South Carolina Injury Lawyer Blog

Your lawyers in Charleston read that this past Monday a 23-year-old man was sentenced to ten years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of driving under the influence (DUI) and one count of reckless homicide. The man's sentence is suspended to three years of active time behind and will be given credit for nearly two years of house arrest. Once released, during his period of probation, the young man will not be allowed to touch alcohol. However devastating and life-altering this sentence will be, the real tragedy reveals itself in the events that brought the young man to court in the Charleston County Judicial Center.

According to the Charleston police incident report, the young man and his 21-year-old wife were speeding towards John's Island after a night out at Downtown Charleston bar in May 2010. En route the man lost control of the vehicle at the Stono River bridge. Reportedly, the late night accident occurred as the result of the man trying to pass a friend he was racing in another vehicle. Charleston police found the car overturned on the bridge and subsequent investigations determined that the vehicle was traveling 70 mph in a 45 mph zone. The drunk driving accident took the life of the 21-year-old woman. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Her 23-year-old husband was left with a head injury in the form of a fractured skull. The driver said he had no recollection of the accident when he woke up in the hospital the next morning.

Because the man (defendant) could not remember anything about the accident he entered what is called an "Alford Plea," which was allowed by the Circuit Judge because the defendant's inability to remember the accident the Alford definition.

Continue reading "Drunk Driver Sentenced in Charleston County and a Brief Overview of an 'Alford Plea'" »

Your Charleston attorneys at Howell and Christmas, LLC were particularly upset to see a fairly large article in today's Post and Courier outlining a major auto accident in which four young people were killed near the University of South Carolina's famed Williams-Brice Stadium. According to the Richland County Coroner's Office, two of the victims were male (both 22 years of age) and two were female (ages 23 and 24). Also, three of the four victims were currently enrolled at the University of South Carolina; one male was a student last semester.

The fatal car crash occurred just before dawn last Wednesday morning when the car missed a sharp curve near the football stadium. The car proceeded to slam into the Farm Bureau Building on George Rodgers Blvd. Minutes later, the vehicle burst into flames. Returning to the scene Friday, investigators were combing through the wreckage to try and find answers as to the cause of this unfortunate car accident, more specifically, why the driver lost control of the vehicle and the speed at which the vehicle was travelling. Police do suspect that the male driver and front passenger were not wearing their seat belts when the crash occurred.

The Richland County Coroner also said that it was one of the young female's 23rd birthday and that the group had been seen together at several Columbia nightspots prior to the fatal car accident on George Rogers Blvd. From the autopsies it appeared that all four young people would have been killed by multiple trauma, not serious burn injuries, prior to the vehicle burst into flames, but it will take a couple of weeks to complete toxicology reports and determine if those results played a role in causing the accident.

As investigators from the Columbia Police Department, University of South Carolina Police, Richland County Coroner's Office, Columbia-Richland Fire Department, and the South Carolina Highway Patrol try to uncover unanswered questions surrounding the crash, University of South Carolina officials have offered their condolences to the victims' friends and family and have extended a helping hand in the form of counselors made available to grieving students and staff.

Continue reading "Tragedy Strikes University of South Carolina and Hit and Run Suspect in Police Custody in Lexington County" »

Your lawyers in Charleston at Howell and Christmas, LLC have previously posted entries concerning school bus accidents, car accidents, and tractor-trailer accidents. However, none the past entries have involved all three of the said vehicles in a single incident, until today.

Last month in St. Stephan, South Carolina (a community in northern Berkeley County) the driver of a Nissan Maxima found herself wedged between a school bus and a tractor-trailer. The driver came to this precarious position after attempting to pass the school bus carrying students from Timberland High School students. According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, this attempted pass was made illegally as the roadway was marked with a double-yellow line, which earned the driver a citation for improper passing.

In the attempted pass the 43-year-old St. Stephan woman driving the Maxima struck the back of the bus, was forced to veer left, and was then hit by the tractor-trailer heading in the opposite direction. The driver of the Nissan and one Timberland High student were taken to a local hospital after the tractor-trailer accident, but the Post and Courier article covering the incident failed to report any specific injuries for these particular persons. Thankfully, it was reported that the driver of the tractor-trailer and the other 18 students aboard the bus escaped the auto accident without injury.

It is a recurring theme of the South Carolina Injury Lawyer Blog to advocate safe driving practices along the Palmetto State's roadways, but it is of especial importance to be mindful of tractor-trailers (a.k.a 18-wheeler or semis) as these behemoths of the road pose a significant danger to everyday drivers. Because of the large weight contrast between semis and everyday passenger vehicles (minivans, sedans, compacts, etc.), the damage and danger of serious injury or death is heightened in accidents involving tractor-trailers.

Continue reading "Driver Finds Herself Between School Bus and 18-Wheeler, Palmetto State Works to Curb Rising Pedestrian Fatalities" »

During the summer months your Charleston accident lawyers at Howell and Christmas, LLC came across a number of train-related accidents occurring at railroad crossings. Links to the entries covering these incidents can be found directly below this post. But, over the last month there have been two fatal accidents involving trains. The happened in mid-November when a 27-year-old woman from Alabama either jumped off or fell from a CSX transportation train. According to a Post and Courier report, the train was about two miles south of U.S. Highway 17 and S.C. Highway 162 in Charleston County when the serious accident occurred. According to the Charleston County Coroner's Office, the woman died of blunt force trauma and it is thought that the fatal injury was not caused by direct impact with the train, but rather from the fall or jump from the moving locomotive.

After the accident, it was discovered that the woman was not riding alone on the train, she had illegally hopped on the train with a 29-year-old man from Connecticut. The man has since been charged with breaking and entering onto a train. According to an affidavit signed by the man, he continued on the train until it stopped in Georgia, where he told railroad officials about the incident.

More recently, a man was killed in Hanahan when his car was hit by an Amtrak passenger train. Witnesses on scene told authorities and investigators that a 1997 Pontiac Sunfire sedan was sitting on the railroad tracks when the crossing arms came down at Mabeline Road. Furthermore, witnesses said that the man in the vehicle appeared to be intoxicated at the time a southbound Amtrak train collided with the car, ripping the vehicle in half and killing the driver.

Continue reading "Vagabonds Hop Charleston Train Leading to Fatal Incident" »

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" »

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" »

Last week, your Charleston lawyers at Howell and Christmas, LLC came across a report of a young man from Moncks Corner who pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a fatal drunk driving accident that happened in rural Berkeley County three years ago. The young man, now 21-years-old, was charged with felony driving under the influence (DUI) after an October 2008 car accident killed a 17-year-old Berkeley High School football player. But, the now 21-year-old pleaded guilty to reckless homicide, a lesser charge, and sentenced to 10 years in prison. However the sentence is suspended to three years in prison followed by five years of probation, which means if the young Moncks Corner man keeps on the straight and narrow for three years, he will be released. But, if any behavioral issues arise, he could spend a larger part of his 10 year sentence in prison.

It was noted above that reckless homicide was a lesser charge than what the young man was initially charged, felony DUI. The reason reckless homicide considered lesser is because the penalties are less severe. Had the young man and his lawyer, if he was represented, decided to have the felony DUI taken to trial and lost, he could have been sentenced to a maximum of 25 years in prison, as opposed to the maximum of 10 for the charge of reckless homicide. Without knowing the facts and evidence surrounding this case, and only taking into account the age of the Moncks Corner man, it is a safer bet to accept the three years of prison time and probation than risk having to serve a sentence that exceeds the time you have been alive.

If you look back to a couple past entries posted by your lawyers in Charleston, there a couple posts that discuss some unfortunate statistics concerning the safety of South Carolina roadways. While the Palmetto State may be home the nation's deadliest roads and highways, it appears that the State Department of Transportation has taken notice and are making strides to improve the safety of our State's thoroughfares.

Continue reading "Young Man Pleads to Lesser Charge in Drunk Driving Accident and DOT Takes Strides to Make South Carolina Interstate Safer" »

It has been some time since your Charleston work accident lawyers have posted an entry to the South Carolina Injury Lawyer Blog, so the lawyers at Howell and Christmas, LLC would like to use this post as a brief re-cap of accidents and injuries that have happened across the Palmetto State since our last entry. Surprisingly, yet nonetheless tragic, they all concern driver's running off the roadway they were traveling.

