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.

Antibiotics ineffective in beating bronchitis

An interesting article on Healthday.com discusses a study out of Virginia Commonwealth University in which two physicians looked at research studies, clinical trials and other information related to bronchitis, and determined that antibiotics don’t actually help these patients. “Physicians should be

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 24 Nov 2006

Antibiotics associated with tendon rupture

A group called Public Citizen filed a petition to the FDA in August 2006, urging them to issue a warning about the risks of tendon rupture associated with certain antibiotics called fluoroquinolone antibiotics. One example of this type of drug is ciproflaxacin (Cipro). An article on worstpills.org p

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 23 Nov 2006

Merck Seeks to Block FDA Whistle Blower's Testimony

Dr. David Graham’s testimony for federal Vioxx trials “goes beyond anything he has said previously and shouldn’t be heard by jurors,” said Merck’s attorneys. Graham alleged that the drug maker dragged its feet about adding a warning label and that Vioxx should not have even been approved when it was

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 22 Nov 2006

New study links drugs to liver damage

According to the Parmaceutical Business Review online, a study out of Washington University School of Medicine shows that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) can increase liver damage in patients. Here are some details of the study:Using an experimental mouse model of the disorder, the res

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 22 Nov 2006

Near miss when crane crashes at worksite

A crane accident in Colorado Springs last week in an open roadway of the COSMIX construction zone, fortunately not injuring anyone in the process. According to a report on Gazette.com, this was the third such mishap involving a crane in the construction site since April. One of the worksite accident

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 21 Nov 2006

No arrests yet in hit-and-run accident

In Troy, Alabama this past September a five-year-old girl was crossing the street with friends to go get ice cream when she was run over by a sport utility vehicle. The driver never stopped, and police are still investigating the hit-and-run accident. The girl suffered many injuries as a result of t

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 20 Nov 2006

Hurricane evacuation route needs work

As the only north-south route for residents of coastal Walton County in the event of a hurricane, Highway 331 is a two-lane road that leads from the coast to the Alabama state line. Many, including Governor Jeb Bush and Senator Bill Nelson, say that the Alabama DOT needs to address these issues to a

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 17 Nov 2006

Two Cullman rollover accidents in just over an hour

Last Friday in Cullman, Alabama, two separate rollover accidents occurred in one day. Fortunately, no one was killed in the motor vehicle accidents, but two were injured. The first accident involved a collision between two vehicles on Alabama Highway 157. The people in the overturned vehicle had no

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 16 Nov 2006

Truck driver charged with vehicular homicide

Three tragic deaths occurred last year in Washington during a tractor trailer crash with another vehicle, killing a mother and her two young children. Yesterday a judge charged the truck driver with vehicular homicide because he had been driving longer than the federal law allows. According to a Was

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 15 Nov 2006

Construction site injury shocks man

MyrtleBeachOnline reported a construction accident today in which a subcontractor was shocked while installing parking lot light poles at a middle school construction site near Conway. The worksite accident involved a crane boom hoisting a light pole, which fell and struck power lines. As a result 2

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 14 Nov 2006

Acetaminophen recall causes concern

Last week the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recalled 11 million bottles of acetaminophen, sold as store brands at CVS Pharmacy, Wal-Mart and more than 120 other retailers nationwide. The 500 mg caplets made by Perrigo Corp. of Michigan were pulled from the shelves because of the possibility tha

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 13 Nov 2006

Another tragic motorcycle accident claims life

The Decatur Daily News reported Sunday that a two-vehicle crash involving a motorcycle and a van resulted in the death of the man on the motorcycle. The accident occurred on Saturday afternoon and the man on the motorcycle was wearing a helmet, sources say. With motorcycle and other motor vehicle ac

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 9 Nov 2006