Wrongful Death

While One New Trucking Safety Regulation Has Just Taken Effect, Others Are On Hold

December 21, 2017 | by Grimes Teich Anderson LLP

On December 18, a federal mandate requiring the installation of electronic logging devices (ELDs) on all commercial trucks went into effect. Still, other proposed regulations designed to improve highway safety have been rolled back or are on hold.

According to a recent story on NPR, the Obama-era mandate was one of several proposed regulations that were designed to make the roads safer by preventing drivers from operating their vehicles while fatigued. The ELD mandate, specifically, requires all trucks to have ELDs, which would replace the easily altered paper logbooks that many drivers still use to track the hours they spend on the road and the hours that they spend at rest.

Some truck drivers complain that the new devices are prohibitively expensive (the devices cost about $500) and that they do not take into account the actual conditions and delays that drivers experience while on the road.

Don’t Put Danger Under the Tree: Toys to Avoid This Christmas

December 12, 2017 | by Grimes Teich Anderson LLP

If you are shopping for a Christmas gift for a child this holiday season, remember that safety should be a top priority. While toys may appear to be safe, some are not properly labeled or tested and may pose serious health risks.

Fortunately, watchdog groups like the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) have taken the time to research the most popular toys this year. They recently released their “Trouble in Toyland” report, warning consumers about potentially dangerous toys and other gifts for kids.

Over the past three decades, U.S. PIRG reports have led to more than 150 recalls of potentially dangerous toys, and its public awareness campaigns have helped lawmakers and consumers alike realize the dangers of these defective products. For 2017, the group’s attention focused on the newest and biggest threats that these products pose to children today, including: Continue Reading

New Report Shows Women Face Unique Injury Risks at Work

November 15, 2017 | by Grimes Teich Anderson LLP

Workplace injuries can be devastating for anyone, regardless of gender. But a recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that while women have historically received fewer workplace injuries than men, the types of on-the-job injuries can be quite different for females.

According to the recently released data, men accounted for 4,836 workplace fatalities in 2015. By contrast, 344 women died on the job during the same period. The leading cause of job-related deaths for both genders is the same – transportation accidents that occur by road, air, water or railway.

Then the numbers begin to diverge, where the second most common cause of workplace deaths death for women is by violence and other injuries by persons or animals. By contrast, the second leading cause for men are caused by slip, trip, and fall mishaps.

Should You Let Your Kids Play School Sports?

October 20, 2017 | by Grimes Teich Anderson LLP

In recent years, the discussion surrounding organized sports and their inherent risks has reached new levels of intensity, especially when it comes to the topic of concussions and brain injuries.

Some would argue that concussions are no more prevalent today than they were 10 or 20 years ago, and our understanding and education has simply brought the issue to the forefront. Indeed, awareness campaigns, major feature films like Concussion, starring Will Smith, and the number of high-profile athletes retiring due to concussion concerns have made parents of school-aged children pause when considering allowing their children to play organized sports for club leagues or schools.

Ultimately, the decision is up to the parents, and they may find it encouraging that some doctors believe that the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle are greater than those of playing sports, and encouraging your children to participate in activities like sports are generally beneficial.

Schools’ Duty to Protect the Health of Student-Athletes

Do You Know School The Bus Laws In Your Area?

September 27, 2017 | by Grimes Teich Anderson LLP

While different states have different laws regarding school bus safety, nearly every state has laws in place to penalize drivers who fail to exercise caution when driving behind or passing school buses.

In North Carolina, for example, drivers are required to stop when a school bus turns on its flashing red lights or displays its mechanical stop sign. The driver must not attempt to pass the bus until the sign has been withdrawn, the lights have been turned off and the bus has proceeded along its route.

If you are on a “divided highway with four lanes or more with a median separation or a center turning lane: When school bus stops for passengers, only traffic following the bus must stop” according to the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS).

Violations of these laws are serious. Drivers can expect fines and repeated offenses can lead to a suspension of a driver’s license.