At the beginning of this month the driver of an AT&T work van that struck and killed a cyclist on the James Island connector paid a $113 fine for his involvement in the fatal July accident. The driver's payment of the fine allowed him to miss his court date in Charleston Municipal Court. The fine is form of settlement; commonly known as "forfeiting a bond," which also means the driver is not formally admitting guilt for his involvement in the fatal bicycle accident.

The driver was charged by police with improper lane usage, as it was the closest charge applicable under the South Carolina Code of Laws regarding car-versus-bike accidents. Allegedly, the driver of the AT&T van drifted into the breakdown lane on the connector, striking said cyclist from behind, ultimately resulting in the cyclist's untimely and wrongful death. While police have said there was evidence indicating that the van's driver was distracted because of his use of a mobile device, it is not illegal to use a cell phone or text while driving in South Carolina. The driver contends he was not distracted by a phone or other electronic device.

A week ago today, a Summerville man was killed and another person injured after the pickup truck they were in ran off Interstate 26, struck a tree, and overturned. Charleston's Post and Courier reported that the 23-year-old driver of the 2007 Chevy Colorado was pronounced dead at Medical University Hospital after being airlifted from the scene of the serious auto accident. Authorities were unsure if either of the occupants were wearing their seat belts at the time of late-night accident. In a plethora of the posts entered to the South Carolina Injury Lawyer Blog, your Charleston car accident lawyers have urged readers to remember that wearing a seat belt is the easiest way to prevent serious injury in the event of an accident. Although that information is unknown in this case, it is safety measure all should keep in mind.

Continue reading "A Look Back Since the Last Entry Reveals a Trend of Driver's Running Off the Road" »

The last entry posted by your Charleston accident lawyers discussed the outcome of a three month long investigation into a fatal motorcycle accident in which a young woman fell off the back of the bike. It was determined by authorities that the male operator of the vehicle was at fault in the accident and now faces serious criminal charges. Sadly, today's post also concerns a fatal motorcycle accident on Interstate-26. The collision occurred at the beginning of this week in the Columbia area in the eastbound lanes between Interstate-126 and U.S. 378, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

The South's oldest daily newspaper, the Post and Courier, reports that a 28-year-old man from Cayce (near West Columbia) struck a horse trailer being hauled by a Chevy sport utility vehicle (SUV). Fortunately, the 67-year-old driver of the SUV was wearing his seat belt at the time of the accident and was uninjured in the collision. The crash caused both the motorcycle and the trailer to catch fire. Reports note that the motorcyclist was killed in the accident, but does not mention whether the cause of death was due to burn injuries suffered in the blaze, nor does the Post and Courier's report disclose if the 28-year-old was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

While your experienced personal injury lawyers at Howell and Christmas, LLC have posted blog posts in the past involving dog bite injuries, it is a first for the South Carolina Injury Lawyer Blog to note an accident involving horses. Although the driver of the SUV hauling the horse trailer was able to escape the serious accident unscathed, the horses in the trailer were lost in the fire.

Continue reading "Motorcyclist Killed Near Columbia After Collision with Trailer" »

Back in May your Charleston spinal cord injury lawyers made mention of a fatal accident in which a young woman fell off the back of 2008 Honda motorcycle. When commenting on the accident it was noted that the attorneys at Howell and Christmas, LLC presumed the wrongful death was ruled an accident because State Troopers did not file any charges against the 34-year-old man operating the motorcycle. However, it was reported yesterday that after a three month investigation into the fatal motorcycle accident by the South Carolina Highway Patrol has charged the 34-year-old man from Hollywood, South Carolina who was driving the motorcycle at the time of the accident with reckless homicide and operating an uninsured vehicle.

As a refresher, the accident occurred on the evening of Sunday, May 15, 2011 in the westbound lanes of Interstate-26, about a mile before the Jedburg Exit. After falling off the back of the bike the 33-year-old female rider was airlifted by helicopter to Medical University Hospital. She died the next day. Initial reports noted that the woman was not wearing a helmet at the time of the fatal fall. The initial, as well as yesterday's, report fails to mention the specific injury that killed the young woman, and it is impossible to say for certain whether or not a helmet would have saved her life. But, it can always be said that wearing a helmet while riding, or operating, a motorcycle is a good idea and a means to prevent serious head injuries in the event of a fall or accident.

According to the Post and Courier, the three month investigation conducted by the South Carolina Highway Patrol revealed that the motorcycle's operator was handling the bike in a reckless manner right before the woman fell off the back and onto the interstate. However, both the Post and Courier's initial and most recent report does not mention the specifics concerning the motorcyclist's reckless behavior. It could have been excessive speed and/or unlawful and unsafe lane changes. But considering the woman fell off the back of the motorcycle it is not too unreasonable to think the bike's operator was attempting to perform some sort of stunt. An unannounced wheelie would certainly make it difficult for a passenger to stay aboard, but that is just a theory.

Continue reading "Three Month Investigation Returns Charges Against Operator Involved in a Fatal Motorcycle Accident" »

Last week in North Charleston, an early morning crash created a backup that lasted nearly nine hours for Charleston area commuters trying to make their way to work. In an already highly congested area of Interstate-26 two 18-wheelers hauling large loads of wood chips collided and exploded into flames. Your South Carolina tractor trailer lawyers read in Thursday's Post and Courier that the collision between the two mega vehicles happened about 3:40 a.m., long before the rush hour traffic that usually clogs up the eastbound lanes of I-26 near Ashley Phosphate Road overpass. According to reports, one of the 18-wheelers was slowing down before entering a work zone on the interstate when it was struck from behind by the second truck, starting a fire that was fueled by the load of wood chips the tractor trailers were hauling to a paper mill.

After the major truck accident, both drivers were rushed to Medical University Hospital. The 40-year-old driver of the first was listed as in fair condition after receiving treatment, while the 48-year-old driver of the second truck from Summerville is reported to be in serious condition. There were no other reports as to the type or kind of serious injuries suffered by either driver. It can be presumed, although not known for sure, that the fire that erupted from the crash could have caused serious burn injuries to one, or both, of the drivers that were injured on the job.

It seems to be a rarity for the lawyers at Howell and Christmas, LLC when discussing serious motor vehicle accidents in Charleston and surrounding areas that the motorists involved were observing the mandatory South Carolina Law of wearing a seat belt. But, both of the truck drivers injured on the job were wearing their seat belts at the time of the accident.

Continue reading "Big Trucks Collide and Cause Big Delay for Charleston Area Commuters" »

At the end of last week your North Charleston auto accident lawyers discussed the some starling statistics showing South Carolina as some of the nation's most dangerous and deadliest. Now, according to recent analysis released by AAA Carolinas, a major contributor to the fatalities are the rural roads outside located throughout the Palmetto State, and the study indicates that they are not likely to get any safer. According to a spokesman for the motor club, urban migration is a large factor in our state's not so friendly forecast. As more and more people move to South Carolina's metropolitan areas, limited highway funding will be allocated to serve roadways around suburbs and cities, and not those located "out in the country."

Based on the study's findings on the total vehicle miles driven and traffic fatalities in 2009 (the latest year for which numbers are available), it was determined that motorists and motorcyclists had the high chance of being killed in Lee and Dillon County, respectively. Following Lee County for the most dangerous roads were the rural Marlboro, McCormick, Clarenon, and Williamsburg counties. Collectively, these 5 counties represented 7-percent of South Carolina's traffic deaths in 2009, while only accounting for 3-percent of the total vehicle miles driven, showing that even those roads less traveled can pose a serious danger to drivers.

The roads most travelled in the state, those in the most populated counties (Greenville, Charleston, and Richland), were shown to be the areas where motorists had the highest chance of being in an auto accident. Calhoun County, located just south of Columbia, revealed itself to be the county in which motorists had the least chance of being in a car accident in South Carolina.

