Automobile Accident

Deadly Tractor-Trailer Accident Leaves Young Woman Dead

May 20, 2014 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

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

A North Carolina woman is dead after being hit by a tractor-trailer on I-95 this holiday weekend. Authorities with the Virginia State Patrol say the deadly crash took place in Prince George County, just outside Richmond.

According to police officers, the crash took place late last week at 4:40 in the afternoon near mile marker 42 on I-95. A tractor-trailer was heading south in the far right lane of the interstate when it drifted off the road and crashed directly into the back of a 2007 Hyundai Elantra. The Hyundai had pulled over on the shoulder of the road due to mechanical troubles.

Officers say that the driver of the car, 24-year-old Rachel Gradia, was sitting in the passenger side of the vehicle when the impact occurred. Emergency responders say that Gradia was thrown from the car due to the force of the collision. The accident also caused the tractor-trailer to jackknife off the side of the interstate.

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.

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.

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.

Charlotte Students Injured In School Bus Accident

March 18, 2014 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

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

Police in Charlotte say that a serious accident involving a school bus in Uptown resulted in four people having to be taken to local hospitals for treatment of injuries. The wreck happened earlier this week on Mint Street a little after 2:30 p.m.

Officials with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools say that the bus, number 1305, was being used at the time of the wreck to transport students from the Performance Learning Center. The bus at some point collided with an oncoming vehicle, an accident that resulted in serious damage to both the car and the bus.

In addition to damage to the vehicles, emergency responders say four people were injured in the accident. Three of those injured were students who were taken to Carolinas Medical Center to be evaluated. The driver of the bus was also harmed, and was transported to Novant Presbyterian Hospital.

So far, officials with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools say they aren’t releasing the cause of the accident, but say that everyone involved is expected to be fine. That’s good news but hardly comforting to the parents of the children who were injured in the accident.

The latest accident is one of many seen frequently across North Carolina. A simple Google search turns up multiple articles involving school bus crashes across the state in only the last several weeks. Though school buses are said to be one of the safest modes of transportation for children, it does not mean they are always safe.

Ice Blamed For North Carolina Tractor-Trailer Crash

March 11, 2014 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “The insurance adjuster is saying I am partially negligent what does that mean?”

North Carolina has had its fair share of winter weather so far this season. Several bouts of snow and ice have not only led to canceled classes for students across the state, but also to hundreds of accidents as roads and interstates became too slick to safely pass.

The latest example of how dangerous frozen roads can be occurred recently when two tractor-trailers collided with one another on an icy stretch of I-77 near Statesville, NC. The accident happened around 2 in the morning near exit 42 of I-77 north.

Officials with the North Carolina Highway Patrol say that the accident left all lanes of I-77 north blocked as crews had to treat the injured truckers, clean up the wreckage and investigate the cause of the crash. The accident scene was even more of a mess than normal given that one of the tractor-trailers was hauling cars, several of which ended up scattered across the interstate.

Emergency responders say that both drivers suffered injuries in the crash, but that it could have been much worse given the size and weight of the tractor-trailers. Investigators say that ice is to blame for the accident and that the crash is yet another indication of how important it is for motorists, whether behind the wheel of semis or passenger vehicles, to take precautions when out driving in wintry conditions.

Rowan County School Bus Involved In Head-On Collision

March 6, 2014 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

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

Parents in Rowan County, NC had a scare when a school bus full of young children was involved in an accident with another car early Tuesday morning. The accident happened around 9:45 a.m. when the bus was driving down Woodleaf Road just outside Salisbury.

Officials with the school district say the bus was bringing 28 children back to school after the group had gone to see a play in downtown Salisbury. As the bus neared the school, an oncoming car crossed over the centerline of the two-lane road and hit the bus head-on. The accident could have been even worse, according to school officials, because a second fully loaded bus was right behind the first bus. Thankfully, the quick thinking driver of the second bus was able to stop in time to avoid colliding with the wreckage of the first bus.

The driver of the car that collided with the bus was severely injured in the accident and has been taken to a local hospital for treatment of her injuries. Six students on the bus also suffered injuries in the accident and were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The accident alarmed parents who received calls from the school district informing them that their children had been involved in an accident. Many raced to the school to check on their children and say they were relieved the accident wasn’t worse. The bus driver and chaperones are credited with taking action to quickly identify injured students and keep everyone calm while waiting for emergency responders to arrive.

Charlotte Drivers Brace For Slick Roads After Snow Fall

January 23, 2014 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

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

Officials with the North Carolina Department of Transportation say state and private crews are out salting and scraping the roads in preparation for what many are saying will be the region’s first big snow event. NCDOT officials have revealed that 30 state crews will be working primary and secondary routes while 63 private contractors will be used to treat and maintain the interstates.

Crews have laid down brine to try and minimize the risk that snow or ice will stick to the roads. Plows are ready to help scrape up what snow does fall and keep the lanes of traffic clear. Despite the best efforts of state transportation workers, officials are still warning drivers to be especially cautions given the cold temperatures and possibilities for ice.

Already, news reports indicate that multiple serious accidents are causing major delays on interstates in the Charlotte area. Officials say that I-77 has been shut down in both directions near mile marker 40 after a bad accident occurred in that area earlier this afternoon.

It was also revealed that a six-car accident in Huntersville, NC occurred around rush hour this afternoon. That accident, which happened at the intersection of Huntersville-Concord Road and First Street, is believed to have been caused by icy road conditions. Emergency responders say there is a sharp turn in the road where the accident occurred and that slippery roadways were likely to blame for the pile-up.