Jul 31, 2012 | Car Accidents, Child Accidents, Personal Injury, Uncategorized
A tragedy occurred on Interstate 26 Saturday night, when an 11-year-old’s life was taken in a fatal car accident. A mother and her 11-year-old son were traveling on Interstate 26 when their car suddenly struck the guardrail, slowing down to a complete stop in the center of the fast lane. Almost immediately thereafter, their car was impacted by another car that skidded into the mother’s vehicle.
The frightened mother than gathered her children as quickly as possible in an attempt to evade any additional damages, and began to walk along side the road. As the family made their way slightly down the road, the 11-year-old boy was struck by a pickup truck, throwing his body into the median. Thereafter, an 18-wheeler rapidly approached the disaster, and in an attempt to avoid the now pileup, he swerved into the median. It is unclear whether the child was hit by the 18-wheeler or not when the truck ran atop the median.
The child was subsequently pronounced deceased at the scene.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol M.A.I.T. team was called to the scene of the accident and began an investigation into the accident. Deputy Chris Keller of the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene to assist with traffic control on the interstate.
To make matters even worse, as Officer Keller was standing towards the rear of his vehicle directing traffic around the accident, a Jeep approached and would not merge over. Officer Keller was able to escape the impact of the Jeep before it crashed into his patrol car. Luckily, Officer Keller suffered no injuries, but the damage to the patrol car amounted to a total loss.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol subsequently arrested the driver of the Jeep, Billy Dwayne Jones, 38, of North Charleston, who has been charged with driving under the influence. Jones was released on a $992.50 personal appearance bond.
In a horrific situation such as the aforementioned, it is difficult to place blame on any one party in particular, as it appears as though it was just one tragic event after another. It is important to obtain counsel to protect yourself and others from any further harm or injustice.
The South Carolina Personal Injury Attorneys of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower
If you or someone you know have been injured or killed in any type of accident, call the South Carolina personal injury attorneys of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower at 877-374-5999, or use this form, for a free consultation with an attorney to help you evaluate your claim and to get the recovery you deserve.
Jul 31, 2012 | Personal Injury, Uncategorized
The South Carolina Court of Appeals on Wednesday affirmed a trial court’s decision denying recovery for a woman injured at a stop sign controlled railroad crossing. Her lawsuit, brought by a guardian ad litem, as she is in a coma, is against both CSX, the train operator, and the South Carolina Department of Transportation, responsible for maintaining the signage at the crossing. Apparently, the train hit her car as she was crossing the tracks after the train blew its horn too late, the train tracks were improperly obscured by trees and vegetation, and the stop sign and stop line were too close the crossing.
In South Carolina, trains must start blowing their horns no shorter than 1,500 feet from a crossing. Equipment on board the train revealed that the horn only began blowing at 1,161 feet from the crossing. CSX is responsible for this failing. CSX is also responsible for maintaining sight of the rails from the crossing by clearing trees and vegetation. The plaintiff argued that CSX had failed to sufficiently clear the sight lines.
The plaintiff’s theory against the South Carolina Department of Transportation is that they negligently placed the stop sign and stop line and negligently inspected the crossing in such a way that allowed the plaintiff to be injured.
All three occupants of the car were injured. The most seriously injured passenger was placed in a one-month, medically induced coma, while doctors drilled a hole in her skull to relieve pressure on her brain. She still suffers severe intellectual, behavioral and physical impairments, four years later according to the facts assumed by the court.
Judge Short dissented and would have granted a new trial. Plaintiff is appealing to the South Carolina Supreme Court.
The South Carolina Personal Injury Attorneys of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower
If you or someone you know have been injured or killed in any type of accident, call the South Carolina personal injury attorneys of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower at 877-374-5999, or use this form, for a free consultation with an attorney to help you evaluate your claim and to get the recovery you deserve.
The entire opinion is appended below the fold.
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Jul 30, 2012 | Bicycling Accidents, Personal Injury, Uncategorized
Friday night was a tragic one when a bicyclist was involved in a fatal “hit and run.” The cyclist was riding along side Heckle Boulevard in Rock Hill, SC, when a man hit the cyclist with his motor vehicle, and then continued on his path. He was shortly after apprehended by the police after a witness described the vehicle to the officers. The defendant is currently under arrest and charged with a Felony DUI and Leaving the Scene of an accident.
Pursuant to South Carolina Statute 56-5-3420, “a person riding a bicycle upon a roadway must be granted all of the rights and is subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter.” Thus, when a ” hit and run” occurs, the cyclist is afforded the same rights as that of another driver in a motor vehicle.
