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

Continue reading "Victims Recovering from North Carolina Tractor-Trailer Accident Involving Tour Bus " »

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 " »

A tragic Jamestown, North Carolina car accident that occurred during a police pursuit in Guilford County has claimed the life of 11-year-old Taylor Strange and her grandmother Sandra Allmond. The 55-year-old woman was turning left at a green light at an intersection just before noon on Sunday when a police car driven by North Carolina Highway Patrol Officer J.D. Goodnight struck her vehicle.

At the time, Goodnight was reportedly pursuing a Buick Skylark that was moving at a speed of 80 mph in a 55 mph zone. According to a preliminary accident report, the police officer was traveling at 120 mph before slowing to 95 mph when he struck Allmond’s vehicle. The impact of the collision split her vehicle in two. Two other children who were in the car were treated at a hospital before being released.

Goodnight reportedly had turned on his blue lights but it is not known for sure whether he had activated his siren. Witnesses say that they did not hear one. The report says that Allmond “failed to yield” and that Goodnight tried to avoid colliding with her vehicle.

The Attorney General’s Office is conducting an independent probe into the North Carolina car accident. There is no internal policy that establishes a maximum speed allowed during police chases and officers are supposed to use their judgment, based on their training, to determine what is safe.

It was just earlier this month that our Charlotte, North Carolina car accident lawyers posted a blog on recent findings, per ABC11, that North Carolina Highway Patrol troopers were involved in about seven car crashes a year in 2009. While it is important that police officers do their job when pursuing suspects, they must still obey the traffic laws and warn others when they are speeding, headed to an emergency situation, or involved in a police pursuit. They also must take precautionary measures to make sure that they don’t accidentally injure anyone on the way to their destination.

Trooper going 120 mph before crash, ABClocalgo.com, May 27, 2010

Read the trooper accident report (PDF)

Related Web Resources:
North Carolina Highway Patrol

State Highway Patrol Troopers Involved in Seven North Carolina Car Accidents a Week During 2009, North Carolina Car Accident Law Blog, May 19, 2010

Continue reading "North Carolina Highway Patrol Officer Was Traveling at 120 Mph Before Guilford County Car Accident that Killed 11-Year-Old Girl and Her Grandmother" »

Each year, our Charlotte, North Carolina car accident law firm awards a number of high school seniors $2,500 college scholarships through the Michael A. DeMayo Scholarship Program. For the 2009 – 2010 academic school year,15 graduating seniors each received this award for their grades, SAT scores, involvement with their school and communities, and winning presentations aimed at educating fellow students about the dangers of underage drinking and drunk driving.

The scholarship program was open to applicants in the North Carolina and South Carolina counties where the Law Offices of Michael A. DeMayo represents clients, including Mecklenburg, Cleveland, Union, Gaston, Cabarrus, Catawba, Lincoln, Caldwell, Rowan, Anson, Iredell, Stanly, Robeson, Burke, Richmond, Scotland, Alexander, Cumberland, York, Chesterfield, Lancaster, Dillon, and Marlboro.

Whereas in years past, applicants had to answer an essay question by offering a suggestion or solution to how we can stop underage drinking and teen drunk driving, this year applicants were asked to choose among the latest technology and different genres to create presentations that provided ideas and solutions to the same topics. Three public service announcements, seven PowerPoint presentations, two speeches, two dedicated Web sites, and one brochure were included among the winning presentations.

Our Hickory, North Carolina car accident lawyers are very impressed with the presentations we received from all of our applicants. It is clear to us that there are many students who understand that driving while drunk can prove deadly. Our applicants offered unique suggestions for how this message can be better communicated to other teenagers.

Our Monroe, North Carolina motor vehicle accident law firm would like to congratulate the winners of the 2010 Michael A. DeMayo Scholarship program. We would like to invite you to visit our Web site so that you can meet this year’s recipients and watch their amazing presentations.

Scholarship Program, The Law Offices of Michael A. DeMayo

Related Web Resources:
Underage Drinking

Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Teen Drivers, CDC

Continue reading "Winners of the 2010 Michael A. DeMayo Scholarship Join the Fight to Stop North Carolina Car Accidents Caused by Underage Drinking " »

A tragic Greensboro tractor-trailer accident involving five cars has claimed the lives of brothers Isaiah Reynolds, 11, and Darryl Baucum, 15. Nine other people were injured in the multi-vehicle crash.

The deadly North Carolina truck crash happened early Sunday evening on Interstate 40 close to the High Point road exit. According to one witness, four of the vehicles were behind the large truck when the semi-truck collision happened.

