PERSONAL INJURY /

PRODUCT LIABILITY

SECTION

J. Cole Portis

Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, PC

Offices in Montgomery, AL& Atlanta, GA

19 Attorneys 31 Support Staff

J. GREG ALLEN

LABARRON N. BOONE

D. MICHAEL ANDREWS

EVAN G. ALLEN

ROBERT S. REGISTER

MICHAEL J. CROW

DANA G. TAUNTON

BENJAMIN L. LOCKLAR

STEPHANIE S. MONPLAISIR

BENJAMIN R. KEEN

J. COLE PORTIS

BENJAMIN E. BAKER, JR.

CHRISTOPHER D. GLOVER

WARNER O. HORNSBY

DANIEL P. PHILYAW

R. GRAHAM ESDALE

KENDALL C. DUNSON

J. PARKER MILLER

DONOVAN D. POTTER

PRODUCT LIABILITY

We continue to focus on accident cases involving automobiles, heavy equipment and consumer products.

Some of these auto cases involve single-vehicle crashes, while others involve multiple-vehicle accidents.

TRUCK ACCIDENTS

There are significant differences between handling an interstate trucking case and other car wreck cases. It is imperative to have knowledge of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, technology, business practices, insurance coverages, and to have the ability to discover written and electronic records. Expert testimony is of utmost importance. Accidents involving semi-trucks and passenger vehicles often result in serious injuries and wrongful death.

HEAVY TRUCK PRODUCT LIABILITY

CLAIMS

Tractor trailer and other heavy trucks are not required to contain many of the same protections for occupants as smaller passenger cars. They can contain dangerous defects putting the truck driver or passengers at risk of serious injury or death. These trucks many times have particularly weak roofs that crush in rollovers. The passenger compartments are often not protected by effective cab guards, and this allows loads to shift into the truck cab.

Tire failure can result in a serious car crash and even a vehicle rollover accident, causing serious injury or death to vehicle occupants. Air, heat and sunlight can cause the rubber in tires to break down. When a tire is defective, potentially serious problems like de-treads and blowouts can occur long before the tire would be expected to wear out.

Defective Tires

ON-THE-JOB PRODUCT LIABILITY

Many times product claims arise from worker’s compensation claims.

After we investigate the circumstances that caused the injuries, many times we discover a defective machine may be the cause of the injuries.

PREMISES LIABILITY

In premises liability claims, patrons of establishments are often injured because the premises, for some reason, was unsafe. Premises liability claims can take many forms, including when severe injury or death results when a building or structure collapses, merchandise falls, during swimming pool accidents, due to poor lighting, falling debris, unsecured fixtures and furniture that falls or tips over, unsecure drainage that creates drowning or fall hazards, slippery surfaces, and inadequate maintenance.

NEGLIGENT SECURITY

Under the law, owners of establishmentsowe a duty to patrons and guests to ensurethat the premises are reasonably safe andsecure from anticipated dangers. Thesecases normally take the form of shootings,fights, stabbings, or other physical violence(including sexual assault) where severeinjury or death occurs due to theestablishment owner’s failure to takereasonable safety measures.

AVIATION ACCIDENTS

Aviation litigation can be extremely complex andoften involves determining the respective liabilityof manufacturers, maintainers, retrofitters,dispatchers, pilots and others. In somecircumstances, the age of the aircraft involvedcan limit or completely preclude an injured partyfrom compensation. Soaring through the skyhundreds of miles an hour, thousands of feetabove the ground in an airplane or helicopterleaves little room for error. One smallmechanical problem, misjudgment or faultyresponse in the air can spell disaster for airpassengers and even unsuspecting people on theground. We are handling cases involving all typesof aircraft, military and civilian.

BOEING LITIGATION