by such dog.

Speak With A Tuscaloosa Personal Injury Attorney At Cross & Smith, LLC

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident in Alabama, you may be able to recover compensation for your loss. You need to speak with a Tuscaloosa personal injury attorney at Cross & Smith, LLC to learn more about your options. We may be reached by calling 877-791-0618 or via our contact page.