Practice Areas
HSInjury Blog 
Car & Motorcycle Accidents
- Whiplash Pain from a Car Crash
- Tweeting and Driving Just as Dangerous as Texting and Driving
- Bike Accidents on the Rise in North Carolina
Crashes Caused by Trucks
- 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
Medical Malpractice/Doctor Mistakes
- Steps to Choosing a Nursing Home and How to Spot Nursing Home Abuse
- Former Goldsboro, North Carolina Based Mental Hospital Worker Admits To Beating Patient
- Granville Woman Sues Hospital For Negligence After Son’s Death
Railroad Injury/FELA
- What is a Quiet Zone and How Does it Affect Railroad Crossing Safety?
- 500 People Killed Every Year in Preventable Rail Crossing Accidents
- Wrong Way Driver Causes Deadly I-264 Car Crash Killing Two
Brain Damage/Head Injuries
- Workers Suffer Severe Head Trauma in Craven County, North Carolina Construction Accident
- Restaurant Ornament Falls on Customer, Causes Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
- Karr Completes Skateboarding Trip To Raise Brain Injury Awareness
Wrongful Death
- Calypso, North Carolina Fatal Tractor-Trailer Crash Kills One Injures Five
- Triton Senior Dead another Injured as SUV Crashes into Dunn, North Carolina Walmart
- Wake County, North Carolina Woman Crushed as Oak Tree Falls on Home
Slips, Trips & Falls
- Worker Hospitalized After Elevator Falls Several Floors in Farmville, North Carolina
- Settlement Obtained For NC Resident Suffering Restaurant Trip & Fall While Visiting Virginia
Mass Transit (Airline, Train, Bus)
- Over 100 Plane Crashes in South Carolina Since 2005
- Amtrak Train Collides with Trailer Injures 13 in Mebane, North Carolina
- Sophia, North Carolina Truck Driver Airlifted After Train Wreck on Highway 311
Dangerous Drugs/Product Recalls
- The Connection Between Effexor and Miscarriage
- Reglan Lawsuits on the Rise
- Charlotte, North Carolina Based Family Dollar Stores Recalled 1.8 M Toy Dart Guns
All Serious Injuries
- Dudley, North Carolina Boy Suffers Dog Attack at Brogden Elementary Bus Stop
- Recommended Safety Tips for Preventing Bicycle Accident Injuries
- 16 Year Old Killed in Bicycling Wreck
General
Greenville-Outer Banks-Rocky Mount NC Personal Injury Lawyer 
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Suffolk VA Personal Injury Lawyer
Norfolk-Portsmouth-Hampton VA Personal Injury Lawyer
Firm News
- Head Injury Survivor Dies In North Carolina Bicycle Accident
Posted on 8/21/2010 - North Carolina Toddler Survives Shocking Head Injury From Pressure Was
Posted on 8/20/2010 - North Carolina Toddler Survives Shocking Head Injury From Pressure Was
Posted on 8/20/2010 - UNC Study: Former NFL Players Plagued By Cognitive Issues
Posted on 8/19/2010 - Hydroplaning Leads to Two Serious Car Wrecks in North Carolina
Posted on 8/16/2010
Library
Car & Motorcycle Accidents
- The Insurance Company is Giving Me a Hard Time
- Rocky Mount Car Accident Lawyer Can Help Get the Compensation You Need
- When to Call a Greenville Car Accident Lawyer
Crashes Caused by Trucks
- Trucks Accidents And Mechanical Failure
- Carolina Truck Accidents: Improperly Loaded Trucks
- Carolina Truck Accidents: Truck Driver Distractions
Medical Malpractice/Doctor Mistakes
- US Government: Hospitals Need More Quality And Safety Control
- Carolina Medical Error: Cancerous Organ Transplants
- Carolina Medical Malpractice: A Focus On Nerve Damage
Railroad Injury/FELA
- What I Have Learned about Railroad Worker Cancers and How Railroad Companies Fight Lawsuits by Workers
- Association of American Railroads Recommends Safety Measures and Injury Prevention for Hand Brake Operation
- Preventing Train-Car Accidents | Carolina Train And Railroad Accident Attorneys
Brain Damage/Head Injuries
- Dangers Of Recumbent Bicycles – Less Height Means Less Visibility
- Anoxic Brain Injuries: Injuries From Oxygen Deprivation
- Possible Connection Between ALS, Lou Gehrig’s Disease, and Head Injuries
Wrongful Death
- Client: "Never did I send an email or left a message in Rick's office that we did not get a speedy answer. The courtesy he extended to our family was unmatched by anyone in his profession."
