Legal

The Legal section covers court rulings, statutory changes, liability trends, and key developments in Alabama and federal law that shape personal-injury claims. We explain how case law and regulation affect claims strategy, statutes of limitations, damages, and the rights of injured people pursuing justice.

Cullman County accident causes injury

A two-car accident on County Road 703 one mile east of Cullman Wednesday caused an injury to one of the drivers, says a report from Cullman County.A 1998 Ford collided with a 1993 Ford at about 1:55 p.m., the CullmanTimes.com reported. Alabama State Troopers did not report the cause of the accident

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 8 Apr 2007

Epilepsy drug associated with mental retardation

A story from The New York Times details a new study that shows an increased risk of mental retardation in children who were exposed to epilepsy drug Depakote prenatally. The authors of the study presented their research at the American Academy of Neurology’s annual meeting this year.Toddlers who had

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 4 Apr 2007

Fatal head-on collision between bus and car

An Associate Press story today describes a head-on collision between a Greyhound bus carrying 49 passengers and a car driven by a woman.The deadly motor vehicle accident, which occurred in Montgomery, Alabama, killed the woman driving the car and injured at least 20 passengers on the bus early this

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 31 Mar 2007

Deadly head-on collision prompts arrest

Driving under the influence of alcohol was reportedly the cause of a fatal motor vehicle accident Wednesday in Chambers County, Alabama.A man from Marietta, Georgia, was killed in a head-on crash caused when a Nissan truck crossed over the median on I-85 near exit 77. The man driving the Nissan truc

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 30 Mar 2007

San Francisco construction accident injures workers

A construction accident in San Francisco that injured four workers has prompted an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA) for the state of California.Bay City News Wire reported that the accident happened in a Nob Hill residential building where a team of workers were

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 29 Mar 2007

Woman thrown from car lives through accident

Tuesday morning a woman driving a 2006 Nissan Altima lost control of the vehicle on I-65 near Creola and was involved in a one-car accident. Just after crossing a bridge, the vehicle ran off the road and rolled into a ditch. The car actually rolled over, ejecting the driver about 10 feet away. Someh

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 28 Mar 2007

Pet food recall concerns pet owners

After a number of cat and dog deaths due to contaminated foods produced by Menu Foods, many pet owners are worried about the safety of their furry friends. A report from KTSM news out of Texas says that dog and cat food manufacturer Menu Foods has issued a national recall of more than 60 million can

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 20 Mar 2007

Heart attack causes fatal one-car accident

The Press-Register reported the tragic story of a 53-year-old man who died in a one-car motor vehicle accident on March 13 after his van crashed into a utility pole in north Mobile.Doctors from the University of South Alabama Medical Center, who treated the victim of the accident, said that he has s

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 18 Mar 2007

Narcotic overdose with Patient Controlled Analgesics (PCAs)

Thomas A. Sharon, R.N., M.P.H. points out the hazards of using Patient Controlled Analgesics (PCAs) in hospitals and other health care facilities. He says that much of the information available to patients about the supposed safety of PCAs is misleading. On his Forensicare Blog, Sharon reveals the a

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 12 Mar 2007

Deadly weekend on Alabama roads

An AP report today says that at least eight people died in motor vehicle accidents over the weekend in Alabama. Alabama state troopers report the following accidents and fatalities on state roads:A 19-year-old man died in a one-vehicle accident on Alabama 14 near Tallassee. Two men died when an SUV

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 12 Mar 2007

Kentucky school bus accident injures 13 children

A school bus accident was reported this morning in Louisville, Kentucky, when a school bus crashed into a car, injuring 13 Blake Elementary students. Fortunately, the injuries were only minor, and the students were being treated at a local hospital. The Courier-Journal reported on the story:The stud

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 5 Mar 2007

Alabama truck driver killed in West Virginia accident

The State Journal of West Virginia reported on a Tuesday fatal trucking accident that involved a tractor-trailer, a logging truck and a car. The story says the car hit the logging truck, which in turn slowed down and was hit by a tractor-trailer. The motor vehicle accident occurred on the West Virgi

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 28 Feb 2007