North Carolina Car Accident Lawyers Blog

State Troopers in South Carolina will be on the lookout for alcohol-impaired drivers on Super Bowl Sunday. Historically, the first Sunday of every February has been one of the most dangerous times to be on our roadways. The number of car accidents in Spartanburg and elsewhere skyrocket during the unofficial U.S. holiday. Experts predict that nearly 350 million gallons of beer will be consumed by residents on Sunday alone. This is enough alcohol to fill about 50 Olympic-sized pools. With all the alcohol consumption comes dangerous roadways - but not if law enforcement officials can help it. This year's Super Bowl safe driving campaign is called "Fans Don't Let Fans Drive Drunk." This safety campaign urges fans of all teams to look after one another to make our roadways safer.

"The chances of encountering a DUI driver go up significantly," said trooper Billy Elder. "South Carolina has a terrible problem with that."

Our Spartanburg drunk driving accident lawyers understand there are roughly 130 million people expected to gather in front of television on Sunday to watch the big game between the Giants and the Patriots. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 200,000 people have pledged to be designated drivers this season.

This is great news - but unless every designated driver is going to drive 650 people home, we don't have enough. We're hoping the rest of the Super Bowl fans who are drinking will be using taxis and public transportation to get home. We're also hoping that many fans will be staying at the homes of friends and family members or getting a hotel room. Whatever your plans are, we're hoping you won't get behind the wheel after drinking.

If you're throwing a Super Bowl party for your friends and family members this year, we have a few safety tips to offer you to help make sure that no one is going to drive after drinking.

If You're Throwing a Super Bowl Party on Sunday:

-Make sure when you invite your guests to the party that everyone is also informed to bring a designated driver.

-Make sure to have beverages (without alcohol) available for the designated drivers.

-Offer plenty of food to help those who are drinking.

-Keep an eye on alcohol consumption. Know when to cut someone off.

-Serve the booze in moderation.

-Stop serving any alcohol before the party ends. A good time to do this is an hour before the party is over.

-Make room for guests. There's a chance someone will be left without a designated driver. Make an area for guests who don't have a safe way home to crash at your place.

Super Bowl Sunday may be a joyous time for many American's, but it's a deadly time for many others. Let's all team up together to help to reduce the risks of fatal car accidents this weekend. Party responsibly!

Continue reading "Troopers Searching for Drunk Drivers in South Carolina on Super Bowl Sunday" »

Back in February of 2011, Representative Harry Warren co-sponsored a bill that made substantial changes in the laws that governed the sentencing of those who have been convicted of driving under the influence in North Carolina.

According to the Salisbury Post, the law was later ratified by the state's Legislature in June and Governor Beverly Perdue signed it into law without any questions. Much of her decisions were based on a drunk driving accident in Gatson County the summer before when a high school student who had just graduated was killed by a drunk driver who had already been convicted of drunk driving once in 2003 and twice later in 2009.

Now, after the damage is done, the driver is facing nearly 30 years behind bars for second-degree murder and for being a habitual offender. The new legislation, "Laura's Law" was named after he victim.

Our North Carolina drunk driving car accident lawyers understand that many think that "Laura's Law" is used to go after drivers who have been convicted of their fourth alcohol-related driving offense in 10 years. But if you look a little closer you'd realize that that's not the case at all. Here's why. Since 1990, our state has considered a driver as a habitual offender once they get their fourth conviction in 10 years. At this point, a driver is now a convicted felon. Under this category, a driver is required to serve a mandatory sentence in prison and they can't get their driver's license back. "Laura's Law" doesn't affect these drivers.

"Laura's Law" is used to take care of those who have been convicted of their third alcohol-related driving offense in seven years when they are arrested subsequently arrested for driving without the proper license or they were driving with someone in the vehicle under the age of 18. It's these drivers who aren't covered under the laws of habitual offenders. They were eligible for a maximum sentence of two years behind bars and a judge could put them on probation after an early release if deemed necessary. Now, with "Laura's Law," a judge can put these individuals in jail for a maximum of 3 years. While a judge still has an option of letting them out of jail early, they can only let them go after 120 days are served, instead of just 30 days under the old law allowed.