Police have determined that the driver of the semi-truck, Jayne Perkins, caused the truck crash. She has been charged with two counts of misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.

North Carolina Tractor-Trailer Accidents
If you were injured in a North Carolina tractor-trailer accident, you do not want to try to pursue your compensation against a negligent trucking company without legal help. Trucking companies are equipped to combat semi-truck accident claims and they know how to minimize liability. It is important that you have your own legal representation that can protect your rights and fight for your financial recovery.

Granted, truck drivers, like all other motorists, are not intentionally trying to cause motor vehicle crushes. Truckers want to get to their destination safely and don’t want to ruin lives by hurting other people. Unfortunately, truck accidents do happen and it is usually pedestrians and the occupants of other vehicles that suffer the most. There are steps that you can take to protect yourself in the event that truck driver is careless, reckless, or makes a driving mistake:

• Stay out of a truck driver’s blind spot
• Obey traffic signals
• Don’t talk on the cell phone
• Don’t text message
• Don’t follow too closely behind a large truck
• Pay attention

Second brother involved in car wreck Sunday dies, Winston-Salem Journal, May 12, 2010

Teen Killed, Several Injured in Multi-vehicle Accident on I-40, Fox8, May 10, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Truck Accident Web Resources, Justia

Large Trucks, NHTSA (PDF)

Continue reading "Greensboro Tractor-Trailer Crash Involving Five Vehicles Kills Two Brothers, Ages 15 and 11, and Injures Nine Others" »

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" »

The Law Offices of Michael A. DeMayo, LLP and former WXII-TV morning anchor Tolly Carr are proud to present “Arrive Alive! Don’t Drink and Drive.” Our Charlotte, North Carolina motor vehicle crash law firm is bringing this community outreach program to area high schools next week as part of our ongoing efforts to prevent drunk driving among teenagers.

Since its inception by our Charlotte, North Carolina personal injury law firm in 2003, the Arrive Alive program has focused on high school juniors and seniors who are old enough to drive while still young enough to succumb to the pressures of underage drinking and driving—especially during prom, spring break, and graduation.

Arrive Alive will take place at the following locations during the times listed below:

Monday, 4/26: 9:30 a.m. at Charlotte Catholic High School in Charlotte
Tuesday, 4/27: 9:30 a.m. at West Caldwell High School in Lenoir
Wednesday, 4/28: 8:25 a.m. & 10:10 a.m. at Porter Ridge High School in Indian Trail
Thursday, 4/29: 9:00 a.m. at West Iredell High School in Statesville
Thursday, 4/29: 2:00 p.m. at Piedmont High School in Monroe
Friday, 4/30: 9:00 a.m. at David Butler High School in Matthews

Former Winston-Salem news anchor Tolly Carr will be the guest speaker. In March 2007, Carr drove drunk and killed a pedestrian. He served four months in county jail before being sentenced to 25 months at the North Carolina Department of Correction for the felony charge of death by motor vehicle. Since being released from prison in May 2009, Carr, who now lives in Greensboro, continues to speak to groups about his experiences in an effort to promote responsible decision making.

Also at each presentation, Charlotte, North Carolina Car Accident Lawyer Michael A. DeMayo will share real life stories and images of fatal drunk driving collisions, including those that have claimed the lives of teenagers. Attorney DeMayo and his North Carolina personal injury law firm firmly believe that it is important to educate teenagers about the dangers of underage drinking and driving. Each year, the Michael A. DeMayo Scholarship program awards $37,500 in college scholarships to 15 graduating seniors for their academic achievements, community service, and respective presentations about how to educate and stop teenagers from driving drunk.

For more information about Arrive Alive, contact Community Relations Director Kristine Woolley at (704) 343-4644 or send her an email at kwoolley@demayolaw.com.

Related Web Resources:
Law Offices of MIchael A. DeMayo, LLP

Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Teen Drivers, CDC

The Toll of Underage Drinking, The Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Two 12-year-old boys who were riding go-karts sustained serious injuries earlier this month during a hit-and-run Kannapolis car accident. The boys, Kyle Graham and Weston Edwards got hurt when they were hit by a van that then left the North Carolina car crash site.

The van’s driver, James Ray Johnson, was apprehended and charged with felony hit and run and for driving without a driver’s license. Neighbors say that the 60-year-old, who has been experiencing medical issues, should not have behind the wheel of any vehicle.

Injuries sustained during a car crash may require costly medical care and rehabilitation services. Depending on the seriousness of your North Carolina car crash injuries, the victim may require long-term, specialized care and other costly services.

