Alabama Injury Lawyer Blog

A new state bill has the potential to provide some research funds for spinal cord injuries (SCI). Recently, an Alabama state senator proposed that officials tack on additional fees for traffic violations, such as reckless driving and DUIs, to generate extra funding, according to Claims Journal. SCIs are an unfortunate outcome of some serious car accidents in Alabama and elsewhere. These injuries can cost a lifetime of pain and suffering, in addition to seemingly never-ending rehabilitation costs.

At a recent news conference, democratic state senator, Marc Keahey, announced the plans for the bill. The news conference was held at the University of South Alabama in Mobile. Keahey said the proposed law was a result of the South Alabama student, T.F. Atchison, who was paralyzed from his injuries sustained in a traffic accident. California has a bill similar to the one being proposed here in Alabama. There, the state collects more than $10 million through traffic fines each year for research of SCIs. Keahey says he thinks the Alabama bill could potentially raise about a half a million every year, and likely much more with the help of private donors and other sources.

There are roughly 200,000 people living with SCI in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), alcohol is a factor in about a quarter of all spinal cord injuries. A lot of these instances occur during drunk driving traffic accidents. Our Alabama spinal cord injury attorneys recognize that there are expected to be anywhere between 12,000 and 20,000 new SCI patients this year. If you or someone you love has suffered an accident resulting in an SCI, you need to contact an experienced attorney. Because these type of injuries result in an astronomical cost of lifetime care, make sure your rights are protected and contact an attorney to help you to gain the compensation you deserve.

The average yearly cost for an SCI is anywhere from $15,000 to $30,000. Over a lifetime, that could add up to anywhere from $500,000 to more than $3 million. Without the proper and deserved compensation, victims are often left to suffer both financially and physically.

SCIs may not ever fully heal either. These types of injuries can result in neurologic impairments throughout the body. These impairments often include gastrointestinal, urinary, respiratory and musculoskeletal complications. It doesn't stop there. SCIs can also result in permanent psychological impairments, such as anxiety and depression.

Top Causes of SCIs:

-Traffic accidents: Nearly half.

-Falls: More than 20 percent.

-Violence: More than 15 percent.

-Sports: About 12 percent.

Continue reading "Proposed Bill Could Help to Treat Spinal Cord Injuries in Montgomery and Elsewhere" »

A recent school bus accident in Alabama sent 21 young students to the hospital. On board the school bus were 41 students from both Goshen Elementary School and Goshen High School. The bus reportedly flipped over and landed on the driver's side, according to WSFA12.

The Pike County school bus rolled over at the intersection of County Road 2246 and County Road 2243 just after 7:00 a.m. Twenty-one of the students were transported to Troy Regional Medical Center. Reports indicate that most injuries were minor. One student was said to have suffered a broken arm, while a number of others reported only minor scrapes and cuts.

Our Montgomery school bus accident attorneys understand that the cause of the school bus accident has yet to be identified by officials. Investigations are ongoing. While we await more information on the cause of the accident, the larger issue is the trust that parents and guardians put into our state's school bus drivers to safely transport our young ones to and from school every day. School officials have a responsibility to provide safe vehicles and safe drivers to the students of the community.

"The bus was a mile from the school, fully-loaded and there were bad conditions. The rain was terrible," said Pike County Sheriff Russell Thomas.

The Alabama Department of Public Safety and Alabama State Troopers will be continuing the investigation into the accident. Currently, there are no charges pending on that bus driver and all of the students have reportedly been released from hospital care.

"We are fortunate and blessed that the injuries are no more serious than they are," said Dr. Mike Bazzell, Pike County Schools Superintendent. "The response by law enforcement and EMS was excellent."

Reports indicate that no other vehicles were involved.

School Bus Facts, according to the American School Bus Council:

-From 2004 to 2005, Alabama operated about 7,100 school buses.

-The 7,100 school buses in the state completed nearly 150 million trips that year.

-Children are nearly 15 times safer riding to and from school in a school bus than in other modes of transportation.

-School buses are the country's largest mass transportation system. These buses complete 10 billion passenger trips and nearly 4.5 billion miles of travel a year.

-Modern school buses are federally required to be equipped with a number of safety features, including fuel system protection, rollover protection, emergency exits, special mirrors, warning lights, better breaks, special passenger crash protection. These requirements are upheld to help protect our young school-aged passengers.

School Transportation Officials are required to ensure that vehicles, staff members and bus driver are well equipped with the proper tools, knowledge and skills to get our children to and from school safely each day. Our children's safety should be their number one priority.

Continue reading "School Bus Accident in Alabama Injures 21 Students" »

All vehicles go through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) 5-star safety rating program.

