Bike Accidents on the Rise in North Carolina

N.C. driver charged with drunk driving, felony death by vehicle

Multi-Vehicle Crash Involving a Charlotte DOT Truck on I-485 Hospitalizes Three

Charlotte, NC Hit-and-Run Accident Injures One

A two vehicle accident took place at the intersection of West 7^th 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.

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Four Hospitalized and One Critically Injured in Five Car Wreck in Charlotte

Pineville-Matthews Road was closed for two and a half hours last Saturday night due to an accident in Charlotte, NC which was caused by a minivan driver.  Apparently, the 19-year old female driver of the minivan crossed the median into oncoming traffic.  The van crashed into a jeep which then ended up in a ditch.

Four other cars were damaged due to the accident. From a total of eight people involved four were taken to the hospital, but only one was critically injured.  One would not expect that only a few people were injured by just looking at the wreckage.  According to the police, the 19-year old driver of the minivan will be charged for driving while intoxicated (DWI).

According to drunk driving statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, from a total of 12,998 drinking driving fatalities in the United States in 2007 that 1,393 were due to teen drunk driving. Despite all of the stringent rules implemented against drunk driving, there are still those who can not seem to heed the law and not only risk their lives but all those they may have contact with.

Man Killed While Changing Flat Tire in Charlotte, North Carolina

The pedestrian, Arthur Bankhead, pulled over on Interstate 85 in Charlotte, North Carolina (NC) to assist a woman who had pulled over to the left shoulder of the interstate with a flat tire. Three IMAP workers also pulled over to assist the woman. The IMAP workers set up emergency cones and flashers around the vehicle to indicate other drivers to move over to the other lane before passing by.

According to North Carolina State Troopers, Arthur Bankhead was inside of the coned off area of interstate 85 changing the tire when Sandra Krasen drove through the cones and struck and killed Bankhead. Sandra Krasen did not flee the scene. State troopers have opened an investigation on the car accident and Krasen may be charged with violating North Carolina’s move over safety law.

The move over safety law requires any vehicle to move a minimum of one lane over from any stalled vehicle or other emergency. So far the North Carolina Highway Patrol has issued 88 citations for violating the law. These citations have a $380 fine.

Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm is based in Virginia (VA), with an office also in Elizabeth City, in Northeast North Carolina (NC), practicing primarily in the southeastern U.S. and handles only injury law, including car, truck, railroad, and medical negligence cases and more. Our Carolina injury law website is: http://carolina.hsinjurylaw.com, the firm edits the injury law blogs Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, as well as the Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard and also hosts a YouTube injury law video library with over 50 videos covering many FAQ’s on personal injury subjects. Lawyers licensed in: VA, NC, SC, WV, DC, KY.

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Wrong Way Driver Causes Fatality in a Car Accident on a Highway in Hickory, North Carolina

A car accident on Highway 321 in Hickory, North Carolina (NC) led to one fatality, two serious injuries, and a highway closure.

Witnesses say an elderly couple driving a white sedan were traveling north on the southbound lanes of Highway 321. The driver of the white sedan was traveling in two lanes and hit a truck head on.

The driver of the truck who was struck, Howard Helton’s wife was also on Highway 321 and witnessed the accident. She was able to contact emergency crews to respond. Howard Helton and the driver of the white sedan were taken to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina (NC) where they are both being treated for injuries caused in the car accident. Sadly, the passenger of the white sedan, an elderly woman, died on impact.

The North Carolina Highway patrols shut off parts of Highway 321 and have conducted an investigation of the crash scene. They were able to verify witness statements that the driver of the white sedan was driving the wrong way at the time of the car accident, but they are not sure at what point the driver entered Highway 321 or why he was traveling in the wrong direction.

Driver’s going the wrong way are more common then you might think, especially on highways. Drivers can confuse the off ramp for the on ramp when entering the highway and travel for along periods of time before they are able to correct themselves. If you see headlights coming in the wrong direction it is best to pull over to the side of the road. Trying to swerve around the oncoming car may panic you or the other driver and cause an accident.

AC

Former NCSU Football Player Died in Tragic Car Accident in Charlotte, North Carolina

Off-Duty Police Officer Stops Driver Going the Wrong Way on the Interstate

An off duty campus police officer from UNG Charlotte noticed a man going the wrong way on interstate 85 towards Rowan County Sunday.

