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Last Entry: November 13, 2009 at 05:02:56

One Roadway to Carry Them All

Posted on November 13, 2009
Bicyclists are perhaps the most vulnerable vehicles on the road. The accident rate for bicycles is lower than for other vehicles because they move slower. But, when there is an accident involving a bicyclist, he or she is at a greater risk for injury and death...

Yet Another Cyclist Fatality in North Carolina

Posted on November 12, 2009
Last week I blogged about the necessity of looking out for two-wheeled vehicles following the shocking hit-and-run death of David Sherman in Greensboro. Now there's yet another cyclist fatality in the news, this time a teenager from Dunn, NC. The Raleigh News and Observer reports that Devin Ray, 16, was killed while riding his bike on Bud Hawkins Road near Dunn...

Pro Athlete Has His Bubble Burst by Exercise Ball

Posted on November 11, 2009
Working out carries a lot of risks for injury, especially if you're using heavy weights. But what about when a piece of exercise equipment malfunctions while you're using it properly? We take for granted that the machines and products we work out with are built to last, but sometimes that's not the case...

Apex Day Care is Shut Down After Infant?s Death

Posted on November 06, 2009
Every parent's worst nightmare is that something bad will happen to their child when they aren't there to protect them. That's why the issue of day care negligence is such a hot topic. Parents see red when they think of something happening to their child at a place they trust...

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Reidsville Rush Hour Lands Two in ER

Posted on November 06, 2009
A two vehicle collision on NC 14 in Reidsville put two men in the hospital this morning. The News & Record is reporting that Maurice Cooper, Jr., was injured when a Lincoln Town Car reportedly drifted across the center line and collided head on with his Isuzu pick up...

Be on the Look Out for 2-Wheeled Vehicles!

Posted on November 04, 2009
Lately I've blogged about the tragic deaths of a Greensboro cyclist and a man killed while test driving a motorcycle. Today, while scanning through accident reports, I found yet another case of a two-wheeled vehicle being struck when the driver of a car wasn't paying attention...

Update: Arrest Made for Greensboro Cyclist's Hit-and-Run Death

Posted on November 04, 2009
The Greensboro News & Record reports that an arrest has been made in a hit and run case that has shocked the Triad. Grayson Dawson, a 48 year old Eden woman, has been charged with felony hit and run, misdemeanor death by vehicle, and driving with a revoked license for the death of David Sherman, the vice president of Sealy, Inc...

Motorcycle Tragedy: Man Killed During Test Drive

Posted on November 03, 2009
Riding motorcycles is a fun and exhilarating pastime. But even when a motorcycle driver does everything right, there's potential for tragedy. Joe Cross, from Supply, NC, was only taking a test drive of a motorcycle when another motorist pulled in front of him...

British Woman Sentenced to Jail in Texting-While-Driving Fatality

Posted on November 02, 2009
While awareness of the texting-while-driving epidemic is growing, the United Kingdom is one of the few countries that are aggressively prosecuting people whose texting causes tragic accidents on the roadway. The New York Times reports that Phillipa Curtis, 22, was sentenced to 21 months in a high-security prison for an act of carelessness that cost another young woman, 24 year old Victoria McBryde, her life...

Distracted Driving Takes to the Skies: Pilots Flew Past Airport While On Their Laptops

Posted on October 27, 2009
The two Northwest Airlines pilots who flew more than 150 miles past their destination on Wednesday have admitted that rather than being asleep, which was speculated, they were actually using their laptops, which was so distracting for them that they didn't realize they had missed their scheduled landing destination and failed to answer radio messages from the ground controller...

3 Seconds to Greater Highway Safety

Posted on October 23, 2009
For the past few weeks my colleagues and I have been addressing questions clients often ask. Most of our articles relate to questions have about lawsuits and the claims process. One other question I get a lot, though, has to do with vehicle safety. I get the question from clients, friends, and people I meet...

Filing Your Bills with Your Health Insurance When You've Been Hit

Posted on October 09, 2009
There is question I hear on a near daily basis from clients and potential clients. Should I file my medical bills with my own health insurance? The answer is yes. At least in North Carolina, it is always better to file your bills with your insurance. Understandably, many people are a bit confused by this proposition...

Drunk Driver Hits Three Pedestrians, Flees Scene

Posted on October 01, 2009
This week I wrote about a sad accident in which a pedestrian, Lucille Lambeth, was struck by a pickup in front of the Asheboro Wal-Mart. Mrs. Lambeth was airlifted to Duke Medical Center but they were unable to save her life. Then, just yesterday, another accident report crossed my desk involving pedestrians hit by a car...