The NHTSA recently reported that it will be rating all new model 2012 vehicles. Some vehicles that have carry-over designs from previous models may have already been rated. This program is used to help consumers to determine which vehicles are most likely to keep them safe in the event of a car accident in Montgomery or elsewhere. More than 80 percent of the new model vehicles are going through the test. More than 90 percent of the new model vehicles will have rollover tests conducted as well. Manufacturers get very competitive when it comes to these tests. Poor rating can severely damage the sales for a specific vehicle.

Our Montgomery car accident attorneys understand that more than 70 new models will go through the NHTSA's rigorous testing. Consumers who check such ratings when making a new-vehicle purchase can reduce their risks of serious or fatal injuries in the event of an accident. It's just one more way to be a smart consumer while keeping your family as safe as possible.

This year's tested vehicles include more than 40 passenger cars, more than 20 SUVs, eight pickups and two vans. The new rating system has been upgraded from last years. With each and every upgrade, vehicle manufacturers continue to advance their products to meet stricter rating systems. You're urged to check out www.safecar.gov to check out your vehicle's car rating. This is also a great website to use to learn about any vehicle recalls.

"By revamping the tests and creating a more rigorous program last year, we raised the bar on safety for all vehicle manufacturers. People should remember: More stars, safer cars," U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said.

Safety ratings aren't the only thing that new NHTSA testing provides for consumers. The new program also offers drivers with information regarding a vehicle's "crash avoidance" technology.

In 2010, there were less than 40 vehicles that came equipped with this technology. Since the NHTSA started testing the technology in its new program, nearly 70 vehicles have installed safety features. These features include forward collision warning (FCW) and lane departure warning (LDW). Of the new vehicles, more than 10 have LDW, nearly 20 have FCW and nearly 40 come equipped with both. As tests get harder and more thorough, car manufacturers are forced to create better cars to keep up and to make their products appealing to consumers.

Safety ratings are one of the most important factors to consumers when purchasing a vehicle.

The 5-star rating system has been combing the design of vehicles for about 30 years now. This rating has become the gold standard for those who are looking into purchasing a new vehicle. These ratings let drivers know about their chances of not only surviving an accident, but avoiding one in the first place.

As soon as the new ratings are released, you're urged to scan through them before purchasing a new car. You can still visit the website to learn about the dangers, safety features or any recalls of the car you're currently driving.

Continue reading "NHTSA Rates New Model Cars to Determine Effectiveness of Safety Features in a Car Accident in Alabama and Elsewhere" »

The Montgomery Police Department will be combing the streets alongside our little ghosts and goblins to help ensure that everyone has a safe Halloween. Statistics show that your child is four times more likely to be the victim of a pedestrian accident in Montgomery on Halloween than during any other night of the year.

Our Montgomery pedestrian accident attorneys understand that this year the holiday is celebrated on a Monday. Even though it's a school night, nothing's going to stop our wizards and witches from suiting up and gathering candy from neighbors. Neither the City nor the Mayor can dictate when a holiday is celebrated, so Monday it is!

There are a few safety tips that we would like to share with you to help keep your family safe on the 31st. Costumes should be some of your top concerns. It's important to make sure that everyone's in comfortable shoes and that costumes aren't too long. No one needs to trip over Dracula's cape. It's also important that the costumes are made of flame-resistant material and that all props, including sword and knives, are made of soft materials that won't injure anyone.

"One of the biggest mistakes parents make is ... they don't think through the safety of the costumes their children wear," said Julie Farmer, a child safety expert with Children's of Alabama in Birmingham.

It's also important for everyone to discuss the dangers of passing traffic. Children are extremely vulnerable when it comes to car-pedestrian accidents on Halloween night. Talk with them about the risks and the dangers of vehicles.

Pedestrian safety tips to share with your little mummy before trick-or-treating:

-Wear light-colored clothing so that you're more visible to cars. It's also wise to attach reflective tape to your costume or to carry a flashlight.

-Plan a route. It's important to go door-to-door with a plan. Plan a route that's away from heavy traffic and that has sidewalks.

-Make sure everyone walks. Running increases your risks of falling and seriously hurting yourself.

-Always cross the street at a crosswalk or at a street corner.

-Young children should always be accompanied by a supervising adult.

-Children should never dart out from behind a parked car.

-Only trick-or-treat in neighborhoods that are well-lit.

-Wear face makeup instead of a mask. Masks can obstruct vision.

-Be sure to look left and right before crossing the street. Continue doing so as you cross.

