Sep 12, 2012 | Car Accidents, Personal Injury, Uncategorized
A Greenville County woman has pled guilty in a wreck that killed two people and injured two others in a wreck last year.
The 46-year-old Defendant was responsible for the wreck that caused a Department of Social Services worker and 10-year-old a child who was in DSS custody to lose their lives. According to Prosecutor, the defendant had been inhaling keyboard cleaner, which impaired her driving and in turn, caused the car accident. The Defendant missed a court appearance earlier this summer and was subsequently arrested in Ohio on fugitive warrant, only to later return to South Carolina.
The Defendant pleaded guilty in Pickens for “two counts of felony drunk driving resulting in death and two counts of felony drunk driving involving serious injury.”
The Defendant was subsequently sentenced to 20 years in prison.
South Carolina Car Accident Attorneys
At Reeves, Aiken, and Hightower, LLP, we understand that accidents happen. If you live in the York County area, please call our exprienced attorneys for help. Our seasoned litigators have over 75 years combined trial experience. Our team of personal injury attorneys include former insurance defense lawyers, a former Registered Nurse (RN), and former criminal prosecutor. We can investigate all aspects of a serious accident and hold all parties accountable for your loss. Call us today and speak directly with one of our lawyers at 704-499-9000 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.
Sep 2, 2012 | Car Accidents, Personal Injury, Uncategorized, Wrongful Death
A settlement between the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and the Estate of a man killed in a collision with a Deputy in June 2011 was approved by a judge on Wednesday.
Phillip Hawkins, 67, was killed when Deputy George Mickens, traveling at approximately 79 miles per hour, lost control of his cruiser when he ran a red light and collided with Hawkin’s car. Both the investigations of the South Carolina Highway Patrol and the Richland Sheriff’s Department concluded that a medical condition, likely a seizure caused Mickens to lose the ability to drive. The State Solicitor further concluded that the evidence was insufficient to find that the accident was the result of any wrongdoing.
Hawkins’ family, however, disagreed with those conclusions and filed a wrongful death suit, citing Mickens’ driving record. Mickens’ prior record reveals six crashes in the last ten years, four of which were caused by Mickens. Since 1993 Mickens has been stopped 12 times for offenses ranging from running a stop sign to speeding.
The Estate of Phillip Hawkins will receive $193,933.79 after legal fees. Mickens is no longer employed with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. The settlement protects the Department from further suits.
Columbia Car Accident Attorneys
If you or a loved one have been injured or killed in any type of car accident in the Columbia area, you need an experienced accident attorney like those at Reeves, Aiken & Hightower to help you get the justice you deserve. Call us at 877-374-5999, or
use this form, to speak with an attorney who can help you evaluate your claim and get you the best possible recovery.
Aug 20, 2012 | Car Accidents, Personal Injury, Uncategorized, Wrongful Death
Saturday night in Lexington, SC ( near Columbia, SC) was disruptive for two people in particular, as the The Lexington County Coroner has identified two people who were unfortunately, fatally wounded on the night in question.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol has reported that the location of the accident was near Pelion, whereas the driver was headed west on Neely Wingard Rd., and failed to stop at a stop sign at Fairview Rd., colliding with another vehicle. The time of car accident has been reported to be at or about 9:50 p.m.
Oddly enough, the driver of the truck walked away without an injury. The driver of the first vehicle, sadly can not say the same, as he was pronounced dead on scene. The passenger of the first driver’s vehicle was taken immediately to Palmetto Health, but then also perished after arriving at the Hospital.
South Carolina Attorneys Reeves, Aiken, and Hightower, LLP
If you have been involved in a serious car accident in the Lexington/Columbia area, carefully compare our attorneys’ credentials to any other firm. Then call us for a private consultation about your case. For more information about our firm, please visit www.rjrlaw.com or call us directly at 803-548-4444.