Running the Red Light UPDATE: Drivers in Fatal Collisions Face Charges

Posted on October 01, 2009
I first wrote on September 15th about two fatal accidents that occurred recently: Christopher Raynor was killed when another driver ran a red light. Ballet dancer Elena Shapiro died when her car was hit by a speeding drunk driver. These were two particularly heart-breaking cases - Mr...

Pedestrian Dies After Hit By Pickup In Wal-Mart Parking Lot

Posted on September 29, 2009
As drivers we must constantly be aware of our surroundings, particularly when we are driving in areas where we can expect to see pedestrians. Monday brought a tragic reminder of the deadly danger vehicles pose to pedestrians even in parking lots. Louise Williams Lambeth, a 79-year-old lady from Asheboro, North Carolina, was struck by a car just before noon in the local Wal-Mart parking lot...

Street Signs: When a Driver's View is Obstructed, Who is to Blame?

Posted on September 29, 2009
Road signs are vital to maintaining safe roadways. Without them the streets would be a chaotic and dangerous place. So whose fault is it when your view of those signs is completely blocked? This is the exact question raised by a case we took this week...

Teen Buried in Sand Almost Drowns in Bald Head Beach High Tide

Posted on September 28, 2009
Most of us have fond memories of playing in the sand at the beach. Building sand castles, and burying each other are staples of summer time beach fun. But as one New Jersey teen found out this weekend in Bald Head Island, NC, these games are not without their hazards...

To Text or Not to Text: As a National Ban Nears, Some Truckers Want Exceptions

Posted on September 28, 2009
Truck drivers are responsible for moving millions of tons of cargo back and forth across the USA every year. They work year round. They haul and deliver everything from flip flops to frozen peas with the pressure of deadlines and keeping costs as low as possible weighing on them...

5-Year-Old Severely Mauled in Attack by Five Rottweilers -- Time for Vicious Breed Law?

Posted on September 25, 2009
A 5-year-old Surry County boy was severely injured near Pilot Mountain when five Rottweilers attacked him Friday afternoon at his home. The boy's grandfather, Claude Childress, said he suffered bite wounds to his face, neck, shoulders, chest and stomach...

The Deadliest Job: Crash Takes Life of Road Worker on US 29

Posted on September 25, 2009
It's one of the most dangerous jobs in America -- road construction. This afternoon another road worker died when a the trailer the worker was riding on while retrieving traffic cones was sideswiped by a passing truck. The accident occurred on U.S...

The Proactive Client Asks "What Do I Do Now?"

Posted on September 25, 2009
Occasionally I'll meet with a potential client who is a paragon of organization. This happened twice last week: in both instances the injured person came in with a three ring binder complete with labeled tabs. Inside the binder were medical bills; information about the person's auto coverage; pictures of the vehicle damage; estimates for the vehicle repair; and handwritten notes...

Presumed Guilty: How to Avoid Having Insult Added to Injury When You?ve Been Hurt in a Car Crash

Posted on September 18, 2009
You might expect that someone who is injured in a car crash they didn't cause might be due a bit of sympathy and respect. Guess again. Once the victim leaves the scene of the accident everything changes. I was just rereading some of my colleague's posts from this week containing tips for people injured in auto accidents...

Share the Road: Tractors are Vehicles Too

Posted on September 17, 2009
Here in the south tractors making their way down old country roads is a common sight. Farming remains an important part of life for many in the carolinas. But, no matter how familiar, there are still unique risks associated with them. These risks are now all too well understood by William Frank Lynn, who collided with a tractor hauling hay after dusk this past Friday in Caswell County...

2 Year Old Boy Run Over on His Birthday

Posted on September 16, 2009
Another celebration turns into a tragedy in the Triad this weekend as the birthday party for 2 year old Andre Wright is cut short when he is struck by a passing car. Driver Maurice Belser hit the toddler as he drove down Amos Street in High Point Saturday night...

Tragic Car Accident Death on Wedding Day

Posted on September 15, 2009
A young Raleigh man was killed this Sunday just hours before he was to marry his fiancée, Karen Taylor. Chris Raynor, age 28, was riding in the back seat with a groomsman on their way to breakfast early Saturday morning when they were hit by James Howard Early as he ran a red light...

Running the Red Light: Intersection Collisions Take Lives of Groom, Ballet Dancer

Posted on September 15, 2009
Two heart-breaking stories out of Raleigh this weekend: first, Christopher Raynor, 28 was killed on the way to breakfast with his groomsmen on what was going to be his wedding day. WRAL reports that James Howard Early of Asheville ran a red light at around 7:30 AM, and collided with a car being driven by the groom's best man...

Fight Breaks Out; I-40 Down for the Count

Posted on September 09, 2009
Why was I-40 backed up for over an hour in Winston-Salem? According to WXII (get ready) two women and a man pulled over and engaged in a fistfight over a cell phone. The spectacle distracted passing drivers setting off an accident. Several lanes of the interstate were closed for over an hour while officers attended to the scene...