North Carolina’s New School Bus Camera Law

Helping Your Children Avoid Accidents and Injuries

September 22, 2017 | by Grimes Teich Anderson LLP

National Childhood Injury Prevention Week happens in September. It’s a time when parents in North Carolina, South Carolina and across the U.S. help raise awareness about preventable accidents that result in injury and death to children each year.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 9.2 million people from ages 0-19 are treated in emergency departments for nonfatal injuries, while another 12,000 die from “unintentional injuries” each year.

The leading causes of these “unintentional injuries” are pedestrian/traffic accidents, drowning, falls, and burns. For children under 1 year of age, suffocation was the leading cause of death, while drowning was the most likely cause for children 1 to 4 years of age. From 4 to 19, more children were killed as the result of being an occupant in a motor vehicle crash than any other cause of death.

When Dogs Bite, Who Pays for the Injuries?

August 9, 2017 | by Grimes Teich Anderson LLP

As “man’s best friend,” dogs are known for their friendly, devoted nature and their willingness to protect those they love. At the same time, the gentlest dog can get aggressive under certain circumstances, and can end up biting or attacking strangers, acquaintances or even those they know well.

At Grimes Teich Anderson, LLP, animal attacks are one of the many types of cases we handle. We understand the serious injuries and potential scarring these attacks can cause. In many cases, it is possible to get compensation for your damages through a homeowner’s insurance claim against the dog owner’s policy, avoiding the need for any further legal action.

Dog Bite Injuries

According to the American Association of Family Physicians (AAFP), as many as 4 million people are bitten by dogs each year in the U.S. More than 800,000 dog bite injuries are serious enough as to require medical treatment.

Over half of the dogs involved in these attacks were owned by family members, friends, and neighbors. A significant percent of the victims in these cases are children.

Even if you are familiar with a dog, there are certain situations in which they could attack. Dog bite injuries are more likely to happen if the dog is sick or feels threatened, and a get together with friends or neighbors involving music and lots of noise could be enough of a trigger.

IVC Filters Pose Health Risks, Victims Could Recover Compensation

July 27, 2017 | by Grimes Teich Anderson LLP

Following a major medical operation, you may have had an inferior vena cava filter (IVC filter) inserted into your chest. This filter is inserted in a patient’s inferior vena cava, the large vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the lower body to the heart.

In theory, this medical device was designed to help reduce the risk of dangerous post-operative blood clots. Yet, tragically IVC filters have proven to be dangerous and defective medical devices. Indeed, more than two dozen deaths have been directly linked to IVC filters, as reported by NBC News.

The FDA Recommends the Removal of IVC Filters

Safely Sharing the Road With Motorcyclists

June 12, 2017 | by Grimes Teich Anderson LLP

The roads and highways throughout Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina are some of the most scenic routes in the country, and the Blue Ridge Parkway and the “Tail of the Dragon” near Great Smoky Mountain National Park are highlights for motorcycle enthusiasts. However, these roads are windy, and a motorcycle accident can happen without warning.

Whether you are driving near Asheville or another area of Western North Carolina or Upstate South Carolina that is popular among motorcyclists, it is important to know how to share the road safely.

Here are some important tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that can help you travel safely alongside motorcycles regardless of the type of road you are on.

Understanding How Motorcycle Accidents Happen

A crash involving a motorcycle often occurs when a driver does not appreciate that motorcyclists are vehicles — just like a passenger car — and thus have the same rights and responsibilities of an automobile driver.

Memorial Day Marks the Start of Summer: Make It a Safe Season

May 29, 2017 | by Grimes Teich Anderson LLP

When Memorial Day comes around each year, we know it is the start of summer. Since many families in Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina spend time outdoors and take vacations, now is the perfect time to think more about summer safety, Memorial Day safety, and ensuring that your family remains healthy throughout the season.

In the event that you or someone you love does sustain a serious injury this summer, an experienced Western North Carolina personal injury lawyer can help.

History of Memorial Day

When we gather around the picnic table or head out of town for a Memorial Day vacation, few of us think about the history of the holiday. According to an article from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Memorial Day officially became a holiday three years after the end of the Civil War in 1868. At that time, the Grand Army of the Republic (an organization made up of Union veterans) established May 30 as “Decoration Day,” or a time to decorate the graves of those killed in the Civil War.