Pedestrian Killed by SUV in Red Springs, North Carolina

A pedestrian from Red Springs, North Carolina (NC) was struck and killed by an SUV while she was out walking on N.C. 71.

Angela Ross, was walking southbound on N.C. 71 around 7 p.m. when she was struck by a 1993 GMC SUV. According to a report filed by the North Carolina Highway Patrol, the GMC was driven by a teenager from Shannon, North Carolina (NC). Tragically, Angela Ross died from injuries she sustained in the crash.

Pedestrian accidents are far too common in North Carolina. Some advocacy groups blame the road systems for the high number of pedestrian fatalities that occur in the state each year. These groups are working with state officials to make the roadways friendlier for pedestrians and bicyclists alike. The hope is that by adding sidewalks, decreasing the distance between crosswalks, and installing better lighting less pedestrians and bicyclists will be on the roadways where they are likely to be struck by a car.

However, that process could take years. In the meantime lives are being lost on Carolina roads. As drivers there are actions we can all take to reduce the likelihood of striking a pedestrian. Most importantly, drivers should exercise caution on any roadway, especially ones located in residential areas or after nightfall when it can be difficult to spot a pedestrian. When driving, remember that pedestrians can appear quickly. Look to both sides of a crosswalk before passing and keep an eye out for pedestrians coming around parked cars or other obstacles.

By simply slowing down and paying more attention to the road we can stop needless deaths like Angela Ross.

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.

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Faulty Jeep Cherokee Gas Tank May be to Blame for 254 Deaths

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, from 1993 to 2004 Jeep Cherokees have been involved in 172 car accidents that resulted in 254 deaths nationwide. In every one of these car accident cases the vehicle that was struck caught fire. The Center for Auto Safety feels a faulty gas tank may to be blame.

The gas tank in question was installed on over three million Jeep Cherokees. It is made from plastic and located under the rear axle. The Center for Auto Safety believes that if the Jeep is struck by a lower riding vehicle from behind the lower vehicle may strike the gas tank leading to a possible explosion. AutoWeek also reported that the fuel filler neck, which is attached to the gas tank, can become detached resulting in fuel being spilled and another potential fire risk.

The Center for Auto Safety has petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to open an investigation on all Jeep Cherokees manufactured between 1993 and 2004. If approved, the investigation may lead to a recall of all three million Jeep Cherokees.

The investigation may only last a few months, but could go on as long as a few years. Meanwhile these Jeep Cherokees are still on the road and the numbers of fiery car accidents are climbing. If you or a loved one were involved in a car fire resulting from this gas tank you do not have to wait for a national recall for help. A personal injury attorney can work with you to prove the auto maker’s responsibility and help you obtain damages for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

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.

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Teenager Killed While Riding Bicycle in Dunn, North Carolina

Two teens were involved in a bicycle accident that tragically claimed the life of a young man in Dunn, North Carolina (NC).

The teenager was traveling south on his bicycle on Bud Hawkins Road shortly after nightfall when another teen driving a truck struck him from behind. The bicyclist was taken to Betsy Johnson Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The North Carolina Highway Patrol investigated the accident and does not feel drugs or alcohol were a factor in the crash.

Any car or bicycle accident that claims a life is devastating, especially when that life is a young teenager. Sadly, teenagers often do not have enough experience driving around bicycles. When you factor in road systems inadequately designed for bicycle travel accidents can happen.

If you have a young driver on the road urge them to use caution around bicycles. Teenagers have not been driving long enough to always be able to accurately gauge a safe distance from bicycles, pedestrians, or even other vehicles. Practice driving around bicycles with your teenager and show them exactly what a safe distance would be. Practice goes a long way in preventing future car accidents.

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.

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California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Installs Devices That Prevent Drunk Driving

A California (CA) law signed by Arnold Schwarzenegger this month takes another step in the fight against drunk driving. The law requires all drivers convicted of drunk driving to have a device installed in their cars that will prevent them from driving under the influence of alcohol.

