Apr 12, 2013 | Car Accidents, Child Accidents, Personal Injury, Uncategorized, Wrongful Death
A family wants the world to see the last words their son was about to send while he was texting a driving on that grim night that he crashed his vehicle and lost his life.
Apparently, the victim was a young and vibrant student on the University of Northern Colorado who loved to snowboard and hike, while still managing to maintain a high G.P.A.
He had a clean driving record- not even one speeding ticket to his name. He was killed in a single-car rollover accident earlier this month. Amongst the wreckage and the victim’s belongings, the police found the victim’s cell phone, in which it appears he was in the process of texting at the time of the tragedy.
The text message read as follows: “Sounds good my man, seeya soon, ill tw.” It is obvious that the victim was unable to finish he thought before the accident occurred.
Witnesses have provided a little more detail to the incident and report that the victim appeared to be drifting into oncoming traffic with his head int he downward position, when he suddenly looked up, jerked the steering wheel and over corrected. His car ended up leaving the roadway and doing a complete flip before ending up head down.
The victim’s mother has decided to be extremely proactive in educating others on the dangers of texting and driving. She wants her son’s death to not be in vain, but rather to hopefully save the lives of others who continue to text and drive.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there are more then 9 people that are killed every day in crashes by distracted drivers. Not to mention, there are around 1,060 people injured a day by distracted drivers.
There are 39 states that have taken the initiative to outlaw texting while driving. Whether you live in those states or not, please think about the distraction and choose to put the phone down. Studies reveal that traffic accident rates for people ages 16 to 22-years-old are the highest out of any other age group of drivers.
It’s clear that youths, through no fault of their own, are the least experienced on the road. That’s why it’s important that parents and mentors take the time to warn youths of the dangers of risky driving and the importance of practicing safe driving techniques. If your teen has been involved in a serious accident, you need an accomplished and trusted attorney on your side. Call the law officers of Reeves, Aiken, and Hightower, LLP at our SC office at 803-548-4444, our NC office at 704-499-9000 or toll-free at 877-374-5999.
Apr 11, 2013 | Motorcycle Accidents, Personal Injury, Uncategorized, Wrongful Death
A 79-year-old man passed away Friday after a horrific motorcycle accident that occurred on March 17th of this year.
According to the Chief Investigator of the Greenwood County Coroner’s Office, the man died strictly as result to his cra
sh last month.
The man was in somewhat stable condition for a few days prior to his death. According to reports however,man’s recovery took a turn for the worst when there was hemorrhaging in his brain that was uncontrollable by the doctor’s on staff. It was this serious brain injury that was the ultimate result of the man’s death.
The details of the collision on St. Patrick’s day are clear however. The 79-year-old was riding his motorcycle south on S.C. 225 Bypass, when he collided with a 2002 Pontiac on the driver’s right hand side.
The driver of the Pontiac was also travelling southbound on S.C. 225 Bypass when he attempted to make
a left turn onto Front Line Road.It was at this time that the victim’s motorcycle hit the driver’s Pontiac.
Officials have stated that the 79-year-old was travelling on his motorcycle at a rapid speed under the conditions and tried to swerve to miss the Pontiac, but was unable to avoid the collision.
The accident occurred on a sunny afternoon, around 4:25 p.m. It was also reported that the victim was not wearing a helmet at the time of the incident. Had he of been wearing one, the result may not have been as grim as it ultimately turned out to be.
The Highway Patrol states that the driver of the Pontiac was transported to Self Regional Medical Center for treatment to her serious injuries. The motorcycle driver had to be airlifted to Greenville Memorial Hospital, where he eventually passed away after a terrible struggle.
Motorcycle accidents are exponentially more dangerous then that of a regular car. The rationale is that when you are driving a car, you have more metal and protection between you and the collision. However, unlike a typical car, the only thing protecting a person driving a motorcycle from impact due to a collision is their own bodies.
That being said, it is pertinent that one driving a motorcycle exercises extra precautions when operating their vehicle. Wearing a helmet is key. If there is no protection between you and the possible impact, the best thing to do is use your brain and protect it. Thousands of people die every year from serious head or brain injuries due to motorcycle accidents whereas the result may have been different if their head had been protected.
If you, or someone you know has been involved in a motorcycle accident in the Lancaster, York, or Indian Land regions/counties of South Carolina, contact the experienced motorcycle attorneys at Reeves, Aiken, and Hightower,LLP. We understand that accidents happen, and are here to help. Contact us today at 803-548-4444 or toll-free at 877-374-5999.
Apr 11, 2013 | Car Accidents, Child Accidents, Personal Injury, Uncategorized
A mother from Chester, South Carolina is being investigated after she backed her vehicle over her one-year-old daughter last Wednesday.
The Chester County Sheriff’s Office has released a statement concerning the incident that explains that the 23-year-old mother was attempting to work on her vehicle at the time of the accident.
She was apparently washing the vehicle’s engine out, and decided to move the SUV from one side of the house to the other while the hood was still in the upright position, making it nearly impossible to see her surroundings.
The mother states she was moving the car to get closer to the hose on the opposite side of the home, and did not realize that it would be so dangerous to drive a few feet with the hood up.