Continue reading "South Carolina's Rural Roadways: A Major Contributor to the State's Sour Fatal Traffic Accident Statistics" »

Yesterday, your South Carolina trucking accident lawyers at Charleston's Howell and Christmas, LLC, discussed some statistics concerning the number of deaths on South Carolina roads. Those stats were comparing the number of fatalities in recent years to those that have occurred so far in 2011. While the numbers suggest that this year is trending to be deadlier than the last, some officials feel the numbers are skewed by the relationship between more cars on the road during the summer, means more fatal car accidents. And it should be noted that motor vehicle accidents are down two percent this year from last. So if it isn't the car and tractor trailer accidents that make 2011 appear to be more dangerous, then what is it? Well, according to the figures, it is a surge in fatal pedestrian accidents.

In yesterday's blog entry, it was noted that, despite seeming to happen to regularly, the report did not mention an increase in deadly pedestrian accidents in Charleston County. But, as mentioned before, this can be attributed to a lack of attention paid to the Lowcountry by Upsate reports, there may be a large amount of pedestrian accidents that don't result in death in the area, and it could be that Charleston County has simply not experienced an increase in pedestrian related road deaths.

With all that being said, this week the Charleston area has seen a couple fatal road accidents, one of which following the state's statistical spike, and one going against the figures. But, the two fatal incidents share one aspect in common, investigations into the incidents required authorities to look into the role a medical issue might have played in the cause of the fatal accidents.

On Tuesday, a 48-year-old woman from Miami Beach, Florida was hit by a car on Savannah Highway in Ravenel. According to authorities, the woman was walking along the shoulder of the highway at 9:20 a.m when a car went off the road and struck her. She died of the injuries incurred in the accident, according to the Charleston County Coroner's Office. The driver in the accident, a man from Ludowici, Georgia was with a traffic violation, violation of due care. But, in the course of the Charleston County Sheriff's Department's investigation, it was discovered that the driving was dealing with a medical issue at the time of the fatal pedestrian accident. In the Post and Courier's report of the incident it does not disclose the specific injuries that killed the Florida woman, nor does it disclose the nature of the driver's medical issue.

Continue reading "Charleston Area Accidents Serve to Support the Statistics Showing South Carolina's Roads as Some of the Nation's Deadliest " »

Being lifetime residents of South Carolina, your Charleston personal injury attorneys at Howell and Christmas, LLC are not surprised when their home state comes in near the top of national rankings for things a state should not be proud. As it turns out, according to the latest federal statistics, South Carolina ranks third in the nation for the number of people killed per 100 miles driven. To be fair, our fine state has seen decreases in road fatalities over the last three years. However, it is looking like 2011 will show an increase in deaths, due in large part to the rise in pedestrian accidents and fatalities, which have shown a 37 percent increase since last year at this time.

Last year after seeing a spike in pedestrian deaths, the South Carolina Department of Public Safety announced a $75,000 educational and public service initiative was in the works to try and curb the number of pedestrian accidents. Troopers have or will be handing out reflective strap bands for walkers to wear at night, making them easier to see on poorly lit rural roadways where most of the fatalities occur. As compared to last year's numbers, there are three counties that have seen an increase in pedestrian deaths, Lexington, Horry, and Greenville. Interestingly, as religious followers of local and state news your experienced lawyers at Howell and Christmas, LLC remember seeing quite a few pedestrian accidents around the town, especially in North Charleston, but there was no mention of Charleston County's past or current numbers regarding fatal pedestrian accidents. Considering the article containing this statistical information comes from The State in Columbia, it could be they have little concern for Lowcountry pedestrians, or Charleston County pedestrians are less likely to be killed in pedestrian accidents, therefore not accounted for in this particular statistic.

Despite the sharp rise in pedestrian fatalities, deaths attributed to motor vehicles, which includes auto and tractor trailer accidents, as well as deaths due to bicycle accidents, are down slightly from this same time a year ago.

Continue reading "South Carolina Roads, Some of the Deadliest in the Nation" »

As is the case with many South Carolina injury lawyer blog posts, there are often new incidents that bear a striking similarity to older entries, and this one is no different. Earlier this summer there were a couple entries posted concerning fatal auto and truck accidents involved with trains. And in today's Post and Courier there was an article reporting on another of these devastating accidents, however, by some miraculous means, this incident did not take any lives.

This past weekend, more specifically Saturday night around 11:30 p.m., a car sitting on the railroad tracks at U.S. Highway 52 and Red Bank Road was struck by a train. The driver of the vehicle was ejected from car and transported to Medical University Hospital for treatment of a head injury. Fortunately for the driver, the injury was reported to be non-life-threatening. According to Goose Creek Police, the driver of the vehicle was charged with blocking a railroad crossing. At this same railroad crossing on May 20, a car stopped on the tracks for a funeral procession and was hit by an oncoming train. That driver was also ticketed for obstructing a railroad crossing.

Both of these drivers beat the odds when it comes to train on automobile collisions. As your railroad accident attorneys at Howell and Christmas, LLC have cited in an earlier entry this summer, Troopers from the Louisiana State Police say that a train can drag an automobile at least a mile down the track, and keeping in mind the weight of a train, it is highly unlikely for an individual to survive a crash. The two drivers involved in these two Goose Creek incidents should be thankful they were able to receive their tickets for obstructing a railroad crossing.

Continue reading "Second Summer Collision at Railroad Crossing in Goose Creek" »

As your South Carolina car accident lawyers have been mentioning in previous entries this summer, while the break from school and warm weather provide the opportunity for kids and teens to enjoy themselves, the downtime can lead to careless decisions and devastating tragedies. Of particular concern, are teenage drivers. During this season of prom, graduation, and summer vacation teens are highly more likely to be out driving late at night, and with the temptation to drink and drive or practicing the unsafe habit of texting while driving, it is sad to say, but some will not make it home, or suffer a life altering injury.

Also mentioned in an earlier post, but reaffirmed in an article printed in a couple Monday’s past Post and Courier, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, auto accidents remain the leading cause of death for teens. However, statistics show that the number of teens being killed or injured in car accidents is down from 10 years ago. This could possibly be attributed to efforts of police departments to show the negative repercussions and dangers of drinking and driving by placing mangled vehicles around school campuses and towns. Additionally, police departments, schools, and other organizations and programs are now addressing the issue of distracted driving, another previous topic covered on your South Carolina Injury Lawyer Blog.

The number of cell phone related automobile accidents is steadily on the rise, as we have been able to do more and more with today’s devices. So much so that 31 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam have enacted bans on hand-held devices or texting to help reduce the dangers of distracted driving for the public, those dangers being severe accidents that present the potential for serious injuries or even death.Twelve of these laws were enacted in 2010 alone, according to distraction.gov, the official U.S. government website for distracted driving.

Teens that start drinking early are more likely continue to do so once they get their driver's license, heightening the possibility for them to be involved drunk driving accidents. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, automobile accidents are the leading cause of death among young people ages 15 to 20, and about 1,900 people under the age of 21 die each year from accidents involving drinking and driving.

Continue reading "Carefree Summers May Produce Carefree Teens: Unsafe Driving Practices at Issue for Newly-Licensed Drivers" »

For many college students, young adults, and those simply young at heart who love live music, the Summer months are something that have always been made special by the plethora of music festivals that happen all over the country. They provide a way to escape the monotonous day-to-day grind of regular life and go to a place without worry, enjoy the company of other music lovers, see favorite bands, and generally celebrate creativity and music. While these music festivals provide life long memories and entertainment, there have been instances where they have taken unexpected turns and ended in tragedy.

Just this past week, three longtime friends from Mt. Pleasant were caught at the bend in an unexpected turn at their first summer music festival. The group of girls, barely in their 20s, were planning to leave the All Good Music Festival in Masontown, West Virginia Sunday after they packed up their camp, but early that morning a man driving a pickup truck allegedly lost control and charged into their tent.

One of the girls suffered serious injuries and was killed in the accident. One was able to maneuver her hand from under one the truck’s wheels, and escape the scene uninjured. And the third young woman in the tent suffered a broken pelvis and required twelve staples to close a serious head injury. It was reported that the two survivors were waiting in the tent for more than a half-hour for rescue workers to lift the truck off their camp.

Sheriff’s officials in Preston County, West Virginia were able to identify the pickup truck’s operator, but are still investigating the incident and have yet to file any charges.