The device is known as the ignition interlock device (IID) or the breath alcohol ignition interlock device (BIID). When installed the device works like a breathalyzer, forcing the driver to breathe in to the device before the car’s engine will start. The ignition interlock device then measures the driver’s blood alcohol level against pre-recorded amounts, typically half the legal limit or less depending on the state. Randomly while the car is in motion the IID or BIID will require the driver to breathe in to the device again. This is done to prevent a friend from breathing for the driver. If the subsequent measurements show a high blood alcohol level the measurement is recorded and an alarm will sound until the car’s engine is shut off.

The measure signed by Schwarzenegger takes a big step towards ending drunk driving, but California is not the only state that imposes the use of breath alcohol ignition interlock devices for convicted drivers. North Carolina (NC) imposed the use of BIIDs in 2007. Under North Carolina (NC) law, anyone who is convicted of driving while impaired is permitted to drive only if their blood alcohol level is less then half the legal limit of .08 at all times. If the driver is convicted of driving while impaired again in a period of seven years, or is caught with a blood alcohol level of .16 or higher, a IID device will be installed in their vehicle.

The IID and BIIDs are an excellent example of using modern technology to put a stop to the thousands of drunken driving deaths that happen every year. The Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) group is working with state officials nationwide to spread their use even further. Hopefully, these devices will help see an end to the senseless alcohol related deaths.

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.

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Three Injured After a Car Crashed Into a Havelock, North Carolina Restaurant

The car accident that sent three people to the hospital in Havelock, North Carolina (NC) is hard for most of us to imagine. You wouldn’t expect a car to come crashing through the side of a restaurant, but that is just what happened at the Bayside establishment located on Highway 70.

It was around 4 a.m. and ten people were inside the 24-hour restaurant including the owner, John Adams, and his son. Suddenly a Ford Escort, driven by Donnovan Yates from Newport, came crashing through the restaurant. Three people were injured in the crash including the driver and John Adam’s son. All three were taken to the Carolinas Medical Center.

The truly shocking part, Havelock police say Donnovan Yates crashed his Ford Escort into the Bayside restaurant on purpose. According to the police report, Yates was upset over a girl he was seeing and crashed the car into the restaurant to get her attention. Yates believed she was inside the restaurant talking to another man.

However, the girl was not inside the Bayside and instead Yates now faces charges including; assault with a dangerous weapon, reckless endangerment and injury to property.

All three people injured in the car accident are expected to make a full recovery but the Bayside restaurant has been closed.  John Adams told reporters he was not sure when the restaurant could be reopened due to the scope of damages the building received.

Sadly, Adams not only has to deal with the injuries his son sustained and the associated medical bills, but lost wages from the restaurant closure and costly repairs as well. Property damage in an accident can be extremely costly and insurance does not always cover the full scope of repairs. A personal injury attorney with experience in handling accident cases, like the Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton law firm, would be able to help speed the reopening process and help the Adams family with their medical bills and pain and suffering.

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.

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NASCAR Driver Michael Waltrip Suspected to be Drunk Driving after a Car Accident in Mooresville, North Carolina

Second Fort Mills, North Carolina Teenager Dies in Car Accident

A pair of tennis shoes hangs over a cross at the site of a car accident that claimed a Fort Mills, North Carolina (NC) teenager’s life.

Seventeen year old Luke Hoover was a student at Nation Ford High School, an athlete, and a Boy Scout who volunteered at local churches. He is also the second Nation Ford High School student to die in a car accident this week.

Luke Hoover was driving to his friend’s house on Holbrook Road in Fort Mills, North Carolina (NC) when he attempted to pass another car. Hoover lost control of his car, went off the roadway and hit a tree. He died at the scene of the accident.