- Fireworks Explosion in Ocracoke, North Carolina (NC) Kills Three
- Frequently Asked Questions About Salmonella Food Poisoning
Mass Transit (Airline, Train, Bus)
- Man Loses One Leg and Sight in One Eye after Falling onto Tracks
- The FAA: Could They Prevent More Airplane Accidents?
- Boating Accidents In The Carolinas
Dangerous Drugs/Product Recalls
- ABC Investigative Report Interviews Richard N. Shapiro and Firm Client on Accidental Deaths Caused By Fentanyl Pain Patches
- New Fentanyl-like Patch gets FDA approval, Potentially as Lethal as Original Dangerous Drug
- This article highlights the dangers of many prescription drugs which hit the open market. Over 32,000 people die every year due to complications and misuse of these medications. If you've suffered adverse side effects, please consider giving us a call for a free, confidential consultation at 1-800-752-0042.
All Serious Injuries
- Why Clients Choose Our North Carolina Law Firm - Ethics, Experience, Distinction in the Legal Community, and Much More
- The pledge our North Carolina law firm makes to our clients is in writing and our staff is fully committed to following these guidelines
- Federal Fourth Circuit Court Decision Supports Contingency-Fee System for Lawyers
Directories
- Camden County and Pasquotank County Court Information
- This is a directory of nursing homes in Elizabeth City, North Carolina (NC). We are not endorsing any of the health care providers in this directory. In addition, this is not a comprehensive list. If a health care provider would like to be added, please contact our firm at 1-800-752-0042.
- This is a directory of nursing homes in Rocky Mount, North Carolina (NC). We are not endorsing any of the health care providers in this directory. In addition, this is not a comprehensive list. If a health care provider would like to be added, please contact our firm at 1-800-752-0042.
North & South Carolina Supreme Court Decisions
- Rowell v. Bowling, Jr. & New Hanover Regional Medical Center is a medical malpractice case and this decision focuses on whether or not the plaintiff's appeal that their complaint was not properly reviewed by a medical expert prior to trial should be affirmed
- Watts v. North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources is a tort claims case and this decision focuses on the defendant's admission of negligence and waiving their argument that no duty is owed to the plaintiff due to the public duty doctrine.
- Hughes v. Rivera-Ortiz and Callaway Associates is a medical malpractice case dealing with alleged sexual assault by Rivera-Ortiz (the defendant). This decision focuses on the plantiff's Rule 59 motion for new trial on damages and ratification of negligence by a medical clinic.
Injury Case Actual Testimony Excerpts
- As experienced Virginia/Carolina injury lawyers often in court, we constantly receive testimony of experts and witnesses by deposition or during trial (Group 2)
- Testimony Excerpt - CSX Chief Medical Officer
- Testimony Excerpt - Dr. J. Leonard Goldner, Orthopedic Surgeon
General
Carolina Accident Attorney Blog
Read our latest blogs about North Carolina and South Carolina accident, medical malpractice, slip and fall, wrongful death and brain injury cases. If you have sustained a serious injury resulting from an accident, medical malpractice or nursing home abuse, a Carolina accident attorney from our office can help you.Car & Motorcycle Accidents
Tweeting and Driving Just as Dangerous as Texting and Driving
Tweeting and driving is not safer than texting while driving. If you tweet while you’re driving, you are distracted and could get into a serious car accident. To learn more, check out this blog. Bike Accidents on the Rise in North Carolina
Over 1,000 bike riders were injured in bicycle-car accidents in 2007 in North Carolina (NC). The number of bike-car wrecks has been steadily increasing in NC and something needs to be done to reduce the number of accidents. To learn more, check out this blog. 6-Year-Old Girl Killed By Crushed Roof in SUV Rollover Accident
An SUV rollover accident in Hillsborough, North Carolina (NC) led to the tragic death of a 6-year-old girl. A part of the roof was crushed when the SUV flipped. To learn more about car/SUV rollover dangers as well as seat belt and window glass/glazing defects, read this blog. Cross-country Cyclist Killed when Hit by Pickup Truck
If you're looking for a lawyer who works tirelessly to get you results and has a proven record of successful verdicts/settlements, then please take a moment to visit our web site and give our office a call so you can talk to a real lawyer for free. We would love to talk with you. Our number is 1-800-752-0042. What To Do When a Traffic Light Malfunctions
A broken traffic light at Skinner’s Bypass in North Carolina (NC) led to a car wreck and multiple injuries. The light had been malfunctioning for about five minutes prior to the accident. Many people have trouble determining what to do when they encounter a malfunctioning traffic signal. Learn what to do in this situation by reading this blog. Twelve Hospitalized from Two Wrecks in Havelock County, North Carolina
