Alabama Car Accident Lawyer Blog

The driver of a car that ran off Dawes Lake Road early in the morning on April 21, 2012, was just charged this week with murder according to Alabama State Troopers. The tragic Mobile car wreck resulted in the untimely death of a young, 20-something musician.

Jennifer Fram, 25, is now sitting in Mobile County Metro Jail without bail, according to jail records. The victim of the tragic affair, Nicholas "Nick" Thor Markow, a native and lifelong resident of Mobile, died on Saturday from his injuries. He was only 26. Markow was a graduate of local Murphy High School, and was "a well loved local musician," according to his obituary and one known for performing in the area. Markow is survived by his mother, father, sister and brother as well as aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends.

Alabama State Troopers Spokesman Trooper Greg Eubanks said that Fram was driving the car that ran off the road and hit a sign and a utility pole, ejecting 26-year-old Nicholas Markow, who was killed.

Eubanks said that neither Markow nor Fram, who was injured, wore a seat belt, and he added that Fram admitted to drinking earlier during the night of the crash. Fram was on probation after a previous drunk driving arrest, according to jail records. Fram will soon face a bail hearing in the Mobile County District Court and, as a result, may find herself free awaiting trial.

As Alabama car wreck attorneys we routinely see the devastating aftermath of collisions caused by such drunk driving accidents. Sadly we've represented numerous clients who were injured as a result of the careless and selfish decisions of others who decided to drink and drive rather than be responsible. When a crash such as this occurs in Alabama there are a various possible legal claims that should be explored. First, there is a negligence and/or wantonness claim against the drunk driver. Depending upon several factors, there may be a claim for uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. And there may be a claim against the bar, restaurant or store that sold the alcohol to the drunk driver under Alabama's Dram Shop laws. If you've been the victim of such an accident and need help navigating confusing legal waters, contact our skilled Alabama car accident lawyers today.

Source: "Driver involved in car accident that killed musician is charged with murder," by Mark Kent, published at AL.com.

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A two vehicle accident at the intersection of Hughes Road and Madison Boulevard in Madison, AL has sadly claimed the life of one driver. According to a report by Huntsville TV station WHNT 19, a driver of a Lincoln Town Car collided with the driver's side of a Chevrolet Cavalier as the Chevy was making a turn at this intersection. Police are still investigating this wreck to determine the cause of the accident and who was at fault; however, police did tell WHNT that alcohol may have been involved. Sadly, this auto accident has claimed the life of Nataliya Elliott (41) of Lacey's Spring. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Ms. Elliott's family and friends.

If the driver of the Lincoln Town Car is determined to be at fault for this wreck, then a wrongful death lawsuit can be brought on behalf of Ms. Elliott's estate. Under Alabama law, to bring a wrongful death claim an estate has to be set up as the proper party to bring the claim is the administrator of the estate. See our website link, for more information on Alabama's wrongful death law. Under this law, claims can be made against the other driver and possibly under any uninsured and/or underinsured motorist coverage (UM or UIM) that may have covered Ms. Elliott.

As Huntsville drunk driving accident attorneys we too often see the deadly results that occur when people choose to drink and drive. Just this week, we resolved a claim for a client who was involved in an auto accident with an intoxicated driver in Madison, Alabama. If the driver of the Lincoln Town Car is deemed to be at fault and he was intoxicated there could be a possible claim against a bar, restaurant or store that may have served and/or sold him alcohol. This type of action is known as a dram shop claim.

If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident with a drunk driver it is very important that you speak with an experienced Alabama car wreck lawyer. Our firm has been representing injury victims for 75 years and handles car wreck claims all across the State of Alabama.

A new Driving Under the Influence (DUI) law in Alabama hopes to crack down on drunk drivers and drinking and driving car accidents. The new DUI law, which will be signed into law today by Governor Robert Bentley, will increase the severity of penalty if the driver is more intoxicated. Currently, it is illegal to drive if you blood alcohol level (BAL) is .08 or higher. But the severity of the penalty does not increase if your BAL is higher than .08. Under this new DUI law. if a driver's BAL is over .15 they will automatically lose their drivers license for one year. See Senate Bill 67.

As Huntsville car accident attorneys who handle drinking and driving automobile accidents routinely, this new law is a step in the right direction. Sadly, we too often see the life changing results that occur when people make the deadly decision to drink and drive. For more information on this matter please, see our DUI car accidents page.

Huntsville car accident lawyer Morris Lilienthal represented our clients who were involved in a March 2010 car wreck. Our clients, a mother and her two young children, were proceeding through the intersection of US 72 and Interstate 65 in Athens, Alabama, at approximately 3:40 pm, when a drunk driver ran a red light and struck our client's vehicle. A detailed investigation of the automobile accident revealed that a witness to the wreck stopped the intoxicated driver from fleeing the scene before he was arrested for Driving Under the Influence (DUI). Our clients suffered severe neck and back injuries that required consistent medical treatment and physical therapy. We are pleased to announce that we have reached a full and final settlement with the other driver and our client's uninsured (underinsured) motorist carrier.

This case is a sad reminder of the dangers of drinking and driving. In 2009, there were 6,671 automobile crashes in Alabama involving a driver who was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Out of those wrecks, 290 people were killed in alcohol and drug related crashes in Alabama in 2009. For more information on this topic, please visit our DUI car accident's page.

By: Morris Lilienthal, Huntsville Personal Injury Attorney

A Cullman man has been charged with murder and various other charges stemming from a December 17, 2010, car wreck on Highway 31. According to an article by Trent Moore of the Cullman Times, Kenneth Burns struck a vehicle that was occupied by a couple and their young daughter. Sadly, the child died from her injuries while her parents were severely injured in the wreck. Burns was found to have been driving under the influence (DUI) at the time of the wreck. The family has filed a personal injury and wrongful death lawsuit against Burns.

As Alabama Car wreck attorneys we sadly see this situation far too often. In 2009, there were 6,671 crashes in Alabama where the driver was under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. In 2009, 290 people lost their lives in Alabama in alcohol and drug related crashes. I currently have two car accident cases where the at fault driver was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) at the time of the wreck. This problem of drinking and driving can be prevented. If you are going to drink, please have a designated driver or take cab. When you drink and drive you not only put your life at risk, but you put the lives of everyone else on the highway at risk.

For more information on DUI accidents, please see our new Alabama DUI Car Accidents page.

By: Morris Lilienthal, Huntsville Car Accident Lawyer