Students at Nation Ford High School were devastated by the news of the accident; especially after losing another student and friend only days before. Michelle DiBernardini, 16, was traveling with three other teenagers when her car collided with a truck. Michelle DiBernardini died as a result of her injuries and the three passengers were taken to local hospitals.

The sudden loss of Luke Hoover and Michelle DiBernardini shows how dangerous the roads can be for young drivers. The auto insurance company, Allstate, recently released a study showing that car accidents are the leading cause of teen death in the United States. Car accidents have claimed the life of 5,000-6,000 teenagers annually for the past decade. Allstate reported that speed and driving errors, which are far more likely to happen during a driver’s first few years on the road, are the highest cause of teen car accidents.

If you have a young driver on the road, teaching them to maintain the speed limit as well as how to react in potentially dangerous situations will go a long way in preventing an accident. Remember that practice makes perfect and by spending as much time driving with your teen as you can will help them be better drivers on their own.

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 handle automobile negligence cases involving cars, trucks, trains, and motorcycles every day. We will 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.

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Electric Motorcycle Company Zero Issues Recall After Reported Injuries

Zero Motorcycles, a California (CA) based company that makes electric motorcycles, has issued a recall for their 2009 Zero X and MX brand motorcycles after three injuries were reported.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the electric motorcycles have a throttle that can become stuck in the open position or disconnect entirely. The defect can cause unexpected acceleration which may lead to serious injury or even death if a motorcycle accident occurs.

Zero Motorcycles is offering to send a new dashboard to any owner. The new dashboard has a mechanism which prevents a motorcycle to turn on if the bike's throttle is engaged which will prevent the bike from unexpected acceleration. Zero Motorcycles says the installation of the dashboard can be easily completed by any owner.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission urges anyone who owns a Zero X or MX brand motorcycle made between December 2008 and 2009 to discontinue use immediately until the faulty part can be corrected.

So far the three injuries reported have been non-life threatening, however, that may change if owners continue to drive the motorcycle. Thousands of motorcycle wrecks occur each year in the United States and the majority of these are single vehicle wrecks. This means that the driver either lost control or had engine problems with their motorcycle that led to an accident. Faulty parts like these which cause rapid acceleration could easily turn in to a deadly situation for drivers.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a law firm which focuses on injury and accident law with experience handling motorcycle accident cases. Check out this case result involving a motorcycle and a pick-up truck. Our law firm has offices in Elizabeth City, North Carolina (NC) and Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA). Our lawyers hold licenses in NC, VA, SC, WV, KY and DC. We are ready to talk to you by phone right now—we offer 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.

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SUV crashes in to Johnston County School Bus and Injures Four Children

A Johnston County school bus was involved in a car accident with an SUV that sent four children to the hospital.

Shannon Banks was driving her SUV on Highway 210 in Angier, North Carolina (NC) when her SUV suddenly crossed over the center lane and hit a school bus head on in the intersection of Highway 210 and Highway 50. At the time of the accident the school bus had just left McGee's Crossroads Elementary School and had a bus load of children on board. Four of those children and the school bus driver were taken to Wake Med Hospital.

Shannon Banks was charged with reckless driving by the North Carolina Highway Patrol after an investigation proved she had fallen asleep at the wheel.

Most of us do not believe we will fall asleep while driving. No matter how tired we are we get behind the wheel assuming that the driving will keep us alert enough to make the trip. However, it is easy to suddenly nod off while you are driving, especially if you are used to the route you are taking.

Several thousand accidents are reported nationwide each year due to drivers falling asleep behind the wheel. It is important that you do not drive when you are drowsy or on medication known to make you drowsy. Even if you do not fall asleep while you are driving, drowsiness severely impairs your ability to drive. It will slow down your reaction time and make you far more likely to be involved in a car accident.

About the Editors: The Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton law firm focuses on accident and injury law. Our law firm holds 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—to receive a free initial confidential injury case consultations 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.

