Nov 12, 2012 | Uncategorized, Wrongful Death
A 43-year-old man was killed last month in Great Falls, SC after he was hit by a car while walking along S.C. 99, according to authorities. A motorist discovered the body around 6:30 a.m. and alerted authorities.
He was pronounced dead at the scene from head injuries by the Chester County Deputy Coroner. The driver was not apprehended, but this person could face felony hit-and-run charges.
Death can occur in an instant. Oftentimes, you don’t even get to say goodbye. Your world has just stopped, but everything seems to be happening all at once. You are devastated and don’t know what to do or where to turn. You have many questions but very few answers. People are asking you to make so many decisions when you are still trying to figure out what happened.
There is no greater loss than losing a loved one, but it is especially hard when you don’t have any warning. Someone else’s negligence can change your life forever after a fatal accident. We are experienced wrongful death attorneys and are here to help get you through this nightmare and find those answers. We represent and protect those left behind.
The trial attorneys of Reeves Aiken & Hightower LLP, are experienced wrongful death accident lawyers. They know the intricacies involved in these cases. As a former Registered Nurse (RN) working in intensive care, attorney Robert J. Reeves understands complex anatomy and physiology and can explain trauma and autopsy findings. As former insurance defense attorneys, both Mr. Reeves and attorney Tyler Burns know what to look for, and how to prepare for trial. We welcome the opportunity to sit down and personally discuss your case. Call us today for a private consultation. Call our Fort Mill office at 803-548-4444 or toll-free at 877-374-5999.
Nov 9, 2012 | Uncategorized, Wrongful Death
Last year, a woman was killed in the accident that happened off of U.S. 21 nearFoot Lawn Road. A car and a pick-up truck collided after the two vehicles were heading in different direction, according to the police report.
Two people were injured in the accident, and one of them was killed. The police took the injured people toPiedmontMedicalCenter, andSpringsMemorialHospital. Police reported that they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident.
The elements of damages generally recoverable in a wrongful death action in South Carolina are: (1) Pecuniary loss, (2) mental shock and suffering, (3) wounded feelings, (4) grief and sorrow, (5) loss of companionship, and (6) deprivation of the use and comfort of the intestate’s society, the loss of her experience, knowledge, and judgment in managing the affairs of herself and her beneficiaries, in addition to the loss of her ability to earn money for the support, maintenance, care and protection of his wife and children, and for the education of training of the latter. Brooks v. United States, 273 F. Supp. 619, 626 (1967).
South Carolinadoes not limit the survivors’ recovery to pecuniary loss only, but allows recovery for survivors’ sorrow and mental anguish. Pecuniary loss is therefore calculated by: (1) the prospective earnings of the decedent subsequent to death, (2) calculated on the basis of his “work expectancy,” and (3) the extent to which his statutory beneficiaries “might logically and reasonably have expected to share in such prospective earnings.” Welch v. Epstein, 342 S.C. 279, 280 (2000).
If someone who is very close to you has been involved in a Wrongful Death situation, contact the law offices of Reeves Aiken & Hightower. We are here to help you through this difficult time in your life. You can reach ourFort Mill, BaxterVillage office at 803-548-4444, or toll-free at 877-374-5999.
Nov 7, 2012 | Uncategorized, Wrongful Death
A Greenville, SC woman was recently killed after she was hit by an SUV while raking leaves in her yard. The Greenville County Deputy Coroner says that the driver of a Mercury SUV lost control and swerved into the 77-year-old woman’s yard at around 2:00 p.m. The police report that the SUV driver had been closely following another vehicle, over-corrected, hit a tree and struck the woman.
She had been working in the yard with her husband, who saw the vehicle approaching and yelled to his wife to flee. He was able to get out of the way; however, his wife was struck. Unfortunately, she was pronounced dead at the hospital several hours later.
The South Carolina Wrongful Death Statute, S.C.Stat. Ann. 15-51-10 states as follows:
“whenever the death of a person shall be caused by the wrongful act or default of another and the act, neglect or default is such as would, if death had not ensued, have entitled the party injured to maintain an action and recover damages in respect thereof, the person who would have been liable, if death had not ensued, shall be liable to an action for damages, notwithstanding the death of the person injured, although the death shall have been caused under such circumstances as make the killing in law a felony. In the event of the death of the wrongdoer, such cause of action shall survive against her personal representative.”
