Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “Can I wait a few months to pursue a personal injury claim?”
News reports discussed the recent tragic accident in Charlotte, NC that left two people dead and eight others seriously injured. The accident took place very early Sunday morning at the intersection of Eastway and Arnold Drives.
A spokesperson with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police has confirmed that two people died in the accident while another eight people were transported to local hospitals with varying degrees of injuries. Several are still recovering at Carolinas Medical Center – Main.
Police say the accident happened when a 2005 Chevy Malibu that was heading south on Eastway Drive crashed into a 2002 Honda Odyssey. The force of the collision resulted in the Malibu being pushed across the double yellow line into oncoming traffic, where an oncoming Ford Explorer then hit the Malibu. This second crash then caused the Malibu to roll over onto its roof, ejecting several of the passengers.
Police say it was the ejection that resulted in the death of two of the passengers in the Malibu and caused the serious injuries to the others. Several young children in the Odyssey also suffered injuries, as did occupants in the Explorer. Police say they have only just begun launching an investigation into the crash but have so far been able to rule out alcohol as a cause.
Sadly, the accident illustrates just how deadly it can be when passengers are thrown form a vehicle. Though police have not yet said whether passengers in the cars were wearing seatbelts at the time of the collision, lack of a safety belt is almost always seen in cases where ejection occurs. However, it’s important to note that seatbelts and airbags are not always successfully in preventing passengers from being thrown from a car.
While any car accident can be dangerous, those involving occupants leaving the cabin of the vehicle greatly increase the odds of a catastrophic injury. When a car suddenly stops moving, passengers’ bodies continue moving at the same speed until they are stopped by seatbelts, airbags or the hard pavement. The initial trauma of an ejection injury is the damage done by being thrown through a windshield, something that often results in deep cuts to all areas of the body and can even lead to amputations or severe disfigurement. This can also cause serious brain injuries given the force of the initial impact.
Brain damage is also commonly seen due to the next impact, of the passenger hitting the ground outside the vehicle. Spinal cord damage, serious neck and back pain and paralysis are also common. Tragically, as this case demonstrates, so is death.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a North Carolina auto accident, you might be entitled to compensation for your injuries. If so, please feel free to contact the experienced personal injury attorneys and lawyers in Charlotte, North Carolina at Arnold & Smith, PLLC for a free consultation. Call at 704-370-2828.
About the Author:
Matthew Arnold is a Managing Member with Arnold & Smith, PLLC where he focuses his practice on Personal Injury, Family Law and Business Litigation. Mr. Arnold began his career handling insurance defense litigation for several major insurance companies. He also went on to handle business litigation cases and high value mortgage fraud cases, primarily in Superior Court.
Mr. Arnold grew up in Charlotte, graduating from Providence Senior High School and continued his education at Belmont Abbey College on a basketball scholarship. After graduating cum laude he attended law school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on a full academic scholarship. In his spare time, Mr. Arnold enjoys golfing and spending time on the North Carolina Coast with his wife and three young children: two daughters and one son.
Source:
“2 dead, 8 injured in Eastway Drive crash,” published at WCNC.com.
See Our Related Videos From Our YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/ArnoldSmithPLLC?feature=watch
See Our Related Blog Posts: