Alabama Car Accident Lawyer Blog

An automobile crash in the Hazel Green community of Madison County has tragically claimed the life of Margie Ann Thomas of New Market. According to WAFF News of Huntsville. Ms. Thomas and her passenger were traveling on Joe Quick road when the driver of a truck veered into Ms. Thomas' lane causing the head on collision. Alabama State Troopers are investigating the cause of this wreck.

As experienced Huntsville car accident attorneys we often see this type of wreck where one vehicle veers into another's lane of travel. Our experience tell us that this is often caused by a distracted driver IE someone on a cell phone, texting, changing a radio station, etc.. While this wreck happened at 9:30 am there is also the possibility that the other driver could have been intoxicated on drugs or alcohol. These are all areas of inquiry when assessing such a car accident.

In addition to the aforementioned areas of inquiry, an experienced wrongful death attorney would not only look into claims against the at fault driver but also claims for uninsured/underinsured motorist benefits (UM/UIM). UM/UIM coverage is required by Alabama law on every car insurance policy sold in the state unless the driver signs a written waiver. This coverage applies when the at fault drive is either uninsured or does not have enough insurance to cover the claim. For more information on Alabama's uninsured motorist laws see the Avvo legal guide: A Guide to Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Law in Alabama.

A car wreck on Alabama Highway 150 in Bessemer has sadly claimed the life of Thomas Lopez Velasquez of Birmingham. Mr. Velasquez was working for a trash collection company picking up items on the shoulder of the roadway when a motorist veered off the road striking him. It is unclear what caused the motorist to veer off the roadway; however, distracted driving is one of the leading causes of accidents in the United States.

As Birmingham car accident attorneys we too often see the dangers distracted driving can cause. The US Government website for distracted driving www.distraction.gov states there are 3 main types of distraction for drivers:

• Manual - taking your eyes off the road
• Visual - taking your hands off the road
• Cognitive - taking your mind off what you're doing

Paying attention to these three items will save lives. A tragic accident such as this can be caused by a driver simply losing focus for only one or two seconds.

A wreck between two 18 wheelers on Interstate 20/59 in Tuscaloosa Wednesday night tied up traffic for hours. The Tuscaloosa truck accident occurred when the driver of southbound tractor-trailer lost control swerved into the median then into the northbound lanes and collided with a Fed Ex truck and trailer. As a result of the horrific impact both trucks caught fire. John Spencer, of Tuscaloosa was injured when one of the trucks hit his 1992 Buick. Terry Jackson one of the truck drivers was also injured in the crash.

At this time there is no indication of what caused this crash. When an accident like this occurs the investigation into the accident will likely include a drug test for each truck driver as well as a review of the driver's log books as well as the truck itself. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates the hours of service of truck drivers IE how much time they can drive before they have to rest. For more information on this topic see the Alabama Injury Attorney Blog post: Truck Accidents - Driver Fatigue and Hours of Service Regulations.

A tragic car accident in Brewton, AL (Escambia County) results in two deaths. According to a news report on the crash, it started when police responded to a domestic violence call involving Martin Reid. Reid attempted to elude the Brewton Police and led them on a chase on US hwy 31 N at speeds of up to 120 mph. As Reid was attempting to pass a vehicle he struck an SUV driven by Donald (Donnie) Rotch. Both Rotch and Reid died as a result of the horrific impact. Rotch was the principal of T.R. Miller High School and a beloved member of the community.

This awful crash brings up a very tough issue of when police should continue or discontinue a high speed pursuit. Under Alabama personal injury law, there are several areas that should be inquired into under these types of facts. A potential recovery to help compensate the victims family could be had from Mr. Reid's insurance carrier and his estate, Mr. Rotch's uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and potentially against the Brewton Police if it is determined they violated the proper procedure in continuing this pursuit. Currently, the Alabama State Troopers are investigating the wreck. For more information on police pursuits see the article: High-speed police pursuits: dangers, dynamics, and risk reduction.