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Former Charlotte-Mecklenburg Pleads Not Guilty to Manslaughter Charges after Car Accident

Former Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer, Martray Proctor, pled not guilty to involuntary manslaughter charges in response to a car accident he was involved in earlier this year.

Proctor was responding to assist another officer in a traffic stop. He was traveling on Old Statesville Road at 90 mph without his sirens or flashing lights on. Shatona Evette Robinson made a left turn on to Old Statesvill Road and Proctor collided with her vehicle. She had three passengers in her car at the time of the car accident; her two cousins Wyatt Morrison and Akeem Robinson, and her friend Topaz White. Morrison, Robinson and White were sent to a local hospital. Proctor was also treated. Tragically, 20-year-old Shatona Evette Robinson died from her injuries.

After the car accident, Martary Proctor resigned from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. My colleague, Richard Shapiro, wrote an article about his resignation in August. In addition to the charges placed against Proctor, he also faces a wrongful death lawsuit.

In all likelihood, this horrific accident may have been avoided if the warning lights or sirens were used. Sadly, that was not the case; a young life ended and several others were injured. The internal training staffs of the North Carolina (NC) police departments tirelessly work to improve road safety among their officers but accidents do happen. If you or someone you know was injured in a car accident involving a police officer you can get help. A personal injury attorney can work with you to help you get compensated for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

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 handle thousands of automobile negligence cases involving cars, trucks, trains, and motorcycles every day. 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. The Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton hold licenses in NC, VA, SC, WV, KY and DC. 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.

Drunk Driver Causes Accident While Driving the Wrong Way on Interstate I-85

A woman faces several charges after causing a head on collision on Interstate I-85 in Salisbury, North Carolina (NC).

According to the North Carolina Highway Patrol the woman entered Interstate I-85 going the wrong way at speeds of 115 mph when she hit a van head on. At the time of the car accident the woman’s blood alcohol level indicated she was beyond the legal limit to be operating a vehicle.

Fortunately, there were no serious injuries in the accident. The woman faces DWI charges as well as reckless driving charges.

A driver entering the highway in the wrong direction happens more often then one might think especially if the driver is intoxicated. Drunk driving severely impairs a driver’s ability to reason and they can often over look Do Not Enter signs and other road cautions. If you are caught on a roadway with a driver going the wrong way you may only have a few precious seconds to respond. Your best course of action is to apply the breaks and guide your car in to another lane or off the roadway. Take caution not to break suddenly or swerve quickly as this can cause you to lose control of your vehicle.

However, not all car accidents like these can be avoided. Despite your best efforts the other driver may be traveling at speeds that greatly reduce your response time. If you or someone you know was hurt in a car accident by a driver traveling the wrong way on the interstate the law may fall short of getting you what you need to recover. A personal injury attorney can assist you in working with insurance companies and local law enforcement to get you what you need for hospital bills, and pain and suffering.

About the Editors: The Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a law firm focuses on accident and injury law. Our law firm has offices in Elizabeth City, North Carolina (NC) and Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA). The attorneys at Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton 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.

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Two North Carolina Companies want Removed from Liability in the Death of Two Women in a Parasailing Accident

The tragic accident occurred late this summer. Cynthia Woodcock, of Kernersville, and Lorrie Shoup went parasailing on Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina (NC). While the two were in the air a large wind gust blew up, tethering the line between the parasail and the boat. The wind forced the women back into the ocean where they were drug towards the pier.

Sadly, both Cynthia Woodcock and Lorrie Shoup died from a blunt force trauma caused by the parasailing accident. Neither the Coast Guard nor the North Carolina Department of Labor regulates parasailing operators but an investigation was opened by the Coast Guard to determine if it was safe for the parasail to go out in to the water given the choppy conditions at the time.

A lawsuit was opened against Ocean Isle Beach Water Sports, Inc. and N.C. Watersports, Inc., the two companies that owned and ran the parasail boat at the time of the women’s deaths. Earlier this week the two companies went before a judge asking to be removed from the liability in the death of Woodcock and Shoup, or that the liability limit to be lowered to $100,000.

