Brain Injury Attorney Blog

Police suspect an arsonist may have started a smokey Florida brush fire that blinded drivers on Interstate 75 south of Gainesville, turning the highway into a death trap late Saturday night and into Sunday morning as drivers of cars and tractor trailers smashed into each other. 10 people were killed and 18 were injured; many remain in the hospital. "If it were arson, and we could determine who caused the fire, it would be manslaughter," Art Forgy of the Alachua County Sheriff's department said. Officials believe that this fire was intentionally set because there had been no reports of controlled burns or lightning strikes in the area.

Some vehicles involved in this crash caught on fire. According to authorities, one of the first vehicles to go up in flames was a FedEx truck. The vehicles were so mangled and burned that it took investigators more than 24 hours to identify the dead.

Only daylight would reveal the scope of the tragedy. For the majority of Sunday, traffic had to be diverted around the scene as authorities worked to recover the dead and try to figure out how the first wreck happened. The highways had been closed for a while before the crashes due to low visibility but were reopened. Now in the aftermath, many wonder why.

"We were aware that we had some bad conditions there. We were monitoring it, but we don't have a crystal ball. You know, as far as what we could have done, we took a proactive stance and you know we're always open to doing things better," a Florida State Trooper said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, car crashes are the leading cause of death among those age 5-34 in the United States. If you are injured in a car crash, you may want to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney in your area. The personal injury lawyer will help you recover damages related to your accident.

Call one of the Myrtle Beach personal injury lawyers at The Mace Firm to schedule your free consultation.

Continue reading "Florida Crash Kills 10" »

Two brothers died Friday night when their Chevrolet Corvette ran into the side of a log truck trailer being backed across the road. The car accident happened around 9:45pm on Friday. South Carolina Highway Patrol reported that a 2011 Corvette slammed into a log truck that was backing into a driveway. Both men died on the scene from blunt force trauma. The driver of the log truck was not injured in the crash.

In Charleston County, one person was killed Saturday night after a motorcycle accident. According to witnesses at the scene, the motorcycle was seen as it ran off the right side of the road and the operator flipped off the bike. A second person sustained serious injuries as a result of this crash.

Despite significant safety improvements in automobile and in the design of roads, car accidents remain quite common. It is likely that any given person will be involved in at least one serious automobile accident during his or her lifetime. Not every car accident will result in litigation. Where nobody is injured or injuries are minor, it may be possible to resolve all claims for medical care and property damage directly with the drivers' car insurance companies. The greater the damage or injury that results from a car accident, the more likely it is that a lawsuit will follow.

Most automobile accident litigation involves two vehicles, with a driver or passenger from the first vehicle claiming that the driver of the second vehicle caused the accident through negligent driving. Sometimes the litigation will involve the driver and passenger of a single vehicle, with the passenger claiming injury as a result of the driver's negligence.

If you or someone you now has been injured in a car crash, you may want to speak with an experienced injury lawyer in your area. Call one of the Myrtle Beach injury lawyers at The Mace Firm to schedule your free consultation.

Continue reading "Georgetown County Crash" »

The cost of all the fender benders, medevacs, lawsuits and lives lost on the nation's most conjested roads has a very high price tag--$7.4 billion per year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the D.C. area recorded 350 traffic deaths and 45,566 injuries in 2009. If any good news can be found in this latest attempt to quantify the damage done to lives and property, it might be that, crashes cost less in this area than they do nationwide. This is apparently because the slow-speed car accidents of cars caught in congestion do less damage and cause fewer deaths and injuries than those that occur at highway speeds.

To come to their monetary conclusions, researchers used highly sophisticated federal guidelines that place value on a lost life, lost wages, time lost at work, effect on the quality of life and other factors. But the cost of congestion to Washington drivers was ranked fourth highest in the nation at almost $3.9 billion a year in the Texas Transportation Institute’s annual report for 2011. That study — which said Washington had the worst congestion in the United States — put the annual additional cost of commuting in rush hour here at $1,495. The institute, which is based at Texas A&M University, in College Station, found that Washington drivers were spending more than three days a year caught in traffic! Additionally, the Census Bureau confirmed the grip of gridlock on the region, determining that Maryland drivers, thousands of whom drive to work in D.C. or Virginia, have the longest average commute in the nation.