By following these safety tips, we can help to prevent a real scare this Halloween -- or a tragedy. Parents are urged to talk with children before heading out to trick-or-treat to help ensure that everyone makes it home safely.

As we ask pedestrians to be safe on our roadways, we also ask that motorists be extra cautious when driving on Halloween night. Drive slowly through residential areas and keep a close eye out for the little gremlins that will be haunting our streets.

Lastly, remember to inspect your child's candy before allowing them to eat any. Throw out any pieces that have been opened or look like they've been tampered with.

Our Montgomery personal injury attorneys and the staff at our law offices wish you a safe and Happy Halloween!

Continue reading "Have a Safe and Happy Halloween! -- From Our Montgomery Injury Lawyers" »

The pulse behind teen car accidents in Alabama and nationwide has recently been examined closely by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety in two studies involving young drivers.
Video clips from cameras installed inside the vehicle have determined that teens practice much safer driving behaviors when supervised by an adult than when driving alone the first 30 days after obtaining a license. Findings also suggest that teen drivers are 50 percent more apt to be involved in a crash during the first month of obtaining their unrestricted driver's license.

We bring this up as Teen Safe Driver Week comes to an end Saturday. Montgomery car accident lawyers know that in 2009, there were nearly three-quarters of a million police-reported crashes involving drivers ages 15-18 nationwide. These crashes killed more than 2,800 people and injured another 280,000.

The Measuring Changes in Teenage Driver Crash Characteristics Study examined a group of North Carolina teens and their crash involvements during the first three years of driving with a license. Researchers found teens were less likely to be involved in the same types of crashes after gaining a year of experience. New drivers were twice as likely to crash in the first 30 days as they were after two years of experience. Almost 60 percent of crashes for new drivers in the first 30 days were caused by inattention, failure to reduce speed and failure to yield.

The Transition to Unsupervised Driving Study recorded almost 6,000 video clips of 38 families with a teen driver. Researchers examined the external and internal driving environments for the first six months of licensed driving. The video captured close calls and other incidents related to traffic, darkness, weather, loud music and other passengers to name a few.

Some teens displayed dangerous behaviors like texting or running red lights during the first few months of unsupervised driving, but the majority of teens maintained good driving habits during this time. Close-call incidents were often due to inexperience or an error in judgment. For example, teens were commonly observed stomping on the brake pedal because they didn't see that traffic was traveling slowly or stopped in front of them. Interestingly, once a novice driver obtained his or her license, it was observed that adults spent very little time (3 percent) riding with their teens. Peers rode with them 61 percent of the time and siblings accompanied them 36 percent of the time when they had an occupant in the vehicle with them.

It has become clearer recently that parental involvement, even after a teen starts driving independently, can play a vital role in keeping young drivers safe behind the wheel. By staying involved through open communication and actively practicing driving skills with teens, parents can continue to instill safe driving behaviors and give positive reinforcement for smart driving choices well beyond the newlywed phase of obtaining a license.

Continue reading "Novice Drivers Most at Risk of Teen Car Accident in Montgomery Within Days After Obtaining a License " »

"State troopers and local officers statewide will be watchful for any traffic violations in
the areas of school zones, bus stops and stopped school buses," said Public Safety Director Col. J. Christopher Murphy. "In every state, it is illegal to pass a school bus that has stopped to load or unload students. Motorists need to be observant of all the traffic laws that serve to protect our children's safety."

Kids are heading back to school and they're also heading towards increased risks of child injury in Montgomery. Every year, roughly 25 million students across the country jump on board the big, yellow buses to get to and from school, according to the National Safety Council. There are also many children injured and several killed in school bus accident every year. In 2005 alone, there were more than 130 people killed because of school bus-related traffic accidents. Another 11,000 were injured in these incidents.

Our Montgomery personal injury attorneys would like to ask that all motorists practice extra cautious driving habits as the school year begins -- school buses and young bicyclists and pedestrians will be commonplace. We ask for caution not only to avoid a motor-vehicle collision, but to avoid hitting a child entering, exiting or waiting for the bus. Of everyone that was injured in a school bus accident from 2000 to 2004, nearly 50 percent of injuries were sustained by school bus passengers, nearly 10 percent were by bus drivers and approximately 40 percent were occupants of other vehicles. The rest of the injuries were sustained by pedestrians, bicyclists and others.

The Alabama Department of Public Safety offers these safe driving tips for motorists to help keep our young bus riders safe:

-Keep an eye out for children when backing out of your driveway or when exiting your garage.

-Watch out for students who are walking or biking to the bus stop and to school.

-When driving through neighborhoods and through school zones, be sure to watch out for children as they may be more focused on getting to school instead of getting there safely.