That's not all though. "Laura's Law" also requires that those that have been convicted of driving under the influence also abstain from consuming alcohol during their probationary time. Consumption is monitored through a device that is called the continuous alcohol monitor (CAM). The CAM attaches to a person's ankle and keeps track of their alcohol intake all day every day. When a wearer of the device consumes alcohol, the results are immediately reported to the judge.

There's even more. "Laura's Law" says that those who are convicted no longer have access to a state driver's license. This measure is used to keep these individuals from behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.

Officials believe that if this law was in place earlier, it could have saved the Gatson County high school student and hundreds more. Now, officials are hoping these measures will help reduce the risk of future occurrences of such needless and preventable tragedies.

Continue reading ""Laura's Law" to Help Convict Drunk Drivers in North Carolina" »

According to Randy Scott, Columbia Police Chief, two of his officers were the victims of drunk driving car accidents in South Carolina over the weekend. In 2011, Scott says that five of his officers were the victims to these alcohol-related traffic accidents, according to WISTV10. The first drunk driving car accident happened on Sumter Street when a driver ran straight through a red light, slammed into a patrol car and then drove into the Greek Boys restaurant. The second drunk driving car accident happened as an intoxicated driver slammed into an unoccupied police car near Washington and Gervails Streets.

"Everyone thinks I can do it -- I can drive home, but clearly we see that these accidents are happening," Scott said. "Some are fatal sometimes."

Our Columbia drunk driving car accident lawyers understand that Columbia Police officers will now be setting up sobriety checkpoints near city neighborhoods, Five Points, The Vista and the downtown area. Police Chief Scott says that officers from Richland and the Highway Patrol will also be joining in on these drunk driving efforts. Scott would like to remind drivers that these types of accidents are unnecessary and completely preventable. All he asks is that drivers head out with a plan. If you're going to be drinking, get a designated driver. Whatever you do, stay away from the driver's seat!

2008 Drunk Driving Statistics in South Carolina:

-Nearly 400 fatal accidents happened in South Carolina where at least one driver was legally drunk, with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher.

-More than 400 people were killed in drunk driving car accidents.

-Nearly 100 people were killed in alcohol-related car accidents, where at least one driver involved had a BAC of 0.01 to 0.07 percent.

Every year, there are approximately 11,000 people who are killed in drunk driving car accidents in the U.S. It is estimated that someone dies in one of these kinds of accidents every 45 minutes. Roughly 1.5 million people are arrested every year for driving under the influence of either drugs or alcohol. Half of these intoxicated drivers already had a suspended license when they were apprehended.

More than half of all of the car accidents that happen during the weekend are alcohol-related. Statistics conclude that an average person drives while drunk about 100 times before there caught by law enforcement.

Alcohol-related accidents are costly, too. Every year, these types of accidents cost the nation more than $100 billion. Mothers Against Drunk Driving reports that about 30 percent of all drivers will be involved in an alcohol-related accident at least once in their lifetime. Furthermore, about one out of every 140 drivers has been busted for drinking and driving. Male drivers ages 18- to 35-years-old are most likely to be busted for this dangerous driving behavior.

Statistics reveal that nearly 50 percent of all fatal car accidents in South Carolina involve a drunk driver.

Continue reading "Officers Victims of Drunk Driving Car Accidents in South Carolina " »

Earlier this month, the North Carolina Department of Transportation announced the "Booze It & Lose It" campaign would be running it's course throughout the month of December and up until January 2, 2012 to help keep intoxicated drivers off of North Carolina roadways and all motorists safe from drunk driving accidents in Charlotte and elsewhere this holiday season.

The state will heighten efforts by setting up DUI sobriety check command centers statewide and putting more officers on roadways to patrol for suspected drunk drivers.

A Hickory man obviously wasn't aware that DUI sobriety checkpoints would be occurring more often this month when he crashed into a mobile "Booze It or Lose It" DUI checkpoint command center while driving drunk in Newton. WCNC reports the 21 year-old driver is facing multiple charges after crashing his Chevy Camaro into the back of a mobile unit that had been conducting DWI sobriety checks earlier that evening. The intoxicated driver was taken to Catawba Memorial but his injuries were not life threatening. No one inside the "Booze It and Lose it" van was injured or taken to the hospital. The young driver faces charges of DWI, careless and reckless driving, failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash and driving with a revoked license.

