



The North Carolina Highway Patrol says speed is to blame for the car accident that killed three people on Highway 421 in Liberty, North Carolina (NC).
Brandon Chavis was traveling on Highway 421 near Browns Meadow Road in Liberty, North Carolina (NC) when he lost control of his BMW. Brandon Chavis swerved off the road and in to a large patch of trees. Tragically, Chavis and his two passengers, Forest Andrews and Jason Morris, died at the scene of the car accident. The North Carolina Highway Patrol says Chavis was traveling close to 100 mph in a 55 mph zone at the time of the accident.
Speed is often a factor in car accidents, and excess speed is a leading factor in car accident deaths. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of local police officers to catch speeders, drivers are still inclined to speed. This is especially true if the driver is familiar with the roadway, such as their commute to or from work.
When you are speeding you do not have enough time to respond to road conditions, such as potholes. This can often cause drivers to go jerk their cars suddenly, going off the road and causing a car accident. Speed also makes it hard for drivers to stop for other vehicles or change lanes. Drivers can come up on other vehicles too quickly and cause a car accident.
To be safe, all drivers should always closely follow posted speed limits. These speed limits have been tested and proven to be a safe speed for the road. Following the speed limit will reduce driver’s chances of being involved in a car accident.
AC
A car accident that occurred on Midway School Rd in Davidson County, North Carolina (NC) has left three people in serious condition.
Ryan Fitzgerald was traveling on Midway School Road when ran off the right side of the road, causing him to overcorrect his vehicle. He crossed in to the oncoming lane and struck another vehicle head-on. His car then went to the other side of the road before coming back on to the lane and striking the vehicle for a second time.
Ryan Fitzgerald was taken to Baptist Hospital where he is suffering from severe injuries sustained in the car accident. The driver and passenger of the vehicle that was struck head-on, Jay Kelly Hedrick and Deborah Hedrick, were taken to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. Deborah Hedrick is in stable condition, but Jay Kelly Hedrick is in serious condition.
Head-on collisions can be serious, even deadly. My colleague, Jim Lewis, recently wrote an article about just how quickly head-on collisions can occur. More often then not, the driver that is struck does not even realize an accident has happened until it is too late.
AC
According to Pitt County authorities, two pickup trucks slammed into each other sending both drivers to Pitt Memorial Hospital for their injuries. Police indicated that the head-on collision happened on Hanrahan Road near White Line Road close to the town of Ayden, North Carolina (N.C.).
Upon arriving at the crash, first responder crews described the scene: one of the drivers outside of his truck which was on fire. Police reported that the driver of the other pickup truck was pinned inside and had to be rescued by pulling him out of the wreckage. A man and a woman were injured in an accident on a moped after they were struck by a car in New Hanover County, North Carolina (NC).
The moped accident occurred in Wilmington at the intersection of Carolina Beach Road and Medical Center Drive. An Infiniti was turning on to Carolina Beach Road from Medical Center Drive when the driver struck the moped. The man and women on the moped were taken to the New Hanover Regional Medical Center. The driver of the Infiniti was not injured, but may face charges.
Mopeds, like motorcycles, can be difficult for other drivers to see, and accidents like the one in Wilmington are all too common in North Carolina (NC). Often mopeds and motorcycles can get in to a driver’s blind spot, causing the driver to hit the smaller vehicle.
As drivers we should always remember to share the road with smaller vehicles like motorcycles and mopeds. The injuries drivers of these types of vehicles can sustain are far greater then when two cars get in to an accident.
AC
The Wake Forest Police Department will be charging the driver of a vehicle that killed a man in Wake Forest, North Carolina (NC) with second degree murder. The recent car accident occurred after Pedro Guity crossed in to oncoming traffic on Capital Boulevard and struck Robert Harris. Pedro Guity was taken to WakeMed hospital where he recovered from his injuries. Tragically, Robert Harris died as a result of the car accident. Blood screens on Guity revealed he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.
Pedro Guity is one of thousands of North Carolina (NC) residents who chose to get behind the wheel after having too much to drink. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 423 people in 2008 died in alcohol-related car accidents in North Carolina.
Every year we see an increase in drunk-driving car accidents around the holidays. Holiday parties, dinners, and family gatherings often have alcohol in abundance, and people are more prone to drinking and attempting to drive home afterwards. Drinking and driving is never a good idea. North Carolina has strict laws on drinking and driving that could cost your drivers license, or put you in jail, even if you do not have a car accident.
Keep yourself and your loved ones safe this year and set-up a designated driver before you go to your holiday party. The designated driver program has helped to save thousands of lives across the U.S.