Continue reading "Music Festival Ends in Tragedy for Mt. Pleasant Women" »

A couple weeks ago your South Carolina workers' compensation lawyers published a blog post concerning a growing threat to consumers that has severely injured a number of people across the Nation, as well as right here in the Charleston area. That threat is popular decorative ceramic firepots filled with dangerous pourable gel fuel. In last Thursday's Post and Courier, there was a report saying that these gel fuels have been recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The reason behind the recall is that these flammable gels can ignite unexpectedly and splatter onto consumers and other objects nearby when it is poured into an already lit firepot, or as mentioned in the earlier post, when lighting the fuel.

The dangerous defective product is manufactured by Napa Home and Garden Inc. of Georgia. So far, the company has received 37 reports regarding the fuel, 23 of these reports outlined serious burn injuries to consumers. Lawsuits have already begun to be filed by burned consumers, including one from a West Ashley women who suffered serious burns from a Napa Home product. Also included in these suits are the stores where the firepots were sold.

According to the CPSC, the product being recalled is the pourable NAPAfire and FIREGEL Gel Fuel bottles and jugs. The product itself is a clear gel, packaged in a clear containers sized at 1-quart plastic bottles and 1-gallon plastic jugs. It comes in either non-scented or citronella scents and was sold at retailers between December 2009 and June 2011. The gels have been sold at many popular retailers like Bed Bath & Beyond, Shopko, and Restoration Hardware, and other specialty and gift shops, furniture stores and home and garden stores nationwide, as well as through internet megastore Amazon.com, home and garden catalogs, and by home decorators and landscape architects.

If you have purchased one of these products, you should immediately stop use of the product and return the bottles, or jugs, to the retailer where you purchased the product for a full refund.

Continue reading "Your Charleston Personal Injury Lawyers Update Older Posts" »

Over the past week your brain trauma attorneys in Charleston have noticed a lot of vehicle crashes, wrecks, and collisions in the Lowcountry. Since last Thursday there have been four serious motor vehicle accidents, and sadly, all four have been fatal.

In chronological order, the first occurred last Tuesday night (June 21) around 10 p.m. when a man struck a light pole head on in Dorchester County. According to authorities, the man was driving southbound on South Carolina Highway 61 when he hit the traffic light pole at the intersection of United States Highway 17A. The man, who was 32-years-old died as a result of the impact with pole, according to the Dorchester County Coroner's Office. It was also noted in the Post and Courier's coverage of the fatal crash that the man was not wearing his seat belt when his car collided with the pole. It is unfortunate, in the eyes of your South Carolina lawyers at Howell and Christmas, LLC that so many of the accidents and crashes discussed in this blog involve a victim, or victims, not taking the simple safety measure buckling their seat belt.

Later that same night, around 1:00 a.m. Wednesday (June 22), a man was killed after running his motorcycle into a retaining wall as he approached the Ravel Bridge from Downtown Charleston. According to authorities, the 22-year-old Mt. Pleasant man was unable to negotiate a curve in U.S. Highway 17 near Huger St., causing him to the hit the wall, which then ejected him from his motorcycle; he landed over the wall below the overpass. The man was taken to Medical University Hospital, but died later Wednesday Morning. Again, much like the previous incident, the victim in this motorcycle accident neglected a simple safety measure, the motorcycle helmet. While South Carolina Law does not require it, wearing a helmet while on your hog is an effective means to prevent serious injury and death.

Continue reading "Laundry List of Summertime Accidents Catch the Eyes of Charleston Lawyers" »

Your South Carolina truck accident attorneys came across an article in Monday's Post and Courier concerning a single tractor-trailer wreck that ultimately took the driver's life. The fatal accident occurred late Saturday afternoon around 6:00 p.m. in Jasper County. According to reports, the 1995 Freightliner went up into flames after the truck crossed the life side of the Interstate-95 median, colliding with several trees.

As of today, investigators are still looking into the incident to determine exactly what happened leading up to the truck's going off the interstate. Also, due to the intense blaze, the driver's body was burned beyond recognition and the Jasper County Coroner's Office is working to identify the driver. More than likely the coroner will cross-reference the driver's teeth with dental records to determine his or her ID.

The article did not mention, and it may yet to be determined, as to the exact cause of death in this accident. Investigators and officials from the coroner's office will probably be looking to see if colliding with the roadside trees caused some form of lethal head injury or body trauma, or if the subsequent fire caused fatal burn injuries, or it could be the case that a combination of collision and burn was the cause.

Continue reading "Weekend Tractor Trailer Wreck and General Considerations if You're Ever Involved in an Accident" »

This week, in Monday's and Tuesday's publications, the Post and Courier outlined two fatal automobile accidents that occurred over the hot, dry weekend in South Carolina. Your Charleston wrongful death attorneys note in the reports the absence of a seat belt in one of the incidents, while in the other, proper precautions were taken, and in accordance with South Carolina Law, seat belts were worn. But, sadly, even when safety and the law were observed, there was still a death in a two-vehicle car accident in Berkeley County.

This accident occurred Saturday morning, between 10 and 11 a.m. on U.S. Highway 52. According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, a 46-year-old Summerville man was in operation of a 1993 Mazda Protege and collided with a late model Toyota pickup truck, driven by a 64-year-old man from Goose Creek. Riding as a passenger in the Mazda was 52-year-old woman from North Charleston. Unfortunately, despite wearing her seat belt, she was pronounced dead on the scene of the accident of serious head and body trauma. There was no mention as to the injuries, if any, incurred by the drivers of the two cars involved in the wreck.

It was noted in the Post and Courier's article that all three individuals involved in the Saturday morning car accident were wearing their seat belts. As of Monday, no charges have been filed and authorities continue to investigate the fatal car crash.

Continue reading "Weekend Wrecks and Tragedies Prompt Discussion of Seat Belts" »

In yesterday's Post and Courier, which by the way is the South's oldest daily newspaper, your South Carolina car accident lawyers read an article concerning a bicycle accident involving a Charleston County Sheriff's Deputy. The accident occurred Sunday night around 11:30 p.m. at the intersection of Ashley River and Ashley Hall Roads in West Ashley. According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, it was determined the Deputy was not at fault in the accident and was driving as he was supposed to be when the accident occurred.

Also according to the S.C. Highway patrol, the 27-year-old bicyclist was wearing dark clothing (dark pants and dark polo shirt) when the Deputy’s 2009 Ford Crown Victoria cruiser struck him.

When riding a bike at night, especially along busy roadways and highways, it is imperative to make yourself visible to drivers by not wearing dark clothing and taking safety precautions like having lights or reflectors on your bicycle and helmet.

After the auto accident the bicyclist was taken to Medical University Hospital. As of late Monday, his condition and extent of injuries was unknown, according to the Post and Courier's article.

Continue reading "Charleston County Deputy Determined Not at Fault in Nighttime Car-Bike Accident" »

Those who are members of the AAA Club have to come to rely on the emergency roadside services provided by independent operators and paid for by the Club if they ever encounter any kind of roadside mishap. But as a member of the club, one would expect the independent service providers that respond to calls to be competent and professional, and more often than not not they probably are, considering the number of presumably satisfied Club members.

But, the Charleston car accident lawyers at Howell and Christmas, LLC recently read an unfortunate incident involving a Club member whose family has filed a wrongful death suit against AAA, the responding towing service, and a tow-truck driver. A 55-year-old woman was involved in a fatal accident in early March after a tow-truck driver reversed her malfunctioning car from a parking stall and fatally struck her in the parking lot of a Social Security Administration building.

The tow-truck driver, also 55-years-old, was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence after responding police officers detected signs alcohol impairment. The criminal investigation is ongoing.

Continue reading "Accident Results in Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Emergency Roadside Assistance Provider and Independent Operators" »

The world of professional wrestling lost one of its icons last week when Macho Man Randy Savage lost control of his Jeep Wrangler on Friday morning and crashed into a tree. Initially, it was reported that the Macho Man, whose real name is Ralph Poffo, may have had a heart attack while driving, causing him to lose control of his sport utility vehicle (SUV). But, current reports are saying the cause of the fatal car accident is due to "unknown reasons."

Known as one of the Great Superstars of his generation, the Macho Man made his mark in the wrestling ring and American pop culture with his flashy manner of dress, highly entertaining showmanship, and, of course, his trademark catchphrases, "Ohh Yeeaaahhh," and, "Can you dig it?" Both of which made him an ideal spokesperson for ConAgra Foods, and their Slim Jim jerky products.

