negligence

North Carolina Hit-And-Run Accidents On The Rise

May 8, 2014 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

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

In an alarming bit of news out of AAA, officials say the number of hit-and-run accidents across North Carolina is on the rise. The Automobile Association says that numbers show that those living in Charlotte specifically and in North Carolina more generally are all at increased risk of being involved in a dangerous hit-and-run collision.

The data indicates that in Charlotte, the number of hit-and-run accidents is up by 5.4 percent so far this year. This increase is on top of the already high rate of one hit-and-run accident in Charlotte each and every day, which was observed in 2013. Last year, Charlotte saw an even bigger increase, with numbers indicating a nearly 13 percent rise in such accidents over 2012. These kinds of accidents result in injuries and even deaths and such a steep rise spells trouble for everyone in the area.
Statewide the numbers are even wore, with five hit-and-run accidents occurring across the state every day. The statewide rate of hit-and-run collisions has risen by 5.7 percent so far this year.

North Carolina Man Faces Murder Charges After Drunk Driving Crash

May 6, 2014 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

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

A drunk driver in Shelby, North Carolina is now facing serious criminal charges after causing a wreck that left two people dead and a young boy critically injured. The accident occurred late last month when Dorman and Frances Pompey were driving their 12-year-old grandson in their Ford Taurus in downtown Shelby.

Sadly, the Pompeys were in the wrong place at the wrong time and came into contact with Demetrist Roberts on a crowded street. Authorities say that that things first began to go wrong when a police officer spotted Roberts speeding around 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.

The officer pursued Roberts’ Buick LeSabre and tried to stop the vehicle. Rather than comply, Roberts took off and turned down a side street. The officer initially pursued the car with his siren and lights on, but then stopped the pursuit due to streets that were crowded with visitors to a downtown art show and farmers market.

North Carolina Man Has Hand Cut Off After Small Plane Lands On Top Of Him

May 1, 2014 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

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

In a terrible freak accident in Taylorsville, NC, a man who was simply mowing the lawn ended up losing a hand, though not because of anything involving the lawn mower. Instead, the source of his terrible injury was a small plane that landed on top of him.

Edward Sisson, an 84-year-old from Crossville, TN, was piloting the small plane. Sisson was preparing to land the single-engine plan at Taylorsville Airport Saturday afternoon when he put the plane down on a grass runway directly on top of 74-year-old John Rufty.

Police say that while Sisson was an experienced pilot, the Taylorsville Airport lacks an air traffic controller so there was no one around to communicate with either the pilot or the lawn mower. Sisson was reportedly heading east prior to landing, the same direction as the unlucky lawn mower. Rufty was unable to hear the approaching plane given the noise of the lawnmower and never saw it because it came in behind him. Sisson apparently never saw Rufty either, at least not until moments before impact.

Emergency responders have revealed that the propeller of the plane cut Rufty, leading to a horrible injury that ultimately severed his left hand. The force of the accident was so great that it caused both the plane and the lawn mower to flip over. Sisson was able to walk away from the accident scene without injuries. Tragically, Rufty had to be taken by air ambulance to Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem where he was listed in critical condition.

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.