Examples of serious car crash injuries:

• Broken bones
• Head injuries
• Back injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Severed limbs
• Burn injuries
• Internal injuries
• Cuts
• Contusions
• Lacerations
• Facial injuries
• Disfigurement

Kids are especially prone to serious injuries that can cause disability and disfigurement. Our Charlotte, North Carolina injuries to minor lawyers know how upsetting it can be to see your child in pain. We help many our clients navigate the tough road they must go through to get their son or daughter what they need to recover or live as normal a life as possible following a catastrophic traffic accident.

North Carolina Car Accident Lawsuits Involving Hit and Run Accidents
It is a motorist’s responsibility to report an injury accident that he/she was involved in. Doing so can save lives when there are serious injuries involved. Not only is hit and run driving against the law, but it can also be grounds for a North Carolina injury lawsuit. Unfortunately, hundreds of thousands of people are the victims of hit and run car crashes each year.

Go Kart Hit & Run, FoxCharlotte.com, April 7, 2010

Boy in go-kart accident goes home, 1 still hospitalized, WAFB, April 7, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Children, 2008 Traffic Safety Facts, NHTSA (PDF)

North Carolina Department of Transportation

Continue reading "Hit and Run North Carolina Car Crash Injures Two 12-Year-Old Go-Kart Riders in Kannapolis" »

14-Year-Old Lindsey Fensmire died from injuries she sustained in a Raleigh pedestrian accident on Friday. Another teen, 14-year-old Krista Carcaterra, also was injured. The two girls reportedly ran in front of traffic on a five-lane road.

No criminal charges are expected to be filed against Ronald Blackwell, the Wilson driver of the SUV that struck the two girls. However, city officials are looking into whether there are safety issues involving the road that need to be addressed.

The two girls were not using a crosswalk when the vehicle struck them. Residents want the city to install a crosswalk or a traffic signal in the area where the North Carolina pedestrian accident happened. The closest crosswalk is a few hundred feet away.

North Carolina Pedestrian Accidents
In addition to pedestrian error, driver negligence, and auto products liability, poor road design is another cause of pedestrian accidents. According to Transportation for America, more than 50% of pedestrian fatalities take place on poorly designed arterials that, for the sake of moving as many vehicles through the area, are made up of multiple lanes without enough sidewalks, crossing signals, and crosswalks.

Roads that don’t take pedestrians into account can be high risk areas for bicyclists and people that choose to walk. You may be hold a city liable for failing to design a road properly for pedestrians if traffic injuries or deaths occur. This is why you should speak with a Raleigh, North Carolina pedestrian accident lawyer about your case.

Sidewalks, pedestrian refuge medians, traffic signals, pedestrian lanes, improved road geometry, and lower speed limits are some elements that can improve a road for pedestrians.

Road Safety Where Teen Killed Under Review, Wake MYNC.com, March 29, 2010

Investigators say 2 NC teens hit by car ran out in traffic, 1 girl killed, WTKR, March 28, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Raleigh among most dangerous cities for pedestrians, WRAL, November 4, 2009

City of Raleigh

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of traffic deaths went down to its lowest level since 1954 with 33,963 fatalities in 2009. That’s 3,300 less traffic fatalities than in 2008. The fatality rate, which factors in the number of miles traveled, hit its lowest level ever.

While US Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood acknowledged that this news was positive, he noted that there were still too many people dying in traffic accidents throughout the US.

The NHTSA attributes the drop in traffic deaths last year to its continued efforts to stop drunk driving, remind people to wear seatbelts, and prevent distracted driving. The federal government vows to keep on fighting against these driving dangers.

In North Carolina, our Charlotte car accident attorneys continue to take calls from many people who have been seriously injured in motor vehicle crashes because someone was negligent. Common causes of North Carolina traffic crashes continue to include:

• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Drugged driving
• Texting while driving
• Cell phone use
• Failure to obey traffic laws
• Driver inexperience
• Drugged driving

It is very important that you contact an experienced Hickory car crash law firm first before speaking with the responsible party’s insurance company. If you settle your Charlotte, North Carolina car collision case without exploring your legal options, you may be signing away your right to obtain the maximum compensation possible for your spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, broken bones, burn injuries, neck injury, head injury, back injury, or any other personal injuries.

It can be hard to know at first glance how much medical and rehabilitation care you will need to recover. You may find yourself unable to work for months or even longer. An experienced Monroe, North Carolina car accident lawyer can help you figure all of this out and pursue your recovery for you.

