Car Wreck

Wrong Way Driver On I-26 In North Carolina Causes Deadly Wreck :: Personal Injury Attorneys and Lawyers in Charlotte, NC

August 27, 2013 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “What if the accident was my fault?”

According to North Carolina law enforcement officials, a retired minister was likely suffering from health problems and was confused at the time of his recent deadly interstate crash outside of Asheville, NC. Officials say that 63-year-old Dennis Tornquist died when his car collided head-on with the car driven by 61-year-old Fred King on I-26 late last month.

The terrible accident took place at 3:25 a.m. and occurred near the Brevard Road exit. Police say that Tornquist, in his Honda Civic, was heading west in the eastbound lanes of I-26 when he collided with King’s eastbound Chevy Tahoe. The force of the head-on collision was intense and it left both men dead at the scene of the accident. Before coming to a stop after hitting King’s vehicle, police say Tornquist grazed a tractor-trailer driven by a Tennessee trucker, causing relatively minor damage.

Tornquist’s family says the man had suffered a series of heart attacks and strokes that caused brain damage and frequently resulted in confusion. Police say they are continuing to investigate the crash and that they are looking into reports of Tornquist’s previous health problems as a potential cause.

The crash stands as a tragic reminder of the dangers of wrong-way driving, a problem that impacts drivers across the country far more often than many people might imagine. As most people would expect, such wrong-way accidents are incredibly deadly; in fact, more than 20 percent of wrong-way crashes are fatal while 50 percent result in serious or debilitating injuries. This is vastly higher than other categories of accidents, especially when compared to .3 percent fatality rate for other highway accidents.

AAA Names Deadliest Counties In North Carolina For Traffic Accidents :: Personal Injury Attorneys and Lawyers in Charlotte, NC

August 15, 2013 | 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?”

AAA of the Carolinas recently released its annual list of the most dangerous counties in the state for drivers. They list the counties according to various categories of accidents, including a general category for all accidents, one for motorcycles and another for tractor-trailer collisions.

According to AAA’s regional director, the most dangerous counties for overall collisions in 2012 were Pitt, New Hanover, Person, Watauga and Union. AAA made clear that these lists often feature repeat offenders, with the top four most dangerous counties in 2012 appearing on the list for each the past three years.

Though AAA notes the dangers to drivers in the counties, the organization says it is difficult to pinpoint exactly why some counties are more dangerous than others. AAA says that New Hanover frequently ranks high on lists of deadly counties likely because of the large number of tourists in the area who are unfamiliar with local roads. Pitt, New Hanover and Watauga all contain college towns, a risk factor that is linked with more dangerous accidents.

Mountain communities frequently make up the list of the most dangerous counties for motorcycle accidents due to twisty roads and steep cliffs. According to AAA, the most dangerous county in North Carolina for motorcycle crashes is Graham County, a place that has topped the lists for other categories in years past. Graham County is home to the “Tail of the Dragon,” a scenic road that is 11 miles long with 318 curves and popular with motorcyclists.

North Carolina Accident Leaves Young Newlyweds Dead And Limo Driver Facing Charges :: Personal Injury Attorneys and Lawyers in Charlotte, NC

August 6, 2013 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

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

A tragic car accident outside of Asheville, North Carolina earlier this week left two newlywed teachers dead. The accident occurred when a hired limousine the couple was riding in lost control and slipped off the road and into a tree.

Police say that 26-year-old Will Reid and 25-year-old Jamie Reid both died in the wreck, with Jamie dying immediately and Will only later succumbing to horrific injuries. Emergency responders say that at the time of the wreck the husband pleaded with paramedics to save his wife who was pregnant with the couple’s first child. Unfortunately, his wife, who was carrying sonogram pictures of their child in her purse, was already dead.

The couple was married at the end of May and was in North Carolina visiting for a friend’s wedding. Police say that they were in a rented limo when the driver, Rodney Koon, somehow left the road and crashed at a high rate of speed into a tree. Police say Koon remains in the hospital following the accident. Though he has not yet been charged with the deadly crash, authorities say he may be depending on the outcome of the ongoing investigation. According to a search warrant filled out by police investigators earlier this week, Koon’s actions are believed to have directly contributed to the accident.

Head-on collisions with a stationary object occur when a moving vehicle hits a stationary object such as a tree, light pole, freeway wall or median, or a non-moving vehicle. Head-on collisions are among the most dangerous type of car accidents given the force of the impact being absorbed by the moving vehicle.

