Brain Injury Attorney Blog

Approximately 2,096 children in the United States, ages 14 and under, die from accidental injuries in the home each year and 3 million kids are treated in emergency rooms for accidental injuries that occurr at home. In 2004, approximately 2,300 children ages 14 and under died from unintentional injuries that occurred in the home and nearly 80 percent of these deaths were among children ages four and under. Most fatal injuries at home are caused by malfunctioning childrens toys, fire, suffocation, drowning, choking, falls, poisoning or firearms discharged unintentionally. If your child is injured due to a malfunctioning product, you may be able to file a personal injury claim.

Parents are urged to check homes for basic safety precautions. It is obvious that children need active supervision, but when you child-proof your home, you are provided with extra protection and peace of mind. The first step in child-proofing your home is to explore every room at your child's eye level. You should get down on your hands and knees to see how many small objects you can pick up. In addition to this, keep all cleaning products, medications, alcohol and firearms out of reach of your child.

Always supervise children while they’re in the bathroom. Set your water heater at 120 degrees and test the bathwater with your wrist or elbow before putting your child in it. Keep toilet lids closed and locked, and doors to bathrooms and laundry rooms closed. When not in use, put razors, curling irons and hair dryers out of reach. Never leave young children alone in the bathtub; a child can drown in a matter of seconds.

Ensure your baby has a safe sleep environment. Minimize your baby’s risks of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) by following the A,B,C's of safe sleep. Always place your baby alone, on his or her back, in a crib. Leave blankets, stuffed animals, and other soft objects or bedding out of the crib. Do NOT use sleep positioning devices. Make sure you discuss safe sleep practices with anyone who provides care for your child before the first day of care.

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As a parent you want to keep your baby safe. By using the right car seat the right way on every ride, you can help keep your baby safe on the way. For the past 6 years, Target stores have been unknowingly selling defective child booster seats. The booster seat, made by Circo, has a defective restraint buckle that can open unexpectedly that allows the child to fall from the chair.

If a child becomes unrestrained by their car seat, injuries are likely to occur, especially if you cannot pull your vehicle over fast enough to address the problem. Also, imagine if you thought your child was secure in his car seat, but he isn't. Car seats, just like seat belts, save lives. When you strap your child in their seat, you expect them to be safe in case you are involved in a minor car accident.

Although a parent trusts the booster seat that their child sits in while at the dinner table or anywhere else, they must put even more trust into the safety seat their child sits in while in a moving vehicle. Child seat manufacturers now provide expiration dates for their seats. These expiration dates are a way for the manufacturer to provide guidance as to the expected useful life of the seat. Every car seat has an expiration date. Generally, the expiration date is six years from the manufacture date. Many have the expiration date stamped on the seat. You may also contact the manufacturer of your specific seat to find out what its expiration date is. As another safety precaution, you should never buy a used car seat if you do not know its full history. Second, never use a car seat that has been in a crash. Additionally, parents should avoid seats sold at flea markets or yard sales or online. Do not use any products that did not come from the manufacturer in or with the car seat because car seat fabrics meet strict fire safety codes. Even toys that are made to hang from car seats for the child to play with can cause an injury if involved in a car crash.

Even new child safety seats have the possibility of not working correctly. Recalls can occur due to harness straps, which keep the child in the seat, or defective latches that keep the safety seat attached to the vehicle itself. Both of these types of defects result in the child being at an increased risk of injury or death in the event of a car crash. If your child was injured by a defective child booster seat, you may benefit from a consultation with a personal injury attorney in your area.

Being mindful of the instructions that come with your new car seat will help you identify problems or defects. If you notice your car seat is not working properly, it is best to return it for a new car seat or contact the manufacturer. If you do not notice a defective part on your car seat and your child is injured or killed as a result, you will need to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer to help you with your claim. Call one of the Myrtle Beach personal injury lawyers for a free consultation.