Hickory drunk driving accident attorneys know that with New Year's Eve a few short days away motorists should start to use even more caution as they venture out on roadways. New Year's Eve celebrations often result in unsafe behaviors like driving under the influence -- so everyone is more at risk of being involved in a crash this time of year.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently announced that drunk driving fatalities have decreased in many states according to new research. Nationally, there were 10,228 deaths caused by drunk drivers in 2010 which equated to a little more than 30 percent of total traffic fatalities for the year. North Carolina is a state that reported an increase from 2009 to 2010 both in total traffic fatalities and fatalities caused by an intoxicated driver. In a year-to-year comparison, total traffic deaths increased by 6 but the number of drunk driving-related deaths increased by 30, or more than 8 percent, from 2009 to 2010.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is using education and enforcement to get the message out during the winter holiday season. Ad campaigns will be running nationwide from December 16 through January 2 to create awareness about the dangers as well as support law enforcement agencies across the country to do what it takes to get intoxicated drivers off of roadways.

Last year, North Carolina law enforcement agencies charged over 3,800 drunk drivers with driving under the influence during the 2010 Holiday "Booze It & Lose It" campaign. During the period of December 3 through January 2 last year, there were 31 deaths and over 700 injuries as a result of 1,017 alcohol-related crashes.

North Carolina motorists should expect to see over 13,000 checkpoints and stepped up patrols this month. Make the smart choice to drive sober this New Year's Eve and keep drunk driving accidents to a minimum throughout the holiday season and beyond.

Continue reading "DOT Reminds Motorists to Drive Sober to Avoid a Drunk Driving Accident in Hickory, Elsewhere This New Year's Eve" »

Driving under the influence is never a good idea for any driver in any age group. But recent data shows that on average 6,000 people are killed nationwide each year by a teen driving while intoxicated. The combination of all illegal drug usage-related deaths doesn't even account for that many fatalities each year in the United States. Did you ever think it was possible that underage alcohol-related car accidents in Charlotte and elsewhere would take the lives of so many people annually when teens aren't even of age to legally drink yet?

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has teamed up with the National Football League in an effort to encourage teens not to engage in drinking and not riding in a vehicle where the driver has been drinking.

Charlotte drunk driving accident attorneys understand there seems to be a connection between drinking alcohol and football. Some people think that America's favorite pastime just wouldn't be the same if there were no tailgate parties, or if fans didn't have a beer in their hands to cheer on their favorite team. Unfortunately, attending a football game usually leads to a higher risk of a drunk-driving accident occurring after the contest is over, putting other motorists in jeopardy of serious injury or death.

Teens throughout the United States are encouraged to take the pledge to make good decisions and resist riding with someone driving under the influence by signing up on MADD's Power of Youth Facebook page. By taking the pledge, you will automatically be entered to win officially licensed NFL prizes like hats, T-shirts or other fan-favorite clothing. Make the power of peer pressure turn positive by urging friends to sign up. Recruitment of friends to sign up for the pledge increases your chances to win.

If you are between the ages of 13 and 20, visit MADD's Facebook page so that you can pledge to stay safe the rest of this season and well into the New Year. The NFL and MADD want to give you and your friends "MADD props" for choosing to stay safe and sober in the days and weeks to come.

Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) offers these alarming facts to consider:

-30 percent of underage drinkers admit to paying for their own alcohol. Almost 10 percent purchase it themselves compared to 22 percent who gave money to someone else who bought it for them.

-50 percent of teens admit to consuming alcohol at someone else's house while 30 percent confess their last drink was at home.

-26 percent of people between the ages of 12 to 20 years-old admit to drinking alcohol in the last 30 days.

Don't end the season on a sour note. Make a commitment to stay safe by not hopping in the car with someone who has been drinking or getting behind the wheel after you have had a drink. Score one for the good guys; it could just save a life.

Continue reading "Teenagers Can Win NFL Gear by Taking Pledge to Drive Alcohol-Free in Charlotte, Elsewhere" »

Last month, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) celebrated the fifth anniversary of its Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving. Since November 2006, much progress has been made nationwide to spread the word about the dangers of drunk driving accidents in Asheville, and elsewhere in the country.

