Alabama Woman Killed in Truck Accident

A woman was killed when her pickup struck an 18 wheeler that was parked on the side of I-65 near the Shelby County Airport exit on Friday afternoon. Police say 52-year-old Lori Killingsworth of Calera was driving by herself when the accident occurred. The truck driver was not injured in the accident.

When passenger vehicles are involved in crashes with large trucks, the results are often devastating. The sheer size and weight of semi trucks in comparison to other vehicles on the road increases the risk of serious injury or death to truck accident victims. If you have been involved in a truck accident, you may have sustained catastrophic injuries that make it impossible for you to return to work or perform routine daily activities as a result of the accident. Let the Birmingham injury attorneys at the Walker Law Firm fight to get you full compensation for your injuries.

If you have been injured, it is important to contact an experienced Birmingham personal injury lawyer to assess whether you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. The Walker Law Firm represents injury victims in Bessemer, Birmingham, Fairfield, Helena, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Mountain Brook, Tarrant, Trussville, and Vestavia Hills. The Birmingham personal injury lawyers at The Walker Law Firm work on a contingent fee basis, which means that you pay nothing unless you receive money for your injuries.

Tuscaloosa County Mine Accident Kills 1, Injures 9

An accident at a Tuscaloosa County coal mine killed one miner and caused nine others to be hospitalized on Tuesday. Two miners are still under observation this morning at DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa. The miners were treated for heat exhaustion and other symptoms. The cause of the accident is unknown, but federal, state, local, union, and company officials are currently investigating.

Workplace injuries such as this one can be devastating, even more so when the accident is caused by the employer's failure to follow required safety procedures. If you have been injured in a workplace accident that you believe was caused by unsafe conditions, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, or lost wages due to the accident. It is important that you contact an experienced personal injury attorney immediately to protect your rights.

If you have been injured in any type of work-related accident, call the Birmingham personal injury lawyers at 1-877-925-5373 to discuss your legal options. We provide aggressive representation to personal injury victims in Bessemer, Birmingham, Fairfield, Helena, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Mountain Brook, Tarrant, Trussville, and Vestavia Hills. The Birmingham injury lawyers at The Walker Law Firm offer a free, no-obligation consultation regarding your injury case.

New Dog Park to Open in Birmingham

After years of delays, construction of the city's first dog park is almost completed. The dog park will be located in George Ward Park near downtown Birmingham. The park will feature three fenced-in areas, where dogs of all sizes can run off leash. The completion of the park had been stalled for years until Wednesday, when Mayor Langford ordered the Public Works Department to finish it.

People should use a little extra caution when visiting George Ward Park. Identifying and avoiding aggressive dogs in public areas can help protect against a dog attack. Dog aggression is defined as behavior that is meant to intimidate or harm either a person or another animal. The following are some of the most common indicators that a dog is aggressive:

• growling
• baring teeth
• snarling
• snapping
• biting

It is important to remember that you should never run away from a dog displaying aggressive behavior. Running will only heighten the dog’s aggression. Instead, remain still and avoid direct eye contact with the dog. Knowing what to do if a dog exhibits aggression towards you can help prevent a dog bite injury.

If you have been injured in a dog attack, you should contact an experienced Birmingham personal injury lawyer immediately to discuss your case. The Walker Law Firm handles dog bite injury cases in Bessemer, Birmingham, Fairfield, Helena, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Mountain Brook, Tarrant, Trussville, and Vestavia Hills. The Birmingham personal injury lawyers at The Walker Law Firm work on a contingent fee basis, which means that you pay nothing unless you receive money for your injuries.

CT Scans May Expose Patients to High Levels of Cancer-Causing Radiation

The majority of adult patients who underwent CT scans and heart perfusion tests in recent years may have been exposed to high levels of radiation, according to a recently-released article in the New England Journal of Medicine. According to the article, nearly four million patients in the United States are exposed to “high” or “very high” doses of radiation from these routine medical tests - six times more patients than were exposed two decades ago. One explanation for this is that doctors are increasingly ordering patients to undergo unnecessary imaging tests, without performing comprehensive physical examinations prior to testing.

