South Carolina Lawyer Blog

A Tennessee jury has awarded $30 million to a 19-year-old who has permanent brain damage as a result of a traffic accident three years ago, reports The Commercial Appeal of Memphis.

In 2006, a gravel truck ran into the side of the teen's truck, killing his passenger and leaving him in a coma for eight months. The lawsuit alleged the gravel truck was 20,000 pounds overweight and the driver was inexperienced.

The jury found 70 percent of the responsibility for the accident went to the owner of the gravel truck who hired the driver - APAC-Tennessee, a road paving company. The other 30 percent was divided between the gravel truck driver and the company that loaded the gravel.

As a result of his severe traumatic brain injury, the teen is unable to live alone and needs around-the-clock care.

If you have been in an accident, it’s important to make sure you understand your legal rights. You may be able to recover money for medical bills, lost wages, funeral costs, as well as compensation for wrongful death or permanent disability. Contact the experienced car accident attorneys at the Louthian Law Firm for a free evaluation of your case at 1-866-410-5656 or fill out our confidential online consultation form.

Tennessee Car Accident

The Miami Herald reports a Broward County jury awarded a 92-year-old man over $5.3 million in his wrongful death lawsuit against Philip Morris, the cigarette maker. The man's wife died in 1996 at the age of 63 from lung cancer after smoking two packs of Marlboros a day since she was 16-years-old.

A jury determined in an earlier phase of the trial cigarettes caused the woman's death.
Her husband's attorneys also claimed the cigarette companies "hooked" her when she was just a kid.

The couple watched television in 1994 as tobacco executives swore to Congress that cigarettes were not linked to cancer. The woman didn't believe the executives and told
her husband to sue them if anything happened to her.

Losing a loved one is difficult especially when that loss is due to the negligence of another person or persons. The Louthian Law Firm has over 50 years experience pursuing wrongful death lawsuits. If you have lost a loved one and feel you have a wrongful death claim, call our experienced attorneys at 1-866-410-5656 for a free consultation of your case.

Smoker's Wrongful Death

The Frederick News Post reports a Montgomery County Circuit jury has given a couple a $1.8 million award in the death of their newborn son.

When the baby was born on July 5, 2005, the doctor chose to use vacuum extraction for the delivery because the baby's head was wedged in the birth canal. He died two days later of complications arising from bleeding between the skull and the scalp.

The lawsuit claimed that not only did the doctor violate the standards of care; he performed the procedure without advising the parents of the risks involved. Had the parents been told of the complications, they would have waited for a cesarean section.

The jury found the doctor negligent and ordered $752,000 for medical bills, funeral expenses and loss of services; $100,000 for the baby's pain and suffering, and $500,000 for each parent for their mental anguish.

A “wrongful death” is a death caused by the carelessness (negligence) or misconduct of another person or organization. The Louthian Law Firm has vast experience in pursuing wrongful death lawsuits. Call us today at 1-800-410-5656 for a free evaluation of your unique case.

Newborn's Wrongful Death

According to an exclusive CBS News investigation, there have been 59 deaths and hundreds of injuries linked to Yamaha's off-road vehicle, the Rhino.

CBS reports that before the Rhino was available for sale, it was tested on trails in Kentucky in July 2002. During those tests, Keisuke "Casey" Yoshida, president of a U.S. subsidiary of Yamaha Motor Co, Ltd. drove a Rhino prototype with a company vice president in charge of Rhino development sitting in the passenger seat. After coming down a hill onto flat ground the Rhino tipped over, injuring the passenger's foot. CBS News reports after that incident, Yoshida stated, "Casey wants update on instability of vehicle for future liability cases."

The Rhino was introduced 15 months later in the fall of 2003 and more than 150,000 were sold. The once popular vehicle is now the subject of many lawsuits because of injuries and deaths linked to its instability. There are more than 400 wrongful death and personal injury lawsuits pending and Yamaha has settled other cases.

Complaints about the Rhino include its narrow stance, high ground clearance, and lack of a rear differential to help in turning. On March 31, 2009, under pressure from the U.S. Consumer Protection Agency, Yamaha announced a free repair program to improve the Rhino's handling and instability.

The Consumer Protection Agency continues to investigate the Rhino, according to the chairman of the agency.

The South Carolina vehicle injury attorneys of the Louthian Law Firm can help you today if you have been injured in an accident involving a Yamaha Rhino ATV. We have proudly represented the rights of accident victims in South Carolina since 1959. We understand the pain and the financial hardships that families go through when dealing with a serious accident and because of this we never charge our clients until the case is won. Please contact us today at 1-866-410-5656 for a free consultation or fill out our confidential online case evaluation form.

CBS Rhino Investigation