Traffic Fatalities for 2009 Reach Record Low, NHTSA, March 11, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities in 2009 (PDF)

University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center

Continue reading "NHTSA Reports 33,963 Traffic Deaths in 2009" »

The NC Court of Appeals says a mother’s wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Winston-Salem over her 7-year-old son’s tragic bicycle accident can proceed. Joshua Palomares-Beckles died on May 20, 2006 when he was fatally struck by a car driven by Michael Andrew Logan Jr.

Logan, who pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, driving while impaired, and felony death by motor vehicle, had been driving on the wrong side of the street to avoid vehicles that were parked on the other side when he hit Joshua at the Wells and Freeman intersection. The bicyclist was dragged under the SUV.

In 2007, Hayluri Beckles-Palomares, Joshua's mother, sued Flow Cos, homeowner Norman Moore, and the city of Winston-Salem for North Carolina wrongful death. She claims that the street conditions, including vegetation that blocked the view and the vehicles that were parked there, contributed to her son’s wrongful death.

Beckles-Palomares accused a flow dealership of illegally parking vehicles on the street, limiting sight lines. She said that Moore was responsible for blocking the view because he didn’t trim the bushes located next to his property.

Flow and Moore settled with Beckles-Palomares in 2008. The terms of their North Carolina wrongful death settlements are confidential.

Beckles-Palomares is accusing the city of Winston-Salem of obstructing traffic and human vision, failing to regulate maintenance on its streets, and parking regulation violations. The North Carolina city sought governmental immunity, citing protection under the public-duty doctrine. In December 2008, the city asked a judge to rule in its favor without a trial. Forsyth Superior Court judge Martin denied the request, the city appealed, and an appellate court panel agreed with the judge’s ruling.

In 2008, pedalcyclists, ages 15 and under, made up 13% of all pedalcyclist deaths in the US. Losing a child is one of the toughest defeats a parent has to face. It is especially tragic to know your child would have lived were it not for the negligence of others. As the grieving parent, you may have grounds for filing a North Carolina bicycle accident complaint or a wrongful death lawsuit.

Suit can proceed, WInston-Salem Journal, February 3, 2010

Bicyclists and Other Cyclists, 2008 Traffic Safety Facts, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (PDF)

Related Web Resources:
City of Winston-Salem, North Carolina

League of American Bicyclists

North Carolina Department of Transportation

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 " »

Following Friday’s winter storm, it is important that South Carolina and North Carolina motorists be extra careful when driving in such dangerous road conditions. Black ice can be found on city and county roads, as well as overpasses and bridges, and the North Carolina Department of Transportation and State Highway Patrol doesn’t expected the treacherous conditions to disappear.

Motorists cannot do anything to improve the road conditions or the weather, but they are still responsible for driving safely to and from their destinations. With such hazardous road conditions to contend with, drivers cannot afford to drive drunk, text while driving, talk on a handheld cellular device, speed, or engage in any other form of distracted driving or careless motor vehicle operation. One reckless or careless act can lead to a North Carolina car crash that can cause serious injury, perhaps even destroying someone’s life.

In the event that you or someone you love is seriously injured in a North Carolina car accident or a South Carolina motor vehicle collision, do not hesitate to contact our Charlotte, North Carolina auto crash lawyers to schedule your free consultation.

Driving Safely in Snow and Ice:

• Winterize your auto.
• When necessary, use tire chains or winter tires.
• Drive slower than you usually would and adjust your speed to the road conditions.
• Pay attention.
• When slowing down to stop or turn, do so three times earlier than your normal routine.
• Keep a safe distance with the vehicle in front of you.
• Make sure your windows are clean and clear.
• Be on the lookout for extra wet or icy patches on the road.

Snowstorm cleanup in the Carolinas, Count on News2, December 21, 2009

Icy roads, closed schools in western N.C., Charlotte Observer, December 20, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Preparing for Winter Driving – How to Drive in Snow and Ice, SafeMotorist

Winter Driving Tips, AAA Exchange

A fourth person has died from injuries sustained during a tragic Hope Mills car accident last week. Brooke Paquin, whose boyfriend, Tristan Hanna, also was killed in the motor vehicle crash passed away on Saturday.

Brooke and Tristan were heading to Wrightsville Beach when, according to witnesses, Hanna’s vehicle accelerated to 65 mph, which was over 20 mph above the speed limit, before driving into oncoming traffic and striking the vehicle carrying Hien Truong, his wife Huyen, and baby daughter Hannah, who was about to celebrate her first birthday.

