South Carolina Lawyer Blog

An 87-year-old mother and her 62-year-old daughter will split a $10.8 million award to cover their past and future medical expenses after being severely injured in a car accident with a Pizza Hut delivery driver. The daughter suffered permanent brain damage and can no longer take care of herself on a daily basis. The mother suffered a broken neck and other injuries.

The delivery driver, who was only 18-years-old at the time, had an epileptic seizure, blacked out and reportedly crossed the center line on a San Diego street, crashing head-on into the other car. While the girl had had previous seizures, she was not diagnosed with epilepsy until after the accident.

The defense argued Pizza Hut should be liable for hiring a driver that "had a history of suffering blackout spells and staring episodes." While the jury did not find Pizza Hut negligent in hiring her, it did conclude the company is responsible for damages because the driver was their employee at the time.

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.

Car Accident Injury

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$12.2 million was awarded on behalf of a San Mateo, California teenager who suffered traumatic brain injury that has left her in a permanent vegetative state after being struck by a driver while in a crosswalk.

The accident, which occurred in 2006, was caused by a combination of driver error, a poorly marked crosswalk and pedestrian error. California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), which maintains the roads, was found 50 percent at fault, the driver was 30 percent responsible and 20 percent was apportioned to the victim.

The marked crosswalk did not have any lights or stop signs to control traffic and is out of view until a driver is approximately 100 feet away. In the 10 years prior to the accident, three other pedestrians have been killed in the same crosswalk.

If you have suffered a personal injury or lost a loved one in an automobile accident, the attorneys at Louthian Law Firm can help. Call us for a free consultation at 1-866-410-5656.

Automobile Accident

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The Seattle Times reports a jury has awarded a 44 year-old woman $2.7 million for the severe injuries she suffered in 2001 when her car struck a dead horse left on the road by a telephone company truck driver.

The victim was driving home at night from working at her family-owned gas station when the accident happened. An earlier motorist saw the dead horse and had gone to find the owner when she saw the woman's 1994 Ford Explorer hit the horse.

The jury found the phone company was responsible for the crash. The driver left the scene of the accident without alerting other motorists of the dead horse in the road. The phone company's protocol following an accident requires stopping and taking steps to prevent further accidents. The driver had safety equipment such as traffic cones, reflecting cones, and flares in his truck to use to alert other drivers.

The woman suffered full body whiplash and continues to suffer from pain. Her family's gas station closed mostly due to her inability to work her normal 60 hours a week.

If you have suffered a personal injury or lost a loved one in an automobile accident, the attorneys at Louthian Law Firm can help. Call us for a free consultation at 1-866-410-5656.

Automobile/Personal Injury

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A New Cumberland, Pennsylvania woman who was hit by a pizza delivery driver, while she was crossing the street in a crosswalk, has been awarded $910,000 compensation for her injuries. The 61-year-old who now primarily gets around in a wheelchair, had her right side crushed requiring her to have her head stapled together and to have 3 inches removed from her leg.

The lawsuit held the delivery driver and his employer, Sidoti’s Italian Grille and Pizzeria in Lower Allen Township, liable for the damages. Neither the driver nor the pizzeria defended themselves against the lawsuit. Sidoti’s lacked insurance coverage for the crash, and they never responded to the legal correspondence or filings.

Since Sidoti’s does not have insurance, the lawyers will seek to enforce the damage award by securing a judgment against the firm and its assets, a process that could become difficult if Sidoti’s files for bankruptcy protection. The victims' insurer has covered her $250,000 in medical bills to date.

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.

Crash Award

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A Parkton, Maryland woman was awarded $650,000 for injuries she sustained when a car struck her as she was crossing a driveway. The driver, who was texting on her cell phone at the time, left the scene of the accident but was later identified and found.

The 22-year-old college student now suffers from complex regional pain syndrome and has had to have a spinal cord stimulator implanted in her back to ease her pain. The device will need to be changed every nine years, leading the jury, who only deliberated for an hour, to award future medical expenses as well.