The South Carolina car accident lawyers at Howell and Christmas, LLC read this morning, according to Florida Highway Patrol, that the Macho Man was traveling westbound on Florida State Route 694 near 113th Street North in Pinellas County when his vehicle traveled over the raised concrete median divider, crossed the eastbound lanes of SR-694, over the outside curb, and collided head-on with a tree. The Macho Man was taken to Largo Medical Center, where he died.

Continue reading "Charleston Veterans Disability Attorneys Report on Wrestling Star's Death" »

A week ago yesterday our Charleston personal injury lawyers mentioned a scary drunk driving accident in which the inebriated driver collided with a school bus before flipping his truck off the road. Fortunately, in that incident, none of the children were injured as a result of the carelessness of the drunk individual.

But, it seems school bus accidents are not only happening in the Charleston area, while browsing internet news this morning the experienced legal team at Howell and Christmas, LLC came across two other instances of car accidents involving school buses. Sadly, a death and numerous injuries were suffered.

Earlier this week, on Monday, a Kentucky school bus overturned when returning 30 first and second graders and a handful of adults from a field trip, according to Kentucky State Police. Officials reported that the bus driver swerved to miss a deer and overcorrected the vehicle, causing the fatal auto accident.

One of the students onboard was pronounced dead on the scene, while twelve other students were rushed to the Western Baptist Hospital for treatment. Injuries included bumps, bruises, and fractures, none of the injuries appeared to be serious or life-threatening. One of the adult chaperones on the bus was also taken to Western Baptist, another chaperone and the bus driver were airlifted to separate hospitals, there were no details as to the extent of their injuries or current condition.

State Police are continuing to investigate this unfortunate instance of child injury and death.

Continue reading "More School Bus Accidents Come Across the Wires" »

In yesterday's Post and Courier there were two reports of single-vehicle accidents, both of which claimed a life. Our Charleston motorcycle accident attorneys would like to report on the incident that happened around 7:15 p.m. Sunday evening, first.

A 33-year-old woman was riding as a passenger on a 2008 Honda Motorcycle heading westbound on I-26 when she fell off the back of the bike a mile before the Jedburg Exit, according the South Carolina Highway Patrol. After the fall she was airlifted to Medical University Hospital, where she, sadly, died Monday.

In regards to the fall, it can be assumed authorities ruled it an accident, as no charges will be filed against the motorcycle's operator, a man from Hollywood, South Carolina.

The second fatal accident on I-26 happened Monday afternoon around 2:30 p.m., and also occurred near the Jedburg Exit. A 20-year-old man, traveling eastbound on the interstate, struck a tree in the median and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Berkeley County Coroner's Office.

According to the S.C. Highway Patrol, alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine were all found in the car. Their investigation is ongoing.

Continue reading "Two Single-Vehicle Wrecks Claim Two Lives on Interstate 26" »

Earlier in the week the Charleston boating accident attorneys shared an entry regarding the high frequency of train accidents in Louisiana. Noting the dangers trains pose to motor vehicles and pedestrians attempting to cross railroad tracks. And just this afternoon there was a breaking case reported by CNN that outlines of an incident involving two U.S. Border Patrol agents who were killed today when their vehicle was struck by a train.

At the time of the fatal accident, the two Patrol agents were in an on-duty SUV and were the process of assisting in the apprehension of suspected unauthorized immigrants, just south of Gila Bend, Arizona, in an area patrolled by the Yuma Sector of the Border Patrol.

According the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) website, The Yuma Sector patrols 126 miles of border with Mexico, between the Yuma-Pima County line in Arizona and the Imperial Sand Dunes in California. The sector has responsibility for Yuma, La Paz and Mojave Counties in Arizona, the Eastern-most areas of Imperial, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties in California, and the entire State of Nevada.

Continue reading "Train Strikes U.S. Border Patrol SUV, Kills Two Agents" »

In a Post and Courier article read by the Charleston drunk driving accident attorneys this morning, it was reported that the South Carolina Highway Patrol determined that the driver who struck two vehicles in Moncks Corner on Monday was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accidents.

The accidents occurred mid-afternoon on Monday, around 2:30 p.m., on Old Whitesville Road. The 24-year-old man who struck the two vehicles was driving a pickup truck when he tried to pass a line of vehicles on the two-lane road. When he turned to get into the line of vehicles he collided with a sport utility vehicle and, scarily, a school bus. Thank heavens none of the four Whitesville Elementary School students were injured in the accident. The young students were transferred to another school bus and taken to their homes. Fortunately, the driver of the sport utility vehicle also did not sustain any serious injuries.

The drunk driver of the pickup was flown to Medical University Hospital after the collision forced his truck off the road and flip. The driver has been charged with driving under the influence and will be taken to Hill-Finklea Detention Center once released from the hospital, according to Highway Patrol.

Continue reading "Drunk Driver Hits School Bus and SUV in Moncks Corner" »

Near the end of April there were 3 train accidents in a 24 hour span in Louisiana, reports a New Orleans news source. Such an abundance, in such a short amount of time truly astonishes the Charleston railroad accident attorneys, as well the residents of the state, especially considering the accidents left two people dead.

In one of the accidents a 41-year-old female driver tried to go around the railroad crossing arm in her Toyota Camry and was struck by an Amtrak passenger train. Needless and unfortunate to stay the impact from the locomotive killed the woman, she was pronounced dead at the scene of the Jefferson Parish railroad crossing.

One of the other incidents also involved an Amtrak train, but this one collided with an 18-wheeler in Slidell, Louisiana. In this case, no serious injuries were reported, which is a miracle when one thinks of the kind of collision created by two large vehicles.

The second fatality occurred when a woman was hit and killed by a train as she walked along a set of tracks in Calcasieu Parish. This type of fatal pedestrian accident begs the question of, "what was the state of mind of this woman when this happened?" But, without any mention in the article of the woman's reason for being on the tracks late at night, it would be unfair to make any presumptions as to her condition at the time.

Railroad safety advocates say it is not uncommon for people to underestimate the serious threat of oncoming trains, hence why some try to "beat" trains by going around railroad crossing arms. Due to the size of trains it is difficult to gain an accurate perception of how fast trains are coming, and that is often the underestimation, which leads to serious injuries and deaths.

Continue reading "Frequency of Train Accidents in Louisiana Heighten Public Safety Concerns" »

While skimming the news this morning the Charleston semi truck accident attorneys found an amazing story, thanks to Fox News, which tells the tale of a veteran United Parcel Service (UPS) truck driver who has safely driven his brown truck more than 4 million miles. As the article notes, this distance is the equivalent to six round trips to the moon, a truly astonishing statistic to befit an extremely admirable milestone.

The driver, Ronald Sowder, or "Big Dog," as his fellow drivers affectionately call him reached the milestone mark of 4 million miles this past January in his 49th year as a driver for UPS. An amazing achievement only one other driver has equaled in the company's 100-year history. Overall the drivers at UPS are among the safest on the road, and according to the company, average less than one truck accident per million miles traveled.

This year Sowder was inducted into the famed "Circle of Honor," an elite group of UPS drivers who have been accident-free for 25 years or more. Sowder credits his impeccably clean record to cautious driving and says, "You have to be a defensive driver. You have to be able to compensate for other people's mistakes and expect the unexpected. You can't drive too close. I don't like to be in a pack."

Continue reading ""Safest Driver On The Road" Reaches Milestone and Provides Trucking Tips" »

Everyone, including the Charleston auto accident lawyers, have noticed the extremely high price of gas these days. The cost of filling up is painful, and car makers in Detroit have been looking to ease the burden by putting out hybrid and electric vehicles. Cost effective vehicles like the Chevrolet Cruze, while easier on consumers' pocketbooks at the pump, have helped American auto makers get back into black figures after their bailout.

General Motors introduced the Cruze last October as an answer to the Toyota Corolla and other small car rivals. And with the price of gas rising almost 50 percent since the Cruze hit the market, the timing of the fuel-efficient compact's release could not have been better, and GM's bottom line shows it.

