Alabama Car Accident Lawyer Blog

A new federal ban on texting by the DOT hopes to reduce Trucking Accidents. The DOT announced on 1/26/10 a new federal guideline banning texting while driving commercial motor vehicles. The federal ban goes into effect immediately and applies to drivers of 18 wheelers who driver in interstate commerce and drivers of commercial buses and vans who carry more than eight passengers. Truckers who violate the new texting ban are subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750.00.

The state of Alabama is also trying to reduce the number Alabama trucking accidents by passing a state law banning texting while driving. The bill has already cleared the Alabama House of Representatives and if the bill passes the Senate it would become law and ban drivers of all vehicles from texting while driving.

As a part of its campaign to reduce the number of car and truck wrecks due to distracted drivers, the DOT has launched a new website at www.distraction.gov. According to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, drivers who text while driving are more than 30 times more likely to be in a wreck than non-distracted drivers.

The Mobile auto accident occurred in the midtown area of Mobile, Alabama. According to the Mobile Press-Register, the driver of the motorcycle was transported to Mobile Infirmary Medical Center, which was less than one mile away; sadly the driver did not survive. The report indicates the driver was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The details of the car accident are still under investigation. According to the Alabama Department of Public Safety, there were 2,106 motorcycle accidents in Alabama in 2008, 98 of which resulted in a fatality. The number of Alabama motorcycle wrecks increased from 2007 to 2008 as did the number of fatalities. It's imperative that drivers be on the look out for motorcycles while they are on the roadway as a minor fender bender in a car accident can end with a tragic result if involved in the same accident with a motorcycle.

A single car accident on I-85 in Opelika, Alabama (Lee County) killed an Atlanta resident and severely injured another. The auto accident is the first fatality in Lee County in 2010 and occurred in the early hours of the morning. According to reports, the vehicle went into a ravine and overturned and trapped the occupants. At some point the vehicle burst into flames. Currently, it is not clear what caused the motor vehicle accident. When most individuals are involved in a single car accident they don't believe they have any legal recourse. While in many instances this may be true, there are numerous other examples where a single car accident can be the result of someone else's negligent conduct. For example, if another vehicle runs a car off the road causing an accident and the other vehicle flees the scene the injured party can still have a legal claim under Alabama's uninsured motorist laws. Further, a person's injuries in an accident can be enhanced by the failure of a safety device such as an air bag, seat belt, or brakes. In these types of situations a products liability lawsuit can be brought. Thus, if you have been involved in a single car accident you should contact an experienced Alabama car accident lawyer to determine your legal rights.

A Birmingham, Alabama teenager who suffered from mental disabilities was tragically killed in Gadsden when she stepped into the roadway and was struck by a truck. According to the Gadsden Times, the car accident happened on Monday at 6:28 am on U.S. Highway 411. Reports indicate the Birmingham teenager was in the custody of the Jefferson County Department of Human Resources and was living in a group home in Gadsden (Etowah County) at the time of the accident. Evidently, the teenager had wandered away from the group home just before the accident happened. Hopefully, there will be an investigation into this matter to determine how the teenager wandered away from the group home so that this type of tragedy does not occur again.

The snow falling in Alabama will likely mean an increase in the number of car wrecks on Alabama's highways. Drivers should avoid taking to snow covered roadways if at all possible. Some simple safety tips for driving in icy and snowy conditions include:

• Decreasing your vehicle's speed and leaving yourself ample distance between other cars for stopping.

• Use lower gears if possible, which can help increase traction.

• If your rear wheels begin to skid, take your foot off the accelerator and steer in the direction of the skid.

For more cold weather safe driving tips on how to avoid an auto accident visit the weather channel.com

The Alabama Car Accident Lawyers at Martinson and Beason represented our client who was severely injured in an auto accident. The car wreck occurred when the driver of the other vehicle failed to yield the right of way and pulled out in front of our client. As a result of this accident our client suffered a severely broken wrist, which required the plaintiff to undergo two surgeries. As a result of this motor vehicle accident we filed a personal injury lawsuit seeking damages for past and future medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and mental anguish. After written discovery and depositions were conducted to establish the defendant's liability and the plaintiff's injuries, we were able to reach a fair and just settlement for our client. While many cases can be resolved without the need for filing a lawsuit, this case is a prime example of a case whose value was significantly increased by filing suit and taking the depositions of the parties and doctor.