Carolina Accident Attorney Blog

Tractor Trailer Hits and Kills Driver on Side of Road in Hickory, North Carolina

Car Crushed in Accident on I-77 in South Carolina

Truck-Bus Crash Injured Six Young Children in Charlotte, NC

NC Tow Truck Driver Crashes Into Building After Medical Emergency

North Carolina Trucker Blames Steering Malfunction On Big Rig Rollover

Truck Involved in Hit and Run Accident Still Not Found

Hundreds Of Turkeys Die In Charlotte Tractor-Trailer Rollover

18-Wheeler Causes Major Wreck Trying to Avoid Vehicle at Construction Area

Cement Truck Drive Shaft Smashes Raleigh Woman's Windshield on I-440

Winter Weather Leads to Major Truck Wreck in North Carolina

NC Truck Accident Perhaps Caused By Wind Backs Up I-77

Fatal Truck Accident On I-95 In Harnett County, NC, Leaves 2 Dead

How to Stay Safe From Tractor Trailers While Driving Your Car

Pickup Truck Driving on Wrong Side of Road Involved in Tragic Accident in South Carolina

Virgil Mixon of Andrews, South Carolina (SC) was driving his Ford pickup truck down Highway SC 41, which is in Georgetown County, South Carolina (SC). One big problem: Mr. Mixon was on the wrong side of the road.

The truck attempted to make a left hand turn and smashed into a Ford Edge killing Mr. Mixon. My condolences go out to his friends and family.

 A mother and her two children were in the Ford Edge and their condition is unknown at the time, according to WMBF News.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol is thoroughly investigating the accident. As an injury lawyer who regularly handles car/truck accident cases, these questions need to be answered: Why was Mr. Mixon driving on the wrong side of the road? Was alcohol involved? Were there clear markings on the road to indicate the proper lanes?

As mentioned earlier, we don't know the condition of the mother and her two kids, but I hope they make it through and fully recuperate if they were seriously injured.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a law firm which focuses on injury and accident law. Our law firm has offices in Elizabeth City, North Carolina (NC) and Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA). Our attorneys have handled thousands of automobile negligence cases involving cars, trucks, trains, and motorcycles. We would be pleased to send you one of our FREE reports about car accident cases, including our special report on distracted driving or our Best Guide to Car Accident Injuries in North Carolina. Our lawyers hold licenses in NC, VA, SC, WV, KY and DC. We are ready to talk to you by phone right now-we provide free initial confidential injury case consultations, so call us toll free at 1-800-752-0042. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube .  In addition, our lawyers proudly edit the Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard, as well as the Virginia Beach Injuryboard and Norfolk Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service.

PA

Fayetteville Tractor Trailer Tanker Crash Hospitalizes One with Severe Burns

All northbound lanes and one southbound lane on I-95 northeast of Fayetteville, NC were closed early morning of October 20^th due to an overnight wreck involving two trucks.  The wreck occurred 11:30 p.m. Monday when semi truck driver, Carlos Bolden, 46, stopped to help a pickup truck driver who ran out of gas, Charles Alphin, 35 was trying to help push the truck off of the interstate.  A tanker-truck hauling pig blood swerved to avoid the pickup but sideswiped the tractor-trailer instead.  The tanker hit the guardrail and caught fire.

Witnesses say debris hit several other vehicles.  The tanker truck driver, Frank Graves, 56, suffered burns on 40 % of his lower body and was taken to the North Carolina Jaycees Burn Center at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill to be treated.  Troopers said Alphin, who was clearly the cause of the accident and who did not suffer any injury will be charged with impeding traffic.

A Toyota website states that car fire represents a real and often overlooked threat. People tend to underestimate the intensity of a car fire and place themselves in danger. A car fire may start in a situation that is already dangerous- either driving down a highway or stuck in traffic. Car fires pose a threat of spreading to surrounding structures- often the vehicle will be enclosed within a garage or other parking structure. There have even been major disasters involving car fires in tunnels.

In fact, one in every four fires is a car fire and one in every eight fire deaths are caused by car fires. Each year, car fires alone kill 550 people and injure 3,300 more. There are more than a quarter of a million car fires annually- and the number is rising. Here are some basic steps you and your passengers need to be aware of in the event of a car fire.

According to the National Safety Council, when your car catches fire you should stop immediately, warn oncoming traffic, get away from the vehicle, notify the fire department and do not attempt to try to put out the fire yourself.  In all vehicle fire situations, the first thing to think about is personal safety; any vehicle can be replaced—humans cannot. Think and act quickly, in the safest way possible.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a law firm which focuses on injury and accident law and we have experience handling wrongful death cases. Check out our case results to see for yourself. Our law firm has offices in Elizabeth City, North Carolina (NC) and Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA). Our attorneys have handled numerous wrongful death cases and we understand the difficult circumstances which accompany these types of cases. That’s why you need an experienced attorney to help you through the legal process. Our lawyers hold licenses in NC, VA, SC, WV, KY and DC. We are ready to talk to you by phone right now—we provide free initial confidential injury case consultations, so call us toll free at 1-800-752-0042. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube .  In addition, our lawyers proudly edit the Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard, as well as the Virginia Beach Injuryboard and Norfolk Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service.