Last quarter GM, with lots of help from Cruze sales, boasted a profit of $3.2 billion. Sales of the Cruze topped more than 50,000 in the last quarter alone, helping the U.S. manufacturer gain a share in a market traditionally dominated by the Japanese.

Continue reading "General Motors Sees Big Profits In Last Quarter And Makes Responsible Recall of Their Big Money Maker" »

Back in January, Charleston workers' compensation lawyers posted a three part series of posts that reported on an unfortunate accident that resulted in the death of Goose Creek woman. The original entries can be found at the end of this post.

As a quick refresher, the basic facts of the incident are as follows. In March 2010, while returning to their home in Goose Creek, a family of four, traveling in a green Ford pickup suffered a fatal blow, but not from another vehicle traveling on the interstate, but from a piece of the interstate itself. The couple was sitting in the front of the truck, husband behind the wheel and wife sitting in the front passenger seat. Their two young children in safety seats behind them when an Alabama fragment of Interstate 20 came through the windshield striking the wife, causing serious head injuries, narrowly missing the pre-schoolers, and flying out the truck’s cab.

This freak auto accident occurred at milepost 210 on I-20 in a construction zone that has slowed drivers and traffic for years, only a few short miles before the interstate smooths out in Georgia. This particular section of interstate, which is traveled by more than 33,000 drivers daily, is notorious for being riddled with pits and patches that drivers regularly turn up the volume on their radios to drown out the aggravating noise of tires rolling over rutted roadway.

In early March of 2011, the Post and Courier reported that the state of Alabama paid $1 million dollars to the family of the mother who was killed by the chunk of flying concrete. Alabama state officials said the money was awarded to compensate for the mother's wrongful death.

Continue reading "Howell and Christmas, LLC Follow Up On Highway Defects Post" »

Our Mt. Pleasant job accident lawyers want to recognize the outstanding people at the Human Needs Network who have recently launched a new volunteer initiative by the name of Ramp It Up, whose goal it is, “to build every needed wheelchair ramp in the Tri-County by the end of 2011.” It’s an ambitious objective, but with individuals like Alex Jackson spearheading the effort, it would be no surprise if they accomplish their goal.

Jackson is a 24-year-old quadriplegic who has used a wheelchair since he was 9 months old and he is pushing hard to get these ramps built in Lowcountry homes and businesses because he feels the lack of mobility the disabled have in the area is a major issue. Its an issue the physically fit often don’t recognize, as climbing stairs to their front door or office is an every day occurrence, for them it is natural to be able maneuver up and down and negotiate sharp angles without a problem. But, for the disabled in our community using wheelchairs, overcoming these obstacles takes a great deal of patience, strength, and determination.

As a toddler, Jackson was involved in a serious auto accident while returning from a visit to his grandparents in Augusta, Georgia. The car his mother was driving was struck head-on when another car crossed into their lane going the opposite direction. Jackson’s mother was able to recover from the severe injuries she incurred from the accident, but he suffered a debilitating spinal injury that has kept him in a wheelchair ever since.

Continue reading "Charleston Back and Spinal Injury Lawyers Note Noble Efforts In Tri-County Community " »

Charleston workers compensation lawyers want to bring attention to an issue discussed by Post and Courier columnist, Ken Burger, the potential dangers of texting and emailing on cell phones. While Mr. Burger focuses on the strain this type of communication can place on the hand, he also mentions how we push our human capability to multi task, driving with one hand while communicating with family, friends, and/or colleagues with the other.

The number of cell phone related automobile accidents is steadily on the rise, as we have been able to do more and more with today’s devices. So much so that 31 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam have enacted bans on hand-held devices or texting to help reduce the dangers of distracted driving for the public, those dangers being severe accidents that present the potential for serious injuries or even death.Twelve of these laws were enacted in 2010 alone, according to distraction.gov, the official U.S. government website for distracted driving.

Continue reading "Ken Burger Incites South Carolina Auto Accident Attorneys to Discuss Danger of Texting and Driving" »

While the South Carolina personal injury attorneys have commented on auto collisions, motor cycle crashes, bicycle wrecks, and boating accidents, this is the first incident involving an all-terrain vehicle, or better known by its acronym as an ATV. Like all recreational vehicles ATVs can be extremely enjoyable to ride, but also like all motor vehicles, if not operated safely, they pose a threat of serious injury or death. Sadly, a Wadmalaw man learned this hard way when he lost control of his ATV and crashed into a tree.

Initially, Charleston County Sheriff’s Deputies who responded to the crash thought the 26-year-old operator of the vehicle may have had some sort of medical episode, which caused him to lose control prior to hitting the tree. After the wreck the man was conscious and alert and his injuries were not thought to have been life-threatening. However, these injuries eventually killed him the next day, according to the Charleston County Coroner’s Office.

The autopsy determined the 26-year-old died from blunt force trauma to his upper body. He wasn’t wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, but this fact had no significance in the Coroner’s examination, as the man didn’t suffer a head and/or brain injury.

Continue reading "Wadamalaw Man Crashes All-Terrain Vehicle, Dies The Next Day" »

South Carolina personal injury lawyers learned of a Columbia couple whose vehicle was struck by a drunk driver while they were traveling along Interstate 95. The collision occurred four miles south Walterboro, near mile marker 49, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol. Sadly, the man and women from Columbia, both in their early 70s, were killed in the collision, according to the Colleton County Coroner’s Office.

South Carolina State Troopers have charged the drunk driver, a 34-year-old man from Delaware, with two counts of felony DUI involving death. The man was driving his 1992 Ford Mustang in the northbound lanes when he changed lanes, striking the 70-year-old women from Columbia. She and her husband were traveling in a Suburban. After the being hit by the drunk driver, the impact forced the Suburban to run off the interstate and collide with a tree.

The couple were both killed at the scene of the auto accident from multiple, serious injuries. It was also reported that both were wearing their seat belts at the time of the accident.

Continue reading "Columbia Couple Killed by Drunk Driver Near Walterboro" »

In quite a large number of posts, the Charleston auto accident lawyers at Howell and Christmas, LLC have mentioned that the easiest way to prevent serious injuries and death in a car collision is to wear a seat belt. To some, it is common sense and standard practice to buckle up when getting in their car. To others, it is a safety consideration that is entirely disregarded when traveling in a car.

In a recent two-vehicle accident on Folly Road, all of the 5 persons involved were not wearing their seat belts. The driver of a Ford Explorer that crossed the centerline and struck a Ford F-250, died after being ejected from the SUV. The passenger in the Explorer was also ejected and taken to Medical University Hospital, along with the other passengers and driver of the F-250, with life-threatening injuries.

A strikingly sad aspect of this incident is that all of those in the Ford Explorer were ages 19 and 18. Showing a serious need for Charleston area young people to actively use seat belts. They may not seem “cool” to youngsters, for whatever reason, but accidents like these are an unnecessary learning experience to realize the importance of buckling up every time you get in the car.

Continue reading "Seat Belts Neglected In Serious Folly Road Crash" »

Known to South Carolina personal injury lawyers, and the rest of the country for that matter, as the best-selling vehicle in America, the F-series pickup truck produced by Ford Motor Co., has come under pressure from regulators in Washington.

Last Wednesday, Ford announced it would recall 150,000 F-150 pickup trucks to repair air bags that could deploy without warning. The government contends a fraction of which should be called back and repaired. The recall covers trucks from the 2005-2006 model years in the United States and Canada, for what Ford calls a “relatively low risk” of the air bag inadvertently deploying.

By contrast, the government has urged Ford Motor Co. to recall 1.3 million F-150s from the 2004-2006 model years, citing 77 known injuries from accidental deployment of an air bar. The Continue reading "F-150 Recall, Danger of Inadvertent Air Bag Deployment " »

This past Thursday a North Charleston man died as a result of traumatic brain injuries sustained from a motorcycle wreck he was in last Monday. This was the second man to die of motorcycle accident related in the same number of days. The 68-year-old was riding his motorcycle on Dorchester Road when he collided with a vehicle that pulled out in front of him from Parlor Drive Monday morning around 10 a.m.

The police incident report did not specify whether or not the motorcyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of deadly auto accident, but it did mention the man was ejected from his motorcycle and landed in the roadway.

The driver of the car involved in the accident was a 22-year-old Ladson man. He was charged with failure to yield the right of way, according to police.