AC
A car accident occurred on Hope Mills Road in Fayetteville, North Carolina (NC) that left three dead and two injured.
The fatal car accident occurred when a Ford Mustang crossed over the center line on Hope Mills Road and hit a Toyota Highlander head on. The impact of the crash forced the Highlander in to a furniture truck. The driver of the Ford Mustang, Tristan Hanna, was taken to UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill, North Carolina (NC). His fiancé, the only passenger in the Mustang, was taken by ambulance New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington. The driver of the Toyota Highlander, Hien Troung, and his infant daughter were also taken to UNC Hospital. Hein Troung’s wife was taken to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville.
Tragically, Tristan Hanna, Hein Troung, and Troung’s infant daughter died as a result of injured they sustained in the car accident. Troung’s wife and Hanna’s fiancé remain in the hospital in critical condition.
The Fayetteville Police Department feels that speed may have been the main factor in the car accident. When a driver is speeding, it is easy for them to lose control of their car. This can lead to the driver crossing in to oncoming lanes and causing a head-on collision. Head-on collisions come on suddenly and can be fatal. As a driver, it is imperative that you follow posted speed limits; it may save your life.
AC
Recently, I wrote an article about a car accident involving two teenagers in Knightdale, North Carolina (NC). The teenagers, from East Wake High School, were traveling on Puryear Road when the driver lost control of the vehicle. The teenager went off the road, hit an embankment, and flipped over several times.
At the time the article was written, both teenagers had been taken to WakeMed hospital where they were being treated for injuries. Tragically, the passenger recently died at as a result of injuries they sustained in the car accident. The driver has been released from WakeMed hospital.
Sadly, this is the second tragedy to strike East Wake High School this year; another teenager was killed in a car accident in January. Counselors have been dispatched to the high school to help the grieving process for fellow students and friends of these two teenagers.
AC
According to the North Carolina Highway Patrol, a tractor-trailer is to blame for the two deaths that occurred on I-85 in Guliford County outside of Greensboro, North Carolina (NC).
A woman traveling with her daughter pulled her car in to the right travel lane of I-85 near Rock Creek Dairy Road; likely having car trouble. While the woman was parked in the right lane, a tractor-trailer hit her car from behind; killing her and her daughter. The North Carolina Highway Patrol has not yet filed charges in the tractor-trailer accident.
Highways like I-85 can be extremely dangerous for drivers who are forced to pull off the roadway. The North Carolina Department of Crime Control and Public Safety offers these tips on handling a car break down and avoiding a car accident while you are driving: First, pull your car as far off the roadway as possible. Once you have pulled your car off the road, exit the car through the passenger side and have everyone exit the vehicle. Do not leave any passengers in the car. Once everyone has exited the vehicle, stand away from the roadway. Do not stand near your vehicle. Finally, if it is dark outside, be sure to use your emergency flashers. It is difficult for other drivers, especially drivers traveling at high speeds, to see parked vehicles. Using your emergency flashers will help others see you.
Tragically, not all accidents like the one that happened on I-85 can be avoided. If you have been involved in a car accident after a break down, it is likely that car accident is not your fault. A personal injury attorney may be able to help you.
AC
A two vehicle accident took place at the intersection of West 7th Street and North Graham Street in Charlotte, North Carolina (N.C.) which sent a limo driver to the local hospital. According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, the limo driver was about to open the door for a passenger when he was suddenly struck by a passing truck driven by Kyle Carter, 23. Carter continued driving and failed to stop and check on the driver's condition.
The limo driver was taken to the hospital and was treated for minor injuries. A short time later, police located Carter's vehicle on the Brookshire Freeway and charged him with hit-and-run and driving while impaired. Additionally, drug paraphernalia was found inside his vehicle making matters much worse.
According to a Drunk Driving Facts and Figures by ehow.com, motor vehicle accidents involving alcohol kills 36 people each day in the United States. Worldwide, it's estimated that approximately 70 people die every day in alcohol-related crashes. The statistics clearly show that our roads and highways are not as safe as you might be lead to believe.
If you are a parent with children who are driving age, please make sure that they are physically and emotionally capable of driving. Although training and classes for teens have improved over the years, it seems there are a many more distractions these days, especially in the form of a cell phone, or ipod.
bm

When the skies open up a dump a ton of rain on our roadways, caution is the name of the game. Unfortunately, not all drivers adhere to this principle which leads to some bad car wrecks. A major rainstorm in North Carolina (NC) led to two car wrecks that resulted in serious injuries and loss of life.
A car was driving down N.C. 43 when it hydroplaned, crossed the center line, and wound up getting hit by a dump truck. As a result, two people were killed and a young child was injured, according to enctoday.com.
