Apr 16, 2013 | Car Accidents, DUI & DWI, Felony DUI, Uncategorized
A man was killed in a single-car accident on Saturday, March, 2; and, another early-morning car accident resulted in power outages and a
gas leak. The first man who was killed died after a wreck on Farrow Road at about 4:00 a.m. His vehicle flew from the road at an excessive speed, broke through a utility pole, and ran into a tree. He died at the scene.
The second accident, which occurred on the other side of town, resulted in a 47-year-old man striking a power line cable and a gas line causing power outages in the area, according to the Columbia Police Department. The roads were closed while the repairs were made, and the man was charged with driving under the influence of a controlled substance, driving on a suspended license, and operating an uninsured vehicle.
Generally drivers who occupy the roads in the very late evening, or early morning are either working the night shift, visiting someone in the hospital, or unfortunately oftentimes are driving under the influence. It is generally good policy to stay away from the roads, if possible, in the extremely early morning hours. If you happen to be intoxicated, there is an increased likelihood that you will be stopped by the police, and if you are not intoxicated, you may be more susceptible to become a victim of a drunken driving accident.
At Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP, we recommend that you never get behind the wheel of a vehicle while intoxicated; also, we recommend to never get in a car where the driver has been drinking. The likelihood of something terrible happening as a result is vastly increased, and you do not want to become part of the increased DUI, and DUI related accident statistics in South Carolina.
If you or a loved one has been charged with a DUI, or Felony DUI, we can help you. Call our Baxter Village law office located in Fort Mill, South Carolina at toll-free 877-374-5999. However, in the meantime, be careful on the roads!
Apr 15, 2013 | DUI & DWI, Felony DUI, Uncategorized
A 52-year-old woman has been charged with driving under the influence (DUI) after speeding through a school-zone. In the statement she gave to the police, the woman asserted that she was attempting to get her son to school on time. The woman was pulled over after clocked by an officer driving 40 m.p.h. in a 25 m.p.h. zone.
After the officer flicked on the blue-lights signaling the woman to pull over, she led them down several streets before finally putting her vehicle to a stop. Police say she failed several sobriety tests, eventually refusing to take a breath-test. She reported to the officers that she drank too much the night before and had no food in her stomach that morning. Beer cans and mouthwash were found in the minivan.
The woman was charged with failure to stop for a blue light, child endangerment, and driving under the influence. Therefore, the moral of the story is do not drive the morning after a long drinking night. However, if you or a loved one do get charged with DUI or Felony DUI, call the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP at 803-548-4444, or toll-free at 877-374-5999.
Apr 15, 2013 | DUI & DWI, Felony Drug Possession, Felony DUI, Uncategorized
The fiancé of a murder victim has expressed outrage at the possibility of the most recently proposed “felon bill” being accepted. The man’s soon-to-be wife was murdered at a local restaurant, and he has stated that he is very upset about the proposal making its way up to the State Legislative Building in the State Capitol.
The man’s fiancé was stabbed over 20 times inside a restaurant by a colleague. She was pregnant at the time of the murder, and the assailant pleaded guilty to both murders. He will be serving two consecutive life sentences.
The bill is referred to as the “ban the box” bill, and the proposal would remove the question that inquires into the whether potential employees have been convicted of a felony from city and state applications. However, the state will still be able to conduct criminal background checks on applicants, and the bill does not address private businesses. The bill will be voted on this week, April 18th.
If many states throughout the United States, bills such as this are emerging, and they could give rise to new litigation regarding how far such a proposal can stretch. The law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP are here to ensure that your rights
are protected. For a consultation regarding any criminal matter, call us at our Charlotte, North Carolina office at 704-499-9000.
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 12, 2013 | Car Accidents, Uncategorized
A 43-year-old Fort Mill mother lost her life last week in a tragic car accident near mile marker 89 on Interstate 77.
According to the reports, the victim was driving her vehicle around 11:30 p.m., when she suddenly lost control of the vehicle and travelled up an embankment, smashing into a tree.
She was in the northbound lane and is reported to of not been wearing her seat belt. Thus, upon impact, the poor victim was ejected from the vehicle at the time of the accident with nothing to protect her and keep her stable.
There was little suffering, however, as the victim died on scene.
Prior to her move to York County, the victim grew up in Cary, NC, where she attended East Carolina University and last University of West Virginia for her Master’s degree in Sociology.
She was survived by her husband and two beautiful daughters. Moreover, she had a family in the York County School system, where she had been an active teacher there since 1996.
The family has released a statement saying that “Becoming a mother was a gift from God to [the victim] and was her greatest joy. Her love for them will be carried in their hearts throughout their lives.” The victim has touched the hearts of many people, and will be remembered always for her caring spirit and good deeds.
Recent studies reveal that in 2012, the use of seat belts in passenger vehicles saved an estimated 12,546 lives. It’s the law for a reason—wearing proper restraints while riding or driving in a motor-vehicle saves lives. If you or a loved one is injured in a serious motor-vehicle accident, Call the experienced attorneys at Reeves, Aiken, and Hightower,LLP at 803-548-4444 or 877-374-5999 toll-free.
Apr 11, 2013 | Motorcycle Accidents, Trucking/Tractor-Trailer Accidents, Uncategorized, Wrongful Death
A Florence man was killed on Wednesday when he was driving his three-wheeled Cam Am motorcycle westbound and abruptly slammed into the back of a halted tractor-trailer.
According to the SC Highway Patrol, the accident occurred around sunset at 6:48 p.m. The location of the accident was in the westbound lanes of US 76 at Francis Marion University.
Apparently, the tractor-trailer had slowed down to stop at the stoplight right outside the University, when the driver of the motorcycle smashed into the back of the truck.
The 32-year-old motorcyclist was travelling to close and did not realize that the tractor-trailer has come to a complete stop at that point.
Moreover, the motorcyclist had not been wearing his helmet at the time of incident; a reoccurring theme is most deaths due to motorcycle accidents.
No charges are expected to be filed against the driver of the tractor-trailer, who was luckily unscathed by the accident.
Studies from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration reveal that 3,675 people were killed and 80,000 people injured in crashes involving large trucks or tractor-trailers in 2010. During that same year, 276,00 large trucks were involved in traffic crashes.
However, it is uncommon to hear of an accident occurring between a motorcyclist and a driver of a tractor-trailer. There is always an increased risk in driving a motorcycle, as there is not nearly as much metal around you for protection To make matters worse, often times people driving motorcycles are not wearing their helmets which can ultimately serve as a death sentence.
If you or a family member is involved in any serious motorcycle accident or tractor-, you will need an attorney to protect your rights and get you on a successful path to recovery. Call the experienced attorneys of Reeves, Aiken, and Hightower,LLP at 803-548-4444 or 877-374-5999 toll-free.