Here in South Carolina, the total number of traffic fatalities has dropped since 2005. Although this is great news, there are still many dangers on South Carolina roads and highways. When you're injured in a car crash, insurance companies typically look first to how much money has been spent and/or lost by the injured person when determining recovery. You may expect to recover any money spent or lost as a result of your injury. There are damages, however, that are harder to place a dollar value on. This includes pain and suffering or mental anguish. An insurance company may use a formula to ascertain what an appropriate damage amount might be for these types of claims. Beyond the damages suffered, the degree of fault is probably the most important factor in determining how much you may finally recover for your injury. In most cases, both you and the insurance company will know (by the circumstances surrounding the accident) the level of fault for both parties.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a car crash, you may need to speak with a personal injury lawyer in your area. The Myrtle Beach personal injury lawyers at The Mace Firm are ready to speak with you about your accident. Our personal injury lawyers in Myrtle Beach are prepared to speak with you today; call to schedule your free consultation.

Continue reading "Over $7 Billion Per Year On D.C. Crashes" »

A Longs motorcycle driver died early Wednesday after he lost control and crashed while being chased by an Horry County police officer, according to authorities. Hartford Dwayne Holmes, 49, of Longs, was pronounced dead at 1 a.m. from internal injuries while being treated in the emergency room of Loris Community Hospital, Horry County Coroner Robert Edge said. An autopsy was performed Wednesday morning and showed Holmes suffered massive trauma.

The report says that Horry County police had been at a traffic stop in an unrelated case on S.C. 9 Bypass near Loris. An officer was leaving that unrelated incident when he noticed a motorcycle speeding. The officer radioed another officer that the motorcycle passed him going over 100 mph on S.C. 9. The officer wrote that he could see the headlight of the motorcycle quickly approaching, going west of S.C. 9. The officer noted the motorcyclist drove by him at a high rate of speed.

The report states that he pulled out behind the motorcycle and caught up with the driver, who was going over 100 mph. The officer said by the sound of the motorcycle, the driver did not attempt to slow down. For unknown reasons, the motorcycle left the road and crashed into a ditch and his helmet came off as he landed.

Motorists should be very cautious when driving in Myrtle Beach because there are so many motorcyclists on the road. Always check blind spots when passing motorcycles and other vehicles. "Most motorcycle deaths in South Carolina result from failure to yield on the part of either the motorcyclist or vehicle. The collision is often complicated by the motorcyclist’s speed and/or failure to use a helmet." Although this particular accident happened because of the motorcyclist's own negligence, it is still important to be aware of motorcyclists on the road.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a motorcycle accident, call one of the injury lawyers at The Mace Firm for a free consultation. Our experienced personal injury lawyer in Myrtle Beach is ready to talk with anyone about their case.

Continue reading "Motorcyclist Killed" »

You may believe that older drivers pose a greater risk to their grandchildren when driving as opposed to driving with their younger parents. Recent studies have revealed that it is actually safer for children to be in the car with their grandparents instead of their parents. That’s the surprising conclusion of research published today in the journal Pediatrics. The research found that children involved in car crashes with grandparent drivers had half the risk of being injured as kids riding with their parents. Grandparents made up 9.5% of drivers in crashes involving kids between 2003 and 2007, but they were only associated with 6.6% of injuries. In addition, grandparents were just as safe as parents when it came to crash type and severity.

Statistics have shown that only about .7% of kids riding with grandparents were hurt, compared with 1.05% of kids riding with parents, a reduction of risk of about 33%. That rose to 50% when factors such as age, seatbelt and carseat use and crash characteristics were considered. Although these findings are positive, accidents can happen no matter who is behind the wheel of the vehice. If you or someone close to you is injured in a car crash, you may need to consult with a good personal injury lawyer in your area.

Some parents can't even make good choices behind the wheel. For instance, a New York mother trusted her sister-in-law with her three daughters when they went on a camping trip. On their way home from the trip, the sister-in-law turned onto a highway going the wrong way, killing all people involved in the accident except a 5-year-old boy. The woman was drunk and high on marijuana at the time of the accident. The New York mother felt confident that her children would be safe that weekend, but instead she lost all three of her daughters because their aunt made a bad decision to drive under the influence.

Generally, more people are on the road during the summer months, which makes the chance of being involved in a car crash increase. Not only are more families driving to their vacation destinations, but more people are going out to bars or going to outdoor parties at their friend's houses. Most of these summer activities involve the consumption of alcohol. Some party-goers choose to indulge in alcoholic beverages and then drive to their next destination, whether it be another party or bar, or their home. This is when danger comes into play.