Continue reading "Two Charleston Area Motorcyclists Killed After Auto Collisions " »

Its nothing new to Charleston car accident lawyers, and other area residents, that a single auto collision can lead to another and cause serious backups for travelers. These backups create a sea of frustrated drivers and can be extremely dangerous not long after the initial accident, just as authorities are responding to the scene. This is exactly what happened last week on Interstate 26, not far from Summerville.

The first wreck happened around 9 a.m. when a minivan heading westbound near mile marker 196 lost control of the vehicle, went into the median, and hit a tree. The 44-year-old driver from Summerville was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, but was pronounced dead at the scene by the Berkeley County Coroner's Office.

About twenty minutes after this single-vehicle crash, and as westbound traffic began backing up, a second serious auto accident took place, ultimately involving a total of five vehicles. One of those vehicles was a tractor trailer that began this chain reaction by side swiping three stopped vehicles near mile marker 197, then ran into the median strip hitting several trees. One of the trees struck by the tractor-trailer fell on top of a sport utility vehicle that was also stopped in traffic on I-26.

Continue reading "Single-Vehicle Collision Leads To Traffic Buildup and Another Crash" »

Courtesy of the Brain Injury Association of South Carolina, Charleston injury lawyers received a newsletter featuring some startling information not typically covered by media outlets. Currently, there are over 61,000 South Carolinians living with disabilities from traumatic brain injury, or caused by an external physical force, and in the United States a traumatic brain injury occurs at an alarming rate of one every 23 seconds. Combining victims of breast cancer, multiple sclerosis, and HIV/AIDS, there are still more individuals suffering from brain injuries. This is in no way to discount the prevalence and severity of other afflictions, it is meant to cast a light on a serious condition that is often overlooked.

The cause of brain injuries is varied, the most common include serious car accidents, bicycle accidents, falls, domestic violence, and/or as a result of combat for veterans. In South Carolina, brain injuries are the number one cause of death in individuals ages 1 to 44. Yearly, over 2,500 individuals are discharged from South Carolina hospitals with brain injury and tens of thousands are seen in emergency rooms statewide to be treated for milder brain injuries.

But, while broken bones and open wounds are obvious for doctors and medical staff to treat, brain injuries are not always easy detect in accident trauma victims. Even when a diagnostic test like an MRI or CT scan is conducted, they often will not show minor shearing or tearing in the brain. In many cases a neuropsychological examination must be given to properly diagnose a brain injury.

Continue reading "Information On South Carolina's Number One Cause of Death" »

Charleston auto accident attorneys were sent the following case and felt it an excellent example of the difficulty in determining negligence in highly unpredictable circumstances. The Ford Motor Company, back in November, pleaded with the Illinois Supreme Court to overturn a large reward in the amount of $43 million granted in a Madison County verdict in 2005. The lawyers representing Ford argued that manufacturers of any goods would be subject to open-ended liability for many years to come if the ruling were allowed to stand, according to the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.

The initial verdict came in Madison County Circuit Court and was upheld by the Fifth District Appellate Court before the case went to the Illinois Supreme Court. An Appellate Court Justice wrote, "we believe that the parties received a fair trial in this case." It goes without saying Ford disagreed with this opinion as the suit made its way to State Supreme Court.

The reason for the case came after the fuel tank exploded in a couple's 1993 Lincoln Town Car. The husband driving the Town Car was killed and the wife suffered severe burn injuries.

Continue reading "Big Auto-Maker Asks to Overturn a Big Award Verdict" »

Whether its students, shoppers, or professionals rushing back to the office after lunch, the downtown area of Charleston is rampant with jaywalkers, an issue put in print by Post and Courier columnist Ken Burger last week. But without formal laws on the city books to penalize those objecting designated crosswalks there is little in the way of enforcing safe street crossing, limiting the city's ability to try and prevent pedestrian accidents. While there are some state codes against prohibiting unlawful street crossing, officers have a whole lot more on their minds than a shopper hopping from store to store without using a crosswalk.

Unfortunately, and South Carolina auto accident attorneys have noticed, there have been a number of jaywalkers paying an extreme price for not utilizing crosswalks, in the form of serious injuries and deaths. Over the past five years 18 pedestrians have been killed while crossing Holy City streets, there were five deaths in the last year alone, and in none of the incidents were the victims using a crosswalk.

Continue reading "Charleston and Pedestrians: An Un-Lovely Affair" »

This post is the conclusion of a three part post discussing a fatal auto accident in which the poor condition of an Alabama interstate played a central role. Part one can be accessed by clicking here, and part two can be found here.

South Carolina auto accident lawyers mentioned in the last remarks of Part 2, both drivers in the incident were not found at fault because it was determined by an investigation conducted by Alabama state troopers that both drivers were observing the speed limit and driving in a safe manner. It was also determined, and noted in the official report, that the defective highway conditions were a contributor to the serious auto accident that killed a wife and mother of two pre-schoolers.

Unfortunately, the federal government does not keep statistics on how many auto accidents and deaths are caused by poor road maintenance. So it is difficult to determine the frequency of such sad incidents that occur similar to that of the Goose Creek family that has been discussed over the past two posts. However, it is known that of the 123,470 wrecks involving motor vehicles last year in Alabama, 33 of those were on roads with ruts, potholes, bumps, and crumbles, according to state trooper reports and study done for the Associated Press by the Center for Advanced Public Safety at the University of Alabama. The study concluded that none of the injuries incurred in those 33 wrecks were directly blamed for the condition of the road, nor were there any deaths. Interesting results as they somewhat suggest the event discussed over the last two posts was some sort of freak accident.

Continue reading "Highway's Defects Cause Wrongful Death: Part 3 of 3" »

Following is the second of the three part post concerning dangerous highway defects. Click here to view the first installment.

An investigation by Alabama state troopers established that the Camry’s right rear tire struck the pothole projecting the fatal fragment into the air and eventually into the South Carolina family’s pickup. The young woman driving the Camry was not ticketed and claims she did have the chance to avoid the rocky depression in the road and couldn’t have stopped in time to miss the pothole.

Under an open records request by the Associated Press, photos released by the Alabama Department of Transportation show the investigated pothole had been repaired at least once prior to the accident. Indications of this repair were differences in color between new concrete and the older road, as well as evidence that both the repair and the old pavement were crumbling.

Continue reading "Highway's Defects Cause Wrongful Death: Part 2 of 3" »

Over the holidays South Carolina Auto Accident Lawyers came across an article in the Post and Courier that outlines an unfortunate incident that resulted in a beloved wife and mother's death. Due to the length of the article and seriousness of the incident, involving highly unsafe highway defects, this entry will be divided into three parts.

Last March while returning to their home in Goose Creek, a family of four, traveling in a green Ford pickup suffered a fatal blow, but not from another vehicle traveling on the interstate, but from a piece of the interstate itself. The couple was sitting in the front of the truck, husband driving and wife riding, with their two young children in safety seats behind them when an Alabama fragment of Interstate 20 came through the windshield striking the wife, causing serious head injuries, narrowly missing the pre-schoolers, and flying out the truck’s cab.

The fatal fragment came from a recently repaired pothole; a pocket of jagged bits of concrete covering half of the slow lane, and was flung into the air by a 1995 Toyota Camry. The driver of the Camry was a single mother who was simply giving a friend a ride to the other side of the Georgia line. Although the 23 year-old driver knows she was not at fault in the accident, it is reported she is still haunted by the incident, especially since her only form of transportation remains her blue 1995 Camry.

Continue reading "Highway's Defects Cause Wrongful Death: Part 1 of 3" »

The family of a truck driver have filed a suit against the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and several companies in an effort to receive damages for the wrongful death of the 56-year-old driver. The plaintiffs allege negligence on the loading dock and at the Bay Bridge's dangerous S-curve . The driver was killed after his pear carrying semi toppled off the bridge, plunging 200 feet.

The suit against Caltrans claims the S-curve, introduced to drivers as part of the rebuilding of the Bay Bridge, did not have adequate warning signs to inform drivers to the then new curve. The suit was filed in the San Francisco Superior Court by experienced wrongful death lawyers and asserts that the public was not aware of the sharp curves nor to the extent at which drivers should reduce their to safely navigate them, without the opportunity to take the necessary precautions. In a sense the new route was a "concealed surprise."