Highway Cowards - Running From Decency & Responsibility

Posted on September 08, 2009
The past week or so several of my colleagues and I have written about the perils posed by uninsured drivers. Many of the postings pointed out that uninsured drivers are more likely to be persons who've had their licenses revoked for various offenses such as DWI, careless and reckless, etc...

Labor Day Matchup: SUV vs. Minivan in Downtown Greensboro

Posted on September 07, 2009
Three people were injured in a Labor Day morning collision in downtown Greensboro. According to Fox8, the accident occurred around 11:00 am at the intersection of East Market and Davie. The SUV, a Ford Expedition, apparently ran a red light and crashed into a Dodge Caravan...

Thank You Officers

Posted on September 04, 2009
I'm one of those people that think the media focus too often on negative stories and ignore newsworthy positive events. So when I came across a press release about five people were recently honored in Raleigh for rendering exemplary service to the citizens of North Carolina, I knew it wasn't going to get much attention...

Aggressive Driver? -PWNED!

Posted on September 04, 2009
Aggressive drivers are big, fat pains in the rump. It's amazing how some people act when they get behind the wheel. They cut people off, tailgate, try to skip to the front of backed up traffic -- basically they act like kindergartners. This holiday weekend, don't get mad...

Officers On The Job To Make Our Holiday Safer

Posted on September 03, 2009
This Labor Day weekend marks the 15th anniversary of the 'Booze It & Lose It' mobilization to crack down on impaired drivers in North Carolina. The Labor Day 'Booze It & Lose It' campaign began on Aug. 21 and runs until Sept. 7. My friend and colleague from Hawaii, Wayne Parsons, recently posted some truly sobering statistics on drunk driving...

Twitter Traffic Reports Statewide in North Carolina

Posted on September 02, 2009
North Carolina drivers, check out the press release below. This is a great new service the state is offering to help motorists steer clear of traffic jams. I'm not always wild about the way the state spends my taxpayer dollars, but this is something I can use almost every day...

Uninsured Drivers: Who Are These People?

Posted on September 02, 2009
One of the best things about being an injury lawyer is the sense of satisfaction that comes from helping a client and his or her family recover from the often crushing financial strain that accompanies a serious injury. The medical bills can be enormous and the injured person is often out of work for weeks or months...

Two Die When Parasail Rope Fails in High Winds

Posted on August 31, 2009
U.S. Coast Guard officials say a disconnected rope is to blame in a parasailing accident that killed two women in Ocean Isle, NC, on Friday. Among the victims is Cynthia Woodcock from Kernersville. The other victim, Lorrie Shoup from Granby, Colorado, was vacationing with Woodcock...

Charlotte Girl in Critical Condition After Pool Accident in Milford, Massachusets

Posted on August 20, 2009
Another pool related accident has left an 11 year old Charlotte, NC girl in critical condition at the UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. The girl had been swimming unsupervised on the first of August at the family pool of her aunt and uncle...

Vacation Turned Tragedy: Boy Drowns at Fort Fisher Beach

Posted on August 14, 2009
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joeshlabotnik/ / CC BY 2.0 Saturday brought yet another drowning death this year. This time it happened at the beach near Fort Fisher, NC. 10 year old Emanuel Carter was vacationing with his family this weekend when they were all pulled into a rip current...

Motorcyclist Killed in Accident Reminds Us to Share the Road

Posted on August 11, 2009
A hit and run accident on E. Wendover Ave. in Greensboro, left a 44 year old motorcycle driver dead this Sunday. Eugene Vadran Bullard Jr., 44 was a resident of McLeansville, NC. The accident happened around 6:30 p.m. when Bullard attempted to avoid being hit when a white vehicle turned in front of him...

51 Year Old Charlotte Man Electrocuted and Revived by Defibrilator

Posted on August 06, 2009
Nelson Pozo has developed quite a relationship with electrical current. Pozo was working for AEP Industries Saturday night when he was accidentally electrocuted. He received a 420 volt shock, though the cause of the accidental electrocution remains unclear...

Puppies May Get a Pardon: Puppy Mill Bill Heads to NC State Senate

Posted on August 06, 2009
Dogs in North Carolina might have new reason to wag their tails soon. North Carolina Senate Bill S460 aims to protect dogs from inhumane conditions is headed to the floor for a vote this week. The bill would require facilities with more than 10 female dogs and more than 30 puppies to register with the state, undergo yearly inspections and provide proper veterinary care...

