Huntsville Personal Injury Attorney Blog | Alabama Car Accident Lawyer | Madison County Brain Injury Law Firm

Driver rushing to hospital involved in serious crash

2012-02-21T21:43:24Z

Alabama State Troopers are investigating a serious motor vehicle accident that occurred when one driver was apparently rushing his passenger to the hospital. That driver and passenger, as well as the driver another vehicle were all seriously injured in the crash. As of yesterday, they were all listed in critical condition at the UAB Hospital.

According to local police reports, the 30-year-old passenger had been having chest pains so the 32-year-old driver of a Chevy Blazer was speeding with his hazard lights on in an attempt to take her to the hospital. A police officer had spotted the car and began chasing it in an attempt to pull it over, but was unable to do so before the crash.

]]> When the Chevy Blazer allegedly ran a red light and entered an intersection, it collided with the front of the tractor. Witnesses report that the driver of tractor was thrown off of the vehicle and was somersaulting through the air. The two occupants of the SUV had to be extricated from their vehicle by the Fire department.

Several other vehicles were also struck by the wreckage from the crash, one was hit by the trailer of tractor, another vehicle, that was carrying two off-duty state troopers was struck by the tractor.

Unfortunately, in his attempt to seek medical care quickly this driver apparently caused several very serious injuries and was seriously injured himself. Law enforcement officials say that if the speeding SUV had pulled over for the police car, it would have escorted them safely to the medical center.

Source: The Jacksonville News, "Three seriously injured in collision; Man runs traffic light rushing to hospital," Tim Lockette, Feb. 21, 2012

Woman struck and killed while directing traffic around crash

2012-02-16T16:33:28Z

There are many ways that a driver or passenger can be injured in a car accident. The most obvious is simply the force of the initial collision. Even when an occupant is properly fastened in a seat belt the force of the impact can cause serious injuries or death. Flying glass and debris can also cause serious injuries though they are more likely to be superficial. For those who have been pinned, trapped, or rendered unconscious after a crash, and ensuing fire in the vehicle can cause catastrophic injuries.

There are other injuries that can occur after the initial crash. Sometimes other cars collide as one slows to avoid the wreckage. In a recent tragic accident in Alabama a woman was killed when she was struck by a car while attempting to direct traffic around the scene of an accident.

]]> According to local news reports, several cars had been involved in the initial accident. After that first crash the 69-year-old woman got out of her car and was diverting vehicles away from the crashed cars. Reports say that fog on the night of the crash may have reduced driver's visibility and made it difficult for them to see the woman. She was struck by another vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.

Law enforcement officials often warn about the dangers of getting out of your car after an accident or breakdown on the highway. While other drivers are simply not expecting to see pedestrians on or near the highway in most places, they are still expected to use all reasonable caution while driving in order to be able to avoid any unforeseen obstacle that may present itself.

Source: The Birmingham News, "Remlap woman dies after being struck by car," Jeremy Gray, Feb. 8, 2012

DUI suspected in crash that hospitalizes three

2012-02-14T15:13:38Z

There are some lessons that should only need to be learned once, if at all. Ideally no one would get behind the wheel of a car after drinking. For years, there has been a high level of public awareness around the dangers of drunk driving. This has been an effective means for many people to get the message and successfully avoid causing a drunk driving accident. But for others it takes more than just public service announcements.

It would seem that being arrested for drunk driving would be a sufficient wakeup call for anyone who may have had trouble understanding and respecting the dangers posed by drunk drivers. But all too often it turns out that a driver who causes an accident while under the influence of alcohol has had previous run-ins for this type of behavior.

]]> According to local law enforcement authorities, a head-on collision in Alabama this week was caused by a driver who has had multiple previous arrests for driving under the influence. While there are increasingly harsh criminal penalties for repeat DUI offenders, when they are not an effective deterrent, it does little to help those that are hit by drunk driver.

When we get in our cars to go to school or work, we have no choice but to trust that other motorists will be operating their vehicles in safe manner. When someone gets behind the wheel when they are impaired they violated that trust and put everyone else on the road at risk.