-Keep an eye out for children who may be walking where there are no sidewalks.

-Watch for children who are gathering or playing near their bus stop.

-Be ready to stop at all times. Children may dart out into the street without checking for traffic first.

-Always stop when you are directed to do so by a school patrol sign, designated crossing guard or school patrol officer.

Laws in all 50 states make it illegal to drive pass a bus that is stopped and loading or unloading children.

It's important to talk to your little student about proper bus behavior. Talk to them about the importance of keeping quiet on the bus, keeping the bus aisles clear and never walking within 10 feet of the bus except when boarding.

Continue reading "Back-to-School Brings Risk of Child Injury in Montgomery " »

Summer has officially begun, and the upcoming months create a higher risk of unintentional injury in Montgomery and elsewhere throughout the United States.

For the month of June, the National Safety Council is celebrating National Safety Month in an attempt to raise awareness of these preventable injuries and deaths.

Our Alabama personal injury attorneys understand that everyone looks forward to summer as school lets out, families enjoy summer vacations and others just relax by the pool to soak up some sun. We also understand that the recognition of this awareness month is extremely important as people have a tendency to throw all safe behaviors to the wind.

The National Safety Council has chosen to focus on the top five causes for these unintentional injuries and deaths throughout the month. The schedule is as follows:

-Summertime Safety, June 1 to 4 - Since many residents spend the summer poolside, many of the injuries are related to pools and spas.

-Preventing Overexertion, June 5 to 11 - Overexertion has been ranked as the third leading cause of these unintentional injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms every year. The most common types of these injuries are strains and sprains, specifically to the lower back.

-Teen Driving Safety, June 12 to 18 - Promoting safe teen driving is crucial in keeping our roadways safe during this time of year as more and more students hit the road. It is reported that every year roughly 5,500 people are killed in motor-vehicle accident that involve a teen driver.

-Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls, June 19 to 25 - Falls are among the nation's top causes unintentional injuries. Adults 55 and older are more likely to be the victim of falls.

-On the Road, Off the Phone, June 26 to 30 - Motor-vehicle accidents continue to be the nation's number one cause of unintentional deaths. This is true of all age groups. One of the leading contributors to these accidents is distracted driving. According to the NSC, 23 percent of all motor-vehicle accidents involved a driver using a cell phone.

The NSC designated a whole month to these incidents because unintentional injuries and deaths in the United States have reached an inexcusable level. There were about 128,000 unintentional deaths in the U.S. in 2009. This 2009 estimate is the highest on record and is nearly 50 percent higher than reports from 1992. That year recorded the lowest annual total since 1924. The cost of these unintentional injuries exceeded $693 billion nationally, or about $5,900 per household.

Continue reading "Summer Increases Risk of Injury in Montgomery and Elsewhere" »

Recent estimates, from the National Safety Council (NSC), reveal that there are more than 400 traffic fatalities expected to occur over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

These estimates also predict that there will be more than 39,400 injuries that require medical attention. This weekend serves as the traditional summer kick-off weekend and brings out the most careless habits of drivers, which often results in an increased number of car accidents in Alabama.

For record keeping purposes, the official holiday weekend begins at 6:00 p.m. on Friday and concludes ends at 11:59 p.m. on Monday.

Our Alabama car accident attorneys urge residents to practice defensive driving skills over this holiday weekend and to make smart decision behind the wheel. One of these decisions should be to wear your seat belt as they can help to save your life if involved in a motor vehicle accident. The NSC estimates that more than 300 people may survive the holiday weekend because they will be wearing seat belts during an accident. They also estimate that another 103 lives could be saved if everyone were to wear their safety belts over the celebratory weekend.

In an effort to increase the use of seat belts in motor vehicle occupants, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started running its "Click It or Ticket" campaign on May 23 and they will continue to run it through June 5. The nationwide "Click It or Ticket" campaign has been proven to be the most successful seat belt enforcement campaign ever as it has been able to contribute to the highest national safety belt usage rate. It has increased the usage rate to nearly 90 percent. Law enforcement agencies will be out in full force enforcing a zero-tolerance enforcement of seat belt laws nationwide throughout the campaign.

The Memorial Day holiday weekend typically sees an increase in traffic fatalities of more than 12 percent compared to similar non-holiday periods.

The NSC offers these safety tips to motorists to help ensure a safe Memorial Day holiday weekend on our roadways:

-Put away all distractions while operating a motor vehicle.

-Make sure that all of your passengers are buckled up and that all children are in the appropriate child safety seats.

-Leave the house with plenty of time and with a plan. This will help you with having a calm ride, avoiding acts of frustration.