According to experts, cancer caused by high levels of radiation is generally not detected until years after exposure. Some doctors believe radiation exposure as a result of medical testing is associated with only two percent of all cancer cases. However, some experts believe the number is actually much higher - and is growing every year. Patients negligently exposed to high levels of radiation are encouraged to contact an experienced Birmingham injury attorney to discuss their case and explore their legal options.

If you believe you may have been unnecessarily exposed to radiation during a CT scan or other imaging test, it is important to contact an experienced Birmingham personal injury lawyer to assess whether you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. The Walker Law Firm represents injury victims in Bessemer, Birmingham, Fairfield, Helena, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Mountain Brook, Tarrant, Trussville, and Vestavia Hills. The Birmingham personal injury lawyers at The Walker Law Firm work on a contingent fee basis, which means that you pay nothing unless you receive money for your injuries.

Bessemer Theme Park Closed in Wake of Water Ride Accident

The Alabama Adventure theme park was closed Wednesday after an accident on one of the park's water rides caused a raft to overturn, sending four riders into the water. The accident happened on the park's Wild River Gorge ride on Tuesday evening, when a raft carrying four passengers hit an unoccupied raft and flipped over. The passengers were underwater for about 20 seconds, while they struggled to unfasten their safety belts. They were treated for minor injuries by the park's medical staff.

Fortunately, no one was seriously injured in this accident. Amusement park accidents can be devastating, however, often resulting in severe injury or death to park-goers. The sheer size, weight, and speed of park rides make them inherently dangerous products when a malfunction or operator error occurs. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there were an estimated 7,000 injuries at amusement parks in the United States in 2004. When these injuries result from federal or state safety violations, improper ride maintenance or operator negligence, the owners and operators of amusement parks may be held legally liable.

If you have been injured in an amusement park accident, call the Birmingham personal injury lawyers at 1-877-925-5373 to discuss your legal options. We provide aggressive representation to personal injury victims in Bessemer, Birmingham, Fairfield, Helena, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Mountain Brook, Tarrant, Trussville, and Vestavia Hills. The Birmingham injury lawyers at The Walker Law Firm offer a free, no-obligation consultation regarding your premises liability case.

Fayette Bans Pit Bulls and Other Dangerous Breeds

It is now illegal to have an unregistered pit bull in the city of Fayette. A new ordinance bans any new pit bulls within city limits and requires current owners of pit bulls and several other dangerous breeds to register their pets. Pit bull owners who do not register their pets face a fine of $500 or jail time. The law was introduced in June after a Fayette woman sustained permanent injuries in a pit bull attack.

Pit bulls are a highly aggressive breed of dog. They have been known to break windows and doors, snap chains, and gnaw through fences to attack unsuspecting victims. Avoiding these and other dangerous breeds of dogs can help prevent dog bites. According to CDC statistics, the most dangerous breeds of dogs are pit bulls, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Chow Chows, and wolf hybrids. However, even the most docile breeds can attack without warning or provocation. If you have been attacked by a dangerous dog in Birmingham, or anywhere else in Alabama, you should contact an experienced Birmingham dog bite injury lawyer immediately.

If you have been injured in a dog attack, you should contact an experienced Birmingham personal injury lawyer immediately to discuss your case. The Walker Law Firm handles dog bite injury cases in Bessemer, Birmingham, Fairfield, Helena, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Mountain Brook, Tarrant, Trussville, and Vestavia Hills. The Birmingham personal injury lawyers at The Walker Law Firm work on a contingent fee basis, which means that you pay nothing unless you receive money for your injuries.

20 Workers Hospitalized After NC Industrial Plant Explosion

At least 20 workers were hospitalized after an explosion at a Slim Jim plant in Garner, N.C., a suburb of Raleigh. According to news reports, three workers are still unaccounted for, but may not have been at the plant during the explosion. Officials are keeping people away from the site because fire fighters are still trying to contain the blaze and a toxic cloud of ammonia is still hanging in the air in the vicinity of the plant.