Source: Channel 10 News, "DUI crash sends three to hospital," Chastity Byrd, Feb. 13, 2012

Driving under the influence of marijuana

2012-02-10T22:57:37Z

When a person is seriously injured in a car accident by an impaired driver, it probably matters little to the victim and their loved ones whether the driver at fault was drinking beer or whiskey prior to the crash. All the victims and their family want is a full and speedy recovery from their injuries, and to have all the pieces in place to get back to their regular life.

A recent study however seeks to correct a misconception that some people may have surrounding the dangers of impaired driving. Everyone is familiar with the dangers of getting behind the wheel of a car after drinking, there has extensive public education about this in the last decade and while it has not ended the practice, at least there is no confusion as to its danger. But because the dangers of driving after smoking marijuana are not nearly as well publicized some people may not feel it is risky behavior.

]]> The study found that it certainly increases the chance of being involved in a serious car accident. In fact, drivers who smoked marijuana within three hours before getting behind the wheel were nearly twice as likely to be involved in a fatal accident than drivers who were completely sober.

The study complied data from a number of different sources to reduce the possibility of errors or inconsistencies producing incorrect results. One of the difficulties in measuring the effect of smoking marijuana on the risk of being in an accident is that it is much more difficult to match the levels of the drug in the driver's blood with a specific level of impairment.

Source: Time, "Stoned Driving Nearly Doubles the Risk of a Fatal Crash," Maia, Szalavitz, Feb. 10, 2012

Chain reaction accident kills one

2012-02-08T17:05:33Z

It occurs all too often that after an initial car accident takes place, it sets the stage for another accident. This chain reaction is sometimes nearly unavoidable as the initial accident blocks the roadway in such a fashion that cars in close proximity have no escape from colliding with the wreckage. But accidents also occur when other driver either do not notice the wreckage until it is too late and crash into it, or are so distracted by the wreckage that they crash into another unrelated car.

A fatal accident over the weekend in Alabama started when a single car collided with the median. Another motorist stopped to try to help the couple in the first car that had hit the median. The couple in the car that had struck the median and the good Samaritan were all outside their cars when another car struck the car that had already collided with the median.

]]> The driver of the car that initiated the second crash died at the scene. A passenger in her car was listed as being in critical condition. The good Samaritan that had stopped to assist the first car was also seriously injured in the second crash.

Law enforcement authorities often warn motorist of the dangers of getting out of their vehicles after an accident on a busy highway. They generally advise that staying in the car until police arrive is the safest option, assuming that the car is not in imminent danger of being struck or catching fire.

Source: The Birmingham News, "Back-to-back crashes in Hoover kill one person and injure three others," Kent Faulk, Feb. 5, 2012

Overturned cattle truck leads to several accidents

2012-02-03T19:20:10Z

There are many areas both inside the Huntsville metro area as well as in the rest of Alabama where there is a distinct possibility of being involved in a car accident involving escaped livestock. A collision with a large animal can cause serious damage to your vehicle as well as result in serious injuries to both the driver and occupants of the vehicle.

This morning a semi truck crash in Alabama resulted in injury to at least one driver when he struck a cow that had escaped the truck after the accident. In all, there were three additional crashes, after the initial semi crash, in which another vehicle struck one of the escaped animals. The driver of the cattle truck was not injured in the crash.

]]> We have talked before in this space about the dangers posed by large commercial semi trucks on Alabama roadways. An obvious danger is simply the size and weight of semi trucks and the catastrophic damage they can cause when they are involved in a collision with a passenger car. A less obvious danger, highlighted by this crash is the danger posed by the cargo.

In this instance the cargo of livestock in the highway created a risk for any passing drivers. In other circumstances, dangerous cargo such as toxic chemicals or fuel can lead to even more injuries.

Alabama law enforcement authorities are continuing to investigate this cattle truck crash to determine the exact series of events that led to the crash and resulting mayhem on the highway.