According to a Sheriff’s report, the officers were called to Chester Regional Wednesday afternoon to investigate and question the mother. She responded that she did strike her daughter accidentally when she was reversing her SUV.
The impact of the SUV caused the child to fall to the ground and somehow she ended up underneath the vehicle. The mother continued to reverse her car until she heard neighbors yelling at her to “STOP.”
The little girl was immediately rushed to the nearest hospital. Her injuries include a broken right arm along with scrapes and burn marks on her abdomen and chest.
Medical personnel determined the best course of action would be to airlift the little girl to Carolina Medical Center in Charlotte for further analysis and treatment.
The case is still under current investigation.
Studies reveal that every week in the United States approximately fifty children will be backed over by vehicles with at least two being injured fatally. Tragically, over 70 percent of these incidents involves a driver that is a parent or close relative. There is always a responsibility for drivers to be aware of what is behind their vehicle before backing up; However, when small children are present, that duty becomes more important than ever. If you or a loved one is hurt in an accident, Call Accident Attorneys of Reeves, Aiken, and Hightower,LLP at 803-548-4444 or 877-374-5999 toll-free.
Apr 11, 2013 | Child Accidents, Personal Injury, Uncategorized, Wrongful Death
Salisbury’s Fire Department have just released a statement in regards to the accident that claimed the life
of a toddler early Thursday morning.
Accordingly, the firefighters report that there had been some sort of electrical issue with the victim’s portable fan that subsequently sparked an electrical fire that resulted in the fatality.
The Fire Chief stated that the Fire Department received a call from a local neighbor a little before 1:00 a.m. Thursday morning, stating that the flames were growing rapidly and engulfing the back and sides of the home.
The victims lived in a small, one-story home in a quiet neighborhood on Davis Street, that was sadly destroyed by the once small fire.
The neighbor reports that she saw two adults and two children escape the fire unscathed. However, the sense of security was quickly ruffled when the two-year-old boy did not come out of the home with the parents.
An officer quickly entered the home, through the front door where smoke and flames were everywhere. He managed to find his way to the back of the home into the child’s bedroom, where he found the toddler in his bed sleeping.
When he went to pick the child up and carry him to safety, he realized that the child was unresponsive.
In the officer’s heroic attempt, there was nothing more he could do to rescue the young boy.
The boy’s teenage sister was injured when she had to break a window and climb out to safety. The father and the officer were also injured and both later treated for smoke inhalation.
All the can be stated for certain is that the fire began in the parent’s bedroom, where they were using the portable fan to cool themselves as they rested.
The investigation of the fire still remains underway.
As we all know and appreciate, small children are the most vulnerable among us, and great care must be taken to protect their safety. Accidents can happen quickly if proper steps are not taken by those in charge of their welfare. Despite our best intentions, however, needless accidents still happen, and injuries will occur. Hopefully, the injuries will be minor.
However, if your child is seriously injured, you need to know what to do first and what to expect. The experienced child injury attorneys of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower LLP are standing by to help. For more information on your options, call us at 877-374-5999 for a private consultation to evaluate your case.
Apr 11, 2013 | Personal Injury, Uncategorized
The North Carolina Highway Patrol reported that a passenger was ejected from a van after it flipped last Thursday at around 6:45 a.m. This took place between the Sharon School Road and Old Mountain Road exits.
It has been reported that the driver fell asleep at the wheel, flying from the road, and striking a guardrail. The woman then attempted to correct the van’s path, which caused the vehicle to flip over. The injured were flown to Carolinas Medical Center.
If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident, whether a vehicle collision or any other accident that resulted in injuries, call the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP. We have over 75 years of combined experience, and have handled many personal injury cases. For a consultation, call us at our Charlotte, North Carolina office at 704-499-9000.
Apr 10, 2013 | Personal Injury, Uncategorized
Charlotte, North Carolina firefighters fought an apartment fire, and after it was finally brought under control, almost 30 units were either damaged or destroyed. The fire took place at the Sun Valley Apartment complex off Arrowood Road in southeast Charlotte around 3:00 a.m. on Wednesday. When emergency crews arrived on the scene they spotted a large cloud of smoke; however, they could not detect where the flames were coming from.
Two residents were taken to the hospital with burns, while other residents ran from their homes. Some were resting outside of the building sitting on their packed suitcases. At this point, all they could do was watch the apartment buildings burn while firefighters pulled back as the situation became too dangerous. Falling debris could be seen as the walls and the roof fell into ruin.
After the conflagration, when the fire was brought under control, it was discovered that close to 30 units were destroyed or damaged. Rescue groups arrived on the scene to help the newly homeless residents. There is no word as to how the fire started, but a couple people were injured as a result.
While it has not been discovered how this particular fire started, if it is determined to be the negligence of someone, the people who were injured may have a claim for personal injuries. For a consultation of the rights you have after such a terrible event, call the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP at our Charlotte, North Carolina office at 803-548-4444, or toll-free at 877-374-5999. We handle accident victims everyday, and welcome the opportunity to help you and your loved ones.
