Wiggins Childs Pantazis Fisher Goldfarb, LLC. – The Kress Building, 301 19th Street N, Birmingham, AL 35203

Fatal Accident Involving Wrong Way Driver

February 28, 2016 By

Early on Saturday morning, February 13 there was a fatal accident involving a wrong way driver in Bessemer.

According to Bessemer police, the accident happened at around 1 a.m. on the Interstate 459 Southbound near Exit 6.

A gray Jeep Cherokee began to travel northbound in the southbound lane and hit another Jeep Cherokee head on. The wrong way driver, a male in his 30s was pronounced dead at the scene and the driver of the other Jeep Cherokee had to be extricated from his vehicle and was taken to University of Alabama Birmingham hospital with what are said to be significant injuries. He has been said to be stable. In addition a passenger in the injured driver’s SUV was also injured and taken to UAB with unknown injuries.

Police are continuing to investigate and have not yet released the name of the fatality pending notification of his next of kin.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an auto accident please call the Birmingham accident attorneys of Wiggins Childs Pantazis Fisher Goldfarb, LLC, at (205) 858-8445 or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation.

Filed Under: Car Accidents

How Dangerous is Cycling to Work?

January 25, 2016 By

More and more Americans are cycling to work as not only does it keep you healthy it also saves money on gas. But how dangerous is it to cycle rather than drive or walk?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2013, 743 bicyclists were killed in crashes with motor vehicles and 48,000 were injured when riding a bike, although only a small percentage are actually recorded by the police so the figures could be much higher.

Although the numbers are around two percent of the total number of people involved in fatal traffic crashes or injured, the number of cyclists on the road is only one percent. Nearly a third of the injuries are caused when bicyclists are hit by cars, followed by a fall from a bicycle with no other vehicle involved, an accident caused by a road in disrepair, rider error, a collision and finally four percent caused when a dog ran out.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an auto accident please call the Birmingham accident attorneys of Wiggins Childs Pantazis Fisher Goldfarb, LLC, at (205) 858-8445 or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation.

Filed Under: driver safety

Major Explosion of a Tractor Trailer

December 29, 2015 By

On Wednesday, December 10, the area around an interstate in Birmingham had to be evacuated following the explosion of a tractor trailer which was carrying chemicals.

According to police, the accident happened shortly after 6.15 p.m. on Interstate 20/59 northbound, when two trucks collided and one started to leak its load of hydrogen peroxide, sodium hydroxide and sulfuric acid. The truck then exploded resulting in a huge fireball and the whole area within half a mile was evacuated and the interstate was closed. Neither truck driver was injured.

At around midnight, residents were allowed to return to their homes but the interstate remained closed as the clean up continued which involved Hasmat crews using booms and foams to try and stop the chemicals from leaking into creeks, storm drains and the ground. They say that the chemicals and the smoke from the fire should not cause a hazard as it should dissipate into the atmosphere.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an auto accident please call the Birmingham accident attorneys of Wiggins Childs Pantazis Fisher Goldfarb, LLC, at (205) 858-8445 or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation.

Filed Under: Truck Accident

How to Prevent Rollover Accidents

November 27, 2015 By

Generally speaking there are two types of rollover accidents, “tripped” and “untripped” rolls. A tripped roll is a result of a force that causes the vehicle to roll and untripped happens when a vehicle is top heavy and the drivers over corrects the steering causing the vehicle to roll.

What can you do to prevent a rollover? Knowing your vehicle and how it behaves will certainly prepare you. Some SUVs can be more liable to “untripped” rolls because their center of gravity is higher from the ground and if you are aware of this you can tailor your driving style accordingly; take the corner slow and brake in good time. You may also like to consider taking your car to a large parking lot and test how your vehicle responds by driving in close circles. Remember to keep your speed low as you don’t want to cause a rollover! You are just getting a feel as to how the car behaves in these sorts of maneuver.

Keeping any distractions to a minimum especially your cell phone, eating, or anything else that make you inattentive to the road conditions and other road users will help minimize your chance of being involved in a rollover.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an auto accident please call the Birmingham accident attorneys of Wiggins Childs Pantazis Fisher Goldfarb, LLC, at (205) 858-8445 or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation.

Filed Under: driver safety

Student was Killed Crossing Parking Lot

October 29, 2015 By

On Monday, October 5, a student was killed crossing a parking lot on the Alabama A&M campus.

According to Huntsville police, the accident happened at around 7 p.m. on the campus on Buchanan Way. It is believed that Najee Jamaal Shakeel, a 21 year old mechanical engineering student had recently parked his vehicle and was crossing the parking lot before being struck by the car travelling along Buchanan Way. Police sealed off access to Buchanan Way on the on the evening of the accident, but no charges are expected to be brought against the driver of the vehicle.

Shakeel, who was responsive when transported to Huntsville Hospital, later died as a result of his injuries. Investigations are still continuing in to the cause of the accident and police are appealing for witnesses.

AAMU Students held a vigil for Shakeel and also Kaylan Perry, another AAMU student, who died in a motorcycle accident on October 4, 2015.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an auto accident please call the Birmingham accident attorneys of Wiggins Childs Pantazis Fisher Goldfarb, LLC, at (205) 858-8445 or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation.

