Alabama Car Accident Lawyer Blog

A single car automobile accident near Foley, Alabama has sadly claimed the life of a passenger and seriously injured the driver. According to a News 5 Mobile report, Alabama State Troopers reported that Kevin Davis of Fairhope, Alabama and Randall McKenzie of Foley, were traveling on county road 83 when the crash happened. The initial investigation indicates that the driver Mr. Davis left the roadway and overcorrected causing the car to overturn and strike a utility pole. Mr. McKenzie was pronounced dead at the scene and Mr. Davis was transported University of South Alabama Hospital in Mobile. Neither person was wearing their seat belt.

While their is no indication of whether seat belts could have prevented the injuries caused by this South Alabama car accident, seat belts do save lives and this a sad reminder for others to buckle up. In 2008, 256 people were killed in car and truck accidents in Alabama who were not wearing lap & shoulder belts.

A Glencoe, Alabama (Calhoun County) car accident was likely caused by a sleeping driver. According to reports, Patrick Hicks and Charles Avery had pulled their vehicle and trailer onto the shoulder of U.S. Highway 431. While Hicks and Avery were standing on the shoulder, a car driven by John Robert Martinez left the roadway and struck the trailer, causing the trailer to strike the two men. Sadly, Mr. Hicks and Mr. Avery lost their lives in this wreck.

As a result of this crash, the families of Mr. Hicks and Mr. Avery each have their own Alabama wrongful death claims against Mr. Martinez. In order to bring such a claim an estate will have to be set up for both Mr. Hicks and Mr. Avery. Further, there is also a likely claim for each ones estate under Alabama uninsured (underinsured) motorist statute. Under these facts, they likely have an uninsured (underinsured) motorist claim for the vehicle they were riding in and any other vehicle in which they are listed as in insured driver. In addition, most uninsured motorist policies provide coverage even if a person is not a named insured if that person "resides" with a relative that has uninsured motorist coverage. Thus, there may be uninsured (underinsured) motorist coverage if either Hicks or Avery lived with a relative that had such coverage. Finally, it would also be important to discover how many vehicles are covered under said policies as Alabama uninsured motorist law allows for stacking of insurance policies.

In, 2008 there were 1,290 car wrecks in Alabama caused by asleep and fatigued drivers. This motor vehicle accident is a tragic reminder that as drivers we have a duty to be alert at all times while on the roadway. As motorists, if we feel that we are fatigued in any way we should immediately pull off the highway so as not to endanger our own lives and the lives of others.

A tractor-trailer collision with a car on U.S. Highway 280 in Smiths Station, Alabama (Lee County) killed one person. The truck accident occurred at the intersection of Lee County Road 248 and Hwy 280. Glenda Baggett of Smiths Station, Alabama was sadly killed when her Chevrolet sedan collided with a 2006 Freightliner truck driven by Ronnie Howard, Sr., of Midway, Georgia. Alabama State Troopers are still investigating the motor vehicle accident, but initial reports indicate Ms. Baggett may have failed to stop at a red light. According to a report by a local television station WTVM, this is a very busy and dangerous intersection. According to the Alabama Department of Public Safety, in 2008 there were 18,025 Alabama auto accidents that were caused by one driver failing to yield the right of way.

A rear end automobile accident in Randolph County Alabama has sadly claimed the life of Robert Lee Foster of Roanoke. According to reports, Foster was traveling on Alabama Hwy 22 and had stopped for traffic when he was struck from the rear by Tina Burks. The initial impact from Burks' vehicle pushed Foster's pickup truck into oncoming traffic where he was struck by a tractor trailer (18 wheeler) driven by Thomas Spurling of Anniston. Tragically, Mr. Foster died as a result of his injuries.

Initial reports do not indicate what caused Burks to rear end Foster's truck. It could be simple inattention or following too closely or Burks could have been distracted by something such as her cell phone or radio. Mr. Foster's family likely has a viable Alabama wrongful death claim against Ms. Burks for causing this motor vehicle accident. Further, it's likely that Ms. Burks does not have sufficient auto insurance to cover such a claim; therefore, Mr. Foster's family would also have a claim for uninsured and/or underinsured motorist benefits through Mr. Foster's motor vehicle insurance policy(ies).

A car wreck on Interstate 65 in Montgomery has sadly claimed the life of 19 year old Jessica Sylvester of Mobile, Alabama. The car accident happened early Saturday morning when Ms. Sylvester's car crossed a median and struck an 18-wheeler head on. According to reports, Alabama State Troopers are still investigating this tragic accident, but believe the Mobile teenager may have been on her cell phone at the time of the crash.

Research has shown that using a cell phone use while driving, whether it's hand-held or hands-free, delays a driver's reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent. Drivers who use hand-held devices are 4 times as likely to get involved in a wreck serious enough to injure themselves. For more information on distracted driving visit Distraction.gov.