The award consisted of: $48,000 for past medical expenses, $152,000 for future medical expenses, $2,900 for lost wages and $460,000 for pain and suffering. The pain and suffering award falls below the statutory cap on noneconomic damages.

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.

Car Accident Award

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The family of a 14-year-old girl killed in a car crash more than five years ago has settled a wrongful death lawsuit against the family with whom she was visiting for $1.75 million, reports the Richmond Times-Dispatch of Virginia.

When the 14-year-old's father dropped his daughter at her friend's house, he specifically told her friend's mother she was not to ride in an automobile with a juvenile, the newspaper reported. He told her "no boys with cars" and was told "not to worry."

Later, the mother told the girls to accept a ride home from the movie theater with a young boy, despite knowing he had a reputation for recklessness, according to the article. During the ride home, the young girl sent her family a text message saying she feared for her life.

The Virginia Supreme Court ruled last year that although supervising adults cannot be expected to ensure a child's welfare, they are liable when they fail to act responsibly. That set the stage for the settlement.

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.

Car Crash Wrongful Death Settlement

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The (NC) Burlington Times News reports a 71-year-old woman will receive $1,975,000 from FedEx and the driver of a FedEx truck for injuries she suffered in a 2008 car accident.

On May 21, 2008, a FedEx truck collided head-on into her Chrysler minivan as she was turning left at an intersection. Her 88-year-old mother-in-law died of the injuries she suffered in the accident. The wrongful death lawsuit on her behalf has been settled through mediation.

It took the jury only 1½ hours to reach their verdict--one of the largest in the history of Alamance County.

The woman has undergone two surgeries at Duke University and may need more surgeries in the future.

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.

FedEx Personal Injury Settlement

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Tire Review reports an Iowa jury has ruled against Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. in a deadly rollover crash in 2007 and awarded seven passengers $33 million.

In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs alleged a manufacturing flaw in the tires caused the tread separation and the driver to lose control of the vehicle. The 1997 Plymouth Grand Voyager minivan carrying the passengers rolled over, killing one passenger, paralyzing another, and injuring the other five.

Cooper denies the tires were at fault and is expected to appeal the verdict.

The Louthian Law Firm, P.A. of South Carolina has years of experience helping accident victims. If you or someone you care about was hurt or killed in a personal injury accident, contact our attorneys today at 1-866-410-5656 or online for a free evaluation of your case.

Car Crash

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The parents of a teenage boy have filed suit against Autumn Transportation following a crash that injured their son and caused emotional turmoil when his friend was killed in the crash, reports the Connecticut News. The parents are suing on behalf of their son according to Connecticut law since the boy is a minor.

The bus went off the highway after it collided with a Volvo station wagon. The suit alleges the bus company allowed a driver who did not have proper training and licensing to drive the school bus, and further claims the company does not adequately supervise or train its drivers. The bus driver's license has since been suspended by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Also named in the suit are the bus driver and the teen driver of the Volvo for failing to take necessary precautions to avoid an accident.

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.

Personal Injury

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The Palo Alto Daily News reports the city of Palo Alto will pay $1.5 million to a man injured in a vehicle crash in 2006. The victim alleged a city worker failed to stop for a red light because he was reaching for his cell phone, resulting in a rear-end collision which left the plaintiff with debilitating spinal injuries. The victim had asked for more than $5 million from Palo Alto.

This is the largest payout for the city for a personal injury claim in recent history. The driver of the city vehicle is no longer employed by the city.

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.

Personal Injury

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The Gadsden (Alabama) Times reported that an Etowah County Circuit Court jury has awarded $8.5 million to a woman injured in a 2003 Mercury Mountaineer rollover.

Two people were killed in the accident and two were injured, including Latoya Duckett. Ms. Duckett filed a product liability lawsuit against Ford Motor Company alleging the vehicle was unstable and rolled over too easily.

As a result of the accident, Ms. Duckett's right leg had to be amputated just below the knee and her left arm is paralyzed and suffered brain injury, the paper reported in October.

The case against Ford Motor Company in the deaths of the father and daughter was settled for an undisclosed amount several years ago.

No punitive damages were awarded, but the $8.5 million in compensatory damages was the largest in the county's history, the paper reported.