Hickory drunk driving accident lawyers know that the holidays bring a greater risk for drivers to get behind the wheel after having a few too many drinks. We hope that all motorists in North Carolina make smart choices when it comes to being sober before getting behind the wheel.

In a recent press release, MADD announced its Report to the Nation, which is a state-by-state comparison of how each one ranks in its efforts to eliminate drunk driving. Overall, the nation received a three-star rating out of five categories, indicating that advocates feel there is still much work to be done to achieve a zero-tolerance goal nationwide.

States were rated on efforts to eliminate drunk driving in the following categories related to passing legislation or enforcement of drunk-driving laws:

Ignition Interlocks: a state has adopted a law that requires all convicted drunk drivers to have this breathalyzer device installed in their vehicle. The driver must blow into the device in order for the engine to start.

Sobriety Checkpoints: locations are set up statewide during holiday or weekend periods to catch potential drunk drivers.

Administrative License Revocation (ALR): a drunk driver has his or her license suspended or revoked for a period of time by enforcing ALR statewide.

Child Endangerment: any intoxicated driver pulled over for driving under the influence with young children in the vehicle will face a stiffer penalty.

No-Refusal: enforcement of no-refusal activities occurs when a driver doesn't cooperate after being suspected of drunk driving.

Only five states received a five-star rating, with North Carolina being rated with three out of five stars. A star was issued for the enforcement of sobriety checkpoints, ALR and child endangerment. Areas that still need improvement in North Carolina are ignition interlocks and "no refusal". Legislation for interlock devices for first-time offenders testing .15 or over were passed in 2007 but North Carolina still needs to take action and pass the law to include all convicted offenders. There is also a need to address "no refusal" in North Carolina or else face consequences when a driver is suspected to have been drinking.

According to recent data provided by Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, the United States spends roughly $132 billion a year related to drunk-driving costs. A little more than $71 billion is spent on quality-of-life losses while $61 billion is spent on monetary costs. Only a small percentage of these costs are paid by federal, state and local governments or employers.

We encourage all motorists to make smart choices in order to avoid a drunk-driving accident this holiday season and beyond in North Carolina or elsewhere.

Continue reading "North Carolina receives 3-Star Rating in Efforts to Eliminate Drunk Driving in Asheville, Statewide" »

With the holiday season just a few weeks away, we urge everyone to do their part to help prevent drunk-driving accidents in Asheville and throughout North Carolina.

Our Gastonia drunk-driving accident attorneys remind you that opting to get behind the wheel while intoxicated is a poor decision that will most likely change a life forever. Even if you and everyone else involved is lucky enough to avoid getting into an accident, or survive one that you caused, there are always consequences to pay for driving under the influence.

Two families in South Carolina will be without loved ones this holiday season following a fatal drunk-driving accident in Berkeley County recently. Goose Creek Patch reports one family is mourning the loss of a loved one while the other has to watch a family member face a pending prison sentence.

In one accident, a 47-year-old woman from Moncks Corner died from blunt force trauma after being hit in her 2000 Saturn by a 33-year-old drunk driver operating a BMW. The driver of the BMW was traveling in the opposite direction when she crossed the center line and hit the victim's car in a head-on collision. The defendant was charged with felony DUI, according to South Carolina Highway Patrol, after the victim died. The defendant and the 23-year-old passenger in her vehicle survived with minor injuries despite having not been wearing seat belts.

We are hopeful the 23-year-old passenger will learn a valuable lesson from this tragedy. Without positive role models, teens and other young drivers put themselves at considerable risk while making bad decisions and getting involved in an accident caused by operating a vehicle under the influence.

ACTnowNC.org reports that North Carolina had more than 11,000 drunk-driving accidents in 2009, of which 363 were fatal. Sadly, more than 20 percent of North Carolina's students in 2009 reported riding in a vehicle with an intoxicated person. One out of 10 high school students also admitted to driving under the influence in a one-month period in 2009. Nationwide, 35 percent of the drivers involved in fatal DUI crashes were between the ages of 21 and 24 in 2009. The next highest at-risk age group was 25-to-34-year-olds, who reportedly were involved in 32 percent of accidents that year.