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Negligence is a failure to exercise the care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise under the same circumstances. Negligence is the most common tort law and involves injuries caused by carelessness, not intentional harm. If someone is negligent and causes harm to a person, place, or thing he/she may have to pay any damages resulting from the injury caused by his/her carelessness. Our good Myrtle Beach injury lawyers have been handling negligence claims for years.

Examples of some negligence claims are:

1. Slip and fall (when a person slips and falls on someone else's property);
2. Serving alcohol to a minor or someone who is already intoxicated who then harms another person;
3. Driving too fast for conditions and injuring someone in the process;
4. Car accidents; and
5. Medical Malpractice.

Although there are many ways to prove that negligence happened you will need a personal injury lawyer to help you build the strongest case. The attorney will have to prove that the defendant had a duty of care, that the defendant breached that duty, that the defendant's breach of duty directly led to the plaintiff's injuries, and if these three elements are proven, the plaintiff will need to prove the damages.

Not only can the plaintiff ask for his/her medical bills, property damage and any lost wages, he/she can also ask for damages for pain and suffering and possibly mental anguish. As you can see proving negligence can be very difficult. Our Myrtle Beach personal injury lawyers are experienced in handling these types of cases and are here to help you or a loved one who has been injured by someone who has been negligent. Please call The Mace Firm to schedule a free consultation.

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The civil court system allows victims of DUI injury to recover financial compensation for the injuries and other damages that may be caused by a drunk driver. The Myrtle Beach injury lawyers at The Mace Firm can pursue a DUI injury claim and help you recover compensation for your injuries, medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage.

If you were injured by a drunk driver and they were legally intoxicated, we can also ask for punitive damages. Punitive damages is monetary compensation in excess of actual damages and is awarded by a court against a defendant and is used as a deterrent or punishment. These types of damages can notably increase a settlement amount.

Additionally, if the the defendant driver was noticeably drunk and was served at an establishment that sells alcohol, there is another type of lawsuit in addition to the claim against the defendant driver that can be filed which is called a dram shop law suit. Dram shop laws establish the liability of the establishment that sold the alcohol to the defendant driver.

Our Myrtle Beach injury lawyers are here to assist you with your DUI injury claims so that you can concentrate on nursing yourself back to health. We will help you recover the maximum amount of compensation. Please call our office to schedule a free consultation.

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A Charleston woman's legs were burned severely by a firepot that malfunctioned causing it to shoot a fire ball toward the lower half of her body. The firepot, produced by Napa Home and Garden, is comprised of a ceramic pot with a stainless steel cup which holds a flammable gel. The gel is lit on fire and is supposed to repell insects to make outdoor time more enjoyable.

According to The Post and Courier, when the woman's husband lit the gel in the firepot on their back porch, the flame leaped several feet from the pot to where she was sitting on a love seat. Her husband jumped to her aid, wrapping his arms around her to smother the flames. He was burned in the process.

This particular firepot has also been reported on eight different occasions to have exploded or burned someone. Napa Home and Garden is standing behind their product and its warning labels, but consumers report the warning lables to be insufficient.

When a product malfunctions and causes an injury, whether it is serious or not, you may want to consult with a personal injury lawyer in your area. Our Myrtle Beach injury lawyer is experienced in cases where minor or serious injuries are involved. Call one of The Mace Firm's personal injury lawyers today for a free consultation.

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Bike Week has officially started in Myrtle Beach. Bikers from all over the US have flocked to the area to cruise the streets on their motorcycles. Since the Myrtle Beach helmet law was overturned, some bikers choose to forego their helmets and let their hair blow in the breeze. There are plenty of risks involved when bikers choose to live on the wild side. It seems like every year, someone gets injured or killed during bike week, and it isn't always bikers.

In fact, a man is filing a personal injury lawsuit against Horry County and the town of Atlantic Beach because the county failed to maintain control of public roads during the bike rally in 2006. An Atlantic Beach resident called 911 to get his wife medical help and she ended up dying on the way to the hospital. The suit states, "That as a direct result of the defendant’s (Atlantic Beach and Horry County) lack of crowd and traffic control, the plaintiff failed to receive emergency medical treatment in a timely fashion thus causing her to undergo much physical pain and suffering.”

