Alabama Injury Attorneys Blog

On January 9, 2009, an Alabama man started a high speed chase after leaving a school parking lot angry because he had missed a fight. The car chase knocked a Ford Explorer off the road killing two Alabama teenagers and one Alabama child.

The sports utility vehicle evidently rolled several times and slammed into a tree killing the Alabama youth instantly. Michael Andrew Loper, the man responsible for killing the 3 victims has been convicted of murder and charged with leaving the scene of the accident. A Circuit Judge ordered him Thursday to a 10 -year sentence for leaving the scene of the car accident, and an additional 99-year sentence for killing the 3 victims in the motor vehicle accident.

The 3 Alabama accident victims were originally believed to have been involved in a single car accident. However, a passenger in Loper's car reported later that Loper actually rear-ended the Alabama teenagers forcing them off the road. None of the passengers were wearing their seat belts.

According to testimony, Loper chased down the SUV, then after running them off the road came back to the accident scene and did nothing to help the victims.

Reports by neighbors indicated it was "The worst [car] wreck [they've] ever seen."

Continue reading "Driver Kills 3 Victims in High Speed Chase" »

Hyundai announced Wednesday that they will recall all Sonata Sedans due to a glitch in the door latch. The malfunction was found in the front-door latches, and is the result of a handful of customer complaints. The recall is scheduled to begin the first of March. Interesting enough, the Alabama Hyundai factory built all 5,000 of the U.S. recalled Sonata Sedans which were distributed to dealerships around the U.S. The total number of recalled Sonata Sedans is estimated to be around 47,300 worldwide.

Of the 5,000 Sedans produced from the Alabama factory, about 1,300 Sedans were already sold to U.S. consumers. However, the good news is no Alabama accidents or nationwide accidents have been reported because of the latch malfunction. The recall falls directly after its rival automaker, Toyota, recalled some 8 million vehicles worldwide.

According to analysts, there are no real safety issues with Hyundai's recall. A glitch in a door handle is insignificant compared to a sticky accelerator pad that has a propensity to rapidly accelerate and cause potential accidents and injuries.
Hyundai normally would have handled the malfunction on a case by case basis, offering free repairs. Now they are recalling all Sonatas to ensure no accidents arise from the door latch glitch.

Continue reading "No Alabama Accidents or Injures Yet Reported with the Hyundai Recall " »

Drunk driving accidents, trucking accidents, hazardous road conditions and car accidents are probably the first few things that come to mind when you consider all the dangers involved in driving along Alabama Interstates. Routinely, we hear about drunk driving accidents and 18-wheeler accidents that injure or kill innocent victims. Car accidents occur daily including everything from minor fender-benders to catastrophic motor vehicle accidents. However, we rarely consider shootings a potential threat on Alabama roads.

Yesterday, a Birmingham police officer and a suspect were both shot on Interstate 20/59. According to the Birmingham news report, the suspect ran a red light and an off-duty Jefferson County sheriff deputy followed him until the suspect wrecked his car. Evidently, sometime after the car accident, the Birmingham sheriff was shot by the suspect. The details of the shooting are still unclear at this time. However, Interstate 20/59 was closed down the majority of yesterday morning.

It is frightening to think that not only are Alabama motorists facing potential accidents from drunk drivers, 18- wheelers, negligent motorists and inclement road conditions. Now they are faced with standstill shootings as innocent bystanders.

Continue reading "Auto Accidents are not the only threat on Alabama Roads" »

Did you know that under federal law, insurance fraud, bank fraud, and debit card fraud are all subject to federal investigation and prosecution? This is exactly why the Secret Service got involved in a local debit card scam in Hanceville, Alabama earlier this week. The internet scammers allegedly targeted a local Dairy Queen's computer system and stole over one hundred thousand dollars from various bank accounts. Over 30 separate cases of fraud have been reported and more are likely to follow.

The real problem with debit card fraud is the potential liability under the law. The law limits consumer liability for credit card fraud to $50. However, with debit card fraud, the consumer is liable for $50 if the bank in notified within 2 days, and anywhere from $500 up to the entire amount stolen if the bank is notified after 2 days.

Continue reading "Alabama Consumers Victimized in Debit Card Fraud" »

A North Alabama woman was killed Monday morning while driving on Alabama Highway 72. According to reports, the icy road conditions caused her car to spin out in front of an oncoming truck. The Alabama accident victim was only 26 years old.

Sadly, when road conditions are hazardous, accidents almost always occur. Alabama accidents can be caused by a number of reasons. The most common and often the most deadly are car accidents. Motor vehicle accidents can be caused by drunk drivers, driver's texting or using cell phones while operating their vehicle, other negligent motorists and poor road conditions. The number of accidents always increases when Alabama gets unexpected driving conditions, much like the icy roads Alabama has had the past couple of weeks.