On the same day, another car hydroplaned at the intersection of U.S. 17 and Weyerhaeuser Road leading to eight injuries including injuries to three toddlers and two teenagers.
Hydroplaning is a common cause of car wrecks and can cause serious damage to your vehicle and the people inside. It occurs when a layer of water builds up between the tires of your car, truck, SUV, or motorcycle and the road surface. This leads to the loss of traction and puts the vehicle into a virtually uncontrollable slide.
In order to reduce the risk of hydroplaning, go below the speed limit when it has just rained heavily or if you are on the road when it is raining. Also, be extremely cognizant of the other vehicles on the road since not everyone obeys the speed limit, even in bad weather.
Both of the car accidents that occurred in N.C. were awful and they serve as an example of just how dangerous the roads can be after a bad storm.
About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm (NC-VA law offices ) edits the injury law blogs Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard, Virginia Beach Injuryboard, and Norfolk Injuryboard as a pro bono service to consumers.
PA
Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Emily Mapp Brannon
Most of us are aware of seat belt laws and the importance of buckling up when you get into the car. However, you may not know that numerous states have a loophole which allows adult back seat occupants to ride without their seat belt on. Virginia (VA) is one of those states.
Laws are on the books in VA requiring minors to wear their seat belts while riding in the back, but not for adults. This is extremely dangerous since an unbuckled adult in the back seat can become a “back seat bullet” in a car accident, according to USA Today.
There seems to be this false belief that if you are in the back seat, you are somehow safer than the people in the front. This is not the case. In a car crash, a back seat passenger not wearing a seat belt will continue to move at the same rate of speed as your car until they hit something like the dashboard, back of your sea, or windshield.
Six states took the step of expanding their seat belt laws in 2007 but Virginia (VA) remains one of the over 20 states across the country that still allows adult back seat passengers to ride without a seat belt. This needs to be corrected as soon as possible.
Seat belts reportedly save 11,000 lives every year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Car accidents are the leading cause of death for people under the age of 35. It makes no sense to keep the current laws on the books enabling adults to ride in the back unbuckled. Let us hope our legislators take action and correct there glaring loophole in our seat belt laws.
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, and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as a pro bono service to consumers.
PA
Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Emily Mapp Brannon

After the big H1N1 virus that caused the 2009 pandemic, the US Food and Drug Administration approved seven influenza vaccines for this next flu season, 2010-2011.
What is the Flu?
A flu is a respiratory illness which is caused by influenza viruses. It is contagious and the best way to prevent the flu is to receive the flu vaccine each year.
These newly approved vaccines protect against three strains of influenza, including H1N1, according to Medical News Today. Last year, there were two vaccines needed in order to protect against the 2009 H1N1 flu. According to FDA, only one vaccine is required this year.
Director of FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Karen Midthun, M.D., said, "The best way to protect yourself and your family against influenza is to get vaccinated every year. The availability of a new seasonal influenza vaccine each year is an important tool in the prevention of influenza relate illnesses and death."
Here is a list of the new vaccines that have been approved (Brand Names & Manufacturers):
1) Afluria (CSL Limited)
2) Agriflu (Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics)
3) Fluzone and Fluzone High-Dose (Sanofi Pasteur Inc.)
4) Fluvirin (Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Limited)
5) Flarix (GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals)
6) FluMist (Medlmmune Vaccines Inc.)
7) FluLaval (GlaxoSmith Kline Biolgicals)
How do they figure out these vaccines that FDA recommends?
Experts from FDA, World Health Organization, CDC and possibly other institutions examine and study virus samples collected worldwide. They examine them to find strains likely to cause the most illness during the next season. Then with the strains and vaccines, the closer the match, the more protection against influenza disease.
With all this research, the FDA did approve of seven new vaccines for this season.
The Flu spreads. It can spread very easily by people coughing, sneezing or simply talking.
So who is actually at risk of getting the flu?
According to CDC, there are certain people who are at greater risk for complications if they get the flu. In this group are older people, young children, pregnant woman and people with certain health conditions.
A study completed in 1990 found that flu-related deaths estimated 17,000 during the mildest season to 52,000 during the severe season. According to the CDC, 90 percent of deaths during a regular flu season occur in people who are 65 years old or older.
The 2009 H1N1 virus caused the first flu pandemic in over 40 years. There were around 12,000 or more flu-related deaths.
The important thing here is to be preventative, especially with parents and their children. CDC says, "the single best way to prevent the flue is to get a flu vaccine each season." Now, FDA has approved several new vaccines. They should become available in September and continue throughout flue season, which in some cases can last as late as May.
Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Emily Mapp Brannon
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