BM

Faison, North Carolina Man Critically Injured in Accident with Tractor Trailer

John Thomas Ball Jr. from Faison, North Carolina (NC) was traveling on Interstate 40 near Old Mountain Road when he collided with a tractor trailer. The tractor trailer, driven by Pacquin Fields, had stopped at a construction zone. John Thomas Ball Jr. was not able to stop in time safely behind the truck and slammed in to the back.   

Ball’s vehicle broke through the support beam that is supposed to stop underride crashes and went under the tractor trailer. The rear axle of the truck broke, causing extensive damage to Ball’s vehicle.

Ball was airlifted to the Carolinas Medical Center, where he is still being treated for serious injuries sustained in the trucking accident.

As a personal injury attorney I have seen countless accidents involving tractor trailers. Trucking accidents are often far more dangerous for drivers then typical car accidents. Tractor trailers are several times the weight and size of a vehicle and can do extensive damage in even small accidents.

As drivers we have to be extremely cautious around large trucks, especially on the highway. In the case of John Thomas Ball, the truck had come to a complete stop on the highway and even though the truck was equipped with a support beam, the device failed and caused Ball to go under the truck. Ball’s injuries may not have been so serious if this had not happened.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a law firm which focuses on injury and accident law with experience handling truck accidents. Read our case results to see for yourself. Our law firm has offices in Elizabeth City, North Carolina (NC) and Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA). . Our attorneys have handled thousands of automobile negligence cases involving trucks, cars, trains, and motorcycles. Our lawyers hold licenses in NC, VA, SC, WV, KY and DC. We are ready to talk to you by phone right now—we provide free initial confidential injury case consultations, so call us toll free at 1-800-752-0042. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube .  In addition, our lawyers proudly edit the Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard, as well as the Virginia Beach Injuryboard and Norfolk Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service

Trucker Violated Record-Keeping Law in I-495 Trucking Accident

A trucking accident on I-495 in Delaware revealed a violation of federal record-keeping law which is becoming common place for truckers, according to WDEL. What is this law? It's a requirement that truckers document the hours they drive and must remain within a certain number on a given day in order to prevent exhaustion and poor driving.

The U.S. Department of Transportation sets the work hours and other working conditions of truckers involved in interstate commerce, according to the Department of Labor. A long-distance trucker may drive for 11 hours and work for up to 14 hours after having 10 hours off. A driver may not drive after having worked for 60 hours in the past 7 days or 70 hours in the past 8 days unless they have taken at least 34 consecutive hours off.

The trucker in this accident, who is from North Carolina (NC), violated the law by altering the number of hours he was working in order to drive longer hours than is permitted. This is an all-too-common practice in the trucking industry since driving more hours means more pay for the trucker.

I understand the desire to work more hours to make a few extra dollars, but when you're a trucker, this practice cannot be allowed. Handling such dangerous equipment on public highways requires a high level of mental attentiveness. Driving for a protracted period of time invariably leads to fatigue, which increases the risk of an accident.

As we see from this I-495 accident, driving too long leads to a decrease in driving ability and the results can be devastating. The truck clipped a car on Edgemoor Road and the driver of the car was injured. This may have been avoided if the trucker had stayed within the legal hourly limits.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a law firm which focuses on injury and accident law and we have experience handling truck accidents. Check out our case results to see for yourself. Our law firm has offices in Elizabeth City, North Carolina (NC) and Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA). . Our attorneys have handled thousands of automobile negligence cases involving trucks, cars, trains, and motorcycles. Our lawyers hold licenses in NC, VA, SC, WV, KY and DC. We are ready to talk to you by phone right nowwe provide free initial confidential injury case consultations, so call us toll free at 1-800-752-0042. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube . In addition, our lawyers proudly edit the Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard, as well as the Virginia Beach Injuryboard and Norfolk Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service.

PA

Another Major Trucking Accident on U.S. 76 in South Carolina

For the second time in a week, a tragic trucking accident occurred on Highway U.S. 76. Darren Keith Murry was driving his garbage truck when an 18-wheeler smashed into him on the Eastbound side of the highway near a BP gas station, according to SCnow.com.  Darren was killed.

My deepest condolences go out to Mr. Murry's friends and family.

The first major accident involved four vehicles including an 18-wheeler, two cars, and a dump truck. This accident occurred on the U.S. 76 Bridge over the Great Pee Dee River. Two people died.

Why are so many tragic accidents occurring on U.S. 76? It's a major highway in South Carolina (SC) since it leads directly to Myrtle Beach and is commonly utilized by GPS devices to direct drivers. This is invariably leads to high traffic volume and an increased risk of accidents. This is why it's so crucial to be cautious while driving on the highway.