If you or a loved one has been killed in an accident, you may be able to collect for Wrongful Death. Contact the law offices of Reeves Aiken & Hightower for a consultation. You can contact our South Carolina, Baxter Village Office at 803-548-4444, or toll-free at 877-374-5999. We know a death in the family can be traumatizing, and we are here to help you.
Nov 5, 2012 | Brain Injury/Head Trauma, Child Accidents, Personal Injury, Uncategorized, Wrongful Death
Two Seneca, South Carolina teens were killed last Thursday, when a pick-up truck collided with the moped they were riding.
The accident occurred around 10:30 p.m. Thursday night, in Oconee County near Seneca.
There were three people present at the time of the accident, including the two fatalities, and the pickup truck driver. The truck driver suffered no serious injury, however the same can not be said for the teens on the moped.
Both of the victim’s were 17-year-old males who attended High School together. One victim died on scene, as the other died about an hour after being hospitalized at the Oconee Medical Center Emergency Department.
Neither teen was wearing a helmet.
The authorities are currently conducting an investigation, and autopsy reports will soon be concluded to hopefully give the families some answers.
There is no greater loss than losing a loved one, but it is especially hard when you don’t have any warning. Someone else’s negligence can change your life forever in a fatal accident.
We at Reeves, Aiken, and Hightower are experienced wrongful death attorneys and are here to help get you through this nightmare and find those answers. We represent and protect those left behind. Contact us today at 803-548-4444 or toll free at 877-374-5999.
Nov 5, 2012 | Assault and Battery, Nursing Home Abuse, Personal Injury, Uncategorized, Wrongful Death
A Rock Hill elderly woman was killed in November 2011, when her assisted living care nurse smothered the victim to death. The employee’s actions were discovered when she attempted to steal and cash checks from the victim’s banking account.
The 30-year-old former assisted living employee was charged with murder, and sentenced to life in prison this past Thursday. The 82-year-old victim was found dead in her shower at the Oak Bridge Terrace Assisted Residences, on the campus of Park Pointe Village Assisted Living facility in Rock Hill, SC. It was reported by the woman’s family that the body of the deceased was “badly bruised.”
An investigation discovered that the Rock Hill Police had been at the Park Pointe Village the day before the victim’s death, when it was reported that the victim’s checkbook had been stolen.The victim told the Rock Hill police that four checks had been written to the defendant that did not match her signature, totaling to $1,280. The checks were written between October 12 and November 1 of 2011.
The defendant had access to all of the assisted living residents, but was not at work at the time of the complaint, and was since suspended from her job. Later, it was discovered that the defendant had gotten another employee to let her into the facility when she murdered the victim. The defendant reportedly put a shower cap of the victim’s head, put her into the shower while running, and suffocated her.
The body was found around 6:30 a.m., when CPR was attempted, but sadly failed.
The victim’s family is suing the assisted living home for the wrongful death of their loved one.
Elder abuse is a crime that is on the rise due to the victim’s vulnerability. If you suspect something is not quite right, call us and we will help you find out if you are worried about nothing or if something really is wrong. If your loved one has already been injured or worse, call us immediately. Mr. Reeves stands ready to bring his medical background and years of nursing home litigation experience to your family. First, we want answers. And then, we want justice. Call the law offices of Reeves, Aiken, and Hightower today at 704-499-9000 or 877-374-5999 toll-free.
Nov 5, 2012 | Pedestrian Accidents, Personal Injury, Uncategorized, Wrongful Death
A man from Chester, SC died Sunday morning after a skydiving incident gone awry.
Authorities reported that the sky diver was killed when he landed too hard at an airport in Chester around 10:15 a.m. Sunday morning. The man was airlifted to Carolina Medical Center in Charlotte, NC, where he subsequently died. 
According to the police reports, the accident was not caused by any malfunction of the plane. Moreover, it was unknown if the sky diver was diving alone, or if the victim had been diving in a group, or even perhaps the victim had been strapped to another sky diver during the jump.
The company that coordinated the dive was Skydive Carolina. It was reported additionally that there were no issues or problems with the parachute the diver was using, and no other equipment malfunctioned.
Thus, an investigation will be conducted to answer some of these unknown questions.
Being involved in any sort of accident can been devastating. Moreover, when someone you love has been involved in a serious accident, you often feel helpless and weak. You are confused, concerned, and scared of what may happen. Contacting an attorney is often times the best way to sift through some of these troublesome issues. Let us take this burden off of you. Contact the experienced personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at Reeves, Aiken, and Hightower today. Call us at 704-499-9000 or 877-374-5999 toll-free and speak with one of our attorneys directly.