Motorists should be very cautious when driving during the bike rally. Always check blind spots when passing motorcycles and other vehicles. According to SCNow.com, "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."

If you or someone you know is injured or killed in a motorcycle accident, please call one of the Myrtle Beach personal injury attorneys at The Mace Firm.

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Thinking about heading to Disney World with the family this summer? One family who went last summer filed a personal injury lawsuit against the theme park because their 4-year-old's face and lips were burned by hot nacho cheese sauce. According to the complaint, the park failed to regulate and monitor the temperature of the cheese, which resulted in the child's burns.

In fact, a lot of personal injury lawsuits against theme parks have nothing to do with the parks signiture attractions such as roller coasters and other rides. The most common lawsuit is the simple slip and fall. Here are a couple examples: a man from Virginia sued Disney World for food poisoning which caused him to gag so hard that he ruptured his esophagus. Also, a woman from Hawaii sued Busch Gardens because she allegedly contracted a rare blood disease when a vulture from a trained-bird show clawed at her legs.

If you or someone you know is injured at an amusement park, please call one of the Florida personal injury attorneys at The Mace Firm.

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This week, a woman who works for the Dallas Cowboys filed a personal injury lawsuit over the 2009 collapse of one of the team's practice facilities. Apparently, the woman suffered injuries when the building collapsed during a wind storm in May 2009. The collapse of the practice facility also caused serious injuries to many other Cowboys personnel. One person was even paralyzed from the waist down due to the incident.

Even spectators can be injured at sporting events. Imagine attending a hockey game and being injured by the puck. Or think about the chances of going to a baseball game and being hit by a foul ball. One study found that this happens at a rate of about 35 injuries per million spectator visits. Injuries can happen at any type of sporting event, but research has shown that they are most common at baseball and hockey games.

If you or someone you know is injured while attending or working any type of sporting event, call one of the personal injury attorneys at The Mace Firm.

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As the weather heats up, you and your family may choose to cool off in a swimming pool. Whether the pool belongs to you or a neighbor or friend, you must always be extra cautious when there are children around. Children must always be supervised while swimming to avoid any accidents.

Last month, a young boy was seriously injured in a swimming pool. A family member found the boy in the pool as he nearly drowned to death. Fortunately, the child was awake and breathing by the time the emergency crew arrived. Others arent so lucky. In West Virginia, a 19-month-old girl died after falling into a private pool one evening.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that fatal drowning is the "second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14 years old." Some major risk factors for the drownings include lack of barriers and supervision, age and recreation in natural water settings, alcohol use and seizure disorders. Drowning can be prevented by supervision, learning CPR and learning how to swim.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a pool, you will need to hire one of the Myrtle Beach personal injury attorneys at The Mace Firm.

This weekend in Myrtle Beach, a local children's store is helping the community by ensuring the proper placement of child safety seats in vehicles. Safety seats aren't just for babies; depending on the child's height and weight, they may require a child safety seat for the most part of their early lives. According to SCNow.com, "Child car seats are often used incorrectly. The American Academy of Pediatrics and The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released new recommendations that children should stay rear facing until the age of two, instead of one, and children should remain in a belt-positioning booster seat until the child reaches 4 feet 9 inches."

Child car seats must be installed properly to keep the child safe during a car crash. "One study found that 72% of nearly 3,500 observed car and booster seats were misused in a way that could be expected to increase a child’s risk of injury during a crash. Experts say child safety seats reduce the risk of death in passenger cars by 71% for infants, and by 54% for toddlers ages 1 to 4 years." Each state in the U.S. has laws defining the age at which children must be restrained by a safety seat. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that, in South Carolina, children aged 5 years or younger must be in a restraint or booster seat. South Carolina also has one of the highest fines in the country for not obeying this law; the maximum fine is $150.