Hien, Hannah, and Tristan all died that night. Huyen was transported to a hospital where she was admitted in critical condition. Tristan’s father says his son, who has epilepsy, may have been having a seizure when the deadly North Carolina car accident happened.

At least 11 other people died in North Carolina car crashes last week. Among the fatalities:

• A three-vehicle Wake Forest auto wreck on Highway 1 claimed the life of Robert Ernesto Harris.

• Two people, Bryan William Meyer and Justin Christopher Thomas Dufur, were killed in a single-vehicle Raleigh auto accident. According to police, Dufur was driving 15 mph above the 45 mph speed limit.

• Melinda Grossman was fatally struck while trying to pick up a cat that had been struck by another auto. The Carrboro traffic crash victim was 60.

• 16-year-old passenger Gavin Boyd Westover died from injuries he sustained in a Knightdale auto crash.

• Two young siblings, 6-year-old Hassan Bingham and 9-year-old Calvin Brandon, died in a Durham train crash when a train hit their mom’s SUV.

Week of wrecks leaves 15 people dead, WRAL, December 14, 2009

Father: Seizure may have led to fatal Hope Mills wreck, WRAL, December 14, 2009

Fourth person dies of injuries from Hope Mills crash, FayObserver, December 13, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Car Accidents, Justia

North Carolina State Highway Patrol

National Safety Commission

Continue reading "Hope Mills, North Carolina Car Accident Claims Fourth Fatality " »

On December 4, the Governor's Highway Safety Program presented the “Tree of Life,” which is dedicated to the people that were killed in North Carolina car accidents in 2008. The tree stands on the State Capitol lawn in Raleigh and is decorated with 1,453 lights. 440 of the lights are red to note the people that were killed by drunk drivers.

Friday also marked the beginning of North Carolina's “Booze It & Lose It” campaign, which runs until January 3, 2010 and targets drunk drivers. Throughout the US this holiday season, federal and local safety and enforcement officials will be participating in similar initiatives to prevent drunk driving accidents.

On Monday, US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood reminded drivers that there is nothing wrong with having fun as long as you don’t drive when you are drunk. While the national drunken driving rate dropped 7% between 2007 and 2008, too many people are still getting killed in drunk driving accidents.

Drunk driving accidents are preventable.

Nationwide, the drunk driving campaign "Over the Limit. Under Arrest” began yesterday and runs through the holiday season. Some $7 million in national radio and TV ads will air from December 16, 2009 – January 7, 2010 to remind people not to drive while impaired.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were:

• Out of the 1,231 North Carolina motor vehicle deaths in 2008, 423 of the North Carolina car accident victims died in collisions involving alcohol-impaired motorists.
• 1,676 North Carolina traffic deaths in 2007.
• 497 2007 North Carolina car accidents deaths involving drunk drivers.
• 403 South Carolina drunk driving fatalities in 2008.
• 920 2008 South Carolina car accident deaths.
• 403 South Carolina drunk driving fatalities in 2008.
• 464 South Carolina drunk driving fatalities in 2007.
• 1,077 2007 South Carolina car accident deaths.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces Intensive Holiday Drunk & Impaired Driving Crackdown & Advertising Blitz, NHTSA, December 7, 2009

Drunken driving fatalities down 7% in USA, USA Today, December 7, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Fatalities and Fatality Rates in Alcohol- Impaired-Driving Crashes by State, 2007-2008, NHTSA (PDF)

Governor's Highway Safety Program

Continue reading "“Tree of Life” Remembers 1,453 North Carolina Car Accident Victims that Died in 2008 as State Troopers Get Ready for "Booze It & Lose It” Campaign" »

A deadly tire blowout on Saturday caused the driver to lose control of a minivan which rolled over a number of times, ejecting 13 kids from the motor vehicle. All 13 minors were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the car crash. Two adults who were wearing safety belts were in the car with them.

Killed in the rollover accident were 38-year-old Mona Hines and 14-year-old Ashley Hines, 14-year-old Edward Barnes, 12-year-od Lachante Floyd, 12-year-old Ariel Hines, and 2-year-old Ricky Hines Jr. The 8 other kids were also hurt in the car crash, six of them with serious injuries. 28-year-old Stacy Hines was also injured. All of the car accident victims are related.

Tire Blowouts
Tire blowouts can lead to catastrophic car accidents. They can cause a tire to lose control of the vehicle, which can cause a driver to go off the road or roll over.

While it is important that a motorist make sure that tires are properly maintained, there are certain tire defects that a car maker or tire manufacturer can be held liable for if personal injuries or wrongful death result.