Industrial accidents such as this one often result in serious injuries and even death to employees working at the site of the accident. Unfortunately, many industrial accidents are preventable. When an accident is caused by the plant's failure to follow OSHA safety standards, injury victims are entitled to compensation for their pain and suffering, medical bills, and lost wages. If you have been injured in any type of accident at work, you need an experienced Birmingham injury attorney on your side.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an industrial accident, it is important to contact an experienced Birmingham personal injury lawyer to discuss your case. The Walker Law Firm represents injury victims in Bessemer, Birmingham, Fairfield, Helena, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Mountain Brook, Tarrant, Trussville, and Vestavia Hills. The Birmingham personal injury lawyers at The Walker Law Firm work on a contingent fee basis, which means that you pay nothing unless you receive money for your injuries.

Parents Sue to Home School Kids Amid Reports of Swine Flu

The parents of two Elmore County elementary school students are suing the county and state boards of education to allow them to take their children out of school until the end of the year after three documented cases of the swine flu prompted the closing of several schools in Madison County. The school refused to allow the boys, 7 and 8, to complete their school work from home until the end of the school year on May 21. School officials told the parents that the boys would have to repeat their current grade level if they were taken out of school for the remainder of the year.

The lawsuit alleges that the boys are prone to sicknesses such as colds and flu. The H1N1 influenza virus, commonly called "swine flu" because it originated in pigs, was first detected in April of this year. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the H1N1 flu virus is spread from person to person in the same manner as any other flu virus, primarily when people who are sick with the virus cough or sneeze in public places. The parents of the two Elmore County elementary students say they'd rather be safe than sorry.

Alabama injury victims should not hesitate to call our Birmingham personal injury lawyers at 1-877-925-5373 for a free consultation regarding their case. We provide aggressive representation to personal injury victims in Bessemer, Birmingham, Fairfield, Helena, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Mountain Brook, Tarrant, Trussville, and Vestavia Hills. The Birmingham personal injury lawyers at The Walker Law Firm work on a contingent fee basis, which means that you pay nothing unless you receive money for your injuries.

Chinese Drywall "Reeking" Havoc for Katrina Victims

Katrina victims in New Orleans are now facing another problem - tainted drywall from China that was used to rebuild homes destroyed by the hurricane. The drywall emits sulfur, which causes shower heads and hinges to rust, eats away at valuables, such as jewelry and silverware, and - perhaps worst of all - smells like rotten eggs. Almost 500 million pounds of the tainted drywall was used in homes throughout the country. The warm, humid climate in New Orleans only works to exacerbate the problem.

When a product manufacturer sells a substandard product that results in financial, emotional, and other losses to consumers, a products liability suit may be appropriate. Products liability is the area of law that deals with the responsibility of the manufacturer, wholesaler, or retailer of a product for any injuries that result from the use of that product. A defendant in a products liability suit can be held liable for damages if it is found that the product was defective, regardless of the level of care the manufacturer or supplier exercised during the design and manufacturing process.

If you have been injured by a defective or malfunctioning product in Birmingham or anywhere in the state of Alabama, you should contact an experienced Birmingham personal injury lawyer immediately to discuss your case. The Walker Law Firm handles personal injury cases in Bessemer, Birmingham, Fairfield, Helena, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Mountain Brook, Tarrant, Trussville, and Vestavia Hills. The Birmingham personal injury lawyers at The Walker Law Firm work on a contingent fee basis, which means that you pay nothing unless you receive money for your injuries.

Mercury Spill Prompts Gardendale High School Evacuation

A mercury spill in a Gardendale High School health class prompted a school-wide evacuation on Wednesday. According to news reports, the health class was learning how to measure blood pressure when a tube containing mercury broke, causing the toxic substance to spill onto the floor. A vacuum cleaner was used to clean up the spill, which only made matters worse by causing the mercury to become airborne. At that point the class was evacuated and the room sealed. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

Mercury is a naturally occurring element found in many products, such as thermometers, barometers, florescent light bulbs, and some blood pressure devices. Exposure to mercury can cause fever, tremors, and respiratory problems, among other adverse health effects. Exposure to any toxic substance can have lasting detrimental effects on a person's health, especially if the exposure occurred over a long period of time. Anyone injured due to exposure to a toxic substance should seek the advice of a Birmingham injury attorney to help ensure maximum recovery for their injuries.

If you are injured because of exposure to a toxic substance, it is important to contact an experienced Birmingham personal injury lawyer to discuss your case. The Walker Law Firm represents injury victims in Bessemer, Birmingham, Fairfield, Helena, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Mountain Brook, Tarrant, Trussville, and Vestavia Hills. The Birmingham personal injury lawyers at The Walker Law Firm work on a contingent fee basis, which means that you pay nothing unless you receive money for your injuries.