UPDATE: Police Still Searching for 5 People Connected to Fatal Hit and Run Accident on Hwy 29

Posted on August 05, 2009
The driver of the Ford Expedition involved in the hit and run accident that left Cherita Jones dead has been brought into custody. Alton Womack Jr., age 26, was arrested at his home on Saturday where police also found the SUV involved. Three others charged in the accident have yet to be found...

Chapel Hill Postal Worker Killed During Family Reunion in Michigan

Posted on August 03, 2009
Family and friends remembered Postal worker Julie Hatch yesterday at the Estes Dr. Post Office in Chapel Hill. A wreath of flowers sat in the lobby. The 31 year old had been attending a family reunion with her partner Jonel Hoogterp in Newton Township Michigan...

Police Still Searching for 5 People Connected to Fatal Hit and Run Accident on Hwy 29

Posted on July 31, 2009
Highway 29 was host to a fatal hit and run early Monday. The circumstances surrounding the crash remain unclear. What is clear is that one young woman, Cherita Jones, died as a result. There is suspicion that the BMW and Acura involved may have been racing when the BMW hit a guardrail and the Acura flipped...

Spinal Cord Injuries, Blue Rats and Food Dye Miracles

Posted on July 30, 2009
Future spinal cord injuries may have a dramatically reduced chance of leading to paralysis, thanks to some very courageous rats, a common food dye and scientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Recent research there may soon lead to new treatment for those with spinal cord injuries...

NC Judge Lost: Drowned While Saving Son

Posted on July 22, 2009
In an act of heroism fitting a member of the Judiciary, Judge John Mull died over the weekend after pulling his 17 year old son from the water to safety. The accident happened near Charlotte, NC in the Catawba River, where the family had been building a house for years...

AIG denies liability in Hudson River plane crash

Posted on July 20, 2009
Most of us still remember the dramatic crash landing of US Airways Flight 1549, when Captain Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger piloted a plane bound for Charlotte, NC into the Hudson River after a bird strike disabled its engines. Thanks to the quick thinking of Sullenberger and the flight crew, every passenger was evacuated before the plane sank...

Watch for Deer on the Highway: Lawrence and Linda in Virginia

Posted on July 17, 2009
My wife Linda and I recently took a trip through Virginia and West Virginia. As we traveled past the beautiful trees mountains and creeks that make up the countryside here, we were lucky enough to spot quite a few deer. Most people would expect to find some 18-wheelers, trucks, and other cars along the way...

Life Vests A Must For Boating Safety

Posted on July 15, 2009
As we approach mid-summer, now is a good time to revisit safe boating practices Remember to always wear your life vest and remain alert and aware while on the water. In some circumstances, it is not just smart, it is the law. North Carolina requires anyone younger than 13 to wear an appropriate life vest when on a recreational vessel that is underway...

NTSB Issues "Urgent" Safety Recommendations to DC Metro Authority

Posted on July 14, 2009
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a statement Monday containing 'Urgent Safety Recommendations' for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) in the wake of last month's deadly Metro accident. The investigators said the electrical train control system should fail safe by stopping a train whenever detection of a preceding train is lost...

Drug Linked to Michael Jackson Death Probe Subject to Limited Recall For Bacterial Contamination

Posted on July 14, 2009
Two lots of a generic form (propofol) of the drug Diprivan -- a drug Michael Jackson reportedly took before his death -- have been recalled. According to CNN, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued a health advisory on July 14, 2009, that two lots of the generic drug made by Teva Pharmaceuticals were contained the bacterial contaminant endotoxin...

Heavy Flash Flooding Traps Drivers in High Point

Posted on July 13, 2009
Early this morning drivers were trapped by flash flooding on several streets in downtown High Point. Centennial and Commerce both flooded so badly that drivers were trapped in their vehicles. Fox 8 News reports that a woman had to be rescued from her car on Centennial Street...

Federal Officials Tour Greensboro Hospital In Wake of Infants' Exposure to Swine Flu

Posted on July 13, 2009
The Triad Business Journal reported today that federal officials from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid are touring Greensboro's Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital after issuing a notice that 'the hospital was found not in compliance with issues surrounding its governing body, patient rights and infection control...

High Point Woman Dies When Driver Runs Red Light

Posted on July 13, 2009
The News & Record is reporting that a High Point woman was killed Sunday when a Thomasville man ran a red light at the intersection of English and Main. The victim, 75-year-old Rachael Myers was taken to Baptist Hospital where she died. The driver of the Acura, John Young, Jr...

NC Officials Bust Bogus Business Fee Scam

Posted on July 13, 2009
The North Carolina Attorney General and Secretary of State last week reported that a California company is under court order to stop sending bogus mailings to North Carolina businesses claiming that they must pay for violating state laws on filing corporate minutes...