The North Alabama victim is just one of the many accidents that have occurred because of unsafe road conditions, especially, when Alabama is not used to getting the amount of snow and ice that we have had this year.

The best solution to prevent a potential accident is to avoid driving during icy, wintery weather. However, if you must drive during hazardous road conditions, follow these guidelines to avoid a possible car accident:

1. Decrease your speed and keep a normal distance between you and other cars.
2. Slow down on bridges. They can become extremely icy and slick and always freeze first.
3. If you must brake on an icy stretch, begin slowly and allow a long distance to gradually stop your car.
4. If you begin to skid, release the brake and turn your steering wheel in the same direction of the skid. The counter movement will help stop your car.
5. Do not use cruise control. Icy patches can actually accelerate your car.
6. Turn your lights on.

Continue reading "Hazardous Alabama Roads and Accident Prevention" »

A Bryant, Alabama man was killed Friday when his car crashed into a school bus near the Alabama state line around 1 p.m. The accident happened on County Road 90 and believed to have been caused by the slick road conditions.

Henry Grant, the 78 year old Alabama victim, had just pulled of County Road 90 to turn around when his sedan slid down the hill. Evidently, when the man tried to hit the break, the car slid on the icy road and slammed into the school bus. Grant was pronounced dead from the head-on collision.

Fortunately, the students and the bus driver were not injured in the accident. Amazing considering there were around a dozen students remaining on the bus at the time of the fatal car accident. The school bus incurred minimal damage compared with Grant's automobile; which according to the wrecker service was totaled and removed from the accident scene. However, it is still not confirmed by Highway Patrol whether the accident was entirely weather related.

Continue reading "Deadly Alabama Accident Involving a School Bus Kills One " »

By now most Alabamians have heard about Toyota's recall. There has been a several recalls for different models over the past 6 months. If you have not heard about the recall here are the facts:
.
1. In September 2009, Toyota recalled 3.8 million U.S. vehicles for floor
mat problems that could potentially cause the accelerator to stick,
therefore causing the car to accelerate uncontrollably.

2. In January 2010, Toyota announced they will recall millions of vehicles to
fix a problem with faulty accelerator pedals. This will be the largest recall
in the Japanese automaker's history.

3. January 26, 2010, Toyota suspended sales of the following 8 models
nationwide:

2009-2010 RAV4
2010 Higlander
2005-2010 Avalon
2009-2010 Matrix
2007-2010 Camry
2007-2010 Tundra
2009-2010 Corolla
2008-2010 Sequoia

4. January 27, 2010, Toyota expanded the recall list by another million
vehicles to include the Pontiac Vibe.

5. As of February 9, 2010, Toyota has added an additional 437,000 Prius
and hybrid vehicles to the recall list.

Recent recalled include:
Toyota cars models:
2010 Pontiac Vibe
2005-2010 Avalon
2009-2010 Matrix
2004-2010 Prius
2009-2010 Corolla
2009-2010 RAV4
2008-2010 Sequoia
2005-2010 Tacoma
2007-2010 Camry
2008-2010 Highlander
2007-2010 Tundra
2009-2010 VENZA
2010 Lexus HS 250

The sticking accelerator pedal can occur when the pedal mechanism becomes worn, making the pedal harder to depress or slow to return or worst case scenario, stuck in the depressed position potentially causing an auto accident.

Continue reading "Toyota Recalling Millions of Vehicles" »

Yesterday, a Jefferson County jury returned a verdict in favor of a former worker at The Furnace who claimed she was hurt in a drunk driving accident in 2007 because the club failed to stop her from driving home after work. The Bessemer, Alabama employee was awarded a verdict of $100,000 in compensatory damages and no punitive damages.

The Plaintiff had previously worked for The Furnace, went to work on October 17, 2007 and left the club intoxicated. While driving home, she wrecked her car on the interstate and broke her nose and back. Police reports showed a blood-alcohol level of nearly three times the legal limit, a result of drinking while on the job.

The week long trial focused on the negligence of The Furnace management, who failed to follow safety precautions allowing workers to drink on the job and then allowing them to drive home. The Furnace claimed to only allow the workers a 2 drink maximum; however, the Plaintiff and another worker testified that they repeatedly had more than 2 drinks a night. The club actually encourages workers to drink and sell drinks to night club patrons allowing the club and workers to make more money.

Attorneys for the Plaintiff were Birmingham accident lawyers, Kirby Farris and Brett Turnbell of Farris, Riley & Pitt.

Continue reading "$100,000 Verdict Awarded in a Drunk Driving Accident." »