In a head-on accident with a stationary object, the moving vehicle often absorbs the full impact of the accident, as many stationary objects, such as freeway walls, medians or trees are large and do not move or crumple to absorb the impact. All the force of the accident is then transferred to the moving vehicle, increasing the chance for serious injury.

Wet Roads Lead To Death Of Teen Driver From North Carolina :: Personal Injury Attorneys and Lawyers in Charlotte, NC

July 25, 2013 | 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 officers in Gaston County, NC say that a recent deadly accident earlier this month that left a teenage driver dead highlights the dangers that can happen when driving on wet roads. Police say that the teen died on I-85 northbound when his 1991 Mercury hydroplaned while driving in front of a tractor-trailer.

Authorities say after the car hydroplaned, a little after 9 in the morning, it was hit by the tractor-trailer and pushed nearly 100 feet into the interstate median. At that point the tractor-trailer flipped onto its side, injuring the driver of the truck.

Police investigators say the Mercury was severely damaged which resulted in the death of the 18-year-old driver. The driver of the tractor-trailer was transported by ambulance to Caromont Regional Medical Center, but is expected to be fine. Police have said the driver of the semi will not face any criminal charges related to the accident given that it occurred because of the wet roads and subsequent hydroplaning.

Most everyone has heard the term “hydroplaning,” a word which refers to the sliding of a car’s tires across the wet surface of a roadway. This skidding happens when a tire comes into contact with more water than it is able to safely scatter. The water pressure in front of the tire then forces large amounts of water under the wheel which then causes the tire to separate from the surface of the pavement. This tiny layer of water between the tire and the road is enough to cause a dangerous loss of traction and results in loss of ability to steer or brake.

Given the loss of vehicle control, it’s understandable why hydroplaning can be so dangerous. The dangers of hydroplaning are most severe in the first 10 minutes after a light rain. This is the point when the water has mixed with the oil on the surface of the road which creates the most slippery conditions. Vehicles traveling faster than 35 miles per hour at the greatest risk of hydroplaning. Unfortunately, once the slip has begun there’s little a driver can do to stay in control of the direction of the vehicle.

Late Night Charlotte Crash Leaves Two Dead, Eight Injured :: Personal Injury Attorneys and Lawyers in Charlotte, NC

July 23, 2013 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

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.

Two North Carolina Women Die In Head-On Accident :: Personal Injury Attorneys and Lawyers in Charlotte, NC

July 11, 2013 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “What if the accident was my fault?”

Police in North Carolina say two women were killed in a head-on accident in Perquimans County early this weekend. According to news reports, the accident took place early in the morning on Friday.

The names of the two women have not yet been released as authorities say they are still trying to notify their families. According to reports, a man crossed the center lane of Harvey Point Road near the intersection of Burgess Road and slammed into the oncoming car carrying the two women.

The man, whose name has also not yet been released, was taken to the Vidant Medical Center in Greenville for treatment of serious injuries. Police say they are still investigating what may have caused the fatal accident and are considering filing criminal charges against the male driver for failing to maintain control of his vehicle.

Head-on accidents are just what they sound like when the front of a car, truck or motorcycle slams into the front of another motor vehicle. Such accidents are generally serious and have a higher rate of causing fatalities than other crashes, with the exception of rollover accidents. In 2005, only two percent of all car accidents were head-on collisions but they accounted for 10 percent of fatal accidents.

Charlotte, NC Driver Charged After Rush Hour Accident :: Personal Injury Attorneys and Lawyers in Charlotte, NC

June 13, 2013 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

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

A Charlotte woman was injured after a car accident that took place earlier this week during the afternoon rush hour on I-485. The accident, which took place just after 6:30 p.m., happened along the I-485 outer loop between Providence Road and Rea Road.

North Carolina Highway Patrol has said that a 26-year-old driver, Kathleen Thomas was driving along I-485 when she pressed her brakes and lost control of her vehicle. Her car then spun out, crossed the median, clipped one vehicle and was ultimately hit by an oncoming SUV.

Charlotte emergency responders say it took the Fire Department a substantial amount of time to extract the woman from her smashed vehicle. Thomas was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries including a fractured pelvis and leg injuries. The driver of the SUV, who has not yet been identified, was also injured in the accident.

Police say that since the accident they have charged Thomas with reckless driving and DWI. An investigation after the wreck turned up six different medications in Thomas’ car which led to the impaired driving charges.