There are several social and health problems that can be associated with underage drinkers. If you see some of the following symptoms from a teen or young person, get help immediately.

-Lack of participation in youth activities or school groups.

-Constant development of illnesses or hangovers.

-Poor grades in school or frequent absences from school.

-Detection of other drug use.

-Loss of memory.

-Suicide or homicide isn't out of the realm of possibilities with relation to the young person's behavior or attitude.

-Change in sexual activity either by participating in unprotected, unwanted or unplanned activity.

-Behavioral situations that lead to legal problems or lawful consequences such as DWI.

Recent studies have shown the more a young person is around alcohol, the better chance they have of becoming addicted to it later on. More than 40 percent of children who start drinking before age 15 end up dependent on it later.

If you attend a holiday party with your teen child, set a good example by not having an alcoholic beverage. Teach your children to act responsibly and never drink and drive.

Continue reading "Underage Drinking Increases Risk for Drunk-Driving Accidents in Asheville, Elsewhere " »

In a recent statement, Transportation Secretary Gene Conti announced that more than 750 motorists were cited in North Carolina for driving under the influence during the Halloween weekend. The "Booze It & Lose It" Campaign ran for four days beginning October 28 in an effort to help reduce drunk-driving accidents in Greensboro and statewide. The campaign is meant to create awareness that motorists would be removed from the roadway if they were stopped and found to be driving while intoxicated.

Asheville car accident attorneys know that drunk drivers often cause anguish to thousands of people across the country every year when someone in their lives dies because of a car accident. In making one bad choice, it affects the lives of so many for a lifetime.

Recent statistics have indicated that drunk-driving accidents seem to be a higher risk on holiday weekends. That's probably because people choose to drink, often to an extreme, when they celebrate during the holidays.

Removing drunk drivers from roadways is a priority of the Governor's Highway Safety Program as well as law enforcement officials statewide. During Halloween weekend, there were 1,664 sobriety checkpoints set up throughout the state. Mecklenburg County issued the most DWI citations at 58, followed by Wake and Robeson Counties (each with 51) and Guilford County reported 46 citations. In addition to DWI citations, there were more than 660 drug charges issued. Motorists were cited 1,131 times for failing to wear a seat belt and 5,757 times for speeding tickets. There were also more than 200 violations of the child passenger safety seat law.

The "Booze It & Lose It" Campaign that ran from August 19 to September 5 for Labor Day drunk-driving awareness totaled almost 2,960 citations for driving under the influence. Again, Mecklenburg County reported the most DWI stops at 217, followed by Wake (203), New Hanover (133) and Guilford (113) counties.

For motorists who use common sense, it almost makes you want to stay at home where you can't be at risk of being hit by a drunk driver. Unfortunately, that isn't feasible nor desirable for most. It is quite simple to make the choice to drink responsibly or not get behind the wheel if you have had too much alcohol.

As we head into the holiday travel season we want to urge motorists to do your part. Don't drink and drive and use caution every time you get behind the wheel to avoid an accident with another motorist under the influence. If you suspect a driver is under the influence, safely pull off the road and report them to the authorities. Saving a life is the ultimate gift this holiday season and throughout the rest of the year.

Continue reading "Greensboro Drunk-Driving Accidents Prevalent During Holiday Weekends" »

Asheville car accident attorneys understand the old school meaning of dram shop in colonial times meant a shop where spirits were sold by the dram. In this case, dram is a small unit of liquid, spirits is a beverage containing alcohol, and shop is a bar, tavern, restaurant or any establishment that serves alcohol.

Back in 2007, WRAL reported that the North Carolina Supreme Court took on the responsibility to better define dram shop liability laws after a 1997 incident in Durham was settled in court in 2004 in which a restaurant was held financially liable by a jury for the death of a customer who left their establishment drunk and was later killed that same evening in a drunk driving accident in North Carolina.

The law at that time was that bars or restaurants that served alcohol were only obligated to stop serving someone they knew was drunk. The case escalated a great debate over whether an establishment should be responsible for determining when someone has had too much to drink to the point of taking their keys away or making sure they have a cab ride home as opposed to a patron being responsible enough to stop drinking well before the time of getting behind the wheel to drive home.