14-Year-Old Bicyclist Lured Out At 3 A.M. to Meet MySpace Girl Struck & Killed On Highway

Posted on July 12, 2009
Winston-Salem police confirmed that 14-year-old Mark Zanzarella of Clemmons was killed Sunday morning while riding his bicycle on U.S. 311 near Union Cross Road. According to WXII, the accident occurred about 3 a.m., when a vehicle driven by 18-year-old Angelica Rincon hit the bicycle while traveling southbound on 311...

North Carolina Adjuster Accused of Taking Claimant's Insurance Claims Payment

Posted on July 12, 2009
The North Carolina Department of Insurance recently announced the arrest last month of Ashley C. Waddell, 39, 4610 Wending Lane, Greensboro. According to the investigation, Waddell, who owned International Loss Services in Greensboro, took $89,314.52 in insurance claims payments intended for her clients...

New Style Left Turn Signal In Concord Part Of Nationwide Study

Posted on July 12, 2009
The N.C. Department of Transportation has installed a new four-head traffic signal at the intersection of N.C. 73 and Gold Hill Road (State Road 2408) in Concord. The North Carolina Department of Transportation is evaluating the new traffic head as part of a national study sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration...

Safety Tips For Jetski Operators When Carrying or Towing Passengers

Posted on July 12, 2009
NC Wildlife Officers recently warned jetski users to be careful when carrying or towing passengers. Onboard passengers can fall or be thrown off and towed passengers can spill into the water, making them vulnerable to being run-over. In some instances, they may be struck by the very jetski on which they were previously riding or being towed...

Open Government Trend in Raleigh?

Posted on July 11, 2009
I previously wrote about a bill pending in the General Assembly to strengthen the public disclosure and open meetings law in connection with city and county governments. (There was also a similar, but even stronger, bill (HB734) proposed by Guilford Rep...

July is Deadliest Month for Children in Hot Cars: Eighteen children have died in hot cars so far this year, most in the Southeast

Posted on July 11, 2009
In the time it takes to run into the store and grab some milk, stand in line at the post office or go inside to pay for gas - in just 10 minutes - the temperature inside a car can rise 19 degrees. When summer temperatures are in the 90s, that means the temperature in a car will be more than 109 degrees in a matter of minutes...

More Than 1,300 Charged With DWI During North Carolina ?Booze It & Lose It: Operation Firecracker?

Posted on July 11, 2009
Yesterday, Gov. Bev Perdue announced in a press release that state and local law enforcement officers cited 1,340 motorists for driving while impaired (DWI) during the 'Booze It & Lose It: Operation Firecracker' campaign, which ran June 29-July 5...

Pedestrian safety: Greensboro girl struck by car on her way to the library

Posted on July 10, 2009
A Greensboro child was struck by a car while crossing the street Monday, raising questions about pedestrian safety in Greensboro. The accident occurred around noon at the intersection of Summit Avenue and Church Street, according to the Greensboro News and Record...

Tighter Safety Standards Sought In Wake of Tragic Fireworks Accident

Posted on July 09, 2009
According to State Senator Marc Basnight, new legislation will be introduced next week to tighten safety standards for the handling of large quantities of fireworks. The move comes in the wake of the tragic deaths of 4 workers in a fireworks explosion on Ocracoke Island...

Boy's Death a Reminder of the Danger to Riding in the Bed of Pickup Trucks

Posted on July 09, 2009
Riding in the back of pickup trucks sometimes feels like a southern tradition. Most of us have probably done it at one time or another. It brings to mind many things from summer nights under the stars to hard working farm hands. But, it can also be deadly...

Foreclosed Homes, Abandoned Swimming Pools: A Growing Hazard to Neighborhoods

Posted on July 08, 2009
With the number of foreclosed homes continuing to rise each day, more and more community pools are being left unattended. Those that are left undrained become stagnant, algae-filled breeding grounds for mosquitoes, as well as a drowning hazard. Even pools that have been drained pose a significant danger to the public, especially children...

Ocracoke Fireworks Explosion Victim Survived by Young Child

Posted on July 08, 2009
In an even more tragic turn to the Ocracoke fireworks explosion, that took the lives of four people last Saturday, it has been brought to my attention that the woman who died in the explosion was a single mother. Lisa Simmons was the mother of an 8 year old son...

I-40 Crash Injures Two

Posted on July 08, 2009
The Greensboro Police Department's Traffic Safety and Crash Reconstruction Unit is investigating a collision Tuesday that closed four of the five eastbound lanes on I-40 according to Fox8 News. Chester Harrison of Reidsville and Larry Lawson of Browns Summit were taken by ambulance to Cone Hospital with injuries that are serious but not life-threatening...