If you're unsure about a safety seat for your child, the NHTSA recommends that you 1) select a car seat based on your child's age, height and weight, 2) keep your child in the proper car seat as long as possible, and 3) keep all children under the age of 13 in the back seat of your vehicle. There are also certified technicians in your area that can inspect your car seat installation at no charge. Once you purchase a child seat, you can even have it registered so you will be notified of defects and recalls.

If you or your child is injured in a car accident, you will need to hire a personal injury lawyer. If this accident occurs in South Carolina, you can rely on a Myrtle Beach personal injury attorney at The Mace Firm.

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With all the prescription medications on the market, it can be tough to find one that really works best for your medical condition. To make matters even more difficult, there are hidden dangers behind newly introduced prescription drugs. You and your doctor may not trust new drugs because they have not been on the market or given to the public so that side effects can be monitored. If your doctor prescribes you a drug that is new to the market, potential side effects may not have been observed yet. If the medication is released to the public and ends up causing terrible side effects, a recall may take place.

Prescription drug recalls are classified into three types, Class I, Class II and Class III. According to PrescriptionDrugRecall.com, "Class I pertains to recalls for unsafe or defective products that cause serious health problems or death. Class II deals with recalls for products that might cause a temporary health problem and have a low risk of creating a serious problem. Class III involves recalls for products that violate FDA labeling or manufacturing regulations. Examples include a container defect, wrong color, or odd taste." The website also reports that "in typical cases, prescription drug recalls are voluntarily handled by the drug manufacturers. When companies realize their products are defective or dangerous, they issue recalls on their own. If the FDA gets involved, it can request a recall, which companies usually follow. This is the fastest way to remove a harmful drug from the market."

What if you have been prescribed a drug that gets recalled? You will need to contact your doctor's office to inform them of the recall. You will also need to monitor your particular side effects to make sure you do not need serious medical attention.

If you or someone you know has suffered permanant injuries or death from taking a medication that gets recalled, you may need to find a personal injury attorney. If you need to talk with someone about your case, please contact one of the Myrtle Beach personal injury attorneys at The Mace Firm.

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As we all know, once the temperature starts to increase in the South, so does the traffic. It becomes nearly impossible to get anywhere quickly with all of the vacationers on the roads. It is safe to assume that with the increase in traffic, there will likely be an increase in auto accidents in South Carolina. There are more than six million car accidents each year in the United States. Many of these accidents happen due to factors such as cell phone use, alcohol or drug use, and speeding, to name a few.

In South Carolina alone, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that there were close to 900 traffic fatalities in 2009. Of those accidents, 377 were alcohol-impaired driving fatalities. According to DrivingLaws.org, "It is illegal in the State of South Carolina to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 percent or above. For drivers under the age of 21, it is illegal to drive with a BAC of .02 percent or above." When someone gets pulled over for suspicion of DUI, they are asked to submit to a chemical test.

Texting and using cellular devices are becoming a growing concern for drivers. Only 14 states currently have laws banning texting while driving, but "banning the use of text messaging devices while driving has gathered considerable steam over the last couple of years," according to YourLegalGuide.com. Texting while driving is very dangerous, especially for teens. The website also reports that "motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 16 and 20, killing more than 5,000 people in this age group each year."

If you or someone you know has been injured or killed in an auto accident, please call one of the Myrtle Beach personal injury attorneys at The Mace Firm today.

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As the warmer months approach us, we all try to find something fun to do outside with our families. Going to an amusement park like Six Flags or even a county fair may sound like a great idea, but you may want to think twice before spending a warm summer day at an amusement park. Every year there are over 8,000 amusement park injuries related to amusement rides, according to SafeParks.org. The website also reports that "toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary school-aged children account for half of all ride-related accidents and three quarters of accidents where a rider falls or is forcefully ejected from an amusement ride." Unfortunately, its not just rollercoasters that are to blame, adults and children can also be injured on water slides, inflatables and go-karts.

