Medical Malpractice

Facebook Upload Proves Deadly In North Carolina Distracted Driving Crash

April 29, 2014 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “What can you sue for in a personal injury case?”

Authorities from High Point, North Carolina have released word that a woman from the area who died in a recent car accident may have been posting pictures to her Facebook account prior to the deadly crash. Officers say that the tragic case underlines just how important it is for drivers in North Carolina to focus their attention on the road and not on the many electronic devices that can so easily distract us.

Officers in High Point say that 32-year-old Courtney Ann Sanford died after her car crossed the median on I-85 and crashed into an oncoming truck that was carrying a recycling container. The accident took place just after 8:30 in the morning on Thursday.

Police say that after the accident they looked through the woman’s phone and noticed that her last Facebook update occurred at 8:33 a.m., one minute before the accident was reported to emergency responders in High Point. According to investigators, Sanford had posted pictures of herself while driving and, in addition to uploading the photo, added a caption that required typing out a text message. The caption to the photo published just before the deadly accident said “The happy song makes me HAPPY.”

Investigators say the accident is the latest glaring example of how deadly distracted driving can be. Not only are distracted drivers dangers to others, but they can jeopardize their own safety and wellbeing. In this case, Sanford’s crash caused injuries to the driver of the oncoming truck as well as catastrophic harm to herself.

Second Pedestrian Killed In Charlotte Area In Less Than A Week

April 24, 2014 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “What exactly is a wrongful death claim?”

In another tragic incident, police say that a 62-year-old North Carolina woman has died after being hit by a passing SUV. The crash happened earlier this week along Old Charlotte Road and marks the second pedestrian death in the Charlotte area in less than a week.

Authorities say that Carmelita Cook was walking down Old Charlotte Road near the intersection with Park Drive when she was struck by a GMC Acadia. The accident was reported to police officers a little after 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday evening.

Reports indicate that Cook was attempting to cross the road when she was hit by the SUV. Though paramedics arrived quickly, it was too late to save Cook who was pronounced dead at the scene.

So far, there are no indications from witnesses that the driver of the SUV was speeding or otherwise engaged in dangerous conduct that contributed to the crash. Police officers in Concord, NC say that they are continuing to investigate the accident and will not rest until the reason for the tragedy has been identified.

Charlotte Hit-And-Run Accident Leaves Pedestrian Fighting For Her Life

April 22, 2014 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “If I am injured in a car accident or at work what should I do?”

Police in Charlotte say they have launched an investigation into a case concerning a dangerous hit-and-run crash that occurred this past weekend on Albemarle Road. So far, they have only sketchy information but say they hope the public will help them catch the person responsible for causing such serious injuries.

According to officials with the CMPD, the accident happened on the 5200 block of Albemarle Road some time after 10:30 p.m. on Saturday. Authorities say that a female pedestrian was walking across the street when she was struck by an oncoming Jeep Grand Cherokee. Witnesses say the Jeep was white and that the driver pulled away from the accident scene without even slowing down. Others report the Jeep was heading east along Albemarle Road and then continued in the same direction after the hit-and-run incident.

The victim in the crash was taken to Carolina’s Medical Center where officials say she is still being treated for life-threatening injuries. Investigators with the CMPD Major Crash Unit have asked for the public’s help in finding the white Grand Cherokee, which they say, will likely have serious front-end damage. Anyone with information about the hit-and-run crash is asked to call the police so that the responsible party can be apprehended.

North Carolina Man Charged After Crash Kills Off Duty Officer

April 17, 2014 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “Can I wait a few months to pursue a personal injury claim?”

Criminal charges have been filed against a North Carolina Department of Transportation Worker who crashed his vehicle into an oncoming minivan. The accident was serious and left an off-duty Tarboro, NC police officer dead.

According to news reports, the 29-year-old worker, William Harrell II, faces charges of driving left-of-center and with misdemeanor death by a motor vehicle. Harrell was released on $2,5000 unsecured bond and will reappear in court later this summer to answer the charges.