Aug 19, 2012 | Car Accidents, Uncategorized, Wrongful Death
After 23 years of practicing personal injury law in York County, I am amazed how people survive serious car accidents these days. I have several head-on collision cases in the Rock Hill and Fort Mill area in which everyone in the vehicles should have died. However, thanks to good engineering and angels, all survived with relatively minor injuries. One case involved a very kind elderly couple who did not even break a bone. Nevertheless, I read recently that a new crash test involving luxury cars showing these vehicles may not be able to provide protection from serious injuries in a common accident. More specifically, cars including BMW, Mercedes and Lexus all earned “poor” ratings in a test that simulated what happens when the front corner of a sedan hits another vehicle or an object such as a tree or pole, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In fact, just three out of 11 luxury cars from the 2012 model year passed the new crash test which evaluated front-corner impacts.
In the actual test, 25% of a car’s front end on the driver’s side is rammed into a 5-foot-high rigid barrier at 40 mph. In my experience, this type of impact is fairly common. Most impacts are at an angle and at significant speed. Airbags deploy, and seatbelts are engaged, if being used. According to recent studies, there are more than 10,000 deaths in frontal crashes each year. And this figure is far higher for resulting serious injuries requiring extensive surgery and months of rehabilitation. The study I read showed the Acura TL and Volvo S60 earned “good” ratings, while the Infiniti G was rated “acceptable.” The Acura TSX, BMW 3 Series, Lincoln MKZ and Volkswagen CC all received “marginal” ratings. And, finally, the Audi A4, Lexus ES 350, Lexus IS 250/350 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class were rated “poor.” Given their high prices and highly touted safety reputations, it is quite surprising that these manufacturers did so poorly. I would note that these particular cars are the smaller models in the fleet. Guess you cannot alter basic laws of physics. In these tests, the crash forces in such accidents are transferred to the front wheel, suspension system and firewall. In many instances, the front wheel pushes into the cabin, causing serious leg and foot injuries.
If you have been involved in a serious car accident in the Rock Hill / Fort Mill area, carefully compare our attorneys’ credentials to any other firm. Then call us for a private consultation about your case. For more information about our firm, please visit www.rjrlaw.com or call us directly at 803-548-4444.
Aug 16, 2012 | Car Accidents, Personal Injury, Uncategorized
A 24- year-old Marine lost his life this past weekend after being involved in a car accident in one of the most deadly stretch of Interstate that I-95 has to offer.
Statistics have shown that there is a particular section of this highway that is infamous for numerous accidents within the bounds of the roadway. The number of accidents is extraordinary since the year has begun: 132 car accidents so far in the same area of I-95 in Florence County for 2012.
The South Carolina Department of Public Safety ( SCDPS) believes this number will increase as the year and holiday season begin. 2011 was a grizzly one as well, reporting 220 car accidents in the ” deadly stretch.”
Drivers who use I-95 on a regular basis have been offering suggestions on how to reduce the number of car accidents, but have not yet been fully heard. Daily driver, Natalie Bates spoke out and suggested that ” if the lanes were wider…if the road was in better condition, [or] if there were some signs showing speeds that people are going.” She additionally noted how is more State Patrol cars were available to monitor the speed, the incident number may also decrease.
Ultimately, the main issue boils down to the fact that the speed in the ” deadly stretch” is an extraordinary 75 mph! The SCDPS has reported that more than 50% of the accidents that occur on this roadway can be attributed to the speed of the drivers. And with 75 mph as the base, drivers are inclined to travel anywhere upwards to 90 mph at any given point, almost tripling the death rate if the car were to collide with another at that rate.
Common drivers of the highway also believe that vacationers on the way to the beach contribute to the accidents, as they are not as familiar with the roadways, speeds, and turns that the highway has in store.
Public Safety Officials have repeatedly encouraged drivers to follow the posted speed, and to not allow the 75 mph posting to be pushed beyond its limits. Speeding is the number one cause of accidents that happens on the roadways. Couple speeding with distraction and you have the perfect recipe for disaster.
North and South Carolina Attorneys
If you, or someone you love has been injured in a car accident or any sort, please contact the Offices of Reeves, Aiken, and Hightower, LLP to get the help that you deserve. With experienced attorneys on your side, Reeves, Aiken, and Hightower are ready and willing to help. Call us at 877-374-5999, or contact us using this form, to speak with an attorney who will help you evaluate your claim.