Source: Al.com, "Overturned cattle truck on I-85 cleared, 2 cows still loose," Amber Aker, Feb. 3, 2012

Tragedy lingers after fatal hit-and-run

2012-01-30T21:12:20Z

Closure, it can be difficult if not nearly impossible to move on after losing a loved one in a fatal accident. We may be able to distract ourselves from the hole left from the loss of a family member even if we cannot fill the space that is left behind. For many, part of the grieving process involves being able to rest secure in the knowledge that the person responsible for the accident has been held accountable.

Regardless of whether there are criminal or civil consequences for the person responsible, knowing that person has faced what they have done, may offer some comfort. In some cases this is unfortunately not possible. When the driver at fault fleas the scene and is not identified it can add another layer to the loss. Even if the driver was not driving recklessly at the time of the crash, a hit-and-run accident can make closure more difficult to achieve.

]]> Recently, the father of a young Huntsville man killed in a hit-and-run accident refreshed his efforts to find the driver who struck his son. The father has offered a reward for any person who is able to provide information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the driver at fault. Last Wednesday was the sixth anniversary of the fatal crash. Police had some initial leads in the case but they have since gone cold.

Because of the inability to identify the driver in a hit-and-run accident, the uninsured or underinsured motorist policy of the victim is the sole source for coverage of the damages.

Source: The Huntsville Times, "Six years later, Huntsville man seeks closure in son's hit-and-run death," Steve Doyle, Jan. 30, 2012

Huntsville student loses life in accident

2012-01-27T17:01:47Z

Drivers are expected to always be aware of their surroundings and to operate their vehicle in a manner that does not put others on the road at risk of serious or catastrophic injuries. This is true whether you are driving down a lonely gravel road or on a busy Huntsville highway. But some areas call for particular diligence.

Cautious driving and awareness of surroundings is of particular importance in school zones. Students getting on and off of busses and darting out from between cars are creates an environment where an inattentive driving can lead to tragedy. Yesterday a student Columbia high school was killed while riding his bike near the entrance to the school. Law enforcement officials have not yet released any information as to the likely cause of this particular fatal accident.

]]> Motorists have certain expectations of other drivers. They can, at the least, expect that the driver has passed a drivers examination test and fulfilled whatever requirements are necessary to obtain and keep their driver's license. While bicyclists are also required to follow the rules of the road, a teenaged bicyclist does not likely have the skill and awareness of an adult driver.

In addition to lacking the skill and experience of an adult driver, a teenaged bicyclist is also in a much more vulnerable position in a crash than the occupant of a motor vehicle. Even if the bicyclist is wearing a helmet, this offers exponentially less protection than the passenger cabin of a vehicle in the event of a collision. For all these reasons it is important that driver use all due care when driving in areas that are frequented by young bicyclists.

Source: WAAY Channel 31 News, "Teenage Bicyclist Killed in Accident," Jan. 26, 2012

Couple hit by police car seek justice

2012-01-24T20:38:11Z

Every car accident creates a risk of serious or even fatal injuries. When there is an accident between two passenger vehicles, the occupants of the vehicles at least have the advantage of the safety of the passenger cabin to protect them. Seatbelts, crumple zones, and airbags all help to mitigate the injuries. But when a pedestrian is struck in a crash, they have none of these safety devices to protect them.

For one pedestrian couple, the simple act of crossing the street resulted in tragic consequences. The couple was stuck by a police car. The husband died as a result of his injuries and the wife suffered a brain injury and broken bones. The family of the couple is now seeking damages from the city. They are also questioning why the city has not disclosed the result of its investigation into the accident.

]]> Beyond not receiving the results of the city's investigation the family is also concerned that they have not even been given a reason why the city is refusing to disclose the report. Instead the city attorney has simply given a brief outline of the factors they believe indicate the officer driving the patrol car was not at fault.

A local news report on the incident notes that there is a $100,000 cap on the damages that can be assessed against an Alabama municipality. This is true despite the fact that the wife's medical bills already exceed $1 million. But if for no other reason the family has decided to file a claim to ensure that any potential action not time barred by the expiration of the statute of limitations.