To help prevent possible future accidents, The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles has provided 9 tips to “share the road” with others:
1. When attempting to pass a bicyclist, you must treat the bicycle as any other vehicle you would pass.
2. Allow for the bicyclist to make mistakes. Watch for swerving cycles and sudden turns.
3. The horn should be used to attract the bike rider’s attention and not as a threat to get out of your way.
4. Drivers must be careful when driving close to cyclists and should maintain a safe operating distance between the motor vehicle and the cyclist.
5. Before passing a cyclist in a narrow traffic lane, wait until the traffic is clear in the opposite lane and then change lanes to pass the cyclist. Do not attempt to squeeze past the cyclist.
6. Leave ample room when turning right after passing a cyclist so the cyclist is not cut off when you slow for the turn.
7. Even with a proper headlight and rear reflector, a bike is still difficult to see. Use extra caution after dark, especially in poorly lighted areas.
8. Automobile drivers should anticipate cyclists at parks, playgrounds, near schools and especially in residential areas. Night is a very difficult time for the bicycle rider and the automobile driver; alertness is required from both.
9. After parking on streets and before getting out of a motor vehicle, the driver and passengers should be careful not to strike a bicyclist when opening car doors.
The South Carolina Personal Injury Attorneys of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower
If you or someone you know have been injured or killed in any type of accident, call the South Carolina personal injury attorneys of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower at 877-374-5999, or use this form, for a free consultation with an attorney to help you evaluate your claim and to get the recovery you deserve.
Jul 28, 2012 | Car Accidents, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death
While everyone knows the dangers of drinking and driving, few appreciate the dangers of texting driving. However, statistics and studies confirm that texting driving may be as dangerous as “drunk driving.” So why do we still do it?
Texting Driving Dangers
While the dangers may seem obvious, many of us still do it. Because you are texting someone as you are driving, you are not paying attention to the road. And even if you glance up every few seconds, you are still a real danger. For example, you won’t have enough time to react if driving conditions change quickly. As a result, serious accidents occur, and people get hurt or killed. Rather than take chances, focus on driving and don’t let this happen to you.
Even before the texting driving studies began, I saw first-hand accidents due to texting driving as a police officer. Fortunately, I never had to work an accident where someone was killed. However, I did see accidents where injury and damaged vehicles resulted. While everyone had an excuse, every accident was preventable if the driver had been paying attention. So unnecessary and sad.
Nearly everyone who admitted they had been texting would state they only looked away for a second. It was during that second of looking away that an accident happened. If you absolutely must send a message to someone it is better to pull over and send a quick message and then let the other person you are driving will get back to them shortly. It is always better to play it safe than to end up in an accident that could result in serious injury or even death.
The personal injury attorneys of Robert J. Reeves P.C. stand ready to fight for you are in an accident. We encourage you to visit our website at www.rjrlaw.com and compare our attorneys’ credentials to any other firm. You can then call us directly at 803-554-4157 for a private, confidential consultation to review your case.
Jul 27, 2012 | Personal Injury, Uncategorized
Today the South Carolina Senate voted no on a bill that would have banned texting while driving. 40 other states already have bans on texting while driving. As we all know texting while driving is the cause of a great number of accidents and personal injuries. Texting while driving is in fact more dangerous than drunk driving, which is severely punished. People get injured because of texting while driving.
However, the South Carolina legislature, and perhaps many South Carolina citizens, continue to value liberty more than this danger. Larger than average vehicles cause injuries. Tractor trailer trucks cause injuries. We make a variety of avoidable choices every day that could injure others. South Carolina chooses liberty.
The South Carolina Personal Injury Attorneys of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower
If you or someone you know have been injured or killed in any type of accident, call the South Carolina personal injury attorneys of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower at 877-374-5999, or use this form, for a free consultation with an attorney to help you evaluate your claim and to get the recovery you deserve.
Jul 26, 2012 | Personal Injury, Uncategorized
In late June, a Lancaster man died in the Richburg ATI Allvac plant. The Chester County coroner’s office said the man died of asphyxiation at the ATI Allvac plant just after 9 p.m. Tuesday.
The area of the plant that the man died in was filled with super-cooled liquid nitrogen where temperatures can fall to 200 degrees below zero. ATI Allvac hasn’t released any details of the accident, which is under investigation. ATI Allvac mill produces alloys for the aerospace and medical industries.
Lancaster and Richburg are in Lancaster and Chester Counties respectively.
The Lancaster Accident Attorneys of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower
If you or someone you know has been injured or killed in any accident, you need the help of a serious accident attorney like those at Reeves, Aiken & Hightower. Call us at 877-374-5999, or contact us at this link, to schedule a free, private consultation. We can help you evaluate your claim and get you the recovery you deserve.