Public Hearing Over East Birmingham Dog Attack

A February 15th Pit Bull attack on a 13-year-old boy elicited public outrage, causing East Birmingham residents to meet with police and animal control officers at the victim's home on Monday. The boy was attacked while playing outside near his house. The attacking dog tore flesh from the boy's upper arm and left puncture wounds on his lower arm, according to news reports. Community residents told police that vicious dog attacks have plagued East Birmingham for some time - and the problem is only getting worse.

According to recent statistics, dog bite injuries and fatalities have been rising steadily in the U.S. Throughout the 80s and 90s, there were an average of 17 dog bite fatalities in the U.S. In 2007, however, there were 33 dog bite-related deaths - almost double the average of the previous two decades. Dog bites are also the cause of hundreds of thousands of emergency room visits each year. Dog bite injuries can be severe - especially in children. In all dog bite injury cases, it is important to consult a Birmingham personal injury attorney to discuss your case and explore your legal options.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a dog attack, you should contact an experienced Birmingham dog bite injury attorney immediately. It is important to work quickly to identify the attacking dog and its owner, collect witness statements, document your injuries, and preserve evidence at the scene of the attack. The Walker Law Firm represents dog bite injury victims in Bessemer, Birmingham, Fairfield, Helena, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Mountain Brook, Tarrant, Trussville, and Vestavia Hills. The Birmingham personal injury lawyers at The Walker Law Firm work on a contingent fee basis, which means that you pay nothing unless you receive money for your injuries.

AL House/Senate Bills Target Texting While Driving

Both the Alabama senate and house of representatives are set to vote on two new bills that will make it illegal to text message while driving. The senate bill, introduced by Senator Waggoner, will impose a fine on drivers who are caught text messaging while driving: $25 for a first offense and $50 for a repeat offense. This bill will have to be passed by both the house and the senate in order to become a law. A similar bill, which passed a house vote on Thursday, would only have to be passed by the senate to become a law.

The two bills only serve to confirm that text messaging while driving has become standard practice for many people in Alabama. Drivers who are distracted by activities such as texting while driving, cause scores of traffic accidents each year. According to a recent study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTII), driver distraction contributes to 80 percent of all automobile accidents. When a distracted driver causes an accident, he or she is responsible for any injuries that result.

If you have suffered a personal injury in a Birmingham auto accident that was caused by a distracted driver, contact an experienced Birmingham accident lawyer at 1-877-925-5373 to discuss your legal options. We provide aggressive representation to personal injury victims in Bessemer, Birmingham, Fairfield, Helena, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Mountain Brook, Tarrant, Trussville, and Vestavia Hills. The Birmingham personal injury lawyers at The Walker Law Firm work on a contingent fee basis, which means that you pay nothing unless you receive money for your injuries.

Alabama Company Recalls Peanuts After Salmonella Outbreak

Summerdale Peanut Co. has just announced a voluntary recall of fried peanuts in the wake of a recent salmonella outbreak. The recalled fried peanuts, which were distributed to Summerdale by a Georgia company, were sold in 10-ounce cellphane packaging labeled "Baldwin County Fried Peanuts." Products at the plant of the Georgia firm have tested positive for salmonella. Nearly 500 people have become ill and six have died since September 2008 as a result of contaminated peanut products, many linked to the same Georgia plant that distributed peanuts to Summerdale.

Personal injury cases stem from a wide variety of accidents and involve many different types of injuries, including salmonella poisoning. Illness from salmonella poisoning can range from mild to severe, and can be life threatening in people with weak immune systems, such as the very young and the very old. Several personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits have already been filed across the country against manufacturers of tainted peanut products.

Alabama injury victims should not hesitate to call our Birmingham personal injury lawyers at 1-877-925-5373 for a free consultation regarding their case. We provide aggressive representation to personal injury victims in Bessemer, Birmingham, Fairfield, Helena, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Mountain Brook, Tarrant, Trussville, and Vestavia Hills. The Birmingham personal injury lawyers at The Walker Law Firm work on a contingent fee basis, which means that you pay nothing unless you receive money for your injuries.