Officer Alan Bridges was headed to work on interstate 85 when he first spotted the man. Without hesitation Alan Bridges turned his vehicle around and attempted to stop the driver, Himansu Arora. According to Bridges, “He just honked a few times. He wouldn't stop and I could see in the distance there were a few cars coming our way.”

Bridges notified the Charlotte Police Department to tell them he was attempting to apprehend Himansu Arora. After another few failed attempts Bridges got in front of the Arora’s vehicle and forced him to slow to a stop. Once the vehicle was stopped Bridges detained Arora on interstate 85.

The Charlotte Police Department arrested Arora for a DWI. Thankfully, due to the quick responsiveness of Alan Bridges, no one was hurt in the incident.

It is not all that uncommon for drunk drivers to drive their vehicles the wrong way on the roadways. When you have been drinking, your reflexes and logic skills are impaired and it is possible for drunk drivers to miss roadway signs and get confused easily on off and on ramps.

Unfortunately, car accidents caused by the bad decisions made by a drunk driver can happen in an instant. Often the only warning other drivers will have is the headlights of the oncoming car. If you find yourself in a situation like this the best thing you can do to protect yourself is to slow down and get to the farthest lane away from the oncoming driver. Attempting to swerve, flash your lights, or honk may panic the driver traveling the wrong way and cause a car accident. Once you have passed the driver successfully, notify 9-1-1 responders immediately.

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Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Involved in Fatal Car Accident Resigns

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Involved in Fatal Car Accident Resigns

Drunk Driver is Arrested after Car Accident in Charlotte, North Carolina

A woman was arrested Friday morning after causing a single car accident in Charlotte, North Carolina (NC).

Charlotte, North Carolina (NC) police apprehended the woman after she lost control of her car in a round about and crashed in to a building in the Ballantyne area. No one was hurt in the car accident, but the woman was intoxicated at the time of the crash.

Fortunately, no one was injured in the car accident or inside the building. However, drunk driving related car accidents often result in serious injury or even death. While the number of alcohol related car accidents has decreased in recent years, from 17,732 alcohol related crashes in 1995 to 16,885 crashes in 2005 nationwide, driving while under the influence is still a major cause of car accidents and fatalities each year.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), alcohol was present in 24% of drivers involved in fatal car accidents. In 2005, an alcohol related death occurred on the roadways every 31 minutes.

Even with aggressive laws in North Carolina (NC) set up to protect the roadways from drunk drivers, thousands of people climb behind the wheel while intoxicated everyday. The best thing you can do to fight these staggering statistics is to not become one yourself. Do not drive while inebriated. If you know you are going to be drinking, use the designated driver program. While on the roadways, pay special attention to other drivers who appear to be driving erratically or swerving. If you suspect someone on the roadway may be drunk, stay far away from the vehicle and call local authorities.

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Single Car Accident Leads to Fatality in Charlotte, North Carolina

A car accident in Charlotte, North Carolina (NC) lead to the death of the driver early this morning.

The car accident occurred early this morning on Little Rock Road south of Freedom Drive in Charlotte, North Carolina (NC). Charlotte fire Capt. Rob Brisley told reporters that at least one person was killed in the single car crash. It is unclear if any passengers were in the vehicle at the time of the accident.

Rob Brisley reported that the car accident occurred when the vehicle swerved off the road, hitting a tree. After the vehicle crashed in to the tree it wound up in a creek just off Little Rock Road. Emergency responders were called to the scene around 10 a.m. No other vehicles were involved in the accident.

It is unsure at this time what initially caused the accident that claimed the life of the driver.

Car accidents can happen at any time, especially on rural roadways like Little Rock Road. If you drive rural roadways you should always heed extra caution. These types of roadways can have sudden turns and hills in the roadway that may impair your vision or cause you to have to turn the car suddenly. If you are not fully alert you can miss a simple turn and run off of the road way, such as the tragic case that resulted in a death this morning.

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Pedestrian Hit and Killed in Charlotte, North Carolina

Motorcyclist Injured After Hit and Run in Charlotte, North Carolina

A motorcyclist was injured in a hit and run accident around 2 a.m. Friday morning in Charlotte, North Carolina (NC).