There are many driving under the influence arrests reported every day. But the DUI cases that involve the injury or death of another person are the ones that are very serious. Some drunk drivers who survive a car accident don't even become aware of the fact that they have killed someone until they are taken to jail and told by the arresting officers. Even worse, some people who drive under the influence kill everyone involved in the crash, including themselves. If you or your family has lost a loved one due to a DUI car crash, you will need to consult with a good personal injury lawyer to help you through such a difficult time.

Our Myrtle Beach wrongful death lawyer is ready to speak with you about your case. Call The Mace Firm for a free consultation.

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Continue reading "Driving News" »

A Ft. Bragg soldier is in serious condition today after being thrown 20 feet from his motorcycle. According to the police report, a vehicle driven by a 15 year old, unlicensed girl attempted to make a left-hand turn into a gas station. The girl turned her vehicle in front of a motorcycle, which caused the driver of the motorcyle to be thrown 20 feet from the point of impact.

As other motorists tried to avoid the soldier in the road, a five-car pile-up followed the initial car accident. The unlicensed girl and her 10 year old sister were not injured in the accident. It is not known at this time whether the driver of the vehicle will face criminal charges.

Since the motorcyclist was seriously injured due to the accident, he may benefit from speaking with an experienced personal injury lawyer in the area. If you or someone you know has been injured in an automobile or motorcyle accident, call one of the Myrtle Beach personal injury lawyers at The Mace Firm for a free consultation.

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Over the Memorial Day weekend, a local man was charged with reckless driving and three counts of hit and run. According to the police report, the man was involved in a hit and run incident which pinned a pedestrian between a vehicle and a building along Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach.

After the car accident occured, officers interviewed witnesses and learned that a man driving a Chevrolet Caprice was speeding in the northbound lanes of Ocean Boulevard. The vehicle then struck another Caprice. The vehicle then hit a convertible car in front of the Blue Bay Resort and the crash caused that vehicle to hit a pole near the motel and pin a pedestrian between the car and building. The man who initially caused the automobile accident remains in jail without bond.

This summer, pedestrians and drivers in the Myrtle Beach area should take extra caution. As a pedestrian, remember to always cross the street at a crosswalk only when the area is clear of on-coming traffic. Drivers should be aware of pedestrians crossing the roads in busy areas of Myrtle Beach like Ocean Boulevard and Route 17 Business.

If your or someone you know is injured in a car accident, please call one of the South Carolina personal injury attorneys at The Mace Firm.

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Over the weekend in Horry County, there were four fatal car crashes. All of the crashes happened between 1 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday, April 23 is now "one of the deadliest days on Horry County roads in recent memory." One of these fatalities involved a pedestrian. The others involve two motorcycle-related deaths and one death involving a head-on collision. According to TheSunNews.com, "Saturday's first crash happened around 1 a.m., when a 24-year-old motorcyclist lost control of his bike while being pursued by Horry County police officers. An hour later, a pedestrian wearing dark clothing and walking in the street near the intersection of S.C. 31 and S.C. 9 in Little River was killed after being struck by a Chevrolet pickup. At 6:50 a.m., a third accident at the intersection of S.C. 707 and Bay Road in Myrtle Beach happened after a Chevrolet pickup traveling south on 707 crossed the center line and struck a minivan head-on. In the afternoon, a Mullins man was killed while riding his motorcycle with family along S.C. 9."

In Lexington County, a car crash on Interstate 77 sent seven people to the hospital today. According to TheSunNews.com, "The South Carolina Highway Patrol says the 35-car pileup began when one driver lost control of a car and other vehicles were unable to stop in time. Troopers say one tractor trailer jacknifed, and another tractor trailer collided with it. At least one of the rigs then caught fire. At least one other vehicle also burned."

If you or someone you know has been killed or injured in a car crash, please call one of the Myrtle Beach personal injury attorneys at The Mace Firm.

Last week, three tractor trailers collided on Interstate 77. Although there were no serious injuries reported from this incident, South Carolina Highway Patrol had to shut down both northbound lanes to clear the scene. Another truck accident occured yesterday afternoon when a 19-year-old student from Clover High School was driving home from school when he crashed into a tanker truck on SC 55 in York County. The student's car was traveling eastbound when it collided with a commercial septic tanker traveling westbound. The student was attempting a left turn onto a road less than a mile from school when the crash happened. Fortunately, there were no passengers in either vehicle and the tank driver was unharmed.