The request may be denied if it can be proven that either company knew about potentially dangerous factors leading up to the accident.

Even without state or federal regulation, companies can still be held at fault in accident and death cases involving extreme sports such as parasailing. If you or someone you know was injured or killed while practicing an extreme sport a personal injury attorney can help you determine if the company was at fault. These sports can be dangerous, especially on the water, and companies have an obligation to only operate in good weather conditions as well as to operate as safely as possible.

About the Editors: The Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton law firm focuses on injury and accident law and we have experience handling wrongful death cases. Our case results speak for themselves. We have 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 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 . 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.

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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Wilmington North Carolina Police Cracking Down on School Bus Law Violators

The Wilmington, North Carolina (NC) Police Department is working with local school bus drivers to catch vehicle drivers not following school bus safety laws.

Six Wilmington police officers followed six school buses on their normal routes in an attempt to catch drivers who fail to stop behind the school buses’ stop sign arms when letting children on and off the bus. The New Hanover County School District picked six routes that have had previous problems with drivers not following the school bus safety laws.

During the trip police officers stopped three drivers, one of whom told police they were unaware that vehicles must stop behind a school bus when the emergency flashers and stop arm is activated. The Wilmington Police Department feels that people are simply in too much of a hurry in the mornings to follow proper school bus safety laws. Officer James D. Smith told reporters, “I think one of the main reasons people are ignoring it is because everybody has there own agenda in the morning: they're running late, trying to get to class, trying to get to work, talking on the cell phones -- cell phones are a big distraction.”

However, there is no excuse when it comes to the law and driver’s caught violating the rule have to appear in court and the citation comes with five point’s on their driver’s license. Ignoring a school bus stop could cost far more then a citation. My colleague, Richard Shapiro, recently wrote an article about a young girl that was fatally struck by a passing SUV while attempting to exit a school bus in Raleigh, North Carolina (NC). The driver of the SUV did not stop behind the school bus and struck the child while she was crossing the street at her stop.

Violating the law is far too common in North Carolina. Richard Shapiro wrote a follow up article after local reporters did some investigating in to driver’s habits around school buses. They talked to several bus drivers who told them that near misses happen often with children and drivers. Every driver should be more cautious around school buses, especially when they are stopped. By paying more attention to the roadways and following the school bus laws these type of accidents can be avoided.

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Pinnacle, North Carolina Child in Critical Condition after Dog Attack

A child is in critical condition in Pinnacle, North Carolina (NC) after being attacked by a dog.

The five year old boy was visiting family in Surry County, North Carolina (NC) at the time of the accident. According to police and witness reports the child went in to a caged area with the dogs while they were feeding. The boy was attacked by a Rottweiler while in the cage.

The child was taken to a hospital in Pinnacle, North Carolina where he remains in critical condition. Police have opened an investigation on the owners of the Rottweiler, who had up to thirty dogs on the scene at the time of the accident, but no charges have been filed yet.

Dog bites can cause severe damage, especially to young children. My colleague, John Cooper, recently wrote about a young girl bit by a dog in Charlotte, North Carolina. In that accident the girl suffered severe damage to her face and had to undergo surgery.

Children have the highest risk of being bitten by an animal due to their curious nature. Children, especially younger children, will naturally reach out to touch a pet. This can be very dangerous if the animal is aggressive. You can teach your child to play it safe around pets. Show him/her how to approach an animal carefully and slowly before reaching down to pet them. Discourage them from attempting to play with any animal that does not belong to your family.

Even with the best training children can still be attacked by household pets. More often then not, if your child suffers from a dog bite they will require a hospital visit. These visits can lead to costly surgeries and recovery time for your child. Since the laws regarding animal attacks can be difficult to prove and often do not cover the full needs of your hurt child you may want to seek the help of a personal injury attorney.