Luckily, an off duty Charlotte, North Carolina (NC) police officer happened to witness the incident, and when the car that smashed in to the motorcyclist fled from the scene the police officer was able to track down and apprehend the suspects. The motorcyclist was fortunate to suffer only minor injuries in the hit and run accident and is on the road to recovery.

Hit and run accidents are all too common on our roadways. According to the Insurance Information Institute between 2003 and 2006 one in every eight car accidents that occurred in the U.S were hit and run accidents and nearly three times as many hit and run accidents occurred in southern states like North Carolina (NC) as compared to northern states.

Roadway accidents involving motorcycles also have staggering statistics. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 1998 motorcycle accidents were responsible for 2,284 deaths in the U.S. and 49,000 injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also reported that motorcyclists are 16 times more likely to be involved in an accident compared to a traditional car and three times as likely to be injured.

While not every motorcycle accident can be avoided, you can significantly cut down on your risk of both having an accident and being injured in an accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 46% of fatally injured motorcyclists were not wearing a helmet. By wearing a helmet every time you ride you greatly reduce the chance of being fatally injured in an accident.

Even if you don’t own a motorcycle you can help cut down on accidents. A large portion of motorcycle accidents involving cars on the road happen simply because the driver of the car does not see the motorcycle. By sharing the road, paying extra attention to motorcycles around you, you can help reduce the staggering number of motorcycle related fatalities each year.

AC

Freedom Drive in Charlotte, North Carolina Shut Down After Car Accident

Portions of Freedom Drive in Charlotte, North Carolina (NC) were closed after the driver of a truck ran his car into a telephone pole.

According to the Charlotte Police Department, the car accident was due to the driver speeding on wet roads. His truck hit a puddle in the road causing him to loose control of the vehicle and smash in to the telephone pole on Freedom Drive in the southwest part of Charlotte, North Carolina (NC).

Fortunately, the driver of the truck sustained only minor injuries in the car accident, but Freedom Drive had to be shut down for several hours while work crews repaired the broken telephone pole. Traffic in Charlotte was heavily delayed while the work crews made the necessary repairs. It is uncertain if the Charlotte Police Department will charge the driver responsible for the car accident for maintaining an improper speed while navigating the wet roadway.

While the driver was fortunate enough to sustain only minor injuries in this car accident that is not always the case for accidents involving wet roadways. As a personal injury attorney, I have seen countless car accident cases due to severe weather. Driving in severe weather conditions is far more dangerous then some may realize.

There are several steps you can take while driving to reduce your chances of being in a car accident if you find yourself caught out in heavy rain. Exercise caution while driving any time the roadways are wet. This is especially true during the beginning of a storm. When rain first falls it can mix with oil already on the roadways, causing them to be slick. During any type of severe weather, your vision is limited. Be sure to use your headlights, even if it is only cloudy outside, to help the other drivers on the road see your car better. Above all else, lower your current driving speed during rain. Drive at or below the speed limit, and only travel as fast as you are comfortable driving given the weather conditions.

AC

Drunk Driver Plunges Down the Linville Gorge With His Daughters Inside

My Fellow North Carolina F.E.L.A. Lawyer John Cooper Describes How Railroad Engineers Get Hurt on the Job

I hope you will check out the information which my law partner has added to our website about on-duty railroad injuries to the people who run locomotives.  It has been our pleasure over the years to represent many North Carolina (NC) railroad men in the various places throughout the state where there is a lot of railroad activity including Rocky Mount, Raleigh, Charlotte, Ashville, and Wilmington.  Our railroad worker F.E.L.A. practice is the backbone of our firm and has been for over two decades.  We not only represent engineers, but all other railway crafts including conductors, signalmen, Carmen, trackmen, brakemen, welders, and all other maintenance of way workers.  Our founding law partner was formerly a Norfolk Southern (NS) brakeman/conductor and when he opened our firm in the 1980’s he used the slogan “railroaders representing railroaders” to show how knowledgeable we were about railroading and how connected we felt to the people we were privileged to represent.  That same spirit is carried on today at our firm.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a law firm which focuses on injury and accident law and we have experience handling FELA and general railroad injury 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 thousands of railroad injury and FELA cases. We would love to send you one of our FREE reports about railroad injury and FELA cases, including the Do’s and Don’ts When Injured at a Railroad – The Railroad Workers FELA Rights and What Railroad Claim Agents Agents Won’t Tell You (But You Must Know). 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.