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 contact form.

Ford Rollover Accident

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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

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Driving while impaired. Felony hit-and-run. Open container in vehicle. Driving with a revoked license. Felony speeding to elude arrest. Running a stop sign. Any one of these violations could result in a brush with law enforcement. But when Richard Green of Tabor City got behind the wheel on Monday, March 3, he racked up all six charges in a car chase that led to a South Carolina Car Accident involving four other vehicles.

Though nobody was seriously injured in the crash, Green, who had a passenger in his vehicle at the time of the incident, managed to total his car and set it on fire. He evaded law enforcement and caused a five-vehicle crash while driving more than 100 miles per hour to elude the police. After escaping the scene of the crash, Green was apprehended and charged with a laundry list of accusations.

Continue reading "Tabor City Crash Racks Up Mighty List of Charges" »

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A 21-year-old Iraq war veteran will never get the chance to reunite with his young wife, who remained in Iraq at the time of the South Carolina car crash that claimed his life. The man, George Elizondo, had served his tour of duty in Iraq as a naval medic and hospital corpsman. Distracted driving and extreme weather has been blamed for the crash, but Elizondo’s family, especially his bereft wife and mother, is looking for answers as to the circumstances surrounding his untimely death.

One-car crashes present a special challenge for car crash lawyers, especially when the victim dies at the scene. Naturally, family members want answers and to find out who, if anyone, is responsible for death, injury, or damage to property. Reconstructing this event involves an intensive investigation that draws upon expert opinions and evidence to put together a picture of what actually occurred on the scene. This information is in turn used to identify potentially responsible parties, who can then be targeted in the courts for damages related to the death, injury, or property damage in question.

Continue reading "One-Car Crash Cuts Vet’s Life Short" »

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In an alarming statement on the lack of safety on the roads in South Carolina, a group of business leaders released a report on Tuesday, February 12th that details the loss of life and economic toll of accidents on South Carolina roads. The statistics paint a grim picture: Someone dies in a South Carolina auto accident about every eight hours. Economically speaking, the carnage inflicted by the state’s dangerous roads is $3.7 billion a year.

That breaks down to $863 per South Carolinian to cover medical costs, lost economic and household productivity, psychological or emotional trauma, property damage and travel delays. Given these numbers, the report contends that the state is not spending enough to fix the problem.

Of particular concern are South Carolina’s rural roads. The traffic fatality rate on those roads in 2005 was the highest in the nation at 4.61 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel, the report says. The most dangerous local road on the list was a mile-long stretch of Harmon and Dreher streets in Lexington County – ranking 15th most dangerous and accounting for two deaths and eight injuries.

Continue reading "South Carolina Rural Roads Ranked Among Nation’s Most Dangerous" »

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In a tragic example of the worst kind of South Carolina Bus Accident, ten children and their driver were injured when their bus overturned, according to an AP Report posted January 24th. The church bus overturned in Pickens County on the evening of Wednesday, January 23rd on U.S. 178 near Lakeview Baptist Church, where the children were returning from service. Four children, ranging in age from 9 to 13, were taken to Greenville Memorial Hospital. One child was in critical condition and another was in serious condition the morning after the accident. The driver was listed in fair condition.

South Carolina bus accidents can be some of the most dangerous of all motor vehicle accidents. When any vehicle overturns in an accident the results can be tragic. School buses do not have seatbelts and very often small children can be thrown around in the cabin, resulting in serious injury.

Very often in wrecks like this one, the cause of the accident must be determined. Was the driver negligent in some way? Did the condition of the bus contribute to the accident? Was it properly maintained? What role does the church play in restitution for injuries suffered in the crash? These are all questions best left to an experienced South Carolina auto accident attorney from the Louthian Law Firm.

Continue reading "Children Injured When Church Bus Overturns" »

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In the wake of a fatal accident this month, residents are questioning the safety of an intersection in Darlington County. According to a story posted on the website of news station WBTW, the intersection of S.C. 340 and Rogers Road saw 62 crashes in the five years between 2002 and 2007. Two were fatal -- and the Jan. 11 accident made three. In that crash, a 29-year-old driver failed to yield to a tractor-trailer traveling north on the highway. Residents blame the addition of two turn lanes, which they say creates blind spots. They’re asking for a traffic light at the intersection.

