Alabama Injury Attorneys Blog

A recent report of America's most dangerous driving states has ranked Alabama in the top 10. Every year the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration looks at the number of car accidents and the number of fatalities in each state and issues a safety report card. Overall, most states showed a decline in the number of fatal car accidents with the worst states even showing a tiny decline.

According to carinsurancecomparison.com, a website that uses NHTSA's data to compile a list of the most dangerous states, Alabama ranks number 9 for the most dangerous state. Statistics report that for every 100 million miles driven there are 1.63 fatalities. Among the top 10 were:

#1 Montana
#2 Louisiana
#3 South Carolina
#4 West Virginia
#5 Arkansas
#6 Mississippi
#7 Kentucky
#8 Wyoming
#9 Alabama
#10 Nevada

Interesting enough, the state with the least number of fatal car accidents is Massachusetts.

Continue reading "Alabama Ranks Among Top 10 in Most Dangerous Driving" »

Stan Case, a longtime radio anchor and journalist with CNN was killed in a car accident in Alabama this past Tuesday. Alabama officials have reported that Case was struck head-on in an accident collision with a truck that crossed over the center median. Stan's wife, Angela Case, was also seriously injured in the Alabama car wreck and has been hospitalized at the University of Alabama Hospital in Birmingham. Case, 59 years old, was reportedly wearing his seat belt.

Case joined the CNN Radio Network in 1985 and has been a mainstay ever since. CNN Worldwide President Jim Walton was quoted saying, ""[Stan] was a fine journalist, a leader in our organization and, as anyone who had the privilege of knowing him will tell you, a great guy." Tyler Moody, CNN Radio Vice President, added, "For over 26 years, Stan was our friend first and colleague second. He will be missed."

Continue reading "Alabama Car Accident Kills CNN Radio Anchor" »

Last year in Alabama, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving was considered the most dangerous day on the road. The day most people travel and statistically when the majority of Alabamians are involved in car accidents. However, new research suggests that the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, is actually, the most dangerous day to travel in Alabama. In 2010, the most car accident in Alabama occurred on Tuesday before Thanksgiving.

Researchers with the Center for Advanced Public Safety (CAPS) at the University of Alabama, say last year's weather probably affected the statistics due to heavy rain the Tuesday before the holiday.

Shockingly, a number of the car accidents in Alabama that occurred on Tuesday were not severe accidents. Rather research indicates the majority of fatalities in Alabama occur the Friday after Thanksgiving. Last year there were a total of 17 fatal car accidents in Alabama the Friday after Thanksgiving, with the majority of those due to speeding, DUI and not wearing seat belts.

Researchers have also found that the safest day to drive in Thanksgiving morning between the hours of 9:00 and 10:00 am. Last year, only one car accident in Alabama occurred in the entire state between.

An early morning car accident has proved deadly for two victims in Alabama. The Mountain Brook Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responded to the accident scene at 6:13 a.m. to find one victim death. The other three victims were immediately rushed to a nearby Alabama hospital. Upon arriving at the hospital, one victim was immediately pronounced dead, while the third victim was listed in critical condition and the fourth received non-life threatening injures.

The Birmingham car accident occurred right before the Lakeshore Parkway exit. According to local reports, a westbound driver crossed the median and struck two eastbound vehicles. One of the vehicles erupted into flames and shut down both sides of the road.

No names have yet been released from the fatal Hwy 280 accident.

Alabama Car Accident Prevention Tips from the Birmingham Injury Lawyers

The holidays for many families in Alabama is a time to indulge, give thanks and anticipate the arrival of a new year. Normally synonymous with large amounts of food and calories, Thanksgiving and the holidays are also a time for heavy alcohol consumption. Thus, with more alcohol consumption comes a greater increase in the likelihood of car accidents and drunk driving accidents in Alabama.

The night before Thanksgiving is one of the biggest bar nights of the year. Sometimes referred to as "blackout Wednesday," students from the University of Alabama, Auburn University and colleges all over Alabama are home for the holidays, partying and drinking. Far too often, the Birmingham Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys at Farris, Riley and Pitt have represented too many families who have lost loved ones due to car accidents and drinking.

Alabama Car Accident Attorneys 10 Safety Tips on driving during the holidays:

1. Always wear a seat belt. (Most accidents occur in close proximity to your home or destination)
2. Never drink and drive.
3. Do not speed.
4. Do not text and drive.
5. If possible, avoid high travel days such as Monday and Sunday.
6. Allow yourself plenty of time on the road and be patient during heavy traffic.
7. A GPA navigation system is an asset when you are lost, but can be a distraction and cause an accident.
8. Do not try to drive late at night when you would normally be asleep.
9. Beware of drunk drivers. The highest number of fatal car accidents caused by drunk driving in Alabama occurs between midnight and 3 a.m.-stay off the roads during these hours.
10. Be responsible.