Recently, according to RideAccidents.com, "In Marana, Arizona, two girls were tossed out of an inflatable jumping castle when a gust of wind carried it at least 100 feet through the air. One girl was tossed out onto the ground and suffered only minor injuries; the other was ejected onto the roof of a neighbor's house and suffered serious injuries, including head injuries." Another report involves improperly attached devices on a ride, "One man was killed and a 17-year-old girl was seriously injured while they were riding a ripline-type ride at an amusement park in Lake Ozark, Missouri. The accident was a result of an incorrectly attached harness."

Putting your personal safety in the hands of amusement park operators could potentially be a scary thing. Even though there are tons of amusement park injury reports every year, its not just your children whose saftey is at risk. Employees of parks are at risk too. "At a carnival in Kentucky, a 33-year-old man died of injuries he sustained while trying to fix an amusement ride which had stopped. The man climbed into the ride and started it with the manual handle. When the ride started, it crushed the man as it rotated about him." If you or a family member is injured or killed at an amusement park, you may find that you need legal representation. When an unfortunate amusement park accident happens, you should know you can trust the South Carolina personal injury lawyers at The Mace Firm.

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With all the products and toys for babies and newborns these days, it may be difficult for new moms and moms-to-be to choose which are the safest. As time goes on and new ideas emerge, these choices are not about to get any easier to make. Although the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission tries very hard to ensure the safety of consumer products like toys and cribs, there are still a lot of incidences involving malfunctioning and poorly-crafted products on the market for children. Recently, Sassy Inc. recalled a line of infant teethers and rattles because small pieces of plastic may detatch from the teether or rattle, causing an ingestion hazard. Although only one report has been received by the company, there may be many other personal injury claims yet to be reported.

Another company wasn't so lucky. Bumbo International, the maker of Bumbo Baby Sitter Seats, had a major recall of the Sitter Seat after they received 28 reports of children falling out of it, 3 of these reports included skull fractures. Also, let's not forget all of the product recalls due to the threat of lead paint exposure and poisoning. For example, in 2008, the toy construction playsets manufactured by DDI Inc, and in 2007, the Tinker Bell wands sold in Disney stores.

It is extremely important for anyone who has children to be cautious of the products we buy and use. However, it is impossible to predict which products may or may not become hazardous. What if you end up with a recalled product in your home? First, you should discontinue the use of the product immediately. Next, find the manufacturer's information and try to contact them. On the other hand, what if you or your child is injured while using a recalled product? In that case you may need a personal injury lawyer.

With all the hazards we face on a daily basis, from the time of infancy to adulthood, it is good to know that the South Carolina personal injury attorneys at The Mace Firm are here to help you.

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A bed bug is a little bigger than a tick and flat. It lives in and around your bed and feeds on your blood. These bugs do not just infest the dirtiest of homes and hotels, they are in upscale neigborhoods, movie theaters and hotels among other places.

The bed bug infestation is almost out of control in some areas. In the last three years bed bug infestations have multiplied. They are being brought here because people are traveling more and the bugs can hide anywhere. Bed bugs in New York are almost taking over the city. There are also bed bugs in South Carolina along with bed bugs in Florida and many other places.

If you think you have been bitten by bed bugs, look for red bites that look like mosquito bites after you wake up in the morning. Also, look at your bed for red or black blood spots where you may have rolled over and killed them.

If you are one of the lucky ones that brings bed bugs home with you from a business or is attacked while sleeping in a hotel, make sure that you do not ignore the infestation. Clothing should be washed in hot water. Anything that can be bagged should be bagged in a black bag and put outside to absorb the heat. Anything over 114 degrees will kill the bed bugs. You will need to call an exterminator as well.

Bringing bed bugs home with you can be embarassing as well as costly. If you have been infested or bitten by bed bugs in South Carolina, New York or Florida please call The Mace Firm to schedule a free consultation. Our New York bed bug lawyers at The Mace Firm can help. We are also licensed in Florida and South Carolina.

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As the spring and summer seasons approach, so do accidents at Myrtle Beach amusement parks. Amusement parks and water parks can be very fun places to visit; however, they can also be dangerous places to visit. Amusement park accidents can be serious resulting in permanent injury or possibly even death. Serious amusement park injuries include whiplash, heart attacks, internal injuries, broken bones, traumatic brain injury, and back injuries.