Continue reading "Charleston Truck Accident Attorneys Focus on Wrongful Death Case" »

Considering there are many owners and drivers of BMW vehicles in the Charleston area, South Carolina auto accident attorneys wanted to pass on the announcement of two recalls in the German designed vehicles. The recall affects 150,800 autos and BMW of North America has notified government officials of the potential fuel pump failures in some of their models.

The defective product recall directly affects 130,000 of its 2007-2010 models that use their twin-turbo inline six-cylinder engines for the potential of their high-pressure fuel pump to fail. Separately the auto maker has recalled 20,800 of the 2008 model of their popular X5 crossover with the normally-aspirated inline six-cylinder to replace the low-pressure fuel pump.

According to BMW the high-pressure fuel pump issue can be simply fixed with a software update, but 40,000 of the vehicles are expected to need an entirely new pump. The specific models affected are the 2007-2010 335i, 2008-2010 135i, 535i, and X6, and the 2009-2010 Z4.

In the case of the 2008 X5 the problem can be more serious, if the fuel pump fails, the engine will stop running and the driver will lose power steering and power assistance for the brakes, although both will remain operational. The power steering and power brakes are still functional, but drivers do not have as much power as they are accustomed and that can be startling for some people.

Continue reading "Attention South Carolina BMW Owners, Recall for 150,800 Vehicles" »

In the middle of last week, a store clerk in the state's capital made a call to police because a man was causing a disturbance in the store. Not long after that the man ran from the store into the road near Providence Hospital in Columbia and was struck and killed by a firetruck, according the South Carolina Highway Patrol. There was another man hit by the truck, but he did not incur serious injuries and was promptly treated and released.

The Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins of the Columbia Fire Department said the truck was responding to a hazardous-materials call and the unit had both their lights and sirens on at the time of fatal pedestrian accident. The collision occurred around 11:30 p.m. and South Carolina auto accident lawyers took note that a Post and Courier article mentions that both the men hit by the truck were dressed entirely in dark clothing, making them extremely hard to see in the middle of the night.

Continue reading "Two Columbia Men Struck by Firetruck Responding to Haz-Mat Call" »

In an unfortunate and somewhat strange incident, a 21-year-veteran of the South Carolina Highway Patrol was in a deadly auto accident involving only his patrol car. South Carolina injury lawyers found this news in in a Post and Courier report. The State Trooper was killed instantly in the crash, which happened back in March of this year. But, new information has been brought to light about the incident that surrounds the death of the trooper in mystery.

Lancaster County deputies say that after tests were run it can be determined that the 45-year-old trooper was driving anywhere between 104 and 111 mph at the time of accident. The spot of the crash was six miles south of Lancaster, South Carolina on state highway 200 at a point where a side road intersects at an odd angle with the highway.

Continue reading "South Carolina State Trooper Dies in High-Speed, Single Vehicle Accident" »

After a wonderful holiday with family, friends, and loved ones, injury lawyers in Charleston feel troubled in knowing a South Carolina family had a rough Thanksgiving after one of their members died just before Thanksgiving. A Boneau Beach man suffered life-ending body and serious head injuries, according to the Berkeley County Chief Deputy Coroner, after a wreck with another automobile. The accident occurred last Monday evening on U.S. Highway 17A just south of Jamestown.

Authorities say the deceased driver was most likely trying to turn around when it crossed over 17A in front of St. Stephan, South Carolina woman’s Nissan Altima. According the female driver of the Altima, when the Toyota came across the highway her vehicle struck the driver’s side of the unspecified model of Toyota.

Continue reading "Two Car Accident Near Jamestown Leaves One Dead Days Before the Holiday" »

In a major tractor-trailer accident one person was left dead, while four others suffered serious injuries. Apart from the three tractor-trailers in the Interstate 26 collision, there was a minivan and a car involved in the midmorning crash.

The incident is still under investigation by South Carolina State Troopers to determine exactly what happened to cause the devastating wreck. What is known is that one of three trucks jack-knifed and the other two had overturned.

In any major multi-vehicle accident it is certain there will be subsequent traffic build up. The westbound lanes of Interstate 26 in Calhoun County were closed for several hours resulting in mandatory detours for South Carolina travelers.

Continue reading "Five Vehicle Accident on South Carolina Interstate Involving Three Tractor Trailers Kills One, Injures Four" »

At the busy downtown intersection of Calhoun and King Streets a bicyclist was struck by an S.U.V. breaking the rider’s pelvis. Breaking a pelvis can be a severe injury because of the potential damage to surrounding tissues, arteries, nerves, and veins. According to the police report, the collision occurred in the early evening and was the result of the driver of the S.U.V. failing to yield to the cyclist. The S.U.V. was identified as a 2003 Ford and was traveling west on Calhoun and struck the 21-year-old on bike, who had a green light, when taking a left onto King.

The young cyclist was taken to the Medical University of South Carolina’s Hospital to receive treatment for the broken pelvis, while the driver of the Ford was charged with reckless driving.

In regards to bicycles downtown, knowledgeable attorneys have noticed that Charleston police have made an effort to make the city safer for its two-wheeled travelers through stronger enforcement of bike laws. The campaign to make streets safer for both bicyclists and motorists will be led by educating bike riders that they are required to follow the same road rules as motorists, such as obeying traffic signals and signs.

Continue reading "Downtown Charleston Bike Accident Solidifies Reason to Step Up Bike Law Enforcement" »

According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, a Columbia man suspected of leaving the scene of a fatal car accident has turned himself in, three days after the hit-and-run. The man driving struck a female pedestrian late on a Saturday night. The collision resulted in the wrongful death of the 53-year-old woman.The man was arrested after he came forward to authorities and was charged with driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident.

Charleston auto injury attorneys took note of the following unfortunate aspect of this negligent incident. The Richland County Coroner’s Office was not able to immediately identify the woman struck by the drunk driver. It has, however, been disclosed that the woman was dressed in dark clothing and pronounced dead at the scene.

Continue reading "Hit-and-Run Accident Near State Capital" »

Injury attorneys of Charleston took notice of the Post and Courier's report of a South Carolina educator that died in a single vehicle accident after the 29-year-old middle school teacher’s car ran off the road and overturned, according to authorities. The Rosemary Middle School teacher in Andrews was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and was ejected from the vehicle. The Berkley County Coroner reported that the accident caused fatal body and brain injuries.

The Huger woman was returning home from a trip to Charleston in her Chevy Cobalt, traveling eastbound. According to S.C. Highway Patrol, when the teacher’s car crossed the centerline, an overcorrection to right the vehicle caused it to flip into a ditch. In the minds of South Carolina car accident lawyers, the most ill-fated feature of the mid-evening crash is that it took place only a half-mile from the teacher’s home.

Continue reading "Rosemary Middle School Teacher Killed in Single Car Crash" »

Injury lawyers of Charleston noticed that week and half ago a two men were involved in serious motorcycle accidents one struck while riding on the streets in the Cannonborough neighborhood of Downtown Charleston. The operator of the pick up truck that was responsible for the collision has been charged with felony DUI. The second incident occurred in North Charleston the next morning.

The collision happening off the Penninsula, on the 205 exit ramp to U.S. Highway 78 is the only one where the motorcyclist was fatally wounded. But, the run-in Downtown is the only one where another party was found at fault.

After the wreck, which happened at the corner of Spring and Coming Streets, both the intoxicated driver of the truck and the man riding the motorcycle were taken to the hospital for treatment of personal injuries.

A 31-year-old Goose Creek man lost control of his 2003 Kawasaki on the off-ramp from I-26 at 1:20 a.m. The Charleston Deputy Coroner lists cause of death as a serious head injury, the man was not wearing a helmet.

Continue reading "Two Charleston Area Motorcyle Accidents--One is Fatal" »

A Myrtle Beach man and woman were traveling north in the southbound lanes of U.S. Highway 17 when they collided head-on with a semi heading in the opposite direction. Charleston truck accident attorneys read in the Charleston County Deputy Coroner. Both the woman and the man were transported to the Medical University of South Carolina, where the woman died and the man received treatment to serious injuries sustained from the accident.