Alabama Injury Attorneys Blog

An Athens, Alabama woman was killed yesterday afternoon when a 23 year-old man ran a red light and struck the victims car. The driver was believed to have been texting while driving and inadvertently missed the stop signal. The Alabama accident victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

How often does this same accident appear in the news? Monthly? Weekly? Try daily. Last year alone, 2,600 people were killed in the U.S. from cell phone related accidents. Each year approximately 300,000 accidents occur from distracted cell phone users.

Our firm, has represented many cases identical to the one above. Where someone was texting or using a cell phone, and hit and severely injured our client. More often than not this type of case drastically changes the lives of both the victim and the person who caused that accident. The unfortunate victims who are the ones killed by distracted drivers and leave behind suffering families.

Officials say distracted drivers or drivers texting while driving are more likely to cause a fatal accident than a drunk driver on the road. A recent article compared the reaction times of a 20 year-old driver, behind the wheel and using a cell phone, with a 70 year-old driver not using a cell phone. The reaction times were the same therefore increasing the likelihood of accidents on the road.

While Lawmakers around the U.S. are quickly banning texting and cell phone use while operating motor vehicles. Until they make a change, we will continue to see accidents just like the Athens, Alabama victim.

Continue reading "Fatal Alabama Accident Believed to be Caused by Texting." »

Effective immediately, the Federal Government has imposed a ban on texting for all commercial truck and bus drivers. The new law goes into effect immediately and bans all truck and bus drivers operating vehicles over 10,000 pounds to text while driving. The law is designed to cut down on driving distractions in order to protect other motor vehicles on the road, and hopefully limit the amount of accidents caused by texting.

In 2008, trucking accidents resulted in almost 6000 deaths and caused over 500,000 injuries in the U.S. Officials say a driver who is distracted by texting is more likely to cause an accident than a person who is caught driving while under the influence of alcohol. Supporters of the new law say distracted drivers cause thousands of accidents and injuries every year resulting in millions of dollars worth of damages.

Truck drivers and commercial vehicle drivers caught texting are subject to a $2700 fine and potential civil and criminal charges. Currently 19 states have banned texting while driving. Alabama has yet to pass the bill on texting.

However, enforcing the law seems like a very difficult task, especially considering the size and speed of these 18-wheelers. The belief is most bus and truck drivers will be afraid of tickets or the possibility of loosing their commercial driver's license and refrain from texting while operating a bus or 18-wheeler.

Continue reading "Trucking Accidents Likely to Decrease with Federal Ban on Texting" »

While Alabama driving fatalities have declined over the past several years, the accident rate has remained relatively unchanged. In 2008, Alabama reported 966 traffic fatalities, a 13% decrease from the previous year. Some of this is due to increased law enforcement during major holiday weeks, the drastic increase in gas prices and greater emphasis placed on the "Take Back Alabama Highways" campaign by enforcing a no drinking and driving policy.

Although fatalities have decreased, Alabama car accidents still remain an issue. Alabama is one of the few remaining states that have yet to pass a ban on texting while driving. Another issue is Alabama teens are allowed to receive their drivers permit at age 15 (compared to other states where the legal age limit is 16). Last year a bill was introduced to the Alabama Legislation that forbids drivers to text while driving a motorized vehicle. The bill currently has passed the house but remains held up the senate.

Just recently Jacksonville, AL has become the first city to ban texting while driving in the state of Alabama. Jacksonville city council approved the ban on Monday, January 11, 2010, and will go into effect on March 1, 2010.

According to the Calhoun County city, a $50 fine will be charged after the first texting offense, and $100 fine after the second and a $500 fine for third offense (if all three occur in the same year).

Similar laws banning cell phone use are likely to follow after the proposed no texting law goes into affect, and highly likely more cities in Alabama will enforce their own no texting policy until legislation passes the bill. With a ban on cell phone texting it is believed more teens and adolescent drivers will be more attentive to driving and Alabama highways and less likely to be involved in a car wrecks.

Continue reading "Alabama Car Accidents Likely to Increase because of Driving Safety Laws" »

Injured? Hurt in an accident? Insurance companies driving you crazy? Birmingham Law Call has a show to help. Get real answers to your problems every Sunday night at 10:30 p.m., by calling Law Call; a live thirty minute call-in television show starting on January 17, 2010. The show will feature guest attorneys from all over Jefferson County, and surrounding counties. Along with alternating hosts and Personal Injury Attorneys, Ken Riley and Kirby Farris, and award winning news anchor, Tiffany Bittner.

Each week a different topic from car accidents to worker's compensation to divorce will be discussed. The format of the show is very straight forward. If you have a question, simply call the Law Call hotline and ask your questions live, directly to a lawyer.

The first show will feature the topic All about Injures, such as what to do immediately following an accident. If you are involved in an accident, what information you need to obtain. Should you immediately contact your insurance company, or speak with an attorney? If you speak with a lawyer, what will it cost? All these are questions lawyers are asked every day. But often people have legal questions and are unsure of where to turn or intimidated by contacting a lawyer. Law Call helps by making legal answers available to the public and reaching an attorney easy.

If you have a question, simply tune into Fox 6, Sunday nights at 10:30 p.m.

Continue reading "Birmingham Law Call Premiers Sunday at 10:30 p.m. on Fox 6" »