The owners of the Myrtle Beach Amusement Parks have a duty to ensure that their guests are not involved in amusement park accidents. This means that they are responsible for making sure that the rides and attractions are running properly and maintained in a reasonably safe condition. Reasonably safe condition means that if someone was hurt at an amusement park and the park could have prevented the accident by taking reasonable steps to make sure the property was safe, the person may be able to sue for compensation for their amusement park injuries.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a Myrtle Beach waterpark or amusement park, please call our office to schedule a free consultation with one of our Myrtle Beach amusement park accident attorneys.

Everyone has heard about the infamous McDonald's coffee case where a woman named Stella Liebeck, who was 79 years old, sued McDonalds and received $3 million. This has been an extremely misreported story and misunderstood case. These are the facts according to Stella Liebeck's attorney, S. Reed Morgan.

Stella Liebeck was a passenger in her grandson's car. They stopped at McDonald's to purchase a cup of coffee. While the car was stopped, Ms. Liebeck attempted to hold the cup of coffee between her knees while removing the lid. The cup tipped over and poured scalding hot coffee over more than 16 percent of her body, giving her third degree burns. She ended up in the hospital for eight days and had to undergo whirlpool treatment to remove the dead tissue from her wounds, skin grafting, scarring and a disability for more than two years. Ms. Liebeck offered to settle with McDonalds for $20,000; however, McDonalds rejected this offer. The jury awarded $200,000 in compensatory damages, reduced to $160,000 because the jury found her 20 percent at fault. She was also awarded $2.7 million in punitive damages for the cruel conduct of McDonalds. Keep in mind that McDonalds makes more than $1.3 million a day for coffee sales. The punitive damages were also reduced to $480,000.

The Shriner's Burn Institute in Cincinatti had published warnings to the franchise food industry that its members were unnecessarily causing serious scald burns by serving beverages above 130 degrees Fahrenhiet. Morgan, The Recorder, September 30, 1994.

After this verdict, the McDonalds in Albuquerque where Ms. Liebeck was burned began selling coffee at 158 degrees rather than 180 to 190 degrees which will cause third degree burns in 60 seconds instead of two to seven seconds.

This is how most people are forced into hiring a personal injury attorney. The business that caused the accident will promise to pay the hospital or physician bills that are incurred due to the injury. Once the injured person has received the bills, they try to contact the business where they were hurt and no one returns their call, they decide they will not pay anything or they will not pay the full amount for the injury related bills. This is where the Myrtle Beach personal injury attorney steps in and makes sure that the injured person is compensated for their injury.

If you or someone you know has been injured due to someone else's negligence, please call The Mace Firm to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced South Carolina personal injury attorneys.

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Insurance companies would rather settle personal injury claims as quickly and economically as possible. This means not taking it to court, litigation is very expensive and lengthy. Depending on what type of injury you endured and the type of treatment you received or need will determine how to settle your personal injury claim.

If it is a minor fender bender and you are not hurt, you may not need to hire a personal injury lawyer. If it is more than a fender bender and you are injured in a car crash due to someone else's negligence, the at fault driver's insurance company may contact you immediately to settle the claim. Be careful when talking to the insurance company because as soon as you pick up the phone they will probably be recording everything you say. It is best to have everything in writing.

If you are injured, there is a dispute regarding liability or the at fault driver was underinsured or uninsured, it is best to hire a personal injury attorney. When you go to your personal injury consultation, have an idea about what kind of settlement you will accept. This will help the car accident attorney know your expectations and if he/she feels like he/she can meet them. A personal injury attorney at The Mace firm can guide you through the claims process. Call The Mace Firm to schedule a free consultation with one of our highly skilled South Carolina personal injury lawyers.

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According to The State a 22-year-old, three story parking garage in Hackensack, New Jersey collapsed Friday due to a glass canopy falling two stories from a high-rise buliding. Speculation of the cause is that a tree was uprooted recently and there was a leak in the basement that was currently being fixed. According to a witness, "water was spilling out of pipes where the garage once stood." The aftermath of the collapsed garage was a large amount of smoke, debris, and glass, damaged vehicles, chunks of cracked pavement, and one person trapped.