Proposed Law Would Help Those Seeking Disclosure of City & County Records

Posted on July 08, 2009
The North Carolina legislature is considering legislation that would increase government transparency at the local level. The bill (HB 734) makes it easier for plaintiffs who successfully sue municipal and county governments for public records to recover legal fees...

Electrocution at UNCG: More Information And More Questions

Posted on July 07, 2009
More information is now available about the electrocution of a construction worker yesterday at UNCG. The worker was an employee of Greensboro-based Powertec Electric. Powertec was doing electrical work as part of a remodeling job at the Elliot University Center...

Appeals Court Lets Second-Degree Murder Conviction Stand In Drunk Driving Crash

Posted on July 07, 2009
About 8:30 one warm evening in June two years ago York County Deputy Tim Davidson was on the shoulder of Highway 321 writing up a ticket for a traffic violation. As he was speaking with the motorist, an F-350 dually passed by headed toward the North Carolina border...

Raleigh Sewer Monster Slimes Way to International Stardom

Posted on July 07, 2009
It's the YouTube video that launched a thousand refrains of 'Ewwwwww, Gross!' The video taken by a remote camera in the sewer beneath Raleigh's Cameron Village Shopping Center is as disturbing as any chilling alien thing Hollywood has come out with...

UPDATE: Police Confirm South Carolina Serial Killer Dead in NC Shootout

Posted on July 07, 2009
Law Enforcement officials confirmed today that Patrick Tracy Burris, the man fatally shot near Gastonia, NC on Monday, was indeed responsible for the recent killing spree around Gaffney, South Carolina. Ballistics evidence matched the gun Burris attempted to use against police officers with bullets recovered from the murder scenes...

Was South Carolina Serial Killer Shot to Death Near Gastonia, NC?

Posted on July 06, 2009
Fox8 is reporting that a man matching the description of a suspected South Carolina serial killer was shot and killed in North Carolina this morning. . The shooting occurred around 3:00 am., after Dallas, NC, residents Mike and Terri Valentine called police to report a suspicious SUV that matched descriptions given by South Carolina police of the SUV used by the serial killer...

Worker Electrocuted at UNCG

Posted on July 06, 2009
The News & Record is reporting that a man rewiring lighting fixtures near the bookstore was electrocuted when he opened a junction box that still had power. The man was taken to Cone Hospital and pronounced dead. The accident occurred around 1:00 pm...

One Dead, Four Wounded in Fireworks Blast

Posted on July 04, 2009
One worker was killed and four others seriously injured when a truck filled with fireworks exploded this morning on Ocracoke Island, NC. WFMY is reporting that one of the injured suffered serious burns and was airlifted to UNC's burn center in Chapel Hill...

Can Cycling Cause Loss of Bone Density?

Posted on July 04, 2009
An article in the July 1, New York Times raises just that question. The article cites several scientific studies published over the past year and a half. These studies all show an alarming loss of bone density among cyclists. These studies will likely spawn further research into the mechanism by which cyclists lose bone density, but for now the reasons are unknown...

UPDATE: 3 Dead, 2 Injured in Tragic Fireworks Explosion

Posted on July 04, 2009
The Virginian-Pilot is reporting that two more workers have died from injuries sustained when a truck loaded with fireworks exploded on Ocracoke Island in North Carolina's Outer Banks. The workers were apparently employed by Melrose South Pyrotechnics of Catawba, S...

Light My Fire - Carefully! Tips for Improved Fireworks Safety

Posted on July 03, 2009
My family and I plan to have a blast this Independence Day -- literally! Like millions of others all over the country we will be enjoying fireworks. It's important to keep in mind in mind, however, that fireworks are explosives and need to be handled with extreme caution...

Alcohol, Speed Lead to Fatal Accident in Graham, NC

Posted on July 03, 2009
WFMY and Burlington's Times News are reporting another deadly vehicle crash in the Piedmont today. The crash occurred in the early morning hours on East Gilbreath Street in Graham, NC. The Graham Police Department reports 21-year-old John Paul Hamlett of Buffalo Junction, Virginia was killed this morning when he lost control of his pickup truck...

Michael Jackson: Aliases, Painkillers, Propofol & a "Mini-Clinic"

Posted on July 03, 2009
Did Michael Jackson use aliases to obtain prescription drugs? That's what TMZ is reporting this morning. According to the report, MJ used names such as Omar Arnold and Jack London to obtain medications. According to CNN the medical mania surrounding MJ was so great that during a tour in the 1990s he traveled with what seemed like a 'mini-clinic,' including an anesthesiologist and IV pole...

