Apr 2, 2013 | Uncategorized, Workers' Compensation
One man has died, and two have been injured in a York County, South Carolina paper plant accident which occurred around 1:30 a.m. last Tuesday at the Resolute Forest Products plant in Catawba. The men were doing maintenance on an old decommissioned tank outside of the main production area.
Investigators think that a chemical leaked into a tank that the men were working on. Two of the men were barely able to escape, and the third man died in the tank. One of the injured men were taken to the hospital and treated for his injuries. A further investigation will take place with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and York County will assist with the investigation.
This is not the first time the paper mill has experienced an accident as a result of a chemical leak. Last May, one man was seriously burned, and three others were injured in a chemical leak. Resolute Forest Products employs about 700 people and makes commercial printing papers and market pulp.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a work-related accident, make sure that your employer is compensating you sufficiently. For a consultation, call the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP at 803-548-4444, or toll free at 877-374-5999.
Apr 2, 2013 | Uncategorized, Wrongful Death
A 59-year-old South Carolina man was tending to his broken down pick-up truck on the side of an Aiken County highway, when a drunk driver lost control of his car and skidded off the road, slamming into the pick-up truck. The pick-up truck was forced into the man who was checking under the hood, and he later died from his injuries.
The 21-year-old driver was charged with Felony DUI, and if convicted, he could face up to $25,000 in fines and up to 25 years in prison. This accident is an example of what can happen if someone gets behind the wheel of a car after consuming too much alcohol. The result is the wrongful death of an innocent South Carolina citizen.
In South Carolina, wrongful death occurs when as a result of negligence, or misconduct (such as DUI) of another person. A wrongful death can be caused by a car wreck, a workplace accident, defective product, or medical malpractice. South Carolina has a wrongful death statute that allows the family of a person killed to seek contribution for their loved one’s death from the careless people who caused it.
This law can get complicated, and this is why it is so important to seek competent attorneys who are experienced in the realm of the South Carolina Wrongful Death Statute. If you have lost a loved one as a result of the negligence or misconduct of another driver, call the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP for a consultation. You can call our Baxter Village office located in Fort Mill, South Carolina at 803-374-4444, or 877-548-5999.
Apr 2, 2013 | DUI & DWI, Felony DUI, Uncategorized
A 25-year-old man was killed in a two-vehicle crash on the 200 block of Sunset Boulevard in West Columbia. The man, who was from Hattiesburg was a passenger in a vehicle which crashed into another vehicle around 11:30 p.m. The man died from his injuries at Lexington Medical Center. The 24-year-old driver was charged with Felony DUI, and investigation of the wreck will continue.
In South Carolina, Felony DUI requires the person who is being charged to have (1) operated a vehicle under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or both; (2) did something else against the law, such as failing to stay in lane, or acted negligently; and (3) proximately causes great bodily injury or death to a person other than himself, including passengers, pedestrians, and other motorists.
If you or a loved one has been charged with Felony DUI, and there is any question as to whether one or more than one of these things is not present, contact the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP. You can reach us at our Baxter Village office located in beautiful Fort Mill, South Carolina at 803-548-4444, or toll free at 877-374-5999.
Apr 1, 2013 | Motorcycle Accidents, Uncategorized
Across the nation, the rate of fatal motorcycle accidents has increased over the past decade at a rate of about 150% from those recorded in 2000. In 2010, about 5200 riders were killed with about 100,000 being injured.
In the state of South Carolina, deaths from motorcycle accidents increased from less than 100 in 2003 to over 150 in 2010. Further, in North Carolina, motorcycle deaths have gone from about 100 in 2003 to over 200 in 2010.
The fact is that motorcycle deaths are more common than automobile deaths due to the fact that they are simply not protected while driving on the roadways. When a car strikes another car, the impact effects the body of the car, and not the driver. However, when something strikes a motorcycle, more often than not, the motorcyclist is hit; not just the motorcycle. Research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration illustrates that about 70 percent of motorcycle accidents are the result of another vehicle not being able to see the motorcycle. And also speeding, aggressive driving, and inattention at the wheel are other leading factors.
Therefore, if you or a loved one has been involved in a motorcycle accident which resulted in injury or death, contact the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP. For a consultation, contact us at 803-548-4444, or toll-free at 877-374-5999. We have riders in our office, and we greatly look forward to assisting you with your legal issue.
Apr 1, 2013 | Felony DUI, Uncategorized
A South Carolina man is being charged with fleeing the scene of a motorcycle accident after he crashed his car into two motorcyclists. One of the riders was injured to such an extent that he lost his leg. The man was charged with DUI; however, those charges have been dismissed. The hit-and-run charges, on the other hand, will remain.
The driver was arrested at a bar a few hours after the accident took place. Further, the patrons at the bar reported that the driver told them that he was involved in an accident and admitted to drinking beforehand. The problem the officers are faced with is the fact that the man fled the scene, and they could not determine how much alcohol he had imbibed at the time of the accident.
The motorcyclists were seriously injured; one so seriously injured that his leg had to be amputated. Therefore, if you or a loved one has been charged with DUI, Felony DUI, or hit-and-run, contact the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP. You can schedule a consultation by calling 803-548-4444, or toll-free at 877-374-5999.
Apr 1, 2013 | Uncategorized, Workers' Compensation
A South Carolina worker has been killed as a result of a workplace accident which caused him to fall into a stamping machine, at a manufacturing plant. The 60-year-old man was working on the machine in Williamston, SC when he lost control of where he was standing, falling into the machine.
According to the Stanco Metal Products plant manager, the machine did have safety features attached. However, it is unknown whether the mechanics were working at the time of the accident. The question is why the safety features did not activate when the man was so close to the machine. OSHA will make the determination as to whether the safety features were operating properly.
This is not the first accident at the South Carolina plant. In 2007, a worker fell from a scissor lift as he was working on the power lines. The company was fined for this circumstance.
In South Carolina, workers’ compensation is contained in the insurance policy your employer must carry in order to ensure that the employees injured at work can obtain necessary medical treatment and needed financial help in the time after an injury has occurred. Further, by law, every South Carolina employer with four or more full-time employees must have workers compensation insurance.
If you or a loved one has suffered a work related injury, contact the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP. To schedule a consultation, call our Baxter Village office located in Fort Mill, South Carolina at 803-548-4444, or toll-free at 877-374-5999.