"The drivers of these vehicles have to pay attention and not be distracted," said Lance Cpl. Sonny Collins of the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

This is especially true of truck drivers. They are handling extremely lethal vehicles which cause major damage in an accident. There is no room for error, such as distracted driving, speeding, etc. when driving an 18-wheeler, dump truck, or any other large trucking vehicle.

18-Wheeler Truck Hit by Train in South Carolina

In an example of what not to do while operating an 18-wheeler, a truck driver tried to cross the tracks at N. Main Street and Railroad Drive, near Duke's Barbecue, as a train was passing, according to Live5 News. Consequently, the 18-wheeler was pummeled by the train and the driver was seriously injured. Hopefully, they'll be able to make a full a recovery.

Trucking accidents and train accidents are terrible individually, but when these two major-duty machines collide in a single accident, the damage can be severe. The truck driver is lucky to be alive.

In 2008, there were over 120,000 truck accidents with over 4,000 of those accidents leading to a fatality. To make matters worse, it's been reported that thousands of trucks violate basic federal safety standards and fail to have serviceable brakes, trained drivers, and/or quality tires.

As an injury lawyer who works for a firm that represents people seriously hurt in truck accidents, something needs to be done to correct these violations. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration needs to send a clear message that safety is a top priority. The truck drivers who handle their vehicles irresponsibly and the trucking companies who send out these vehicles with defective equipment are unacceptable. This type of behavior puts all of our lives at risk.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a law firm which focuses on injury and accident law and we have experience handling truck accidents. Check out our case results to see for yourself. Our law firm has offices in Elizabeth City, North Carolina (NC) and Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA). . Our attorneys have handled thousands of automobile negligence cases involving trucks, cars, trains, and motorcycles. Our lawyers hold licenses in NC, VA, SC, WV, KY and DC. We are ready to talk to you by phone right now-we provide free initial confidential injury case consultations, so call us toll free at 1-800-752-0042. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube .  In addition, our lawyers proudly edit the Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard, as well as the Virginia Beach Injuryboard and Norfolk Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service.

PA

Fiery Four-Vehicle Crash On Pee Dee Bridge Leaves Two Dead And Others Injured

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a law firm which focuses on injury and accident law. Our law firm has offices in Elizabeth City, North Carolina (NC) and Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA). Our attorneys have handled thousands of automobile negligence cases involving cars, trucks, trains, and motorcycles. We would be pleased to send you one of our FREE reports about car accident cases, including our special report on distracted driving or our Best Guide to Car Accident Injuries in North Carolina. Our lawyers hold licenses in NC, VA, SC, WV, KY and DC. We are ready to talk to you by phone right now—we provide free initial confidential injury case consultations, so call us toll free at 1-800-752-0042. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube .  In addition, our lawyers proudly edit the Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard, as well as the Virginia Beach Injuryboard and Norfolk Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service.

In Trucking Accidents with Severe Injuries, Getting the Company Records is Very Critical

Any trucking company that handles goods that are involved in interstate commerce must comply with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. Carriers from Canada and Mexico are included in these regulations. Some of these regulations require the trucking company to save documents that may prove liability in a collision. This would make most tractor-trailer cases all about their preserved documents. Failure to keep such documents is one of the most regularly occurring problems in these cases. In many serious cases caused by a commercial truck the fault does not lie with the driver, but in fact the fault lies with the trucking company. The best way to prove that the company is at fault is to prove it with their own documents.

One significant problem with these cases is that trucking businesses are required to only keep the documents for a certain allotted time. This is an incentive to seek representation as soon as possible. The sooner you seek out a lawyer to represent you, the sooner you can preserve the documents that will show the company’s liability. If you do not immediately file suit, it recommended that your lawyer at least send a spoliation letter to prevent the company from destroying the necessary documents. Accidents involving these large carriers often end in serious injury and thus you should make sure to receive the proper records to get compensation from such an accident.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm (VA-NC law offices) edits the injury law blogs Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, as well as the Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as a pro bono service to consumers. Lawyers licensed in: VA, NC, SC, WV, DC, KY, who handle car, truck, railroad, and medical negligence cases and more.

Tractor-Trailer Accident Delays Traffic for Hours in Wilmington, North Carolina

Deadly Log Truck Crash Involves 5 Other Vehicles in Onslow County

Three Injured as North Carolina Fire Truck Misses Turn

Scary Facts About Truck Accidents

I spend a lot of time looking at information about truck collisions involving injuries and death as part of my job as editor of the Norfolk InjuryBoard website.  The following are some of the scarier numbers that arise about tractor-trailer accidents:

1.  In 2007, the country had crashes that involved over 136,000 large trucks and over 12,000 buses according to the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT).  Serious injuries resulted from the collisions involving over 54,000 of these commercial truck wrecks and over 6,000 of the bus wrecks. 

2.  In 2003, there were over 4,600 fatal crashes involving commercial trucks of the total 58,000 fatal U.S. vehicle collisions.

3.  Sixty-nine percent of truck accidents happen in rural areas rather than in cities and over sixty-seven percent of the truck accidents occur during daylight hours.