Highway Patrol Out In Force This Weekend

Posted on July 02, 2009
We have already seen several serious accidents in the Piedmont this week and with far too many fatalities. Now we are on the eve of what is traditionally one of the most dangerous weekends of the year to be on the road. In an effort to cut down on accidents and promote safe driving over the Independence Day weekend, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol will be participating in the nationwide Operation CARE (Combined Accident Reduction Effort)...

Trooper Hero Saves Girl from Drowning in Pool

Posted on July 02, 2009
Someone screaming. A small child motionless on the bottom of a swimming pool. We've heard this tragic story too many times already this year. But this time it has a happy ending thanks to off-duty State Trooper Jack Dixon, Jr. The Salisbury Post reports that on Sunday, Trooper Dixon and his family were enjoying the fine weather at Grace Ridge Swimming Pool in Rowan County...

Update: Sad News In Monday's Crash On US 29

Posted on July 01, 2009
The News & Record is reporting a tragic development in Monday's single-vehicle crash on US 29. You may recall from my earlier blog entry that an 18-year-old young man was seriously injured when the Toyota Land Cruiser he was riding in rolled over several times...

Update on Fatal US 64 Accident -- Troopers Investigating Blowout

Posted on July 01, 2009
The News & Record is now reporting more information about yesterday's tragic accident on U.S. 64 in Randolph County that took the lives of Clarence and Elizabeth Poe of Sophia, NC. It now appears the accident occurred when a tire on an eastbound El Camino blew out and the driver lost control...

What's Worse Than Drunk Driving? Driving While TEXTING

Posted on June 30, 2009
Could driving while texting (DWT) actually be worse than drunk driving? That's the question Car and Driver magazine set out to answer. They designed a test to measure reaction times of drivers who were (1) reading a text; (2) writing a text; and (3) intoxicated...

Young Girl's Swimming Death Reminds Us to Maintain Vigilance at the Pool

Posted on June 30, 2009
The girl pronounced dead after being found unconscious at a public pool Friday June 26th in Winston Salem was just six years old. She was supposed to be under the watch of 2 adults and 8 lifeguards. How is it then that she died? It used to be that when kids went swimming, they had a buddy...

Latest From the CDC on Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough Recall and E. Coli Outbreak

Posted on June 30, 2009
The number of people believed to be infected with E. coli O157:H7 from Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough continues to climb. The CDC reported today that 72 persons in 30 states are infected with a strain of the deadly bacteria with a 'particular DNA fingerprint...

Two Dead, One Critical in Another Accident on Highway 64

Posted on June 30, 2009
Fox8 News is reporting another fatal crash on U.S. 64 in Randolph County. Reports are sketchy at this point, but it appears the driver of an El Camino lost control after a blowout. A white car -- possibly a Ford or a Toyota -- swerved to avoid the El Camino, crossed left of center, and hit a utility truck...

NC State Linebacker Early Morning Car Accident a Reminder to Stay Well Rested When You Travel

Posted on June 29, 2009
NC State junior linebacker Nate Irving suffered a broken leg and collapsed lung after a single car accident early Sunday morning. According to the Associated Press and ESPN his car ran off the road at after 4:00 a.m. because of fatigue. State Highway Patrol spokesman Capt...

Another DWS (Driving While Sleepy) Accident?

Posted on June 29, 2009
Because of the confluence of many major interstates and highways in the Piedmont Triad area, our firm sees many cases where driver fatigue plays a part in an accident. It appears that today's accident on U.S. 29 may be another instance of driving while sleepy...

Company Expands Beef Recall - Holds Back Key Information From Public

Posted on June 29, 2009
The mixed-up priorities of so many corporate stuffed suits can be astounding! CNN is reporting the expansion of a recall by JBS Swift Beef Company of Greeley Colorado. The initial recall last week involved about 41,000 lbs of beef possibly contaminated with E...

FOLLOWING TOO CLOSE - Part 1 ........ Tractor-Trailer Rams into Standstill Traffic in Miami, Oklahoma - Nine People Killed

Posted on June 27, 2009
Almost every day you will see a news account of an accident resulting in death or serious injury caused by one or more motorists following too close. In the years that I have been doing auto-injury cases since 1956, I would estimate that half of all the cases I have handled were caused by motorists following too close (FTC)...

Nationwide Crackdown on Drunken Boating

Posted on June 27, 2009
Coast Guard, Wildlife officials, ABC officers and others are out this weekend cracking down on drunken boaters throughout North Carolina and the rest of the nation. Operation Dry Water is 'a coordinated, national weekend of Boating Under the Influence detection and enforcement to reduce the number of alcohol-related accidents and fatalities...

Recalled DeWalt Nailers Could Cause Serious Injury

Posted on June 26, 2009
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), is recalling DeWALT FRAMING NAILERS because the bump action trigger might be improperly assembled. An affected tool could eject a fastener unexpectedly or cause the trigger lock-off to fail causing serious injury...