Currently, North Carolina is one of 43 states that have a dram shop law of some degree in place, which holds an establishment serving alcohol liable if something happens as a result of serving alcohol to a patron on their premises. Any incident that involves personal injury, death, or property damage as a direct result of serving alcohol to a customer can lead to strict financial liability for the bar, restaurant, night club or alcohol-serving establishment.

In the news recently is the 2008 single car accident which killed the intoxicated driver and her two passengers after leaving a bar in Carolina Beach. The North Carolina Court of Appeals determined the incident fell under the North Carolina Dram Shop Act and held the establishment financially liable for the accident killing the three drunk driving victims.

The driver who was only 20-years-old had been permitted to drink at the bar prior to the crash. The plaintiff, a family member of one of the passengers killed, sued for wrongful death against the bar in which a settlement agreement was reached for damages and liability.

The appeal was based on the bar seeking compensatory damages against the deceased driver's estate arguing that they should be joint and several in the liability with the driver owning part negligence and liable for their own actions. Both the trial court and Court of Appeals rejected the argument made by the bar and found no legal grounds to seek contribution from the estate.

Drunk driving victims can suffer severe damages both in personal injury or property damage and should seek legal counsel immediately.

Continue reading "Dram Shop Law in North Carolina Places Liability for Drunk Driving Accidents on the Establishment Serving Alcohol to Patrons" »

As we approach the final summer holiday weekend, our car accident attorneys in Greensboro, Winston-Salem and elsewhere want to remind motorists that it has been a good summer, but end on a positive note by being careful and driving safely this Labor Day weekend.

Law enforcement will be keeping an eye out all weekend for drunk drivers so be responsible to avoid a ticket or worse, a fatal drunk driving accident in Charlotte, Statesville or throughout North Carolina.

My Fox 8 reports that law enforcement officers have been patrolling throughout North Carolina more heavily for most of August as part of the 'Booze It and Lose It' campaign. Dozens of motorists have been arrested by state troopers for driving under the influence in Randolph and Guilford Counties.

The consequences for a DWI arrest will soon become harsher starting December 1. A driver convicted of DWI with a young person in the vehicle will soon be punished for 30 days in jail or as much as 2 years in prison as laid out in Senate Bill 241. A separate bill, Laura's Law, will punish repeat offenders with fines up to $10,000 and one to three years in jail. In 2010, there were 500 drunk driving accidents in North Carolina, of which 20 caused deaths.

While officers will be setting up roadblocks, doing more patrols and seeking to cut down on drunk driving, but they can't do it alone. They need cooperation from the public. That means following drunk driving safety tips to ensure a safe weekend.

Holiday weekends always pose a serious threat to motorists sharing roadways due to more congested traffic and increased odds of drivers getting behind the wheel intoxicated after attending a holiday barbeque. The National Safety Council estimates that roughly 400 fatalities will take place this Labor Day weekend with another estimated 39,000 injuries related to traffic accidents. The Labor Day holiday weekend alone has averaged more than 14 percent of traffic fatalities over the last six years in comparison to any other non-holiday period.

NSC reminds motorists of these holiday weekend safety tips:

Continue reading "Labor Day Weekend Poses a Threat for Drunk Driving Accidents in Charlotte, Greensboro and Elsewhere" »

The government's message for this Labor Day weekend is simple -- drive sober or risk getting pulled over. The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is recognized nationally in an effort to reduce drunk driving accidents in North Carolina and throughout the country.

From August 19 to September 5, law enforcement agencies and police departments throughout the United States are adamantly looking for violators and will be issuing tickets to drivers under the influence.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports almost 11,000 deaths are caused by drunk drivers annually. To put that into perspective, deaths from drunk driving each year are equivalent to 21 jumbo jets crashing and claiming the lives of their passengers. There are roughly 29 fatalities and 1,440 injuries related to a drunk driving accident each and every day in the United States.

The hours between midnight and 3 a.m. are extremely dangerous and, on average, take the life of a victim from a drunk driving accident every 23 minutes. The average cost of drunk driving for each adult nationwide is $500 a year. The odds of being involved in a drunk driving accident during your lifetime is 1 in 3 or roughly a 33 percent chance.

