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Huntsville Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Three die in fatal accident when car plunges off overpass

On behalf of Johnston, Moore & Thompson posted in Wrongful Death on Wednesday, June 19, 2013.

They say that you're much safer in a plane than a car, and the more one observes the countless ways that motor vehicles kill on the highways the more credible the statement seems. Three teens were killed in a freak fatal accident recently when the SUV they were riding in hit a guard rail and flipped off of a U.S. Highway 431 overpass in Seale, according to Alabama state police. The accident occurred in Eastern Alabama, about 15 miles southwest of Columbus, Ga.

The three fatalities were a 15-year-old girl, a 15-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl. All three were dead at the scene. Four others were injured in the spectacular, plunging crash. The driver, a 37-year-old man of Phenix City and three other passengers were hospitalized. They were a 58-year-old woman, a 17-year-old boy, and a 9-year-old boy.

Workers' compensation covers carpal tunnel syndrome

On behalf of Johnston, Moore & Thompson posted in Workers' Compensation on Thursday, June 13, 2013.

If your job every day involves nothing else but disemboweling, de-boning and cutting chickens to prepare them for sale, you may well find yourself having an upcoming date with a physician who specializes in carpal tunnel syndrome. In Alabama and elsewhere, this medical condition, which is known to result from intensive repetitive motions, can result in temporary or sometimes permanent disability that entitles a person to receive workers' compensation benefits. It may prevent the person from continuing that kind of work.

Employers are usually familiar with these job-related injuries, and should where reasonably feasible reassign afflicted workers to non-repetitive jobs. During any period that a worker is out for job-related injuries, including carpal tunnel, he or she is entitled to collect workers' compensation benefits. This includes physical therapy treatments or even surgery to try and correct the problem.

Family to file wrongful death lawsuit against local authorities

On behalf of Johnston, Moore & Thompson posted in Wrongful Death on Monday, June 10, 2013.

An attorney who represents the family of an Alabama man says they want answers from authorities in the death of their loved one. They have stated their intention to a wrongful death lawsuit against three local police departments and several specific officers. The suit, which will be filed in federal court, is expected to be filed within the next month.

The complete circumstances surrounding the death of the young man are not yet known. According to police reports, the man was being pursued by officers from several local police departments in a car chase that reached speeds of 100 miles per hour. The chase ended at the Veterans Memorial Bridge where authorities state the man fell from the bridge into a local river. A search for his body ensued, and it was finally recovered in late April. Since that time, the family has been requesting further information as to what actually took place on the bridge, but say that so far none has been provided.

Alabama officials want to see decrease in boating deaths in 2013

On behalf of Johnston, Moore & Thompson posted in Wrongful Death on Thursday, June 6, 2013.

Memorial Day signaled the start of the summer boating season in Alabama, and officials want 2013 to be a safe one. Statistics provided by the Alabama Marine Police show that there were a total of 75 boating accidents in 2012, resulting in 45 injuries and 17 boating deaths. Also recorded were the number of accidents that involved "BUI" or boating under the influence. Officials say that BUI was a factor in 13 of the accidents.

While alcohol use while boating plays a key role in many of the accidents and fatalities reported, other issues also play a part. Often, people do not think of boating as actually operating a moving vehicle, like a car. Very often, they will ignore or are not even aware of the rules of safe boating. In addition, since it is not their daily means of transportation, sometimes there is no liability insurance on the boat. When an accident with an uninsured vessel does occur, a victim's only recourse may be to seek recovery of damages through the civil court system.

Alabama auto accident proves fatal

On behalf of Johnston, Moore & Thompson posted in Car Accidents on Monday, June 3, 2013.

Reckless drivers are often a significant fear of other motorists on the roadways. When people operate vehicles in careless ways, the risks of an auto accident and resulting injuries increase considerably. Careless drivers should take responsibility for their actions, and when a motorist fails to stop after an accident, the process of investigating the crash can become very complicated. In one Alabama case, a hit-and-run driver did not get far from the scene before causing another major accident and his truck catching fire.

Nine vehicles were involved in a major crash May 28 with one driver being allegedly at fault. The 18-year-old driver of a black Ford pickup was reportedly travelling at a high rate of speed when he crashed into four vehicles, including one motorcycle. The driver failed to stop at the scene and caused another accident involving four more vehicles.

Alabama fatal accident: Motorcycle crash kills female passenger

On behalf of Johnston, Moore & Thompson posted in Wrongful Death on Friday, May 31, 2013.

Alabama State Troopers are in the midst of investigating a single vehicle motorcycle crash that recently occurred in Blount County. The fatal accident happened shortly before 3 p.m. on a weekend afternoon in late May. A female passenger lost her life as a result of the tragedy.

Initial details of the fatal accident were scarce. The crash site was near Hayden on County Road 7. The male operator was transported to a hospital, though the specific nature and extent of his injuries were not initially known. The female victim, said to be a 36-year-old Alabama resident, was later declared dead at the hospital.

Alabama auto accident injures 4 and kills 4

On behalf of Johnston, Moore & Thompson posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, May 29, 2013.

Auto accidents occur on a daily basis. While any auto accident is potentially tragic, remorse tends to run deeper when children are identified as victims. In Alabama, a toddler was killed along with three others in a recent crash. Four others were injured as well.

An SUV with eight occupants ran off an Alabama road then flipped before it hit a tree. Investigators noted that none of the passengers in the SUV were wearing proper safety restraints. The injured passengers -- all children ranging in age from 10 to 17 -- were taken to a hospital where they received medical care for unspecified injuries.

Less severe car wrecks can cause serious hardship

On behalf of Johnston, Moore & Thompson posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

When Alabama residents consider the damages that can come from car accidents, it is usually the major incidents that come to mind. Serious car wrecks are devastating to the families involved, and these are the incidents that are featured in the media. However, it is important to acknowledge that even minor car accidents can bring significant hardship to those involved.

An example can be found in a recent car crash between a pickup truck and an SUV. The crash took place when one of the vehicles ran a stop sign. Police have not yet determined which driver is at fault in the matter.

An auto accident in Alabama leaves 4 people injured

On behalf of Johnston, Moore & Thompson posted in Car Accidents on Monday, May 20, 2013.

Automobile accidents occur each and every day in Alabama and throughout the nation. When an auto accident does happen, sympathy and remorse are typically felt for those involved, especially when children and pregnant women are listed as one of the victims. The devastation is felt even more when the accident hits closer to home.

An auto accident occurred that ended up sending four individuals to a hospital. The conditions of three of the people were listed as stable, and one was listed as serious. One of the injured parties was pregnant, but it is not clear if her unborn child was injured in the crash as well. No fatalities were reported.

Alabama workers' compensation applies in construction zone crash?

On behalf of Johnston, Moore & Thompson posted in Workers' Compensation on Thursday, May 16, 2013.

Construction zone accidents in Alabama happen more frequently than many people may believe. When a worker is injured or killed in one of these collisions, workers' compensation insurance benefits typically apply. These important, state-regulated insurance benefits are designed to cover an injured worker's medical bills and related costs while on the mend, plus provide a lost income package so they can focus on getting better and returning to work. Moreover, those crashes that result from the negligence of a passing driver may also result in third party claims for personal injury or wrongful death under our state's personal injury laws.

Recently, a collision occurred in Huntsville on South Memorial Parkway. A man that was in the midst of road work was struck by a passing van. Though he is expected to survive, the driver of the van was arrested on unspecified charges. The nature of the worker's injuries was not disclosed. Beyond the compensation benefits, the worker also has the right to pursue a claim for personal injuries against the accused driver, including any pain and suffering endured as a result of the collision.