South Carolina Injury Lawyer Blog

Over on the Howell and Christmas, LLC Child Injury Lawyer Blog your attorneys in Charleston posted an entry that gave some quick tips for parents to help prevent child injuries while there out Trick-or-Treating this Halloween. However, this past week in Charleston there has already been a serious accident surrounding the spooky holiday involving two adult men.

Early this past Sunday morning, around 3:00 a.m., at the elaborate extravaganza known as Skinful Halloween a 25-year-old James Island father suffered several broken bones and a serious brain injury that has left him in a coma after being hit by an alleged drunk driver, a 31-year-old man from Summerville, South Carolina. The suspected drunk driving accident happened as many of the partygoers were leaving the event on Folly Road. According to one witness, the 25-year-old man flew 12 feet into the air after being hit as he walked along Folly Road.

The 31-year-old driver has been charged with second-degree felony driving under the influence, and in his bond hearing on Monday bail was set at $25,000, the maximum allowed for said charge. According to reports, the suspected drunk driver stopped at a nearby fire station as soon as he realized he had hit a pedestrian, a note the man's attorney mentioned at Monday's hearing.

Despite the alleged misconduct of the 31-year-old driver, the father of the victim placed the blame on the Skinful Halloween event organizers, claiming the party to be a "sanctioned rave" set in "the darkest corner of Folly Road." On staff at the event were 12 uniformed police officers and more than 20 undercover officers in addition to the security hired by Skinful and a restaurant where part of the event took place. Also, the event employed four free shuttles for the thousands of partygoers and posted an explicit warning on its website for attendees not to walk along Folly Road, noting nonexistent sidewalks. Thus, the question raised by organizers is, "When he [25-year-old victim] made the decision to walk alongside the path, who does the responsibility fall to?"

Continue reading " Halloween Extravaganza Ends in Drunk Driving Accident and Tree Lined Medians Claim Another Life " »

Early this week your Charleston lawyers at Howell and Christmas, LLC (located at 250 Mathis Ferry Rd. in Mt. Pleasant) heard of a story involving a dangerous pit bull on Daniel Island. According to the Post and Courier, a couple driving along River Landing Drive when a dog appeared out of nowhere, bolting in front of their car. The couple, with best intentions in mind, stopped their vehicle and tried to approach the dog, thinking the animal may be a beloved pet of a family on the island. But, apparently, the dog, which looked to be a pit bull, did not appreciate the gesture and proceeded to launch a "vicious attack" on a nearby woman's dog. The woman who had gotten out of the car, again with best intentions, tried to intervene in the melee, but was bitten by the animal she originally tried to help. Fortunately, the dog bite did not result in any serious injuries, due in part because the woman was wearing a sweater at the time of the attack, preventing the bite from penetrating the skin of her bicep. Needless to say, this well- intentioned citizen is hoping she doesn't run into the loose dog again after being seriously frightened by this encounter.

Responding Charleston police officers later determined that this same pit bull was involved in another incident in which another dog was bitten. Animal control officers are still trying to find the dangerous pit, and believe the dog belongs to someone on Daniel Island, as the animal was reported to have a collar.

In an unrelated incident, last Saturday Goose Creek police officers shot two pit bulls after the animals allegedly attacked other dogs and charged at the officers. One of the dogs was killed in the shooting and the owner of the animals is charged with the counts of lack of restraint and two counts of nuisance animal. A court date for the 28-year-old owner is scheduled for November 17 and the court will decide then if the owner is allowed to regain possession of the surviving pit bull.

Continue reading " Charleston Animal Control Officers Looking For Dangerous Dog " »

While redundant, the warnings of drinking and driving, no matter the source, don't seem to be taken as seriously as they should by Americans. Everyday your South Carolina injury lawyers at Howell and Christmas, LLC come across a seemingly endless stream of tragic articles outlining drunk driving accidents that kill, injure, and/or ruin lives. Yet, despite the dangers being well known, individuals from every background continue to make the poor choice to operate a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol.

According to a recent survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control, 4 million Americans admitted to driving drunk in 2010, accounting for 112 million episodes of drunk driving in the same year. Although, these numbers are self reported, thus the true number is certainly higher. But, on the bright side, the statistics show that drunk driving is down 30% since 2006, which shows improvement in our attitude towards drinking and driving, but its still a problem.

To help limit the number of drunk drivers on the road the Centers for Disease Control offer a few suggestions, including more widespread and frequent use of sobriety checkpoints, stronger enforcement of the minimum legal drinking age (21) to help keep young inexperienced drivers from driving drunk, and using ignition interlock systems to prevent drivers convicted of drunk driving offenses from operating their vehicles if they have been drinking. Also, its important in social situations to be aware of friends or family members who may want to drive after having too much to drink, preventing someone from getting behind the wheel could save lives.

In general, as a driver or passenger in a car, the best defense against the threats posed by a drunk driver is to buckle your seat belt.

Continue reading " Despite Yearly Numbers on the Decline, Drunk Driving Accidents Still Rampant " »

Last week your Charleston accident lawyer posted an article concerning the South Carolina Department of Transportation's efforts to make a portion of Interstate-95 in Colleton County safer by trimming the trees in the interstate's median. Unfortunately, as your Charleston negligence attorney found out this morning while reading today's Post and Courier, these safety measures couldn't prevent a fatal tractor trailer accident from occurring along I-95. According to reports, an 18-wheeler traveling south on the interstate went off the road into the median strip around 9:00 a.m. yesterday morning. After running into the median the truck overturned, pinning the 51-year-old driver underneath the massive vehicle. According to the Colleton Country Coroner's office, the truck driver was pronounced dead at the scene, and the Coroner's Office and the South Carolina Highway Patrol are continuing their investigations into the single-vehicle accident.

Also according to today's Post and Courier, several agencies in the Charleston area have received moneys from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety by way of a Highway Safety Grant. In turn, agencies like the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office will be stepping up traffic enforcement to keep car accidents and traffic fatalities low. It comes as no surprise to the lawyers at Howell and Christmas, LLC that the Palmetto State is giving these grants out after numerous studies have pointed to South Carolina roadways as some of the nation's most deadly, and it is great to see the State taking a proactive approach to tackling a serious problem. But, with that being said, throwing money at a problem is never a definitive solution, and it will take a mindful effort by all South Carolinians to reduce the number of auto related accidents, injuries, and deaths in the Palmetto State.

The grant moneys in Dorchester County will not be used to hire traffic personnel to go out and work wrecks after they've happened, but rather to hire two new full-time deputies whose job will be strictly devoted to preventative traffic enforcement. Ultimately, the goal for the County is reduce the number of car accidents, serious injuries, and wrongful deaths by putting the focus on preventing traffic violations, which will include the newly hired deputies speaking to groups on safe driving practices and collision prevention. Additionally, the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office said that there will be a noticeable increase in driving under the influence (DUI) enforcement in hopes of reducing the number of drunk driving accidents.

Continue reading " State Agency Gives Grants to Tri-County Agencies in Hopes of Preventing Traffic Violations and Accidents " »