Emily Mapp Brannon blogged about two wrecks that occurred in Havelock County, North Carolina that sent a dozen people to the hospital recently. Many of the victims were from the Carteret Correctional Facility bus that was involved with one of them. If you want a no-cost call with a real lawyer specializing in auto accident cases against insurance companies, please contact our law firm toll free at 800-752-0042. Raleigh, North Carolina (NC) Man Critically Injured Catching City Bus
Rick Shapiro, injury attorney, recently blogged about a young Raleigh, North Carolina man that was critically injured after being struck by van while trying to catch a bus on Capital Boulevard. If you want a no-cost call with a real lawyer specializing in auto accident cases involving pedestrians, please contact our law firm toll free at 800-752-0042 so we can evaluate whether your potential claim meets our criteria. 4 Family Members Killed from Fatal I-95 Car Wreck in Rocky Mount, North Carolina
John Cooper recently blogged about a terrible car wreck in NC that killed several members of a Dillon, South Carolina family on Interstate 95 near Rocky Mount. If you want a no-cost call with a real lawyer specializing in auto accident cases against insurance companies, please contact our law firm toll free at 800-752-0042. North and South Carolina Roads Called “Silent Killers”
Both U.S. 129 and Interstate 26 in the Carolinas were described as “silent killers” and some of the deadliest roads in the country. In fact, over 300 people have been killed on I-26 in the past decade. To learn more, check out this article. Texting Motor Bike Rider Seriously Injured in Accident on N.C. 10
A motor bike rider and a passenger were seriously injured after they slammed into a pickup truck on N.C. 10 near Claremont, North Carolina (NC). The motorcycle operator was texting just prior to the wreck. Check out this article to learn more. Hit-and-Run Accident in North Carolina (NC) Still Causing Repercussions
A hit-and-run accident that happened in May is still causing repercussions for the family of the child who suffered head injuries as well as internal injuries. You may continue reading for more details. Motor Bike Riders Must Exercise Caution on North Carolina Roads
Motorcycle drivers and car drivers have to share the road; unfortunately, some drivers, of either vehicle, do not always do so, or may not even think traffic laws apply to them. They do. Read on for more information. Jones County, North Carolina Pedestrian Critically Injured by Truck
Injury attorney John Cooper recently blogged about a pedestrian accident in Jones County, North Carolina that has critically injured a man. A truck hit the victim causing him to break an arm and leg as well as other bodily trauma. Pedestrian accidents are quite common in North Carolina and can cause serious injury and even death. Drunk Driver Takes Life of 56-Year-Old Man in Loris, South Carolina
Nearly 12,000 people in the U.S. were killed in DUI-related car crashes in 2008. Tragically, Robert C. Byerly of Loris, South Carolina (SC) joined that statistic. He was killed by a drunk driver on Highway 701. To learn more, read this article. Red Light Runner Causes Accident in Charlotte, Two Pedestrians Seriously Injured
Four people suffered serious injuries after a driver ran a red light, hit a car, and wound up propelling that car onto a sidewalk and hitting two pedestrians. This accident is a prime example of why red light runners are so dangerous in North Carolina (NC) and across the country. To learn more, check out this article. Accident Involving Red Light Runner Leaves Three People Seriously Injured
Three people suffered serious injuries in a car crash where one of the drivers ran a red light. Unfortunately, red light runner accidents are far too common on our roads and highways. To learn more, check out this article. Three People Killed in Accidents Involving North Carolina Police
Two fatal accidents took place in North Carolina (NC) involving police officers. These accidents occurred after a report showed NC troopers were involved in seven car wrecks per week. To learn more, check out this article. NC Highway Patrol Involved in Seven Car Wrecks per Week
Over $1 million in taxpayer funds has been spent to settle lawsuits and repair damaged cruisers stemming from accidents that were caused by a North Carolina Highway Patrol trooper. To learn more, check out this article. Hit-and-Run Accident in Spencer Seriously Injures 5-Year-Old Girl
If you’ve been the victim of a hit-and-run accident, do not think you’ll be stuck with the medical bills. You should have UM coverage on your insurance policy. To learn what that is, check out this article. Motorcycle Crash in North Carolina Takes Life of Woman, Four Dead in Past Two Weeks
The risk of injury or loss of life in a motor bike accident is dramatically higher than if you’re involved in a car accident. In fact, a motor bike rider is 9 times more likely to be injured in an accident than someone driving a car. If you’ve been hurt in a motorcycle accident that was due to someone else’s carelessness, please contact our firm for a free, new client consultation. Our number is 1-800-752-0042. Blue Ridge High School Student Killed in Car Crash
