Could every car in the U.S. soon have a built-in breathalyzer? Here is the reality. Within 5 years, you might only be able to buy a car that prevents a drunk from driving it. Congress is paying for the development of new technology, which could, by law, be in...
Allen A. Ritchie
Can Alabama Make Me Do Something I Don’t Want?
Well, yes. The state of Alabama can make you pay taxes. It can make you drive in the lane that is going forward. It can also make you pay for the groceries you take from the store. Now consider this, can it make you wear a seatbelt? Actually, it can’t do that....
This Holiday Season: Shop Early. Shop Safely.
There is reportedly going to be less stuff on the shelves this November and December. The advice from many experts is to buy early, or you might not be able to find what you want. The solution of buying online may not work this year since web-based sellers also...
Alabama Law: If Your Kid “Tricks” During Halloween, Who Pays?
There is a specific Alabama law about what happens if a child "tricks" during Halloween. Ok, the law covers the entire year, but let us concentrate on this weekend. Say your little zombie, pirate, or "Squid Game" worker decides to take down a mailbox, smash a...
Alabama Wreck: Don’t Hit That Zebra
You probably have heard about the escaped zebras just outside Washington, D.C. They have been roaming freely for more than 50 days. The D.C. area is heavily populated, but still, the zebras have eluded animal control officials. It is probably just a matter of...
Boat Wreck, Car Wreck: Not the Same in Alabama
If you are hurt on the water or the roads, different laws will determine what you might collect. Have you heard of admiralty law? Well, if you are hurt near Perdido Pass or off Dauphin Island, you will hear a lot about it. Here are some of the differences...
Traffic Accidents: Roads Not as Safe as Expected
If you thought that the pandemic meant that roads were safer because fewer people were driving, you would be wrong. Traffic deaths are up. For the first half of this year, traffic deaths in the U.S. increased by 16% over last year. This fact alone shows it is...
Trouble in AL: COVID and Your Car Wreck
Some insurance companies are using COVID and the resulting lack of jury trials to drastically underpay Alabamians involved in traffic accidents. The result is that victims can be left with large medical bills to pay. Here is how it works: insurance companies...
Alabama Car Wreck: 6 Tips for a Max Check
If you’re in a wreck in Alabama, don’t leave any money unclaimed. It is surprising how many people try to settle their own case only to get pennies on what should be dollars. From my years of experience in settling car accidents, here are some of the overlooked...
AL Law: No Chanting as Yoga Returns to Schools
I like to keep you up to date on changes in the law that might affect you. You can file this one under “Only in Alabama.” With public schools back in session, you might be interested in a new law going into effect. It is now legal to teach yoga in our state’s...