Dec 2, 2013 | Car Accidents, Personal Injury, Uncategorized, Wrongful Death
A car accident occurred in Orangeburg, SC over the Thanksgiving holiday where two men were actually electrocuted during their assistance in the collision. 
The initial accident happened when a car on Highway Four was attempting to pass another vehicle, and inadvertently pulled into the pathway of an oncoming vehicle. In doing so, the driver over-corrected his vehicle, and veered off the side of the road, taking his own life and seriously injuring the people attempting to help.
According to the Orangeburg Police Department, not only was the accident fatal for one person involved in the actual wreckage, but also took the injured the 33 year old and 25 year old men who were attempting to rescue the victim of the accident.
Apparently there was a “downed power line,” which led to the electrocution of the two Good Samaritans. Due to the time of the accident, no one could see that the power line had been knocked down, and multiple people had piled-up to aid in the accident.
The men electrocuted suffered serious burns after the initial jolt and shock of the electricity.
The moral of this bizarre accident is that even the people who are not technically involved in the initial accident can still suffer serious personal injuries just by attempting to assist others. There are professionals who are equipped to help the injured parties, and without their expertise, you may be injuring yourself and others, including the already injured party.
The SCDOT has stated that if you see a wrecked vehicle that is near or up against a power line, the most important thing to do is contact the police and tell the injured parties to stay inside their vehicle. You and the injured party must not touch anything metal and the ground simultaneously, or you could end up in the same situation as the aforementioned men.
If you have suffered any serious personal injuries in South Carolina, contact the law offices of Reeves, Aiken, and Hightower, LLP toll free at 877-374-5999 for more information on your options.
Nov 20, 2013 | Car Accidents, Personal Injury, Uncategorized
Two gentlemen were walking the streets of Lancaster Co. in late May, when all of a sudden a car swerved towards the pedestrians, hit and injured them, quickly speeding away. Since the accident, the Highway 
Patrol Troopers have arrested two teens for the hit-and-run accident, one age 18, the other 19. Both have been charged with attempted murder.
A nearby resident said it sounded like a gunshot when the men were hit. The men landed in the front yard of another resident, one unconscious while the other was screaming from the excruciating pain of his broken leg. According to authorities, the two teens and the men had been involved in a drug related dispute and the teens allegedly sought out and struck the men walking.
Research conducted by the NHTSA shows that on average, a pedestrian was killed every two hours and injured every eight minutes in traffic crashes in the United States in 2012. Not only should drivers be vigilant of pedestrians, but also, pedestrians must keep a watchful eye out for drivers. When it is late at night, it can often times be difficult to see, especially if the pedestrian is wearing dark-colored clothing. If both drivers and pedestrians are mindful of each other, the number of pedestrian accidents would quickly decrease.
Here at Reeves, Aiken, and Hightower, we consider your personal injury to be very serious. Please contact our offices and let us hear your side of the story to ensure that you get the justice you are seeking. Call us today and speak directly with one of our personal injury attorneys at 803-548-4444 or 877-374-5999 toll-free. We would be honored to have an opportunity to help you and your family get through this most difficult time in your lives.
Nov 19, 2013 | Car Accidents, Personal Injury, Uncategorized
Being involved in a personal injury situation can be a scary experience; however, it is very important to keep calm, seek medical attention immediately, and do not do anything that could jeopardize your car insurance claim.
The following is a list of steps to take after an accident:
(1) Do Not Admit Fault for the Accident – Do not admit fault to the other party, your passengers, the police, witnesses, or your auto insurance agent. Even if you suspect you may be at fault or partially at fault, do NOT admit wrongdoing.
(2) Seek Medical Attention – Although you may not feel hurt, pain from the accident may appear later; so, consult a professional to determine the seriousness of your injuries. If you wait too long to seek medical attention, it will be more difficult to prove your injuries resulted from the car crash.
(3) Take Pictures of the Accident and your Injuries – If you have trouble getting a settlement from the insurance company, and decide to hire a Personal Injury attorney, photos will assist you in forming a claim. If you have a cell phone with a camera, it will be useful at this point.
(4) Take Notes – It is important to take detailed notes regarding your medical treatment because this information may be necessary for you to get full reimbursement from the insurance company. Take down the names and addresses of any chiropractors, physical therapists, or other professionals you were referred to after the accident. Further, you will want to keep receipts of medications, and assistive devices such as crutches that you used.
(5) Get a Copy of the Police Report – This is to verify all facts regarding the accident are correct. Errors in the police report may delay your injury claim.
(6) Speak with an Attorney – If you are asked to sign any documentation you do not understand, talk to a personal injury attorney. Having adequate representation is the best way to make sure your rights are protected, especially if the accident is very serious, and you are deemed to be partially at fault.