Continue reading "10 Car Accident Prevention Tips During the Holidays" »

An instance of nursing home neglect has prompted a wrongful death lawsuit against Regent Care Center nursing home. The family of Rachel Mohr, 78, filed the nursing home neglect lawsuit after she suffered a massive head trauma and died.

According to reports, Mohr was found on the floor of her nursing home yelling for help. Having fallen out of her bed and bleeding, Mohr endured a head trauma that would eventually kill her. Instead of immediately taking her to the hospital, Mohr was placed back in her bed only to be found hours later non-responsive.

The nursing home neglect lawsuit originally claims that Mohr was alert and coherent before the fall. In addition, it was not until Mohr was found unresponsive that the nursing home took her to the hospital.

The wrongful death lawsuit alleges the nursing home failed to provide Mohr, a known fall risk, with proper care and allowed her to fall. Doctor's orders were to keep her bed in a low position with floor mats nearby and a bed alarm. However, the nursing home neglect attorney representing the family claims the facility did not follow the doctor's orders.

Continue reading "Head Trauma at Nursing Home Prompts Wrongful Death Lawsuit " »

Earlier this week, Toyota issued a news release stating they would replace on the V-6 engine in several of their models for potential loss of steering.

Toyota is recalling:

• 2004 Avalon
• 2004-5 Camry
• 2004-5 Highland
• 2004-5 Sienna
• 2004-5 Solara
• 2006 Higlander HV
• 2004-5 Lexus EX 350
• 2004-5 Lexus RX 330
• 2006 RX 400h hybrid

All vehicles recalled were manufactured from June 1,2004 through March 31, 2005 The automaker identified a problem with a pulley, that if detached, could result in a loss of power steering, potentially increasing the risk of a car accident. Toyota has received no reports of car accidents relating to this problem.

The National Highway Safety Administration received their first report of the problem in 2007. No auto accidents were reported to the NHSA; however, NHSA continued to monitor the potential safety hazard eventually determing a recall was necessary.

Toyota will replace the pulley at no charge and owners may contact Toyota at 800-331-4331 for more information.

Continue reading "Toyota Recalls 420,000 Vehicles for Potential Crash Hazard" »

"Here is my story. I hope you find it helpful in comforting or helping another client understand the legal process.

I was driving to one of my stores in North Alabama (in a company car) and out of nowhere was T-boned by another vehicle. The truck that hit me failed to yield to my right-of-way and said that he was waved through the intersection by an 18 wheeler. My car was hit on the driver's side door and spun around until I was in another lane and facing the opposite direction. The driver came to my window yelling that it wasn't his fault. I called 911, was cut out of my car, and was taken to Helen Keller Hospital, where I was seen by the ER doctor and transported to the UAB Trauma Unit. I had multiple tests, therapy sessions, and 5 surgeries over a year and a half or so to repair the soft tissue damage to my arm. During my first stay at the hospital I was contacted multiple times by an investigator--the driver that hit me was in a company vehicle and his company wanted me to make a statement about the accident. I was advised by a nurse that was checking my stats a couple of times when the investigator called to hire an attorney, and having never done so (and only living in Alabama for 3 months) I was anxious about what to do. I was given Ken Riley's name, contacted him, and felt very relieved for having done so. The phone calls from the investigator stopped after I directed him to contact my attorney, and I felt very safe and protected, as I was nervous about how to respond and how to protect myself. Ken worked patiently and supportively, always genuinely concerned about what I had been through and how I was healing, and guided me through dealing with Worker's Comp, depositions, and the mediations with both the driver that hit me and the truck that waved him through. I still have open medical, which is important, as I am still under medical care for nerve damage treatment. The most important part of the entire thing was knowing that I had someone in my corner, fighting for what was right, and allowing me to focus on getting well."

- Emily

On Sunday, three basketball players and two female companions where injured in car accident on US Highway 101. The three players and the two women were leaving a nightclub around 1:30 am when they swerved to avoid a tire in the road causing them to hit a median. After impact, the car spun out of control and into on-coming traffic where they were hit by another vehicle. The driver, Billy Head, was arrested for drunk driving accident on the scene. He was then taken to a nearby hospital for injuries he sustained during his accident.