Source: Channel 10 News, "Accident victim files claim against Mobile," Bob Grip, Jan. 19, 2012

Many students injured in Alabama bus roll-over crash

2012-01-21T00:32:30Z

Everyday many parents in Alabama put the lives and safety of their school-aged children in the hands of school bus drivers. Of course the vast majority of school bus drivers are likely well trained and responsible. But unfortunately with the safety of so many children at risk on each but, one negligent mistake by a driver or a failure in his or her training can have very serious consequences.

A school bus accident in Alabama this morning was reported to have injured dozens of students, though fortunately none of the injuries were reported to be extremely serious. After the crash 21 of the 41 students that had been on the overturned bus were transported to area medical facilities, in both ambulances and private vehicles, for observation and treatment of their injuries. Most of the injuries were bumps and bruises, but there was a report of at least one student with a broken arm.

]]> As of this afternoon the accident remained under investigation by Alabama law enforcement authorities. Local news reports have so far only said that the driver lost control of the bus in a curve and that it then went off of the road and rolled onto its side.

It is the responsibility of every driver to operate their vehicle in a manner that does not put their passengers or others on the road at unreasonable risk of injury. For those that hire drivers to transport others there are also responsibilities related to the hiring and retention of drivers to ensure that they do not pose an undue risk.

Source: Dothan Eagle, "Dozens suffer minor injuries in Pike County school bus crash," Matt Elofson, Jan. 20, 2012

DUI suspected in school bus crash

2012-01-18T17:39:11Z

One student passenger and the driver of an Alabama school bus were transported to the hospital yesterday morning after a man who was allegedly driving under the influence, crashed into their school bus.

There is ever an acceptable time or place for a drunk driver to be on the road, but local news reports indicate that this accident occurred while the bus was taking students to school at around eight o'clock in the morning. It somehow seems all the more egregious for a drunk driver to putting lives at risk on a Tuesday morning as children are making their way to school.

]]> At least one other driver became sufficiently worried after observing this 50-year-old man's driving that he called the police before the accident even took place. The other driver followed behind the allegedly intoxicated driver and observed his erratic driving as he waited for police to arrive.

Apparently the police had very nearly caught up to the suspect when the school bus approached from the opposite direction. As the school bus came down a hill, the 50-year-old driver swerved over the centerline into the oncoming traffic lane striking the front corner of the bus.

Fortunately neither the injury to the student nor the driver were described as life-threatening, and both are expected to be all right. The 50-year-old driver was taken to the city jail on drunk driving charges. Law enforcement authorities have indicated that additional charges may be forthcoming.

Source: The Birmingham News, "Hoover police charge man in school bus crash," Carol Robinson, Jan. 17, 2012

UAH student hit by car in front of library

2012-01-13T23:23:32Z

Drivers in Huntsville should always be on the lookout for anything, or anyone in the roadway that could lead to an accident. Some situations may call for more vigilance from drivers than others. Railroad crossings, blind corners and other places pose unique hazards that can likely be foreseen by the drivers simply due to their knowledge of their immediate surroundings.

The same can also be said of the area around the University of Alabama at Huntsville, where a driver can expect to encounter many pedestrians as students make their way to and from classes. Unfortunately, one driver today apparently failed to notice a female UAH student as she was crossing the street in front of the library.

]]> Initial reports on the incident did not yet include information on the severity of the injuries or whether they may have been life threatening. But anytime a pedestrian is struck by a moving vehicle there is a potential for serious injuries. Even at slow speeds the force of a collision or being trapped under the vehicle can cause extensive trauma.

Often cases like this are the result of a distracted driver who took their eyes or at least their attention off the road for just a moment. Ironically, after the car struck the student and the driven had gotten out of their vehicle to check on her, a second car ran into the back of the first car. There is no indication yet whether the police have initiated an investigation into the pedestrian accident or whether charges may be filed.