The NHTSA is encouraging the public to get involved. The more the message about the dangers of driving under the influence is received the safer roadways will become over holiday weekends and every day of the year. You can get involved by:

• Printing Drive Sober posters and posting them in businesses, schools, stores or anywhere the public will see them.


• Download a sobering or graphic image to your desktop or wallpaper of your computer for everyone in your office to see.


• Place a driver sober message on a social media device such as Facebook so that everyone who visits your page knows how you feel about drinking and driving.


• Forward YouTube videos and TV spots to your friends and family via email so that they can see the dangers of driving under the influence.


• Initiate conversations or send friendly reminders to friends and family that the police are out in full force and ready to nab anyone driving while intoxicated.


• Make a personal commitment to not drink and drive by signing up to Take the Pledge online and encouraging others to follow in your footsteps.

Through initiative and leadership, these teens have spread the message to their peers and have set a good example to all motorists that driving while drunk is dangerous and should not be tolerated.

Continue reading "Driving Sober on Holiday Weekends Can Reduce the Risk of Drunk Driving Accidents in North Carolina, Nationwide" »

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently released preliminary data on 2009 traffic fatalities. We are reminded that even though the preliminary numbers look good compared with 2008, North Carolina motorists have room to improve when it comes to driver safety and reducing the number of car accidents in Charlotte, Statesville and elsewhere in the state.

Even though the overall statistics show that traffic fatalities are down 10 percent nationwide and 8 percent in North Carolina, drunk driving, distracted driving and speeding still remain the leading causes of car crashes in our state and throughout the country.

The NHTSA reports there were a total of 1,314 traffic fatalities in 2009 in North Carolina, with people dying at a rate of 1.26 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. Alarmingly, the percent change from 1975 to 2009 is not all that substantial when compared with other states. In 1975, North Carolina reported 1,506 traffic fatalities, which were only 192 more than reported in 2009. When business was booming between 1995 and 2005, North Carolina reported a 7 percent increase in fatalities.

Alcohol use continues to contribute to fatal crashes, despite all the work over the years by legislative committees and Mothers Against Drunk Driving to pass laws opposing drunk driving. In 2000, 30 percent of fatal crashes in North Carolina were caused by a driver with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. In 2009, 28 percent of fatal crashes were caused by a drunk driver. It was reported that for drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2009, 61 percent died in an alcohol-related accident.

In 2009, almost 40 percent of traffic fatalities in North Carolina were caused by speeding. It was reported that 270 of the 517 speed-related fatalities were on non-interstate roadways traveling at a speed of 55 mph.

With the Fourth of July right around the corner, the Governors Highway Safety Association wants to remind drivers to maintain their speed and stay sober. In 2009, 40 percent of crashes that occurred during the Fourth of July holiday period involved a driver over the legal limit, killing 410 people nationally. Driving under the influence affects a number of skills needed to drive safely, including reaction time, visual acuity, coordination, comprehension, concentration and judgment.

Remember that buzzed driving is drunk driving, and drunk driving can destroy lives.

To learn about the Independence Day Impaired Driving Prevention Campaign, click here to view.

Continue reading "Alcohol and Speeding to Blame for Many Charlotte Car Accidents" »

Summertime presents many opportunities to drink and drive with holiday weekends, family gatherings, pool and beach parties, and barbecues with friends.

Asheville car accident attorneys want to remind motorists to use your head if you have had too much to drink to prevent a drunk driving accident in Statesville, Charlotte, or elsewhere. A decision to get behind the wheel intoxicated could change someone's life forever, including your own.

A recent drunk driving accident involving a Gaffney police officer is a good reminder that we should all think twice before getting behind the wheel under the influence. A man who is paid to enforce the law is being charged with felony DUI with great bodily injury after a recent one-car crash in Cherokee County, reports WYFF 4.

The man was driving on Union Street when he swerved and crashed into a pole. The passenger in the vehicle was taken to Spartanburg Regional hospital and remains in fair condition.

GoUpstate.com reports the off-duty officer was taken to Upstate Carolina Medical Center for treatment and released to Cherokee County Detention Center. He awaits a court appearance expected in July.

More sobriety checkpoints are set up throughout the state during the summer months to reduce the dangers of drunk drivers on the road. Fox Charlotte recently reported that there are free phone applications available for iPhone and Android users that help report where the DUI checkpoints are located so drunk drivers can avoid them. Some say that the checkpoints take away the freedom of drivers, while others say they are important to keep city streets and highways safe.