Examples of Tire Defects:

• Tread separation: Tire plies that separate can potentially cause a blowout. Poor bonding of tire parts, poor quality control measures, or use of poor quality solvents during the manufacture process can cause this dangerous defect.

• Multi-piece rim explosions: Can be avoided by using single piece wheels instead.

• Sidewall zipper failures: Faulty design or manufacture can lead to sidewall zipper failures that can cause a blowout.

• High-speed spin-off-failure: When one back wheel isn’t moving while the other one spins out of control. Caused by design defect.

The National Highway Traffic Administration says that about 8,000 car crashes a year resulting in deaths or serious injury are caused by tire failure.

La. crash claims 5th child victim, Boston.com/AP, December 1, 2009

Sixth crash victim dies, 2theadvocate, December 1, 2009

13 children ejected in Louisiana I-10 minivan rollover, JusticeNewsFlash, December 1, 2009

Related Web Resources:
The Center for Auto Safety

Child Passenger Safety

Continue reading "Minivan Tire Blowout Kills Six People and Injures 9 in Rollover Accident" »

According to a poll of 800 teenagers, ages 12 to 17, about half of those who drive and own cell phones have used these communication devices while operate a motor vehicle. About 1/3rd of these teenagers also admitted to text messaging while driving. The poll was conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project.

Considering that distracted driving has proven to be dangerous and new drivers tend to be less experienced at driving than adult drivers, parents should be worried that some of the teens polled wouldn’t acknowledge that texting and talking on the phone talking while driving are dangerous habits. Fortunately, many of the teens did say they are now aware that these distracted driving habits are dangerous and they claim they won’t do them anymore. However, some of these same teens say they can't help but answer a ringing phone or respond to a text sent to them while they are driving.

As our Charlotte, North Carolina car accident attorneys have said in previous blog posts, distracted driving is a common cause of many fatal traffic crashes involving not just cars and pedestrians, but also buses, large trucks, and trains. Many people seem to be having a hard time resisting the impulse to talk on the phone or text message or surf on the Internet while driving, which not only keeps them from paying attention to the road but also prevents them from reacting effectively and driving offensively/defensively while on the road so that they don't become involved in a catastrophic North Carolina car crash.

Fortunately, national and state safety and transportation officials have stepped up efforts to make people more aware of the dangers posted by texting and distracted driving. Yet many people continue to do one or both—despite the evidence that such seemingly harmless acts can kill people.

Scary statistics on teen texting, calling while driving, The Seattle Times, November 17, 2009

Half of teens say they've used cellphone while driving, USA Today, November 16, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Teenagers, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Pew Research Center

Continue reading "Teen Motorists and Distracted Driving: Per Poll, Approximately Half of 16- and 17-Year-Old US Drivers with Cell Phones Have Used Devices while Operating Motor Vehicles" »

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is conducting Operation Drive to Live. Part of this campaign includes the Texting While Driving Initiative, which is designed to teach students about the consequences of distracted driving—especially texting while driving. As part of the program, students are allowed to ride a golf cart through a course set up with traffic cones while they text message.

It takes 10 to 15 second to compose and send a text message. When you consider that a car moving at a speed of 60 mph travels over 80 feet each second, a texting teen driver may have traveled a 10th of a mile with his or her eyes off the road. Couple driver distraction with driver inexperience typical of most drivers who are just starting to drive and the chances of being involved in a North Carolina car accident increases dramatically.

While texting while driving is dangerous when done by anyone including adults, teens are especially at risk because they text so much even when they aren’t driving. According to the Nielsen Co,, US teens sent and received nearly 80 texts a day—that’s about 2,272 texts a month—during the 4th quarter of 2008. This bad habit is not only a distraction, but it may be causing sleep deprivation, exhaustion, and repetitive stress injuries. One doctor, pediatrician Martin Joffe, says that when he surveyed students at two high schools he discovered that a lot of them sent hundreds of texts daily. This breaks down to a text every few minutes.

When you consider how hard it is for adults to resist the impulse to read a text or check an email or compose a message while driving, imagine how much harder it is for teenagers to stop this bad habit.

Yet the evidence is now indisputable. Texting while driving is dangerous and causes catastrophic car crashes. Whether you are a 16-year-old driver or a 75-year-old driver, texting while driving is negligent driving.