4 Yr Old Dies in Fatal Catawba County, North Carolina Crash

Two Fatal Crashes in Charlotte, NC Leaving One Dead

School Bus Accident in Charlotte, N.C. Injured Twelve

Charlotte, North Carolina Based Family Dollar Stores Recalled 1.8 M Toy Dart Guns

Charlotte, North Carolina Man Suffers Near Fatal Electric Shock at Work

A Charlotte, North Carolina (NC) man is in Presbyterian Main hospital recovering from electric shock injuries he received while on the job.

Nelson Pozo, a 51 year old employee of AEP Industries in Stallings, North Carolina (NC) was working Saturday night when he was struck by 460 volts of electricity. When the Stallings Police Department arrived Nelson Pozo had no pulse.

The Stallings Police Department immediately shocked Pozo with AED pads and started CPR. Officer Walden stated, “I honestly believe CPR alone probably wouldn't have brought him back.”

Nelson Pozo was very lucky. The Stallings Police Department had only recently begun carrying the AED equipment that saved his life in every patrol car. The equipment cost $1,500 per car and was paid for by fundraising and community donations.

An AEP Industries spokesperson told reporters that Pozo had been moved out of intensive care and in to a private room at Presbyterian Main hospital earlier this week. The company is currently undergoing an investigation into what caused the shock that almost claimed the Charlotte, North Carolina (NC) man’s life.

Work related injuries can be life threatening. They can also take a toll on your life while you wait to heal taking time off of work. If you have been a victim of a work related injury a personal injury attorney can help you ease the stress of returning to your normal life.

Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm is based in Virginia (VA), with an office also in Elizabeth City, in Northeast North Carolina (NC), practicing primarily in the southeastern U.S. and handles only injury law, including car, truck, railroad, and medical negligence cases and more. Our Carolina injur law website is: http://carolina.hsinjurylaw.com, the firm edits the injury law blogs Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, as well as the Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard and also hosts a YouTube injury law video library covering many FAQ’s on personal injury subjects. Lawyers licensed in: VA, NC, SC, WV, DC, KY.

AC

Charlotte North Carolina Girl, Giselle Moquete, Suffering From Severe Injuries After Being Attacked by Neighbor’s Pit Bull.

Jonathan Hall, neighbor to the Moquete family, had brought the Pit Bull to the Moquete home earlier today to see if they were interested in purchasing the dog. Jonathan Hall had received the dog for free from a stranger down the street, and after owning the Pit Bull a day realized he could not keep the dog and offered it to the Moquette family.

Giselle Moquete and her mother were considering taking the Pit Bull and playing with the dog at the time Giselle was attacked. The girl suffered the dog bite when she bent down to pet the dog. According to Jonathan Hall the dog’s personality changed quickly and he latched on to Giselle’s face before anyone could react. Hall was able to pry the dog off the young girl, but not before the dog bite had done severe damage to her face.

Giselle’s mother immediately called 9-1-1 and the girl was taken to a hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina (NC) to treat her injuries. Fortunately, the injuries sustained by the dog bite are not life threatening for Giselle; however, it will take several dozen stitches and a lengthy recovery for the girl to return to normal.

Dog bites and other animal attacks are always tragic for the victims, the dog owners and even the dogs. It is especially heartbreaking when a young child is attacked. While Giselle’s injuries may not be life threatening, they are still very traumatic for a young girl both emotionally and physically.

Even if you do not own a dog in your home, you should still take precautions to avoid accidents such as these happening to yourself or your children. The best thing you can do to prevent a dog bite is to avoid petting, touching, or playing with any animal whose nature you are not certain of, especially animals you have not seen before. If you do own a dog, or are considering getting one, be sure they receive proper training and socializing, so in the event that a stranger is brought into your home there will be little chance of the animal’s personality altering causing them to attack your friends or neighbors.

Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm is based in Virginia (VA), with an office also in Elizabeth City, in Northeast North Carolina (NC), practicing primarily in the southeastern U.S. and handles only injury law, including car, truck, railroad, and medical negligence cases and more. Our Carolina injur law website is: http://carolina.hsinjurylaw.com, the firm edits the injury law blogs Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, as well as the Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard and also hosts a YouTube injury law video library covering many FAQ’s on personal injury subjects. Lawyers licensed in: VA, NC, SC, WV, DC, KY.

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