If you have a personal injury case please call The Mace Firm in Charleston and Mrytle Beach, South Carolina to schedule a consultation with an attorney. The Mace Firm is dedicated to your claim and your case.

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According to the WMBF News, Justin McKay, only thirteen years old, was the victim of a drowning at the Darlington City Pool. His teenage cousin is currently being hospitalized at a local hospital in the area and is in critical condition. It was reported that there were three life guards on duty when the incident occurred. The senior life guard decided to evacuate the pool due to inclement weather. Once the pool was empty, they noticed the two boys at the bottom of the pool. An investigation is being conducted by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the Darlington County Sheriff's Office and an autopsy has been scheduled. This was allegedly the first day the pool had been open for the summer.

This is an unfortunate situation for all individuals involved, especially the families of these young children. The cause of most drownings are improper safety measures and a lack of regulations. In the instant case, the lifeguards may not have had adequate experience and training. Reportedly, the pool was very crowded, most likely making it difficult for the lifeguards to see the two boys. It is difficult to discern the exact cause at this early stage; however, it cannot be denied that negligence has played a factor. If the pool was too crowded, the life guards should have identified the problem initially and this tragedy could have easily been avoided.

When a preventable drowning occurs, it is difficult to find justice within the system. Usually, the family members of the victims may decide to pursue a civil action against the persons at fault when little can be done on a criminal level. Often times, this can motivate higher safety precautions and minimize situations like this from occurring. We understand the pain and suffering this can cause for a family, which is why we choose to reach out to each of our clients on a personal level. If you need to speak with someone concerning a personal injury or wrongful death action, our South Carolina civil attorneys are here for you.

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In South Carolina the minimum coverage for your automobile is 25/50/25. The first two numbers refer to bodily injury limits and the last number refers to property damage. This means that if you were to get into a car accident, each person would receive a maximum of $25,000 with only $50,000 per accident. This minimum is mandated by S.C. Code § Ann 38-77-140. Uninsured Motorist is also mandatory, but you should have more than minimum coverage which is also 25/50/25.

The following are a few options for car insurance that I believe you should have. Personal Injury Protection/Medpay which would pay your doctor bills no matter who is at fault. There is also Under Insured Motorist coverage (UIM) which would cover you if the at fault driver does not have enough liability coverage to cover all of the damages. The next optional insurance coverage is Comprehensive/Collision which would allow you to pay a deductible to get your car repaired for damages other than a car wreck like hail, fire, theft, weather, etc. The last type of coverage that you should have, but is optional is GAP coverage. This covers the difference between what the insurance company says your car is worth and the amount left on your loan.

According to a study done in 2005 by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, there is one traffic crash every 4.6 minutes. It is important to be prepared for the negligent person who is not following the law or who does not have enough coverage. The insurance salesman can adjust the limits to suit your needs and your budget.

If you have been injured in an car accident, please call one of our South Carolina attorneys for a free consultation.

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Yet another federal lawsuit has been filed against Toyota after a February crash. Michael Noble crashed his mother's 2006 Tacoma into an embankment and rolled. Some people thought he was horsing around when the incident happened. Michael was turning right onto another road when the Tacoma accelerated and fishtailed out of control.

Toyota issued a recall on Tacomas because the floor mats were sticking to the accelerator, but Amanda Noble had replaced her mats before the recall. Michael pleaded to driving a defective vehicle after State Farm interviewed witnesses and passengers and determined the truck had unintentionally accelerated.

As of two weeks ago there were 342 state and federal lawsuits related to unintended acceleration pending against Toyota. There could be as many as 8 billion defective Toyotas.

If you or someone you know has been injured because of a defect in a Toyota or any other type of vehicle, contact one of our South Carolina Federal or State Attorneys to schedule a free consultation. Our attorneys are also licensed to practice law in South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia.

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