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Punitive Damage Jury Verdicts Continue to Decline

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The billion-dollar jury verdict has disappeared from U.S. courtrooms. For the second time in the past three years, there were no jury awards above $1 billion in 2008, according to data compiled by Bloomberg News. In 2007, there was one such verdict, for $1.5 billion.

Of the 10 largest jury verdicts in U.S. history, the last to be added to the list was in 2003. It was an $11.9-billion award against Exxon Mobil Corp. in a lawsuit by the state of Alabama claiming fraud in the underpayment of natural-gas royalties. It also was the last for more than $2 billion. The $11.8-billion punitive part of the Exxon verdict was erased in post-trial appeals, and Alabama wound up with about $120 million. [Read more…] about Punitive Damage Jury Verdicts Continue to Decline

Wrongful Death of Alabama Man as a Result of ATV Accident

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A Collinsville, Alabama man is dead after a four-wheeler accident Monday morning.

The man, whose name was not released Monday, allegedly lost control of the four-wheeler on Ellis Street in Collinsville around 9:30 a.m.  “It flipped, left the highway, and landed in a ditch,” said DeKalb Ambulance Service Director Mark Ford. “The man was thrown from the vehicle and suffered blunt-force trauma.”

Unfortunately, this tragic situation happens far too often.  According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission there were 467 related ATV deaths reported in 2005. Many four-wheeler and ATV driver’s don’t have the proper training and don’t wear appropriate protective gear such as helments that can prevent and minimize many ATV accidents and injuries.  Often four-wheeler and ATV accidents are the result of some defect in the manufacturer’s product design.  Over the years, thousands of product liability lawsuits have been brought against some the world’s largest four-wheeler and ATV manufacturers in an effort to correct such design defects.  If such a design defect exists in the four-wheeler involved in this accident, a wrongful death and products liablity lawsuit could be brought under Alabama law.

Alabama Personal Injury Attorney Guide to the Personal Injury Lawsuit Process

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Initial Investigation:

When an Alabama personal injury lawyer first becomes involved in a matter they will immediately begin their initial investigation. This investigation starts with securing evidence. For example, if someone is injured by a product (products liability lawsuit) then the subject product must be secured so that it can be inspected and examined to determine the exact nature of the product’s defect. Photographs should be taken of the product, accident scene, automobiles involved and injuries to document what occurred and how it has affected the victim. Witnesses should be interviewed as soon as possible as stories change and memories fade over time. Often expert witnesses may be contacted early on in the investigation process to assist the personal injury attorney in determining what further investigation is necessary and whether a valid legal claim exists. For example, in the context of a car accident case, an accident reconstruction expert may be contacted early on to assist the personal injury lawyer in determining the speeds of the vehicles and the angle of impact. All these aspects of the initial investigation into a personal injury lawsuit are critical to not only determining whether a valid legal claim exists, but to maximizing that claim. [Read more…] about Alabama Personal Injury Attorney Guide to the Personal Injury Lawsuit Process