North Carolina Car Accident Lawyer Blog

The 12 people that were injured in a July 1 North Carolina truck-bus accident on Interstate 85 close to the Gaston/Mecklenburg County line are recovering from their injuries. The North Carolina bus accident happened when the bus rear-ended a tractor-trailer that was stopped behind another truck, causing a rear-end collision between the two trucks.

Among those who were injured were members of the gospel group The Bowling Family, including Mike and Kelly Bowling and their three children. According to a spokesperson that issued a news release, Mike, who was ejected from the bus during the collision, sustained multiple facial injuries and a fractures skull. He is expected to undergo additional surgeries to treat his North Carolina bus accident injuries. Kelly Bowling broke a foot and her vertebrae and will likely have to use a body brace for several months. She may also have to undergo surgery. Their six-year-old daughter Katelanne broke her collarbone. She had to have plastic surgery to repair a deep facial laceration.

Police have said that a the backlog of trucks attempting to get into a weigh station played a part in the Belmont truck accident. The truck backup reportedly extended from the weigh station, across the river bridge, and into the city limits and that this caused the tour bus driver to suddenly run into the line of trucks without any previous warning.

The weigh station, which was built in 1979, may now be too small to handle the large volume of trucks that need to be checked. According to the North Carolina Highway Patrol, which runs the weigh station, there is a $300,000 camera system that is supposed to warn people in the station when the trucks are backed-up all the way to the highway. However, this is reportedly not an uncommon occurrence. Belmont Police Chief David James says that other North Carolina truck accidents have happened for this same reason. The Highway patrol is looking at possible sites to set up a new weigh station where longer ramps could be set up.

Backup at weigh station played a role in I-85 crash, WCNC, July 2, 2010

Update: I-85 Crash Injures 10+, Gospel Singer In Fair Condition, 2WSPA.com, July 1, 2010

Related Web Resource:
The Bowling Family

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants to remind US motorists to drive safely during the summer driving season. Millions of Americans are expected to take to the roads over the next few months. To prevent these excursions or vacations from turning tragic, the NHTSA wants to remind motorists to:

• Avoid distracted driving, including texting or talking on a cell phone while behind a steering wheel.
• Stay up-to-date on auto maintenance.
• Make sure to inspect your tires and ensure that they are properly inflated.
• Obey the speed limit.
• Make sure everyone in the car is wearing an appropriate seat belt or child safety seat.
• Don’t leave children unattended near or in a vehicle.
• Don’t drive while exhausted or drowsy.
• Don’t drink and drive.

The NHTSA is reminding parents of teen drivers that there are preventive measures that they can take to prevent their teenagers from becoming involved in a deadly traffic crash this summer. Because many of them have more free time now that school is out, drivers in the 15 to 20 age group are at higher risk of being involved in an auto collision—already the leading cause of teenager deaths. The number of teen drunk driving fatalities are also known to go up during the summer months.

Our Charlotte, North Carolina car accident lawyers are committed to discouraging teens from driving drunk. Every year, we select a number of high school students as winners of the Michael A. DeMayo Scholarship Program. The recipients are selected based on their SAT scores, grades, community involvement, and original presentations that teach other kids about how dangerous it is to drive while under the influence. This year, winners each won a $2,500 college scholarship.

Teen driver risks in high gear over summer, USA Today, June 21, 2010

Consumer Advisory: Make Safety Your Constant Companion This Summer Driving Season, NHTSA, June 22, 2010

Related Web Resources:
North Carolina Department of Transportation

70 Rules of Defensive Driving, Road Trip America

Continue reading "Avoid Charlotte, North Carolina Car Accidents By Adhering to NHTSA Advisory on Safe Summer Driving " »

Six elementary school students and two adults were transported to local hospitals on Monday when they were involved in a North Charlotte school bus crash. A pickup truck reportedly struck CMS Bus 1118, which was stopped at a red light at around 8:45am at Gibbon and Nevin Road before hitting a car. The school bus driver and the pickup truck driver are the two adults who were injured. The car’s driver did not appear hurt.

North Carolina School Bus Accidents
If your son or daughter was injured in a North Carolina school bus accident, it is a good idea to consult with a Charlotte injury lawyer right away. In some cases, the negligent motorist will be the bus driver. In other bus crash cases, the negligent party may be another motorist.

Because most school buses are not equipped with safety belts, students are at risk of serious injury during a bus collision. Passengers can suffer serious neck injuries, back injuries, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and head injuries when thrown forward during a rear-end crash or from striking their heads on the roof of the school bus during a rollover crash.

In addition to watching out for careless motorist, bus drivers must drive carefully refrain from speeding, distracted driving, talking on the cell phone, driving under the influence, texting, and disregarding North Carolina traffic laws. They must also watch out for school kids walking to and from school and other pedestrians.

Charlotte NC bus accident: Pickup truck smashed into school bus, 8 injured, Justice News Flash, April 28, 2010

School bus collision injures six students, Charlotte Observer, April 26, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Transportation, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

The National Coalition for School Bus Safety

Continue reading "Charlotte, North Carolina Bus Accident Involving Pickup Truck Injures Six Students and Two Adults" »

A North Carolina traffic accident involving a school bus and a pickup truck has left the truck driver and several students with injuries. The Elizabeth City bus collision happened on Tuesday at around 3:39 pm at the US Highway 17 and Main Street intersection when one of the motor vehicles ran a traffic light.

The pickup truck struck Bus 137, which was carrying 42 students from Pasquotank High School and Elizabeth City Middle School. The school bus overturned, and 11 people were hurt.

Most of the students sustained bruises, joint injuries, bruises, and cuts, or experienced back or neck pain. One student suffered an asthma attack. Another student, age 15, started having seizures and was flown to a hospital for treatment of possible head injuries. The bus driver also was injured in the North Carolina bus accident.

The pickup truck’s driver, a woman in her 50’s, sustained multiple trauma and she may have internal injuries. She had to be cut from her vehicle, which had pinned her in.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there have been 1,409 school transportation-related crashes since 1998 resulting in 1,564 injuries, which breaks down to approximately 142 deaths/year. School-transportation-related collisions usually involves a school bus vehicle or a non-school bus that is used to transport kids to and from school or school-related activities.

Most school buses don’t have safety belts installed in the passenger seats, This can place students at risk of serious injury during a North Carolina bus crash. Kids can easily get thrown on top of each other, or into the front, back, or sides of the vehicles involved. In the event that the school bus were to overturn, students can easily strike their heads on the bus roof, resulting in injuries to minors.

North Carolina school bus accidents can happen because a driver, another motorist, or another party was negligent.

Students injured in school bus accident Tuesday, Daily Advance, January 27, 2010

Students injured in Elizabeth City school bus collision, Hampton Roads, January 27, 2010

Related Web Resources:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

School Transportation News

Continue reading "Elizabeth City Bus Accident Leaves Several Students with Injuries " »