Highway Patrol teaches the dangers of texting and driving, Apex Herald, October 8, 2009

Texting May Be Taking a Toll, New York Times, May 25, 2009

Related Web Resources:
North Carolina Department of Crime Control & Public Safety

Teenage Driving Tips, NCCrimecontrol.org

National Safety Commission

Continue reading "Teens Taught that Texting While Driving Can Cause North Carolina Car Accidents" »

With 200,000 kids, 14 years of age and under, who were seriously injured in car accidents in 2007, it is no wonder that safety officials want to make sure that parents are doing everything to keep their kids safe—especially because much younger children, 7-years of age and under, need added protection to minimize risk of injury during an auto crash.

Child Passenger Safety Week runs from September 12 – 18, 2009. During this time, parents and other adults can check child safety seats for free at one of the thousands of free safety seat inspection stations in the US.

While research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that the rate of child safety seat use is high—99% for babies (0-12 months), 92% for toddlers (1-3), and 89% for young kids (4-7)—these findings also reveal that 3 out of every four child safety seats are not used properly. These mistakes may affect the way the child is secured in the seat and the manner in which the restraint system is attached to the vehicle. For example, a parent might use a child restraint seat that is not appropriate for the child’s weight and age, fail to correctly install the restraint, not buckle the straps properly, or neglect to properly secure the seat belt to the child safety seat.

Injuries sustained by infants and young kids during a North Carolina car crash can be catastrophic. While properly securing a child can decrease the chances of injury during a serious motor vehicle accident, injuries may still occur if the restraint system was not used correctly, the child safety seat was defective, or the car crash was so catastrophic that injury or death was unavoidable despite all the safety precautions.

Car accidents can occur because someone was negligent or careless or reckless. Filing a Charlotte, North Carolina injuries to minor lawsuit for your son or daughter’s motor vehicle crash injuries can allow you to obtain the financial recovery that you need to pay for surgeries, hospital stays, doctor visits, rehabilitation services, and other necessary medical devices that your child might need following a car accident.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Launches Child Passenger Safety Week, NHTSA, September 10, 2009

Child Passenger Safety: Fact Sheet, CDC

Related Web Resources:
Child Safety Seat Inspection Station Locator

Minors, North Carolina General Statutes, Justia

Continue reading "Child Passenger Safety Week Geared Toward Preventing Kid Injuries During Car Accidents" »

One teenager is dead and another three sustained injuries in a deadly North Carolina car crash involving a 14-year-old driver. According to police, the boy crashed a 2005 Hyundai into a tree at around 1am on August 19.

Chelsie Lynn Thompson, an 18-year-old Mount Airy resident, died from her injuries. The driver and two other male teenagers, 18-year-old Christopher Jordan and 16-year-old Joshua Ingalls also sustained injuries.

Officials say the boy took his mother’s car without permission. They believe that he was speeding when the deadly crash happened.

The boy could face criminal charges.

Teen Drivers
In the United States, 14-year-olds are not allowed to drive. Even when a teenager becomes of age to obtain their learner’s permit and then their driver’s license, there are still requirements that the teen driver must meet in order to earn the right to drive on North Carolina's roads.

Because of their youth and inexperience, many teen drivers are at risk of becoming involved in a North Carolina car accident unless they exercise the proper safety precautions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that the 16-19 year age group is the age demographic at highest risk of becoming involved in a motor vehicle accident because:

• Teenagers are not as skilled as older drivers at assessing whether a situation is dangerous.
• Teens have a tendency to speed more than older motorists.
• Teens are more likely not to wear seat belts.
• Teens riding with each other can prove distracting.
• Teens are at risk of drinking and driving.

When a teen driver is reckless or careless, this increases the chances that a North Carolina motor vehicle crash may happen. If you or someone you love was injured in a traffic accident because any driver—regardless of age—behaved negligently, you may have grounds for filing a North Carolina car accident claim or lawsuit.

Car driven by 14-year-old slams into tree!, JusticeNewsFlash, August 21, 2009

14-Year-Old Driver Could Face Charges In Fatal Crash, WXII12.com, August 19, 2009

Teen Drivers: Fact Sheet, CDC

Related Web Resources:
Applying for a Driver License or Learner Permit?, NCDOT.org

Continue reading "14-Year-Old Driver Could Face Criminal Charges for Surrey County Car Crash that Killed One Teenager and Injured Three " »

Police in North Carolina will be spend June 29 through July 5 targeting drunk drivers. The Booze It and Lose It: Operation Firecracker campaign is an effort to decrease the number of driving accidents that occur around the 4th of July holiday.

Last year, there were 377 North Carolina drunk driving-related collisions for that week. 12 people died. As part of their efforts, police will increase patrols and set up checkpoints.