Clearly, the longer an unsafe situation at an intersection is allowed to go on, the more likely it is that it will cause multiple avoidable deaths and injuries. That seems to be the case here, judging from the article:

“We’ve had cars sideways in the ditch. We had an accident ... not too long ago, where we had a wreck on Tuesday and then we had a wreck on Thursday,” said Carol Kiker, who lives close to the intersection.

Continue reading "Intersection With Repeated Accidents Called Unsafe" »

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Because the Louthian Law Firm has handled South Carolina auto accident cases for nearly 50 years, unfortunately we’ve seen firsthand that younger drivers are more likely to make bad decisions out of inexperience. That’s why we were pleased to see that the South Carolina legislature is considering a bill that would require defensive driving courses for teens. Right now, South Carolina teens can get a conditional license at age 15 and a provisional one at 16, but they must pass a driver education course, pass a test and log at least 40 hours behind the wheel. The new law would require that they pass a defensive driving course as well, after Dec. 31 of this year.

If you’ve ever looked into car and truck accident statistics, you may know that younger drivers almost always have a higher rate of accidents than older ones. That’s why auto insurance rates are more expensive for younger drivers, and may explain why most car rental companies choose not to rent to drivers under age 25. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the federal agency that tracks traffic deaths and injuries nationwide, drivers ages 15 to 20 were 6.3% of all licensed drivers in 2005, but accounted for 13.2% of fatal crashes in 2006.

Continue reading "Bill Would Be Good for Teen Drivers -- And All of Us" »

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A state department of transportation road maintenance foreman died after being hit by a pickup truck while on the job, according to an AP wire report. Standra Jones of Gaston , South Carolina died of multiple injuries at 6:21am at Lexington Medical Center following the truck accident according to authorities. Jones was standing on the side of the road supervising a crew that cleaned concrete safety barriers overnight when he was struck.

Jones was hit by a vehicle driven by Robert Cunningham of Gaston, state troopers said. Authorities said it was unclear why Cunningham’s 1992 Chevrolet pickup ran off the right side of the highway as it headed west, colliding with a state truck and then Jones. Jones is one of 3 agency workers to die in the last 5 years while engaged in road maintenance.

While this tragic case is an example of the worst type of South Carolina workplace injury, one-time accidents aren’t the only type of on-the-job injuries. Many employees in offices, factories or other indoor workplaces find themselves with repetitive stress injuries, which can be just as devastating as accident injuries. Mental health issues directly caused by work may also qualify as injuries to be compensated under the law. Those who work with or around dangerous chemicals -- whether they know it or not -- are also at risk for diseases caused by occupational exposure to toxins. Employers who are careless about using, storing or disposing of substances that threaten human health can cause serious, even life-threatening, health problems to their employees. They are also breaking federal and state laws. They can and should be taken to court to stop this illegal behavior and compensate the victims of their wrongdoing.

Continue reading "Highway Worker Killed In Accident" »

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Owners of rollover-prone Ford Explorers scored a major victory Nov. 28 when Ford Motor Co. agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit brought by consumers. About a million people in Texas, Illinois, Connecticut and California had alleged that their SUVs were prone to roll over, which hurt their value because of the actual or perceived danger. They sued Ford for false advertising, claiming the company knew Explorers had an unsafe tendency to roll over when they advertised them as safe family vehicles.

The settlement allows owners of the millions of suspect Explorers, which are model years 1991 to 2001, to apply for a $500 voucher for a new Explorer, or a $300 voucher toward another Ford or Lincoln Mercury product. Ford must also disclose the Explorer’s safety problems and limit its claims that the vehicle is safe. The settlement resolves all of the false advertising litigation aimed at Ford Explorers and their original defective Bridgestone/Firestone tires. However, many other claims have been filed by people who’ve been seriously injured or lost a loved one in an actual Ford Explorer rollover accident. Those lawsuits continue.