There were two other accidents reported in the same area. One accident involved was a two-car crash and the other was a three-car crash. In less than a year, there have been three fatal crashes on SC 55. This is the thrid deadly crash on SC 55 in the past month.

Many roads that we drive on everyday can become very dangerous because people may think that its okay to speed and drive recklessly. They never expect that one bad decision on the road may lead to a car crash or a fatality.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a car acccident, give one of the South Carolina personal injury lawyers at The Mace Firm a call today.

Continue reading "Truck Crashes in SC" »

In 2005, a man was killed in a truck accident caused by a drunk driver. On December 6, 2010, a federal judge awarded $15 million dollars including $6.3 million in punitive damages to the family of the man who was killed in this crash. The truck driver had not only been drinking, but he had been driving longer hours than federal regulations permit. To make matters worse, the trucking company changed the driving logs to conceal their violation of the federal trucking law. Then, if that was not bad enough, they began selling assets and hiding property shortly after the fatal truck accident.

In February, the trucking company had not filed one motion or pleading regarding the complaint, and the federal judge awarded a default judgment against the company. According to the court documents, the company did not appear at any other hearings including the damages hearing in July.

Having a loved one pass away from natural causes is sad and hurtful enough, but to have someone you love or care about killed due to someone else's negligence is even worse. The Mace Firm has attorneys in South Carolina who have dealt with wrongful death cases and know that these are difficult times for the family members who are left behind. If you or your family have been hurt in a car crash please call to schedule a free consultation with one of our Myrtle Beach wrongful death attorneys.

Continue reading "$15 Million Dollar Verdict in Fatal DWI Crash" »

You have just been in a car crash and your car is totaled or atleast you cannot drive away from the automobile accident and the other driver is at fault. What are you supposed to do about the property damage?

1. Make sure you take pictures of all of the damage to your vehicle. If you can get pictures of the damage to the other car, please do. Then, get a business card from the towing company that takes your car so that you know how to find your car.

2. Contact the insurance company of the at fault driver. If this driver has insurance, it will be listed on the FR-10 report you receive from the investigating officer. If the driver does not have insurance you may need to contact your insurance company. If your car is not drivable, let the insurance company know that you will need a rental. Do not speak to either insurance company about how the car wreck occured or your injuries, speak only about the property damage.

3. If the at fault driver disputes his liability, his insurance company is also going to dispute their liability. You will need to get the complete accident report. You can get this report from the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles.

4. When figuring out how much your car is worth, you can refer to Autotrader.com, NADAguides.com, Kelley Blue Book, and Edmunds.com. Find a car similar to yours within a 100 mile radius. This number will be based on mileage, year, and overall condition. You can print this information and send it to the adjuster if the offer they make is lower than you expect.

5. There are generally 2 claims that come from a car crash, the property damage claim and the personal injury claim. Make sure you are only settling the property damage claim. Do not speak with anyone or sign anything that refers to the personal injury claim, that is your personal injury attorneys job.

6. Should the at fault driver's insurance company take too long to pay, if you have property damage coverage on your policy, file a claim with your insurance company and you will be reimbursed for the deductible once the at fault driver's policy finally pays.

7. Call The Mace Firm to assist you with your personal injury claim.

If you or someone you know has been in a car accident, please call The Mace Firm to schedule a free consultation to speak with a car accident attorney regarding your injuries.

Continue reading "Automobile Property Damage" »

On the evening of November 10, 2010, a deadly crash claimed the life of Randy Charles Pegram from Greensboro, North Carolina. The South Carolina Highway Patrol stated that Mr. Pegram was driving a 1995 Ford Explorer when he ran off of the road and overcorrected, once back on the road the vehicle overturned in the median. According to the Horry County Deputy Cooner, Mr. Pegram died at the scene of the car crash.

If you or someone you know has been injured in an automobile accident, please call The Mace Firm to schedule a free consultation with one of our personal injury attorneys. The Mace Firm has attorneys who are licensed in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and New York.

Continue reading "Deadly Crash in Loris" »

There are several ways to help bolster your insurance settlement amount while at the scene of the car accident. This can help pay for your property damage, injuries, medical bills and any other expense incurred due to the automobile crash. You will need to minimize the blame that is placed on you for the crash. The less responsible you are for the crash, the more money you can get for your claim.