The accident occurred when Officer Charles Johnson was driving his Honda Odyssey west on NC 111 just outside Tarboro. The accident happened in the morning and occurred when a NCDOT excavator being driven by Harrell drifted out of its lane. Police say that Harrell crossed the centerline and smashed into Johnson’s minivan, with the force of the crash being absorbed by the driver side area of the car.

The force of the accident was so great that Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. Harrell’s excavator ended up being pushed off the road, though reports indicate that he survived with only minor injuries. Officials say that in addition to a criminal investigation into the crash, the NCDOT has launched its own investigation into what may have gone wrong.

Head Injury Kills North Carolina Boy

April 15, 2014 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “What exactly is a wrongful death claim?”

Many people have heard of the serious damage that can occur as a result of traumatic brain injuries. These days most of the press is given to soldiers or professional athletes who sustain powerful blows to the head on a regular basis. While it’s true that these groups are disproportionately affected by traumatic brain injuries, it’s also true that ordinary people can be harmed just as easily. Just this past week, a 12-year-old boy in North Carolina died after he sustained a severe blow to the head, illustrating how dangerous and serious head injuries can be.

Police say that the 12-year-old Wilmington boy died after he was hit by a baseball during practice. The incident occurred at a local middle school and was part of after-school athletic practice. According to witnesses, the boy was hit in the head by a line drive ball at the Roland-Grise Middle School.

After the accident, the boy was rushed to a nearby hospital where he received treatment. Sadly, it was too late and the boy died later that night. Officials with the school district have offered their condolences while family and friends are stunned at the sudden death of an athletic and healthy young boy.

Though it may seem difficult to believe, baseball is actually the deadliest sport for children between the ages of five and 14. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that four children die every year from injuries they sustained playing or practicing baseball.

$150 Million Lawsuit Filed In North Carolina State Fair Case

April 10, 2014 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “Can I wait a few months to pursue a personal injury claim?”

Almost six months after a horrific fair accident left several people seriously injured at the North Carolina State Fair, a group has filed the first personal injury lawsuit in the case. The suit was filed by four family members who were riding the Vortex at the time of the accident and all sustained serious injuries as a result of the malfunction.

The lawsuit was filed against a worker in charge of the ride, the owner of the Vortex machine itself and two other companies that service fair attractions. The lawsuit was filed by the Gorham family and seeks an astounding $150 million from the defendants, a sum that rests largely on punitive damages. The lawsuit estimates that medical bills could continue costing the family money for decades to come and may end up totaling as much as $30 million. The remainder, $120 million, is intended to punish those responsible and ensure that another tragedy like this never happens again.

The Gorham family, Kisha and her husband Anthony, as well as their 14-year-old son and a niece, were all trying to get off the ride when it sprang back to life and threw the riders back into the area, many of whom were unsecured. Anthony Gorham suffered permanent brain damage, neck and spinal trauma and is now unable to act on his own legally. The man has had multiple brain surgeries and continues to struggle with what many agree will be a lengthy recovery.

One of those sued in the case is Timothy Tutterrow, a man from Georgia who police have said may have tampered with critical safety systems on the ride prior to the disaster. Safety investigators say they believe Tutterrow’s actions may have allowed the machine to continue operating when riders’ safety restraints were in the unlocked position. In addition to the civil lawsuit, Tutterrow faces criminal charges including assault with a deadly weapon.

Drunk Driving Crash Leaves One Charlotte Man Dead And Another Behind Bars

April 8, 2014 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “What exactly is a wrongful death claim?”

In a tragic example of the dangers of speeding, a Charlotte man died last week after police say the driver of an SUV crashed into the man’s Jeep at a high rate of speed. The case highlights the damage that a fast moving car can do to unsuspecting motorists whose only mistake is being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Officers from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department say that the accident last Tuesday night left Ramez Eldin dead and Michael Perrella behind bars. The crash took place on South Tryon Street near the intersection with West Tyvola Road.

According to accident investigators, the crash happened when Perrella, who was driving a Ford Expedition, slammed into the back of Eldin’s Jeep. After the accident, both cars ended up spinning out of control. According to witnesses, after the crash the Expedition crossed northbound lanes of traffic and came to rest after hitting a telephone pole. Eldin’s car eventually ended up on the sidewalk of South Tryon.