Though many drivers may not realize it, the problem of impaired driving is not limited to alcohol. Driving under the influence of prescription drugs raises many of the same concerns given that powerful medication can act on the brain to impair a person’s motor skills, reaction time and judgment. Drugged driving is a public health concern because it puts not only the driver at risk, but also passengers and others who share the road.

Terrible Accident Results In Three High School Students Being Airlifted To Hospital :: Personal Injury Attorneys and Lawyers in Charlotte, NC

May 7, 2013 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “I was involved in a motor vehicle accident with injuries. Do I need a lawyer?”

Police with the North Carolina Highway Patrol say that a wreck that took place near Forestview High School has sent three students to the hospital for emergency treatment.

According to troopers, the accident happened on Tuesday at around 3:45 p.m., just after school had let out. A white Mazda was heading south on Union Road near Wilson Farm road when the driver attempted to pass a slower moving car. Unfortunately, the white Mazda miscalculated the distance needed to get around the slower car and ended up crashing head-on into an oncoming Ford pick-up.

Highway Patrol officials say the accident was serious and sent three 16-year-old students of Forestview High School to the hospital. Two of the students were so badly injured that emergency responders called for helicopters to airlift one student to Carolina’s Medical Center in Charlotte and another to Gaston Memorial. Thankfully, police say that the three students appear to be in stable condition, despite the severity of their injuries.

Many people understand that head-on accidents are dangerous, though you may not know just how dangerous. Head-on collisions are serious and have substantially higher fatality rates than other kinds of crashes, with the notable exception of rollovers. In 2005, two percent of crashes were head-on collisions, but these accounted for 10 percent of all fatal accidents. Head-on crashes more frequently result in death because of their abrupt nature; stopping forward movement so suddenly.

No Headlights At Night Lead To Accident in North Carolina :: Car Wreck Attorneys in Charlotte, North Carolina

February 22, 2013 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

A terrible accident took place in Newport, North Carolina a few weeks ago that resulted in several people being taken to the hospital for treatment of their injuries. The two vehicle crash took place early one evening and is being blamed on one driver’s failure to turn on her headlights.

Police say they have charged the one driver with failure to burn her headlights and to properly inflate her tires. The woman was driving her car, an older model Pontiac, west on Highway 70 in Newport, NC with only her parking lights on. It was then that a van making a left turn onto Highway 70 crashed into the Pontiac. Five people were taken to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, while emergency responders at the scene treated a sixth person.

In a normal accident that unfolds in this way, many might think that the car that turned left onto Highway 70 and thus into the path of the Pontiac would be at fault since it did not respect the right of way of the oncoming vehicle. However, the driver of the Pontiac did not have her headlights on which meant she is being held liable for the terrible accident.

North Carolina General Statutes § 20-131 is very clear on the requirement for drivers to keep their headlights on. The language of the law reads:

The headlamps of motor vehicles shall be so constructed, arranged, and adjusted that, except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, they will at all times mentioned in G.S. 20 129, and under normal atmospheric conditions and on a level road, produce a driving light sufficient to render clearly discernible a person 200 feet ahead.

Injured NASCAR Fans Look For Legal Representation :: Personal Injury Lawyers and Attorneys in Charlotte, North Carolina

February 19, 2013 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Several of the fans injured in the recent NASCAR Nationwide Race in Dayton have retained lawyers to ensure that they are compensated for the injuries they sustained in the fiery accident.

The crash took place during the February 23rd Nationwide Series race at Daytona. At least 28 people were injured when a section of Kyle Larson’s car went airborne and overshot the catch fence designed to protect spectators from harm. Flaming debris then went flying into the front-stretch stands during the last lap of the race; sending a few dozen people to the hospital for treatment.

Some injuries were relatively minor, with only scrapes and small cuts. Others were much more serious, so serious in fact that two people remain in the Daytona Beach Halifax Health Hospital today, weeks after the crash. The two remaining patients were injured after being hit by Kyle Larson’s tire and each suffered what were initially life-threatening injuries.

One man from North Carolina was injured in the NASCAR crash. The man, from Angier, NC, was taken to a Daytona hospital to receive medical after suffering from cuts to his face and body. The cuts were deep enough that he had to receive 12 stitches in his head. He’s now back home recovering from his wounds.

Some legal experts interviewed by USA Today are saying that NASCAR could face liability for the accident, despite issuing tickets that say spectators assume the risk of any injuries. Some have said that a strong case could be made that the organization could have done more to prevent these injuries from occurring by using a stronger fence or better assembling it to hold up to the force of a crash.