Unfortunately, many people do not take these prudent steps after a car accident. This is why it is important, if you think that you have an injury claim, to consult with counsel as soon as possible so important steps do not go missing. For a confidential consultation, contact the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP. You can reach our Fort Mill, South Carolina office at 803-548-4444, or toll-free at 877-374-5999. We will be pleased to assist you.
Nov 18, 2013 | Car Accidents, Personal Injury, Uncategorized
A South Carolina high school basketball coach has been killed in an apparent hit-and-run accident. The woman was traveling south on U.S. 52, with three minors in her car, when she swerved, apparently to avoid
a head-on collision with another vehicle. As the woman attempted to investigate the damage to her car, another vehicle plowed into her and left the scene of the accident.
Sadly, after the pulverizing impact, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Williamsburg County Coroner. The children, who were involved in the first accident, were brought to the hospital and released that evening. The woman was a varsity basketball and volleyball coach.
Such terrible accidents unfortunately take place everyday. A mother drops her child off at school; another driver blows a red light resulting in an accident causing permanent disabilities for the woman. How will that family be able to pay for her medical expenses? How will the months of lost wages be brought back to pay for that late electric bill, or those missed car payments?
What if the woman was killed in the accident and the daughter lost her parent, a strong provider of the support a minor needs? How will her life change? We work to ensure that if you have been injured, or a loved one has been killed in an accident, we can work to get you the compensation you deserve. If the driver in the above tragedy is found, he will face criminal charges as well as possible civil charges.
Call the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP. We have a combined 75 years of experience in litigating personal injury cases and wrongful death cases, and welcome the opportunity to assist you. For a consultation, call us toll-free at 877-374-5999.
Nov 14, 2013 | Car Accidents, Personal Injury, Uncategorized
Three Robeson, NC County residents were injured, and a man was killed in a single-vehicle accident in Hoke County. The 24-year-old man died at the scene after he failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Mount Zion
Church and Old Wire roads and his 2001 Pontiac struck a tree.
According to the police report, the 18 and 22-year-old all suffered serious injuries. Two were flown to UNC Hospitals and one of them was taken to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. Further, all four people were wearing their seat belts.
North Carolina law applies the archaic contributory negligence standard, the least favorable threshold in the United States for injury victims. Contributory negligence means that you cannot collect one dollar in damages if you were negligent in any way – even 1 percent.
Many North Carolina juries are reluctant to assign blame to victims because this standard is so harsh and unfair. Therefore, It is important, in North Carolina, for the focus to remain on the carelessness or recklessness of the other driver.
South Carolina uses a more reasonable comparative negligence standard. The standard is essentially that you can still collect if you were partly at fault. However, your jury award would be reduced by the percentage of your fault. Therefore, if your claim is worth $100,000 but you were deemed to be 25 percent at fault, your compensation would be reduced by 25 percent, bringing the claim to $75,000.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a vehicle collision, call the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP for a consultation. You can reach our South Carolina office at 803-548-4444, or toll-free at 877-374-5999. Further, if you are from North Carolina, call us at 704-499-9000 at our Charlotte, NC office.
Nov 14, 2013 | Car Accidents, Personal Injury, Uncategorized
A Charlotte, North Carolina man, who was driving while impaired on an icy portion of Tyvola Road, caused a collision that resulted in the death of a 20-year-old woman. Police report that the 23-year-old man was driving while
intoxicated in his Nissan Frontier truck when he lost control near the confluence of Interstate 77 and Tyvola Road, ultimately striking a tree. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, and the other occupants of the truck were transported to Carolina’s Medical Center.
The man was found to have been drinking, and therefore is facing criminal charges. However, he will likely face civil charges as a result of the accident as well. If a person is injured as a result of someone else’s negligence or mistake, they may be entitled to monetary compensation. North Carolina Courts may award injured plaintiffs medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Also, Courts may also order the liable party to pay for the victim’s loss of companionship, or loss of enjoyment of life (loss of consortium). In some cases, Courts may even award Punitive Damages, or punishment damages for willful, wanton, or reckless conduct. Costs concerning medical bills, or property damages may be easily ascertained; however, other damages can be difficult to quantify.
If you or a loved one has been hurt or killed in an accident, contact the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP to speak with a trained and experienced attorney equipped to handle personal injury claims on behalf of injured parties. Contact us for a confidential consultation so we can begin to assist you with your claim and make sure the responsible party is accountable for all of the damages.
You can reach our Charlotte, NC office at 704-499-9000 if you have been injured in North Carolina, and our Fort Mill, South Carolina office at 803-548-4444 if you have been injured in South Carolina.