When emergency responders arrived at the scene of the accident it was sadly too late to save Eldin. Eldin was pronounced dead at the site of the accident. Perrella suffered relatively minor injuries and was taken to Carolina’s Medical Center for treatment.

Police say they set to work investigating what may have caused the terrible accident and believe that Perrella’s speed played a decisive role in the deadliness of the crash. Additionally, Perrella is believed to have been impaired at the time of the accident, another factor that is frequently linked to fatal car accidents.

Deadly Accident Occurs After Driver Runs Red Light

April 3, 2014 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “What exactly is a wrongful death claim?”

A Charlotte woman died earlier this week after being involved in a terrible accident on Brookshire Boulevard near I-485. Police say the crash happened around 5 o’clock in the afternoon on Wednesday.

According to authorities, the accident took place after the woman, 53-year-old Annie Roller, took off from a stop light on the off-ramp of I-485. Roller had been stopped at a red light and when her light changed to green she pulled out into the intersection and tried to make a left turn onto Brookshire Boulevard.

Just as Roller was pulling into traffic, she was struck by an oncoming Ford Explorer driven by 23-year-old Quantovius Forte. Forte is said to have run the red light and smashed into the left side of Roller’s vehicle. Accident investigators say the force of the collision was intense and that the driver’s side of Roller’s vehicle absorbed the vast majority of the impact of the crash.

By the time emergency responders arrived, it was too late to save Roller who was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Forte himself suffered minor injuries in the crash and was taken to a Charlotte hospital for treatment. Once he was discharged, Forte was arrested and has since been charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle. In addition to the more serious death by vehicle charge, Forte is also facing charges for an expired registration, expired inspection and running a red light.

Distracted Driving Month Begins With Important Safety Tips

April 1, 2014 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “What if the medical condition improves before the hearing?”

April 1^st marks the start of the national Distracted Driving Awareness Month and provides an excellent opportunity to remind drivers across North Carolina of the dangers associated with texting or talking while behind the wheel.

According to recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving contributes to more than 3,000 deaths each and every year as well as hundreds of thousands of serious injuries. With increasingly available and complicated personal electronic devices, distracted driving has never been as widespread or as appealing.

Given the dangers presented by modern technology, it is critical that drivers learn strategies to avoid being sucked into the trap of distracted driving. The most common and most dangerous source of distraction is undoubtedly a cellphone. Besides placing phone calls, writing emails, looking up directions and streaming music, phones are also frequently used to send text messages. Texting behind the wheel is one of, if not the most dangerous thing that a driver can do.

The reason that texting is so dangerous is that it requires the physical, mental and visual attention of a driver, ensuring that the driver is paying little if any attention to what is happening outside the confines of the vehicle. Allowing yourself to be consumed with what’s happening on a cellphone dramatically increases the risk that you could be involved in an accident leading to injuries to yourself or others.

GM Recall Linked To Potentially Hundreds Of Deaths

March 27, 2014 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “What can you sue for in a personal injury case?”

GM is currently in the midst of a major recall and consumers have begun to grow more nervous over the safety of what some groups have said are millions of potentially affected vehicles. So far more than 1.6 million GM cars have been swept up in the recall, a number many expect to rise before it’s all said and done.

GM’s CEO Marry Barra has apologized to customers and the driving public for the mistakes that led to the recall, saying that GM owes its customers better vehicles and a more direct approach in the future. The company has been criticized by safety advocates, Senators and even the NHTSA for what some call a dangerous and potentially deadly delay in issuing the important recall notice.

The problem at the center of the recall revolves around a faulty ignition switch that can go bad without warning. GM says that the ignition switch is prone to breaking if drivers have especially heavy key rings or even when the car suffers a big jolt or bump. When the ignition switch goes bad, it can cause the car to completely lose power, meaning that critical safety features like airbags fail to work properly, if at all.

For its part, GM says that it has seen reports linking the faulty ignition switch to 12 deaths. However, others say this is a woefully inaccurate underestimate. The group, Center for Auto Safety, says that an extensive investigation has revealed that the defective device may actually be responsible for more than 300 deaths due to high-speed accidents where airbags failed to deploy properly.