Michael Jackson, Painkillers, and Injury Victims: A Cautionary Tale

Posted on June 26, 2009
Reports are emerging that Michael Jackson's death may have involved overuse of prescription painkillers such as Demerol. It was widely reported that Michael first became addicted to prescription drugs in the 1990s while recovering from a painful burn he experienced during the filming of a Pepsi ad...

Single Cup Tea/Coffeemakers Recalled By Bunn-O-Matic

Posted on May 21, 2009
Bunn-O-Matic Corp., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), is recalling Bunn Single Cup Pod Brewers because they can unexpectedly open during a brew cycle, posing a burn hazard to users. To date, the company has received ten reports of the drawer opening, one which resulted in minor burns...

Wal-Mart Sues Disabled Women to Recoup Medical Benefits

Posted on March 24, 2008
When Debbie Shank began working as a stock clerk at Wal-Mart, she joined the company's health and benefits plan and paid her premiums as insurance against injury or illness. In 2000, Shank's car was rammed by a semi, and she suffered a traumatic brain injury that caused her to be permanently disabled...

Ritter Wrongful Death Cases Raises Interesting Questions

Posted on March 16, 2008
A jury this weekend ruled that two ER doctors who treated actor John Ritter after he collapsed on the set of his sitcom weren't at fault in his death. Ritter's family had filed a multimillion dollar wrongful death lawsuit against the physicians, who treated Ritter for a heart attack, not the torn aorta he had...

Teen Killed In Fatal BMW Crash Sought Speeding Advice in Online Forum

Posted on January 30, 2008
Just 12 hours before he died in a reckless, high-speed crash, an 18-year-old Florida man logged onto an online forum for BMW drivers and asked for tips on driving his faster. Later that same night, Joshua Ammirato raced his 2008 BMW M5 off an airstrip and into a tree...

Great tips for prevening deadly hospital infections

Posted on January 29, 2008
I have to applaud fellow InjuryBoard member Jennifer Moore of Grossman & Moore in Louisville, Ky., for a great article on things patients can do to avoid hospital infections. She essentially provides a checklist for things you can ask and ask others to do if you must be hospitalized...

Preventing Construction Injuries

Posted on January 02, 2008
Construction work is one of the most dangerous jobs out there, accounting for more workplace injuries and fatalities than any other field. But there are simple things that construction workers and their employers can do to prevent injuries on the job...

North Carolina Slow to Prosecute Teens for Cell Phone Driving Offenses

Posted on December 31, 2007
Distracted teenage drivers chatting away on the cell phone can have deadly consequences, as we've written about here before. But only 23 teens in North Carolina have been convicted so far under a state law that went into effect last year that bans teenage drivers from talking on cell phones...

New study reveals hundreds of toys on store shelves are contaminated with lead and other dangerous chemicals

Posted on December 05, 2007
As a parent, it's frightening to hear just how many toys are contaminated with lead. A shocking new report issued today by the Ecology Center revealed that hundreds of toys still being sold are contaminated with lead, many with levels higher than the federal recall standard...

OSHA Increasing Unannounced Safety Checks to Prevent Construction Injuries

Posted on November 01, 2007
For many construction workers, job safety is truly a matter of life and death. It's hard to imagine putting your life on line everyday just by going to work. A startling number of construction workers are injured and die each year from falls, crushed by equipment, electrocutions and other causes...

Sending a Text Message While Driving Will Soon Be Illegal in Washington State

Posted on October 31, 2007
Need to text? Your cell phone could be taken away Texting while driving can lead to deadly consequences, which is why states are taking a look at toughening laws to deter drivers from using their handheld electronics behind the wheel. Washington state has received a lot of attention lately after passing a ban on texting while driving that takes effect this January...

Allstate settles class-action suit in Washington state

Posted on October 30, 2007
Many injured drivers in Washington state were getting shortchanged by their insurance company, resulting in paying medical expenses out of their own pockets when they should have had coverage, according to a class-action suit that Allstate is settling out of court...

Deported Illegal Worker Wins Workers' Compensation Benefits

Posted on October 30, 2007
Illegal immigrants may not be entitled to the same rights as American citizens, but they are allowed to sue for workers' compensation. A recent Rhode Island case involving an injured, undocumented worker from Mexico illustrates that point. We first brought you the story of Edgar Velasquez this summer, and now there's a positive update.

Toy recalls worry parents, make them more cautious

Posted on October 09, 2007
Worried about the safety of your kids' toys? Join the club. Even if you haven't had to take Thomas, Dora or Elmo away from your little one, you're probably questioning whether the toys that he or she is playing with are safe. As parents, we're all wondering what toys might be included in the next toy recall...