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Child Taken into Protective Custody after Drunk Driving Accident in North Carolina

A child in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, North Carolina (NC) was taken in to protective custody after a drunk driving car accident last night.

The driver of the vehicle was on Mill Road in Charlotte when she veered off the road and hit a telephone pole. The car accident closed down parts of Beatties Ford Road. At the time of the accident the woman had her two year old daughter in the vehicle.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department placed the child in protective custody with social services after they determined the driver was intoxicated. No one was seriously injured in the crash; however, the driver faces DWI charges.

Fortunately, both the driver and the child in the vehicle at the time of the car accident were unhurt. Drunk driving accidents often lead to serious injury or even death. Drivers often believe they can drive home safely after they have been drinking as it can be difficult to gauge if they are impaired or not. It is best to play it safe and not drive if you have been drinking at all; especially if there is a child involved.

Even if you are not involved in a car accident, North Carolina (NC) law takes driving while intoxicated very seriously. You could face fines, jail time, or risk loosing your license. If you have a child in the vehicle at the time you run the risk of having the child given over to social services pending the outcome of your charges.

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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Tolly Carr Speaks about Drunk Driving to the Crash Prevention Network

Pedestrian Accident Leads to Fatality in Durham, North Carolina

One man is dead after a pedestrian car accident in Durham, North Carolina (NC) early this morning.

Eric Franklin Simpson was crossing U.S. 15-501 from Mount Moriah Road in Durham, North Carolina (NC) on foot when he was struck by Chris Worley’s Toyota Camry. Tragically, Eric Franklin Simpson died at the scene of the car accident.

The Durham Police Department has opened an investigation. So far no charges have been filed against Chris Worley as police investigators believe the pedestrian accident was unfortunately a case of the driver not seeing the pedestrian in time.

Early morning traffic can be extremely hazardous to pedestrians. More often then not early morning drivers are in a hurry to get to their destination and they are not driving with their full attention to the road. Pedestrians on the roadway are also in a hurry to get where they are going and often cross intersections when they shouldn’t which can lead to an accident.

If you walk to work or school in the mornings remember that early traffic can move very quickly and become congested easily. Pay extra attention to any oncoming vehicles and only cross at intersections with protected lights or when you are sure that no vehicles are coming towards you or turning on to the road. Tragically, the results can be fatal. Pedestrians have little protection against vehicles and damage to you can be serious.

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.

AC

Huntersville, North Carolina on the Look out for Hit and Run Driver

The driver injured in the hit and run car accident was taken to a local North Carolina (NC) hospital. His condition has not been reported at this time. The driver of the green sedan fled the scene of the accident and police are asking anyone with possible information to contact them immediately.

Hit and run accidents are all too common in North Carolina. According to state law, all vehicles involved in an accident are required to stop and provide proper identification before returning to the roadway. Any driver that leaves the scene of a car accident can be liable for a class C misdemeanor, reckless driving charges, or even vehicular murder charges depending on the severity of the accident.

Unfortunately, locating a hit and run driver is often difficult and several hit and run cases are left unsolved. This leaves the victim left to handle insurance claims and medical bills on their own. A personal injury attorney can help settle your claim with the insurance company and get you the compensation you need for medical bills, missed time from work, pain and suffering.

AC

Woman Accused of Street Racing Receives a Light Sentence in Mecklenburg, North Carolina

Carlene Atkinson, who has been charged with three counts of murder following a car accident, last April, has been given permission to attend church and doctors appointments by a Mecklenburg, North Carolina (NC) judge.

Carlene Atkinson was racing Tyler Stasko on North Carolina (NC) highway 49 when Tyler Stasko crashed into the back of a vehicle entering the highway. Atkinson and Stasko had topped speeds of 100 mph at the time of the crash. Cynthia Furr, who was driving the vehicle Stasko hit, as well as her two year old daughter and Hunter Holt, a 13 year old passenger in Stasko’s car, died as a result of the car accident.