-Drive defensively and adjust to all weather conditions.

-Be sure to be well-rested before setting out on a weekend trip.

-Do not drink and drive. Driving while under the influence will greatly impair our reactions and judgment abilities.

Continue reading "Law Enforcement in Full Force this Memorial Day Weekend to Decrease Risks of Fatal Car Accidents in Alabama and Elsewhere" »

The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates that more than 1.6 million crashes occur each year as the result of someone driving distracted.

Twenty-eight percent of crashes nationwide are caused by a driver using a cell phone, either hands-free or hand-held, to text or talk while driving.

Our Montgomery personal injury lawyers know the devastation that victims and their families go through when dealing with the aftermath of a serious or fatal Montgomery car accident. We applaud the effort being made by the NSC and FocusDriven (an advocate group for cell-free driving) to dedicate the month of April as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

The House of Representatives voted last month, almost unanimously, on the resolution introduced by Rep. Betsy Markey to create distracted driving awareness month following the tragic death of a 9-year-old girl who was killed by a distracted driver in Colorado in 2008.

"Erica's memory will forever live on through this resolution and help prevent other distracted driving deaths from occurring," said Shelley Forney, Erica's mother and founding board member of FocusDriven.

Throughout the month of April, the two non-profit groups are asking drivers to put their cell phones on silence or turn them off completely while they are behind the wheel. To further reduce the risk of a distracted driving accident, they urge you to put the phone in the trunk or glove compartment so that there is absolutely no temptation to answer a ring tone or text alert when it comes in.

"If drivers can go one month without using their phones while driving, they will find out - as many of us have - work still gets done. Many drivers realize most of the calls they thought were so important, really aren't. It is our hope drivers will decide to make the change permanently. Doing so will make our roadways safer for everyone," said Jennifer Smith, FocusDriven president and founding board member.

Drivers are encouraged to create a temporary voicemail message that notifies callers they are driving but will return their call as soon as it is safe to do so.

Businesses and corporations that offer a cell phone to their employees are encouraged to participate in awareness this month by creating a company policy to prohibit employees from using their phone while driving. Employees tend to multi-task while in the car -- especially at work -- but this can be extremely dangerous and should be avoided.

When businesses allow employees to conduct business on cell phones while driving, they are putting their employees at a 4 times greater risk of a crash," said Janet Froetscher, NSC president and CEO.

The NSC offers a variety of resources that can help companies protect their employees. The Cell Phone Policy Kit for Employers is one tool that businesses can use to adopt a policy that fits within their expectations. By creating awareness and emphasizing safety, employers can keep their workers safe and reduce the risk of a distracted driving accident while on company time.

Continue reading "April awareness month reduces risk of distracted driving car accidents in Alabama" »

A Gulf Shores, Alabama man pled guilty to DUI Manslaughter earlier this week in a Florida Court in connection with a drunk driving collision in which one man was killed and another seriously injured. The at-fault driver faces up to 20 years in prison. (Montgomery Advertiser 1-25-11 - from the Associated Press). Assuming the at-fault driver was insured, the family of the deceased driver is likely to recover the limit of the available liability coverage. Many drivers only have liability insurance coverage for the minimum limit under Alabama law of $25,000. However, there may be other potential defendants and/or sources of recovery.

Continue reading "Alcohol-Related Auto Accidents: The Offender May Not Be The Only Source Of Recovery" »

Montgomery, Alabama personal injury attorneys Allred & Allred, P.C. recently obtained a six figure settlement on behalf of a woman who was rear-ended by a drunk driver early one Sunday morning. The victim, who was on the way to see her grandson, was waiting to make a left turn when a drunk driver hit her from behind at highway speed. Our client suffered an aggravation of a pre-existing condition in her spine and was unable to work thereafter.

Continue reading "Settlement With Underinsured Motorist Carrier For Victim In Drunk Driving Wreck" »

The human tissue trade is a multi-million dollar per year industry in which a single human body yields enough tissue for the tissue brokers to pocket $250,000. While many skilled doctors throughout the world perform miracles with the tissue obtained from these brokers, the dark side of the human tissue trade has recently come to light.

There is little oversight from the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"), which only requires that the person harvesting the tissue "register" with the FDA. No testing for qualifications nor the knowledge or resources to properly screen the tissue is required. Over the last several years, this lax oversight by the federal government has permitted a few opportunistic and unscrupulous tissue brokers to pass along tissue that did not meet FDA requirements and was not fit for implantation. This was documented in the CNBC special "How Much Is Your Dead Body Worth?"

Continue reading "The Risks Involved In Tissue Implantation" »