The first thing to remember is to remain calm and make sure no one has any serious injuries. If someone needs help, make sure they get the help they need. Next, call the police to let them know that you have been involved in a car accident. The police will arrive and get all of the pertinent information to file your claim including everyone's car insurance and contact information. They will also write a report stating how the car crash happened. While waiting on the police to arrive, check to see if there are any witnesses to the car crash. If there are, get their contact information and make sure they talk to the police to let them know what they saw. Make sure you take pictures of property damage of all cars involved, your injuries, any skid marks and any other damage caused by the automobile accident. Next, notify your insurance company only that you have been in a car wreck.

The next step is to call an experienced car accident attorney at The Mace Firm to schedule a free consultation. The attorneys at The Mace Firm are licensed in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and New York and will assist you through the lengthy process of filing a claim with the insurance companies.

The driver, Diane Shuler, was driving her van around 85 mph and on the wrong side of the roadway when she collided with an SUV. Shuler killed herself, her daughter, three nieces and three men in the SUV. The only survivor was her 5 year old son. The case drew national attention because it was discovered that this woman had consumed alcohol and marijuana prior to driving the van with all the children. This type fatal car accident is not uncommon in South Carolina. Danny Shuler, the surviving husband of Diane, has been the center of attention for defending his wife after the accident. There is are many arguments from victims of these cases that they are not really accidents. A tire did not just blow out and cause this accident, Diane did not have a seizure, a child in the car did not grab the wheel. Family members of victims see a person commit an act that was preventable at many different levels. Not drinking and driving is a big issue that could have been avoided by the simple act of not driving or not drinking. DUI related deaths are still occurring on a daily basis in South Carolina. Our Myrtle Beach Injury Attorneys have represented many families who have been victims of such accidents. The DUI laws of South Carolina were some of the weakest in the Nation several years ago. Recently, the South Carolina Legislator amended the DUI statue to increase the penalties for a conviction.
Representing a family after the loss of someone close is not always easy for the attorney or law firm support staff. We end up becoming close friends with our clients during the pendency of the case. The first days, weeks and month are the most difficult to handle for family. Annual holidays are always difficult. We have seen that most families recover best through activity or work. The worst times are when people are alone or when things are very calm. Our lawyers in Myrtle Beach understand the process and can help with the representation of the family during a lawsuit.

Continue reading "Fatal Crash Investigation Concluded in New York" »

Seven years after a fatal car crash in Palm Beach County, a jury awards the family of 16 year oldKaitlin Kazanjian $6 million dollars from Carlos Pozo who crashed the car. Carlos was driving 100 m.p.h through a neighborhood in PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, when he lost control of the car and crashed into a tree. He left with only a few minor injuries, and the Karzanjian's daughter was killed.

If you or someone you know has been injured or killed in a car crash, please call The Mace Firm to schedule a free consultation. It is important to speak with an experienced attorney when involved in an automobile accident. Dealing with insurance companies can be very stressful, our attorneys at The Mace Firm are experienced and ready to assist you through the process.

Continue reading "Jury Awards Damages after Fatal Auto Crash" »

Driver distraction is one of the leading causes of automobile accidents. Text messaging is one of the leading distractions to drivers today. Many auto accidents have been linked to text messaging and cell phone use. Studies show that your reaction time drops significantly while texting and you are six times more likely to crash while texting.

Texting while driving is not only very dangerous, but also negligent. When a car crash has been caused by someone who is text messaging while driving, there may be grounds for a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. Russell Mace, who is a Myrtle Beach attorney, is extremely skilled in handling these types of cases. If you or someone you know has been hurt in such an accident, please contact The Mace Firm in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to schedule a free consultation.

Continue reading "Texting While Driving" »

There was a fatal car crash near Forestbrook Road on Tuesday the 13th of April. The crash involved a vehicle that was being pursued by police. It then proceeded to veer onto the wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic. Subsequently one passenger in the getaway vehicle died and the driver was treated in hospital. The driver of the vehicle that was hit only had minor injuries, but had his car destroyed. He was very lucky not to have been in a much worse condition, and thanks to driving an SUV, is still alive today.

The driver of this vehicle was not in the wrong and has possible cause for civil litigation. He would need to consult a good civil lawyer that has vast experience with car crashes. Car accident litigation can be difficult, as you will have to deal with insurance companies, and an experienced attorney can make all the difference. There are many cases like this, with people being seriously injured or even killed from a car accident. There are very few experienced Myrtle Beach attorneys capable of handling this. Russell Mace is one such attorney that has years of experience in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

Continue reading "Car Crash In Myrtle Beach" »