In both types of claim, the trouble stems from design defects in the SUVs and in their tires. By now, it’s well known that some SUVs, including the Ford Explorer, are unreasonably likely to tip over because of their high centers of gravity. That problem was compounded by the Explorer’s using Bridgestone/Firestone tires, which were likely to fall apart in a way that experts call tire tread separation. The tire’s first layer of rubber literally peels off in a tire tread separation, exposing the steel belting underneath. Sudden separations can cause tire blowouts or loss of driver control -- quickly leading to a deadly accident, especially when the blowout happens at high speeds. This combination of defective tires and defective vehicle affected millions of vehicles throughout the 1990s, causing at least 250 deaths and hundreds more injuries, according to the Associated Press.

SUVs are often marketed as safe, family-friendly vehicles, but the statistics show that they’re actually much more likely to roll over than other passenger vehicles. Research from the federal Department of Transportation shows that SUVs were involved in about 13% of all fatal crashes in 2005, whereas cars were involved in 42%. But when you look at those number for fatal rollover accidents only, SUV involvement jumps to 35.4%, while cars drop down to 16.4%. Rollover accidents are so deadly because they throw occupants violently around the inside of the SUV, significantly raising the chances of brain or spinal injuries, contact with jagged metal or glass or being thrown from the vehicle.

Buried in this story is an important fact: Ford knew its vehicles were unsafe long before it took any action to protect its customers. Unfortunately, this is a trend that is repeated throughout the auto industry, which often decides it’s cheaper to settle a few lawsuits than initiate a life-saving recall. If you’re a victim of these unsafe, unethical business practices, you have rights. Call The Louthian Law Firm today to discuss an auto accident lawsuit or product defects claim.

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More teens die each year in the U.S. from automobile crashes than any other cause, a group said Tuesday, and the national rate doubles among S.C. teens.

The South Carolina National Safety council said it wants Alive at 25, a defensive driving survival course for young drivers 16 to 24, to become available in all S.C. high schools. The program, which began at Dutch Fork High in April after three students were killed in car accidents, is available in less than a dozen schools. It is a 4.5-hour course taught by off-duty sheriff’s deputies and police officers, designed to help young drivers make better decisions behind the wheel.

Last year 315 young drivers were killed on S.C. roads, according to the safety council.

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If you commute for any substantial amount of time on South Carolina roads, you see it on a daily basis; the remnants of dangerous, sometimes deadly, automobile accidents on the shoulders of our highways. Emergency vehicles treating the injured, highway patrol officers directing traffic and clearing the roads of the wrecked automobiles. Whether the accidents involve trucks, motorcycles, or pedestrians the result of these collisions is almost always serious injury and in the worst cases, death. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gathers information regarding traffic accidents for all states, and makes that data available to all citizens through their webpage. The numbers are in for South Carolina, and they paint an unfortunate picture.

Over 1,000 people died on South Carolina roads in 2006 and some of the trends of those fatalities are detailed in the table below:

Alcohol Related Crashes

By far, the single factor that results in most fatal South Carolina automobile accidents is drivers that are impaired by alcohol. Of the 1,037 drivers who died in car accidents in 2006, 523 of them (50%) were considered “alcohol related” crashes. The fact that half the fatal road crashes on South Carolina highways have alcohol to blame as the cause is, for lack of a better term, sobering.

South Carolina has strict laws regarding driving after drinking alcohol and all drivers throughout the State must abide by them. In South Carolina the rights of victims of drunk driving accidents are also taken very seriously. Victims always have the right to financial and criminal legal actions after an accident. All victims of drunk driving accidents and their families should seek legal assistance to aid them in their case. A South Carolina drunk driving accident lawyer can help the family recover significant damages and help ensure that the driver does not harm anyone else.

Speeding Involved Crashes

Another factor in fatal car accidents in South Carolina is speeding. 412 (40%) of the total 1,037 auto accident fatalities in South Carolina involved speeding vehicles. This number is slightly higher then the national average of 32%. Speeding reduces the reaction time drivers need to avoid obstacles, which increases the likelihood of crashing and the severity of accidents. Statistics show that 40% of all high-speed collisions occur at curves, twice the rate of non-speeding fatalities that occur on a curve (20%). Speed also increases the distance needed to stop a vehicle and drivers in speeding autos may not be able to judge distances as well which puts other drivers and pedestrians at greater risk.