Filed Under: Pedestrian Accident

Attalla Man was Killed in a Crash

September 30, 2015 By

On Wednesday night, September 9, an Attalla man was killed in a crash with an 18 wheeler in St. Clair County.

According to Alabama State Troopers the accident happened shortly after 9.35 p.m. on the U.S. 231 some six miles to the north of Pell City. Julius Vann Cook, aged 57, was driving a 2003 Mercury Marquis when he collided with a 2007 Freightliner which was being driven by Tyrone Corbin of Apollo Beach, Florida.

Cook died at the scene and his passenger, Marilyn Cook, who was his wife, was taken to the University of Alabama Hospital in Birmingham with critical injuries. The truck driver was uninjured.

The reason for the crash is unknown and the investigation continues.

Cook was a graduate of Ashville High School and played football for the Bulldogs and returned as a coach, both for the Ashville High School Girls Softball Team in 1993 and as assistant coach for the Ashville Junior High School Girls Basketball Team from 1994 to 1995.

Cook was inducted into the St. Clair County Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an auto accident please call the Birmingham accident attorneys of Wiggins Childs Pantazis Fisher Goldfarb, LLC, at (205) 858-8445 or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation.

Filed Under: Car Accidents

Man Dies in Tractor Trailer Crash

August 26, 2015 By

Early on Tuesday morning, a man was killed in a tractor trailer crash in Chilton County.

According to Alabama State Troopers, the accident happened shortly before 5. 30 a.m. on Interstate 65, at the 203 mile marker, around one mile south of Clanton. They went on to say that 58 year old Michael David Kolarchick from Birmingham was driving a 200 Volvo tractor trailer which collided with a 2001 Freightliner being driven by Jejuan Powell of Montgomery. One of the tractor trailers overturned and caught on fire.

Kolarchick was pronounced dead on the scene and Powell was uninjured.

The accident stopped traffic for several hours as all lanes on I 65 North were closed for the investigation and the wreckage to be removed. Troopers said the crash remains under investigation and at this time no further information was available.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an auto accident please call the Birmingham accident attorneys of Wiggins Childs Pantazis Fisher Goldfarb, LLC, at (205) 858-8445 or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation.

Filed Under: Truck Accident

Northport Woman was Killed in Fatal Car Crash

August 11, 2015 By

On Tuesday afternoon, August 4, a Northport woman was killed in a fatal car crash in Tuscaloosa County.

According to Alabama State Troopers, the accident happened on Highway 43, at the 219.4 mile marker some 15 miles north of Northport shortly before 3 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon.

A 2004 Ford Taurus being driven by 45 year old Tonya Michelle Jones collided with a Chevrolet Tahoe being driven by another woman, 35 year old Peggy Sue from Berry. It is not yet known exactly how or why the collision occurred.

Jones was pronounced dead at the scene of the injuries sustained in the crash and Woolbright was taken to the University of Alabama Hospital in Birmingham for treatment of her injuries. Her current condition is unknown.

Police are continuing to investigate the crash and it is not yet known whether drugs or alcohol were factors in the collision.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an auto accident please call the Birmingham accident attorneys of Wiggins Childs Pantazis Fisher Goldfarb, LLC, at (205) 858-8445 or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation.

Filed Under: Car Accidents

Distracted Driving Accidents

June 19, 2015 By

Distracted driving is possibly the most common danger we face on the road today. It has surpassed drunk driving as the leading cause of death for teen drivers, and it is a threat that each of us contends with every time we get into a vehicle. There are laws aimed at preventing distracted driving, but they are weak. For instance, Alabama does have a ban on texting while driving, and it is a primary offense, meaning that you can be pulled over for it, but the penalty is a mere $25 fine and two points on your license for a first offense. If you have been injured by a distracted driver, our Birmingham accident attorneys can help you hold them financially responsible.

Common Distractions

Texting and other device use have really ramped up the dangers of distracted driving, but distractions have been causing serious and fatal accidents since long before technology became a concern. We help victims of all types of distracted driving accidents including those caused by:

  • Eating and drinking
  • Interacting with passengers
  • Reaching for items in the floorboard or back seat
  • Tending to children
  • Rubbernecking
  • Daydreaming
  • Personal grooming such as shaving or applying makeup
  • Adjusting the radio
  • Adjusting vehicle settings
  • Texting
  • Talking on the phone, even hands-free
  • Surfing the internet
  • GPS use
  • Watching videos

Proving Distraction

There is no breath or blood test to prove distraction, but that doesn’t mean there is no evidence. Our Birmingham accident attorneys are dedicated to thorough accident investigation, and we will find the evidence if it exists. This can include:

  • Surveillance video
  • Cell phone records
  • Witness statements
  • Pictures, video, or statements posted to social media

If you believe or know that a distracted driver caused your injuries please call the Birmingham accident attorneys of Wiggins Childs Pantazis Fisher Goldfarb, LLC, at (205) 858-8445 or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation.

Filed Under: Car Accidents, Personal Injury
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