A truck wreck on US Hwy 72 in Huntsville, AL has sadly claimed one life and sent four others to Huntsville Hospital. The crash happened Sunday about 9:40 am near O'Bryan's Steakhouse. A semi-truck and SUV collided causing the SUV to flip several times. The driver of the SUV, Roberto Carlos Tlalmanalco-Cienpeugos, was ejected from the vehicle and died as a result of his injuries. Mr. Cienpeugos family was transported to Huntsville Hospital. According to Don Webster of HEMSI the Cienpeugos family is from Morgan County. Police are still investigating the wreck.

In 2008, there were 7,123 truck accidents in Alabama, which resulted in 1,769 injuries. Further, in 2008, 132 people were killed in truck accidents in Alabama. As Huntsville Truck Accident Attorneys we know the dangers 18 wheelers pose on the Alabama's highways due to their size and weight. An accident that might be a minor fender bender with another car can be deadly when a semi-truck is involved.

A truck accident in Colbert County, Alabama has left a Florence man in critical condition. The truck wreck occurred on Alabama Hwy 20 just after day break. Aubrey Riley of Florence was severely injured when his truck slammed into the rear of a log truck. Riley was flown to Huntsville hospital. Several of the logs struck the cab of Riley's pick up and even went through the windshield. Alabama State Troopers are still investigating the crash.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations which regulates and mandates the procedures for operating semi-trucks on US highways has a section on Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Electrical Wiring - Title 49 - Part 393. This section regulates the types of lights that are required on eighteen wheelers . As experienced Alabama truck accident attorneys I would be very interested to determine if the log truck involved in this wreck meet these guidelines as this may be a key issue as to the cause of this accident given the wreck occurred at day break.

A car wreck on Alabama Hwy 22 in Alex City (Tallapoosa County) sent four people to the hospital. The crash is still under investigation. The collision between a Dodge Neon and Chevrolet Blazer caused the Blazer to flip over on to its top. The three males in the SUV were treated for minor injuries as well as the driver of the Neon. This type of accident reminds us how important it is that car manufacturers properly design and build the roof's of their vehicles. Every year people are seriously injured and killed as a result of the roof of the vehicle being crushed when the vehicle overturns. NHTSA estimates that roof crush resulting from automobile rollover crashes results in thousands of injuries each year, including well over 500 deaths on an annual basis. For more information on the roof crush standards see the article: U.S. GOVERNMENT CHANGES AUTOMOBILE ROOF - CRUSH STANDARDS.

Huntsville, AL car accident attorney Morris Lilienthal represented our client who was severely injured in a car wreck with a drunk driver. The crash occurred at 2:00 am in April of 2010 when the intoxicated driver came over the center line striking our client's car head-on. As a result of this wreck our client suffered numerous fractures to both his lower legs requiring him to undergo surgery to correct these injuries. We are pleased that we were able to reach a pre-litigation policy limits settlement with both the drunk drivers insurance company and our client's insurance company (uninsured - underinsured motorist carrier). This case is a prime example of why it's important to carry a sufficient amount of uninsured-underinsured motorist coverage. As is often the case, the at fault party does not have sufficient insurance coverage to fully compensate the plaintiff for his/her injuries.

This case is also an example of the dangers of drinking and driving. As evidenced by the photograph of our client's vehicle, he is lucky to be alive. Please don't drink and drive as you are not only putting your life at risk but the lives of other innocent drivers.

A two car accident has claimed the life of a Selma, AL resident. The crash happened on Alabama Highway 22 in Dallas County. David Johnson, 57, of Selma was tragically killed as a result of the impact. Johnson was driving a a 1995 Chevy Geo Prizm. The Prizim is a small 4 door sedan. The driver of the other vehicle - Jonathan Peake, 32, of Selma and his passenger were also injured in the crash. Both were transported to Vaughn Regional Medical Center. Alabama State Troopers are still investigating the cause of the accident.

The Alabama Car Accident lawyers at M&B currently represent a Selma resident who was the victim of another serious car accident in Selma. Selma Car Accident Attorney Morris Lilienthal was born in Selma, AL. Attorney Lilienthal's family owned a men's clothing store in Selma for over 100 years. We take pride in helping car accident and personal injury victims in the Selma area.