If you’ve been in an accident, it’s important to make sure that you understand your legal rights. South Carolina laws on car wrecks are complex, and the statute of limitations for filing a claim can be relatively short. You should consider speaking to the Louthian Law Firm as soon as you think you may need a South Carolina car wreck lawyer. We have protected the rights of accident victims and other injured South Carolinians since 1959, and we’re committed to providing personalized service to you while aggressively going after wrongdoers. And because we know how financially devastating an accident can be, we never charge you a dime until your case is won. For a free evaluation of your case, call us today at 1-866-410-5656.

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A bus driver was killed and 30 of his passengers were injured when his tour bus drove off a South Carolina highway into some trees on early Monday morning. The bus accident happened on a rural stretch of highway and no other vehicles were involved. The tour bus was traveling from St. Stephen to Miami for a cruise, according to an Associated Press report.

George William Thomas, 58, veered off Interstate 26 at around 1 a.m. after he suffered a brain aneurysm, according to Dorchester County officials. He died from injuries related to the crash near Ridgeville, about 25 miles northwest of Charleston, South Carolina. The 30 passengers on the bus mostly suffered minor injuries.

South Carolina Bus accidents can be some of the most serious and often tragic vehicle accidents on our highways. City buses and interstate buses are required to abide by several important safety regulations. Drivers must not drive over a certain amount of hours in a 24 hour period, they must be properly trained and licensed, and they must travel at slower speed limits than other drivers.

Our South Carolina bus accident attorneys have experience fighting for the rights of those who are injured due to the negligence of auto and bus operators. In this instance the driver of the tour bus was charged with careless driving in a separate commercial bus accident eight months prior. No one was injured, but the question remains, was Mr. Thomas fit to operate this bus? Was the medical condition that caused the crash, pre-existing? Did his employer know about it? These are all questions that should be answered when establishing negligence in a South Carolina personal injury matter.

The lawyers at the Louthian Law Firm have experience in handling bus accident cases throughout the entire state. We offer free, no-obligation consultations for any potential case. Contact our offices today.

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A pedestrian was struck and killed Wednesday morning off Monticello Road in Richland County.

Michael D. Stevenson, 48, of Margate Street, died on the scene about 6:30 a.m. of multiple trauma, said Richland County Coroner Gary Watts.

The incident happened on Blue Ridge Terrace off Monticello, said S.C. Highway Patrol spokesman Lance Cpl. Josef Robinson. William Austin, 56, was traveling east in a 1989 Dodge van when he hit Stevenson, who also was walking east in the roadway, Robinson said.

If you or someone you love has been involved in a pedestrian accident, you should speak to the knowledgeable pedestrian accident attorneys at the Louthian Law Firm as soon as possible. Pedestrian accidents can be contentious, with both sides arguing about fault even as bills pile up. Pedestrians who survive a crash often come away with very serious, potentially disabling injuries like neck and spine injuries, traumatic brain injuries and multiple fractures. Good legal representation can help you secure money to help pay medical bills, funeral costs and lost wages, as well as compensate you for pain and suffering, wrongful death and other emotional injuries. For a free consultation with no obligation on your part, call the Louthian Law Firm today at 1-866-410-5656.

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Two men died in Charleston, South Carolina on Friday when their SUV blew a tire and plunged off the Don Holt Bridge, according to an Associated Press Report published October 3rd.

Castillo Izaquirre, 31 and Pineda Cardenas, 21 both died from trauma resulting from the 90 foot fall. A Coast Guard spokesman indicated that the two men of Mexican descent, were driving a Ford Explorer at 11:00am when the accident occurred.

