Recently in Alcohol Server Liability Category

Drunk Driving Car Accident Claims Life of Lauderdale County Resident

January 24, 2011

The car wreck happened on Highway 72 near Rogersville, Alabama. According to a report, James Thomas Campbell was tragically killed when his Chevrolet pickup truck was struck by a car being driven by Richard Ray Russell of Tuscumbia. Larree Campbell a passenger in James Campbell's truck was also injured in the wreck and taken to Huntsville Hospital. Richard Ray was arrested and charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI).

As Alabama drunk driving accident attorneys we are sadden anytime someone is injured or killed by a drunk driver. In 2008, there were 5,420 drivers in Alabama who were under the influence of alcohol or drugs and involved in a car accident. These are senseless preventable accidents.

In this instance, the family of Mr. Campbell has a wrongful death claim against Mr. Ray as well as an uninsured motorist claim for any uninsured motorist benefits that may cover Mr. Campbell and his vehicle(s). Further, there could be a dram shop claim against any vendor, store, bar, or restaurant that sold alcohol to Mr. Ray. In instances such as this, an experienced Alabama car accident attorney should be hired to fully investigate all the possible avenues of recovery.

For more information on how to prevent drinking and driving, please visit madd.

Fatal Madison Car Accident May Be Caused by Drunk Driver

September 30, 2010

A tragic Madison, AL car wreck on US Hwy 72 and Wall Triana has sadly claimed the life of Zachary Keyser, a 25 year old US Marine. According to police, Mr. Keyser's truck collided with another vehicle causing Mr. Keyser to lose control of his vehicle and strike a utility pole. Initial reports indicate the at-fault driver may have been intoxicated (drinking and driving). Police have taken a blood sample and are awaiting the results. If the other driver is found to have been DUI he will be charged criminally.

As Huntsville and Madison car accident attorneys we are saddened anytime we see a tragic accident that should have never happened. Our condolences go out to the family and friends of this brave Marine. Our law firm has seen a rash of drunk driving car accidents cases in the Huntsville area in the last year. Currently, we are representing several clients who were injured in accidents where the at-fault driver was driving under the influence. See our recent blog article: "Athens Alabama Drunk Driving Car Accident Injures Three." We recently settled a drunk driving car accident claim where the intoxicated driver came across the center line and struck our client causing him severe injuries. See our blog article entitled: "Huntsville Drunk Driving Car Accident Settlement Reached."

For more information on Drinking and Driving Accidents in Alabama see: Alabama Drunk Driving Accident Law 101.

Huntsville Drunk Driving Car Accident Settlement Reached

July 22, 2010

IMG_4052.JPGHuntsville, 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.

Huntsville Car Accident Likely Caused by Drinking and Driving

April 23, 2010

A recent car wreck in Huntsville is thought to be the result of an intoxicated driver. The auto accident happened as a car driving north on Wynn Drive crossed the centerline and struck a car traveling southbound on Wynn Drive. According to the Huntsville Times report, the accident happened around 10:00 pm and both drivers were transported to Huntsville Hospital following the crash. Police indicated they believed alcohol was involved in causing this wreck. According to the Alabama Department of Public Safety in 2008, there were 5,420 motor vehicle accidents in Alabama in which the driver was under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs at the time of the crash. As car accident attorneys in Huntsville, Alabama we often see the tragic result that comes from drinking and driving. We as a society have a responsibility to stop others from drinking and driving and to notify the police if we believe someone is operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Athens Alabama Drunk Driving Car Accident Injures Three

April 8, 2010

An alcohol related automobile accident in Athens (Limestone County) on US Hwy 72 was caused by a drunk driver who ran a red light and struck another car. Injured in the car wreck were a mother and her two children. M&B has been retained to represent the mother and her children in this preventable accident. The at fault driver was arrested at the scene and charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI). We're hopeful that through our representation we are able to make a recovery for our clients that will adequately compensate them for the physical and mental injuries they have suffered in this wreck. We're also hopeful that we are able to send a message to this driver and others that this type of reckless conduct will not be tolerated on Alabama highways.

Drinking and driving car accidents are a very serious matter and injure thousands of innocent people every year. According to the Alabama Department of Public Safety, in 2008 there were 5,420 traffic crashes in Alabama in which the at-fault driver was influenced by alcohol or drugs.

Mobile County Car Accident Caused by A Driver Under the Influence of Drugs

October 27, 2009

An Irvington, Alabama (Mobile County) car wreck has sent a pregnant woman and her 2 small children to the hospital. Initial reports indicate the at fault driver of the other vehicle was under the influence of drugs (DUI). The Mobile County car accident caused the young mother to go into labor and the baby had to be delivered by c-section at the hospital, because the mother fractured her pelvis in the accident. The decision on whether to criminally charge the at fault driver will likely be made once blood work is returned. Most often when people think of someone driving under the influence (DUI) they think of someone driving under the influence of alcohol; however, many drivers on Alabama's state highways and interstates are endangering the lives of others by driving under the influence of legal and illegal narcotics. As Mobile injury attorneys its sadden us to see the tragic result that too often occurs when someone is driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. For more information on how to prevent drunk driving accidents visit www.madd.org.

Driving Under the Influence Arrest for Women on the Rise

August 24, 2009

A recently released NHTSA study shows a near 30% increase in the number of women arrested nationally for driving under the influence. The study also revealed that in 2008 there were 36 fatal Alabama car accidents that involved a female driver with a blood alcohol content equal to .08 or higher. Further, in 2008 there were 257 fatal Alabama car accidents that involved a male driver with a blood alcohol content equal to .08 or higher. While the number of DUI arrest for men decreased by about 7.5%, the number of males arrested for DUI trumped the number of females by four to one. According to NHTSA about 2000 fatalities a year involve an impaired female driver.

In some instances, not only can the intoxicated driver be held liable for causing a car wreck, but the bar, restaurant or retail establishment that sold the drunk the alcohol can be held liable. Under Alabama's dram shop laws, a retail establishment is prohibited from selling or providing alcohol to a person who under the totality of the circumstances appears to be intoxicated. An experienced Alabama Car Accident Lawyer will always investigate the cause of the auto accident and if alcohol is involved, determine how and under what circumstances the drunk driver obtained the alcohol. For more information on alcohol related accidents and Alabama's dram shop law see a recent post on our alabamainjuryattorneyblog.