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.