Tyler Stasko and Carlene Atkinson were both released on bond, however; Atkinson’s 15 prior speeding violations caused a judge to order a much higher bond for Atkinson and place her on house arrest. As part of her house arrest Atkinson is not allowed to drive her Camero. She initially asked a Mecklenburg judge for permission to get rides to work, but was denied as Atkinson is currently unemployed.

Atkinson’s attorney, Gary Murphy, also requested she be granted permission to attend doctors appointments and church as Atkinson used to be a Sunday school teacher. The Mecklenburg judge granted her permission for Wednesday and Sunday services.

Street racing  is a dangerous, and as the case of Carlene Atkinson shows us, often a deadly game. Racing can either be spontaneous or go as far as prearranged events. Since street races are conducted on roads traveled by other vehicles, they often lead to car accidents. For this reason states all over the country have begun enforcing strict street racing laws. In North Carolina (NC) the highest street racing offense, prearranged racing, is punishable by a three year license suspension and vehicle seizure.

AC

Underage Driver Causes Fatal Car Accident in Surry County, North Carolina

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

Teenage Driving Deaths are on the Rise in North Carolina

The North Carolina Highway Patrol told reporters that teen deaths related to car accidents are on the rise this year.

According to the highway patrol, North Carolina (NC) as a whole has seen a 22% increase in teen deaths from last year. Since January, 49 teens have been killed in car accidents. The rise in deaths occurred after a low period in North Carolina.

The North Carolina Highway Patrol says the simplest and best way to cut down on these staggering number of car accident related deaths is to teach new drivers better driving techniques. The highway patrol and UNC Highway Safety Research Center developed a parent/teen driver agreement. The agreement is a signed promise by teenagers to drive safer behind the wheel.

If you have a teen driver at home, take in to consideration that speed is often the leading factor in teenage car accidents. Speeding is always dangerous, but for newly taught teenagers it can be even worse. Teens are not yet equipped to handle roadways at increased speeds and should be reminded to slow down whenever possible.

Another cause of car accidents is distractions inside the car; cell phones, Ipods, and passengers create a distracting environment for newly learned drivers. Several accidents are reported in North Carolina that resulted from teenagers and adults texting on their cell phones while driving. Consider taking these distractions away from your teen when they are behind the wheel. Also, limiting the amount of passengers that can ride with your teenager may help cut down on some of the in car distractions.

AC

Driver Charged in Fatal Car Accident that Killed a North Carolina Toddler

The driver of the vehicle that caused the fatal car accident, claiming the life of a young North Carolina child, has been charged with a DUI.

Late last week a family from North Carolina (NC) was driving back from Sea World in Florida (FL) when their car was struck by another vehicle. The driver of the struck vehicle was sent to a Florida (FL) hospital were he was treated for minor injuries. His nine year old son was sent to this hospital with a fractured skull. Tragically, his two year old daughter was also sent to a local Florida (FL) hospital, where she died three days later from injuries she sustained in the car accident.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the driver of the vehicle responsible for the car accident was arrested after the car accident and charged with a DUI and possession after the Florida Highway Patrol found cocaine in the passenger seat of his vehicle.

Per Florida (FL) law, the man’s driver’s license was automatically revoked for six months following the DUI charge. Florida Highway Patrol officers plan to upgrade the charge after the tragic death of the toddler.

The increased sentence is of little comfort to the North Carolina (NC) family following the tragic injuries of their young son and death of their toddler. As a personal injury attorney, I know first hand how easily a car accident can turn your life upside down and car accidents caused by someone driving under the influence only worsen the situation.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), almost three of every ten drivers will be involved in a drunk driving accident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also reported that nearly 1/3 of all car related fatalities occurred from drunk driving.

If you plan on drinking, play it safe and work out a designated driver plan before hand. The designated driver program has already saved countless lives and can save countless more if everyone who imbibes would participate.

AC