Source: Channel 48 News, "Student hit by car in front of UAH library," Jan. 13, 2012

Easy to forget the dangers of a daily commute

2012-01-12T15:14:45Z

For most of us in Huntsville, every one of our mornings includes at least some time behind the wheel of our car driving to work or school. The daily commute is simply a regular part of our routine like having a cup of coffee or brushing our teeth. But if we were to stop and think about, our time on the highway is likely the most dangerous thing we do all day.

While safety equipment and motor vehicle designs have improved to help minimize the risk of serious injuries and casualties as the result of a car accident, car and trucks are still very heavy and powerful machines moving at relatively high speeds. An accident in Huntsville last week illustrates the potentially serious risks that accompany us on our daily commute.

]]> According to local new sources, the accident occurred last Thursday morning. As one vehicle approached the intersection of Pulaski Pike and Stringfield Road, another vehicle apparently missed a red light and entered the intersection at the same time. In the collision one of the vehicles was struck broadside. The force of the impact then knocked that car into a traffic light pole.

The multiple strikes to this vehicle nearly tore it in half. Rescue crews had to cut away the roof of the vehicle to extract the 29-year-old driver. He was taken to the hospital with what were described as life threatening injuries. Law enforcement officials are continuing to investigate this accident.

Source: WAAY Channel 31 News, "Man Seriously Injured in Pulaski Pike Wreck," Jan. 5, 2011

Elderly couple killed in accident on Alabama Highway

2012-01-05T19:21:23Z

A minor fender bender or mechanical trouble on the highway can be a serious inconvenience. It will unavoidable cause a delay and potentially having to deal with insurance companies and an auto mechanic. While these inconveniences are considerable, there is the potential for a much more serious and tragic result if other drivers fail to avoid a person who has stepped out of their car to evaluate the damage from the initial car accident or break down.

This seems to have been the case in the tragic deaths of an elderly couple on a busy Alabama highway. Having been involved in a minor accident which did not seem to cause any serious injuries, the couple got out of the car to survey the damage, it was then that they were stuck and killed by another car that had not been involved in the initial crash.

]]> According to Alabama law enforcement officials, the couple had been visiting relatives on Saturday morning and were on their way home. While they were driving their car was involved in an accident in which it was rear-ended on the highway. The couple stepped out to have a look at their car that was still in the roadway. It was then that a truck struck the couple and their car. They reportedly died at the scene. The driver of the truck was taken to the East Alabama Medical Center for treatment.

Being a pedestrian on a freeway obviously increases the risk of being seriously hurt in a car accident and law enforcement officials are using this tragic incident to remind drivers that it is best to try to get your car to a safe area before exiting. It is also important to remember that it is every driver's responsibility to drive in control and safely at all times so that they are able to stop in time to avoid any expected objects or pedestrians that may appear in front of them on the roadway.

Source: WSFA Channel 12 News, "Elderly couple killed instantly on HWY 280 in Smiths Station," Jan. 2, 2011

Bill to outlaw texting while driving to be considered

2012-01-03T14:24:57Z

You do not have to drive very far in Huntsville to find a driver who is pecking out a text message on their phone while they are driving. Often this can be seen as a driver is cruising along at highway speed, glancing up occasionally to see if they are still on the road. As you are certainly aware, studies have indicated that texting while driving is on par with driving drunk in term of the likelihood of causing a serious car accident.

A new proposal in the Alabama legislature would make it the 36^th state to ban texting while driving a motor vehicle. The bill would make texting while driving a primary offense, meaning that a police officer would be able to pull a person over solely for the offense, rather that only being able to ticket individuals for texting while driving after already having pulled them over for something else.

]]> Studies indicate that a person who is texting while behind the wheel is 23 times to be involved in what is described as a 'safety-critical event.' This includes fatal crashes, an unintentional swerve out of the driving lane, or a near miss requiring the driver to take evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision.

If we could get everyone in Alabama to stop texting while behind the wheel it would greatly improve highway safety for everyone. But even drivers who have never glanced at their phones while on the highway can still become distracted and take their eyes or attention off the road leading to a deadly accident.

Source: The Birmingham News "Alabama bill to ban texting while driving will return to Legislature," Kim Chandler, Dec. 30, 2011