In Alexander and Iredell counties, there was a 20% increase in drunk driving accidents over a one-year period. Troopers increased their efforts to catch drunken drivers, and in just one week, 31 people were arrested for impaired driving.

Drunk Driving Facts
Although (according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving) there was a decrease in the number of North Carolina alcohol-related deaths—from 489 to 392—between 2007 and 2008, drunken driving accidents still happen in the state on a regular basis. Statesville Police Officer Adam Dillard tells the Mooresville Tribune, “impaired driving is not an accident,” and it is a crime that is not “victimless.”

Just this Monday, two members of the band Dr. Ralph Stanley and His Clinch Mountain Boys were hurt in a hit and run North Carolina car accident when a drunk driver that was speeding rear-ended the vehicle they were riding in. Their SUV ended up going down a three-story embankment into a creek while the other driver took off.

Fiddler Dewey Brown sustained minor injuries, but his pregnant wife Leslie and Dr. Ralph Stanley’s 16-year-old grandson Nathan, a mandolin player, sustained more serious injuries. Both of Nathan’s legs are broken and Leslie sustained shoulder injuries and broke her femur.

The driver accused of hit and run is 25-year-old Alejandro Perez Sosa. He was apprehended and charged with felony hit and run, reckless driving, speeding, and driving under the influence. At the time of his arrest, Perez’s blood alcohol content was 0.14. The legal BAC limit is .08%.

On June 18 in Durham, it was a North Carolina Highway Patrol Officer who was charged with drunk driving after he hit another car. Trooper John C. Fogg was off duty when police say he crashed a vehicle into another car on the Durham Freeway. His BAC was reportedly .17%.

NC Highway Patrol Officer Arrested For Drunk Driving, Raleigh Telegram, June 27, 2009

Patrols to target drunk drivers during holiday week, Mooresville Tribune, June 26, 2009

Members Of Ralph Stanley’s Band Rear-Ended By Drunk Driver In N.C., TriCities.com, June 24, 2009

Related Web Resources:
North Carolina State Highway Patrol, North Carolina Department of Crime Control and Public Safety

Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Dr. Ralph Stanley and His Clinch Mountain Boys

Continue reading "Booze It and Lose It: North Carolina Police to Target Drunk Drivers " »

Every year, our North Carolina injury law firm awards $25,000 in college scholarships to graduating high school seniors scholarships under the Michael A. DeMayo Scholarship Program. This year, 10 students received $2,500 each for their winning essays about ways to prevent underage drinking and driving.

Attorney Michael DeMayo presented the winning students with their scholarship checks at a May 28 dinner at Mama Ricotta’s in Charlotte. This year's winners included Michelle Austin from Hopewell High School in Mecklenburg, Elizabeth Henry from Provide Day School in Mecklenburg, Annalise Farris from North Lincoln High School in Lincoln, India Prather from Monroe High School in Union, Lauren Houston from South Caldwell High School in Caldwell, Kaley Rivera from South Point High School in Gaston, Kaitlin Price from Gray Stone Day School in Stanly, Jennifer Telschow from E. E. Waddell High School in Mecklenburg, Erin Sturgess from Hickory Christian Academy in Catawba, and Jaclyn Wright from Marvin Ridge High School in Union.

Underage Drinking Facts (NHTSA):
• Thousands of teenagers are injured or killed in US traffic accidents because of underage drinking.
• In 2006, 1,377 of the 7,543 15- to 20-year old US drivers and motorcyclists that were involved in deadly auto crashes had a BAC of .08%.
• It is illegal for people under age 21 to drink alcohol.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that 16- to 19-years-olds belong to one of the more high risk groups that are likely to be involved in a motor vehicle crash. Combine youth, inexperience, and/or a tendency to become easily distracted with the side effects that come from drinking alcohol and you could end up with a deadly combination if a drunk teenager gets behind the steering wheel of a car.

Our North Carolina personal injury law firm applauds our winners’ ideas about how to prevent teen driving accidents from happening. Our Charlotte car accident attorneys witness on a regular basis the tragic repercussions that can result from drunk driving. We know that nothing can assuage the loss felt by our clients that have lost children in tragic motor vehicle crashes. Our scholarship program gives us a way to help teenagers make better decisions, hopefully decreasing the number of North Carolina teen drunk driving accidents.

Related Web Resources:
Teen Drivers - Youth Access To Alcohol

Teen Drivers, CDC

Continue reading "Charlotte, North Carolina Car Accident Law Firm Awards 10 College Scholarships to Students for Underage Drinking and Driving Essays" »