Continue reading "Two die when vehicle plunges off Charleston bridge" »

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A recent Louisiana car accident lawsuit can teach personal injury victims an important lesson about the many routes to justice that can be taken by an experienced legal team. In the Turner v. Iafrate case, plaintiff Turner was struck by a car while riding as a passenger. 35-year-old Turner, who is a homemaker, was in the passenger seat when the driver of the vehicle made a left-hand turn across an intersection whose signs had been removed due to construction. The impact of another vehicle caused a fracture in her C4-6 vertebrae, causing quadriplegia and partial paralysis.

Paralysis isn’t the only thing that Turner suffered – she not only accrued medical expenses in excess of $435,000 but will need nearly $4 million in lifelong medical care and has lost potential future earnings of nearly $500,000. Though the vehicle in which Turner was injured was only struck by one driver, Turner’s legal team decided to sue the parish, construction contractor, and project engineers whose negligence caused “no left turn” and “one way” signs to be removed during construction.

Continue reading "Car Accident Tragedy Has Lessons To Teach About Personal Injury Lawsuits" »

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Posted In: Auto & Car Accidents , Personal Injury

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A 20-year-old Cayce woman who was a passenger in a car died early Wednesday in a collision in the 1700 block of Two Notch Road, according to a news release from the Lexington County coroner’s office.

Ashley Crumpton, 20, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 6:30 a.m. accident, the release said.

She was in a Nissan Maxima that was traveling west, crossed the center line and struck a van, the release said.

The S.C. Highway Patrol is investigating.

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Posted In: Auto & Car Accidents

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The Associated Press reported that a Montgomery, Alabama jury awarded a paralyzed woman $4 million on Friday, April 20, 2007. Carolyn Thorne, was paralyzed as a result of the tires separating on her SUV after visiting a Wal-Mart Service Center. The tires had been recalled in 2002 by Continental Tire Company and she had taken her SUV to Wal-Mart to have the tires replaced. Wal-Mart failed to replace her spare tire which she was using during the crash that paralyzed her.

Ms. Thorne had her car serviced at Wal-mart on 9 separate occasions after the recall and was never told that the 5th tire was also defective.

The jury awarded her $2 million in punitive damages and $2 million in compensatory damages.

If you have been in an automobile accident due to tire tread separation, please contact a South Carolina tire recall lawyer at Louthian Law Firm for a free consultation.

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Posted In: Auto & Car Accidents , Product Liability

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The State Newspaper reported on Thursday, April 12, 2007 that police, schools and businesses in Richland County, South Carolina are working together to make this year’s prom season safer for students.

Since 2001, 6 teenagers from Richland County have died in alcohol related accidents.

On April 19, 2007 Columbia Police will join Columbia High School’s drama class for a “Prom Promise Presentation” for juniors and seniors. The drama class will perform a skit of a party where children are drinking. A couple of the children go to the store and are involved in an automobile collision. A passenger dies in the skit and the driver fails the field sobriety test. Other local schools are conducting similar presentations

The Columbia Police Department is hoping that the presentations will have a significant impact on students and that they will spread the message to their peers concerning the dangers of drunk driving.

Domino’s Pizza is distributing 44,000 fliers on pizza boxes delivered from its 11 stores in the greater Columbia area.

Continue reading "Alcohol Related Teen Deaths Spur Prom Safety Drive" »

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Posted In: Auto & Car Accidents

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For teenagers between the ages of 16 and 20 years old car accidents are the leading cause of death. According to Jane E. Brody of the New York Times, approximately 5,500 teenagers die each year in car accidents. According to Pediatrics, the journal of The American Academy of Pediatrics, 450,000 teenagers are injured in automobile accidents each year with approximately 27,000 requiring hospitalization.

Boys account for two-thirds of the teenagers who die in automobile accidents. Of the teens that are killed, 63% are drivers and 37% are passengers. Even though teenagers only make up 6% of drivers on the road, they are involved in 14% of all fatal accidents.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents require their teenage drivers to sign a “driving contract” that covers such things as when a teenager can use the car and who can ride with them. The driving contract can also contain such things as where and how fast the car can be driven, require the teens to wear seatbelts, no cell phone use while driving and other things that can increase teenage driver safety. If any of the provisions of the contract are violated, the teenager’s driving privileges will be revoked.

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Posted In: Auto & Car Accidents

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