Andrel Gaines, one of the other passengers, is on life support for a severe head injury that he sustained from the accident. According to the latest public update, Gaines is not expected to survive the tragic car accident. His teammate, Devontea Johnson, broke a leg in the car accident. While the two female passengers, Denise Bravo and Razelyn Amroco, suffered only minor injuries from the accident.

Ironically, Billy Head, the driver, was not in the motor vehicle at the time of the accident. Head left the vehicle right before the Cadillac was involved in the collision. The driver of the second vehicle was seriously injured in the car accident and being treated at a nearby hospital.

Continue reading "Basketball Players Critically Injured in Car Accident" »

A jury recently awarded Isaac Torres a $1.1 million verdict after he fell down the stairs at his apartment complex.

Falling victim to the foreclosure wave, Torres moved with his family into the Larkspur apartment in 2008. Torres, 41, sued his landlord after he sustained a back injury from falling down the stairs at his Rice Lane Apartment in 2010. As a result of the January 1st injury, Torres sued his property owner, Thomas Fleming, after he developed a lumbar strain and a disk problems.

Alleging negligence and failure to keep the stairwell clean, Torres cited Fleming with failure to install a handrail-required by law. The injury forced Torres to quit his job as a houseman for a wealthy San Francisco family because of the pain.

Torres and his personal injury attorney took the accident case to trail. After the 14-day trial, a jury returned a $1,070,801 million verdict plus an additional $850,000 for future lost wages.

Continue reading "Jury Awards $1.1 Million Verdict to Tenant" »

A 17-year-old died in an Alabama Auto Accident this past Saturday about nine miles from Warrior. According to the Birmingham News, the auto accident in Alabama occurred around 1:00 a.m.

Mikal Ann Webb was rushed to The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) hospital were she was pronounced dead. Webb was driving a 2007 Honda Civic at the time of the accident. While there is no additional information at this time, Alabama State Troopers said there were no passengers in the vehicle at the time of the collision.

Continue reading "Warrior, Alabama Teen Dies in Car Accident " »

The family of Craig Salerno filed a $25 million wrongful death lawsuit after he died after a crash at the National Championship Air Races.

According to the personal injury attorney representing the Salerno family, the accident was a "result of a reckless drive for speed by a risk taking pilot and crew" plus the drive to increase profits.

Salerno, a dispatcher for Continental Airlines, was one of ten spectators killed in the air crash. The wrongful death suit states the accident killed the married father of two children instantly.

In addition to Salerno, the accident also killed the pilot, Jimmy Leeward. Flying a World War II era Mustang, Leeward rolled and slammed into the box seats where Salerno and the other nine deceased spectators were sitting. Federal investigators have evidence where a piece of the plane's tail broke off around the time of the crash. The crash has also prompted aviation experts to review additional evidence such as a possibility of a trim tab snapping off- which would have kept the plane's nose down.

The wrongful death lawsuit names the Reno Air Racing Association in the lawsuit in addition to a number of people who modified the WWII plane.

Continue reading "Family Files First Wrongful Death Suit After Reno Air Crash" »

Ronald Dean Goodrich has filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of his mother, Virginia Goodrich, who was killed in a car accident involving another student driver.

Virginia Goodrich, 77, was hit by a student driver on May 11, 2010. The student driver, accompanied by a driving instructor, reportedly accelerated through a stop sign and crashed into Goodrich. According to the personal injury lawsuit, Ronald Goodrich is seeking damages from the following defendants: the driver, the driver's mother, and the driver's instructor, Randall Rasmussen.

The wrongful death lawsuit alleges the Rasmussen, who was riding as a passenger in the front seat, had a duty to look after the student driver. However, he failed to exercise that duty when the car accident occurred.

The wrongful death lawsuit also claims the Department of Public Safety and the school district failed to properly educate, train and supervise the instructor.

Continue reading "Car Accident Prompts Wrongful Death Lawsuit " »

A fatal car accident in Leesburg, Alabama yesterday morning took the life of one and killed another in a single Alabama car accident. Around 8:05 a.m. Monday, an Alabama State Trooper responded to the accident scene where a 1997 pick-up truck driven by Donald Edward Nelson, 37, of Attalla ran off the road and hit a tree. The fatal car accident killed Nelson while his passenger, Jimmy Ralph Oliver, 25, was air lifted to near by Huntsville Hospital. At this time, the car accident in Alabama remains under investigation by AL. State Troopers. Oliver's condition from the Leesburg crash has not been released at this time.

Continue reading "Leesburg, Alabama Auto Accident Kills One, Injures Another" »