A truck accident in DeKalb Co., may have left some thirsty. The eighteen wheeler wreck occurred on Highway 35 which is known to be a dangerous spot for tractor-trailers. The driver of the Bud Light truck was pinned inside the truck when it overturned. Fortunately, firefighters from Fort Payne, Alabama were able to extract the driver and while he suffered some broken bones he looks to make a good recovery. The same can't be said for several hundred cases of beer. Many southerners enjoy beer and wrecks, it's called Nascar, but this is one accident that would make any Nascar fan shed a tear at the useless loss of all that beer.

A car accident involving a dump truck on Hwy 331 in Montgomery County, Alabama has sadly claimed the life of Tiffany Weeks, 18, of Luverne (Crenshaw County). At the time of the wreck, Ms. Weeks was driving a 2004 Pontiac Sunfire. Alabama State Troopers are still investigating the cause of this wreck.

This crash re-emphasizes the dangers of these large trucks on Alabama highways. A car accident that would only be a minor fender bender with another car can be fatal if it involves a truck of this size. Thus, we encourage everyone to please be very cautious when driving in and around 18 Wheelers as you may see them but it does not mean that they see you!

For safe driving tips preventing truck accidents visit roadsafeamerica.org

A three car wreck in Huntsville has claimed the life of one man and injured two others. The crash happened on Highway 53 just south of Research Parkway. Three vehicles were involved in the motor vehicle accident. The driver of one vehicle, Larry Weber, 61 sadly lost his life in this wreck. His wife Nelta Weber was listed in serious condition and taken to Huntsville Hospital. A young child in another vehicle was also injured. Police are still investigating this accident to determine exactly what happened.

As we approach the Fourth of July Holiday we encourage everyone to please slow down and be aware of your surroundings as you take to the roads this holiday weekend. Historically, the Fourth of July holiday period is one of the deadliest on Alabama's highways. In 2008, 16 people were killed in Alabama car accidents during the Fourth of July holiday period. As Huntsville car accident lawyers we know that many of these wrecks can be avoided if people will simply slow down and be more aware of their surroundings.

A hit and run car wreck on I-59 in downtown Birmingham near the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center has claimed the life of Anita Pickett of Tarrant, Alabama. According to the Birmingham News report, Ms. Pickett's vehicle was struck by another vehicle causing Ms. Pickett's vehicle to fall off the overpass onto the highway below. A witness reported seeing a black female driver fleeing the scene in a black Chevrolet Trailblazer.

Unfortunately hit and run car accidents happen far too often. Last year, our firm represented the victim of a hit and run car accident in Huntsville. In a situation where the accident was caused by a hit and run driver, Alabama's uninsured & underinsured motorist law allows for claim to be made under the victims UM/UIM policy. The hit and run driver is often called a phantom vehicle. It's extremely important when hiring an Alabama car accident lawyer to hire someone who has experience handling underinsured motorist claims. One unique aspect of Alabama UM law is that it allows for the stacking (adding together) of polices. For more information see "A Guide to Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Law in Alabama."

A car wreck on Interstate 22 in Walker County, Alabama just outside the city of Jasper has sadly claimed the life of one child and injured two others. The automobile accident happened about 4:30 pm yesterday. Initial reports from the Alabama State Troopers do not indicate the cause of the crash.

Interstate 22 is Alabama's newest Interstate Highway, which follows the US Highway 78 corridor from Memphis, Tennessee to Birmingham, Alabama. This 213 mile Interstate runs through the cities of Holly Springs, Mississippi; New Albany, Mississippi; Tupelo, Mississippi; Hamilton, Alabama; Winfield, Alabama; and Jasper, Alabama.

Summer in Alabama means more bicycles and motorcycles on Alabama roads. In 2008, 182 people were injured in Alabama bicycle accidents. From 1999 to 2008, 72 people were killed in Alabama bicycle crashes. The easiest bicycle safety rule is to always wear a helmet; however, wearing a helmet will not prevent a cyclists or child from being hit by a car. www.Bicyclesafe.com is a great website that provides "Ten Ways Not to Get Hit" by a car. This list of bike safety tips explores the most common way bikes riders are involved in car v. bike accidents. The site also offers general bike safety ideas such as:

Always light up;
Avoiding busy streets;
Signal your turns;
Taking the whole lane when appropriate;
Re-think music players and mobile phones; and
Ride as if you were invisible.

For information on teaching children bike safety visit

http://www.ibike.org/education/safety-kids.htm
Nhtsa and bike safety