We don't know what caused the car wreck on Ridge Road, but we do know the ramifications - the passenger (a Blue Ridge High student) was killed and the driver was seriously injured. Any loss of life is terrible, but it's especially tragic when someone so young is taken from us. If you've lost a loved one in a car wreck and feel it was due to the carelessness of another person or company, please contact our firm so we can talk about what happened. Our number is 1-800-752-0042. Two Cars Overturned on I-85 in Vance County, North Carolina
Two vehicle accident causing cars to over-turn on I-85 in Vance County, North Carolina probably due to alcohol, or a drunk driver. Serious injuries often occur on the road after a car crash or vehicle wreck. Please make adequate safety precautions when driving and follow these safety tips. If you have been injured from a car wreck, then consult with us. We promise to treat you like family, not like a number. Call us to see what we mean at 1-800-752-0042 and take a moment to review our website filled with free consumer guides, articles, and videos. Two Young Men Killed in Car Wreck on U.S. 221 in North Carolina
The two young men were in a Ford Mustang traveling 75mph in a 50mph zone. This tragic accident highlights the importance of maintaining a proper speed limit while on the road. N.C. driver charged with drunk driving, felony death by vehicle
If you're looking for a lawyer who works tirelessly to get you results and has a proven record of successful verdicts/settlements, then please take a moment to visit our web site and give our office a call so you can talk to a real lawyer for free. We would love to talk with you. Our number is 1-800-752-0042. Accident on U.S. Highway 52 Highlights Failure to Yield Right of Way
An accident on U.S. Highway 52 highlights one of the most common types of accidents - the failure to yield the right of way. If you've been involved in such an accident, please give our law firm a call so you can talk to a real lawyer for free. Our number is 1-800-752-0042.Greenville-Outer Banks-Rocky Mount NC Personal Injury Lawyer
Heavy Rains in North Carolina Cause Serious Car Wrecks
Date: 08/16/2010When 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 BrannonVirginia Beach-Chesapeake-Suffolk VA Personal Injury Lawyer
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
Norfolk-Portsmouth-Hampton VA Personal Injury Lawyer
7 new influenza vaccines for next flu season
Date: 08/13/2010After 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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Slips, Trips & Falls
- Insurance Adjuster Recovers $150,000.00 for Injuries Sustained at Local restaurant
- Trip & Fall, Foot/Leg Injuries at Restaurant
Awarded: 150,000.00
Awarded: Confidential Settlement
FAQs
Car & Motorcycle Accidents
- MY doctor says my injuries are from before the wreck but it never gave me problems before, does this mean my case is worth less?
- What am I entitled to if I'm involved in a car accident?
- Do I have to repay my health insurance co. if I have a personal injury case for my injuries?
Crashes Caused by Trucks
- Are the rules of the road different for drivers of large commercial trucks than for cars?
- Is the law applying to a car and truck wreck case different from a car injury case and how?
Medical Malpractice/Doctor Mistakes
Railroad Injury/FELA
- I've retired from the railroad a long time ago. Can I still file a claim for an asbestos cancer or mesothelioma diagnosis?
- I've been diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer. I was never told it was connected to the railroad work I did many years ago. Can I still bring a railroad injury or disease claim?
- How can a railroad injury lawyer prove that the asbestos cancer or mesothelioma arose from exposure at the railroad?
Brain Damage/Head Injuries
- What is anoxic brain injury?
- What must I do to prove that I suffered a brain injury?
- What are the signs and symptoms of a brain injury?
Wrongful Death
- What exactly is a wrongful death claim?
- Are the laws or rules applying to a wrongful death claim different from a personal injury not involving death?
Slips, Trips & Falls
- If I file a lawsuit against a landowner in response to a slip and fall injury, what will landowner potentially argue against my claim?
- What exactly are "slip and fall" and "trip and fall" injuries?
- What if I slip and fall on my landlord's property, at work, or at a public location like a mall? How does the location affect my claim?
Mass Transit (Airline, Train, Bus)
- If a train, bus, airplane, or other common carrier vehicle hits me and I'm injured, what can I recover for my injuries?
- Is there a deadline for me to file a claim if I suffered injuries from a bus, train, cruise ship or airplane accident?
Dangerous Drugs/Product Recalls
- If I file a defective product claim, what should I expect the other person/group to argue against my claim?
- What is necessary to win a product liability lawsuit?
- What are "defective products" and what does "product liability" mean?
All Serious Injuries
- Can the other party ask about legal advice or discussions which took place between you and your lawyer?
- What are interrogatories?
- What role do interrogatories play in a lawsuit?