Mecklenburg County ranks near the top in DUI deaths, and North Carolina as a whole ranks 10th in the nation for deaths caused by someone driving under the influence. A debate is brewing that a drunk driver who knows how to avoid a sobriety checkpoint by checking their phone app makes streets less safe for other motorists. Alcohol impairs your judgment, so a driver may turn the wrong way on a one-way street, causing an accident -- an accident that most likely wouldn't happen if the driver wasn't trying to avoid a sobriety checkpoint.

BlackBerry pulled the sobriety checkpoint application for phones once it began catching heat from state senators.

The Charlotte Observer reports that Mothers Against Drunk Driving Charlotte recently hosted the annual Walk Like Madd 5K to raise funds and increase awareness about the dangers of drunk driving.

If you are the survivor of a drunk driving accident in North Carolina and want to get more involved, visit the www.walklikeMADDnc.com website for more information.

Continue reading "Phone Apps Warning of DUI Check Points Increase Risks of North Carolina Car Accidents" »

Memorial Day weekend is right around the corner so it is a good time for North Carolina car accident attorneys to remind motorists to buckle up and be safe on roadways during the holiday weekend. Holiday weekends often encompass summer barbeques or gatherings which lead to heightened traffic and a high risk of car accidents in Gastonia, Winston-Salem or Greensboro.

The National Safety Council recently released their estimates for traffic crashes during this Memorial Day weekend which begins Friday, May 27th at 6:00 p.m. and continues through to Monday, May 30th at 11:59 p.m. The organization estimates over 400 fatalities and another 39,400 injuries will occur nationwide during the upcoming holiday weekend. The NSC encourages the use of safety belts this holiday weekend as they estimate over 100 lives could be saved nationwide if all drivers and passengers were to wear their seat belts.

In 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration using the Fatality Analysis Reporting System reported 13 fatal crashes in North Carolina on Memorial Day. South Carolina reported 6 fatal crashes. The two states combined for 51 fatalities on Memorial Day alone in 2009 with 28 reported deaths in North Carolina and 23 reported deaths in South Carolina.

The NSC recommends the following tips to ensure safety this Memorial Day holiday weekend:
-Driving under the influence impairs your ability to drive and react so arrange for a designated driver if you plan to drink at a weekend gathering.

-Drive defensively while expecting the unexpected. Exercise extra caution if severe weather is a threat.

-Put your cell phone down while you are behind the wheel.

-Motorists who feel tired should pull of the road to rest or remain at home or at the party rather than driving drowsy.

-Don't put your car in drive until everyone in the vehicle is buckled in safely. All children should be placed in age-appropriate safety seats to ensure a reduced chance of serious injury in a motor vehicle crash.

-In order to reduce the frustration of driving in high volume traffic, plan to leave early and allow plenty of time for delays. Allowing ample travel time reduces the urge to speed in order to get to your destination on time.

Motorists should be mindful that law enforcement officials will be implementing the zero-tolerance of safety belt laws nationwide from May 23 to June 5, 2011 in recognition of the "Click it or Ticket" campaign.

Continue reading "Holiday weekends bring a heightened risk of car accidents in Gastonia, elsewhere in state" »

The Carolina Cycling News earlier this month reported on the tragic death of two cyclists.

A 47 year old father of three and his son were out on their Sunday morning bike ride around 9 a.m. when they were mowed down by a drunk driver. The father was killed instantly; his 17 year old son was rushed to the hospital but died a day later. The teen was 10 days shy of his 18th birthday.

Our personal injury lawyers in Greensboro, Charlotte and Asheville understand the devastating loss of a loved one to an impaired driver. We know that someone dies at the hands of an impaired driver every 45 minutes.

A witness to the accident had just driven around the two cyclists and then to his horror saw a vehicle swerve into the bike lane. The 63-year old driver struck the two cyclists and didn't stop. The witness blocked the road and forced the driver to stop.

The driver was arrested at the scene and charged with felony driving while impaired, felony death by motor vehicle, open container, cocaine possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports 630 cyclists were killed and over 51,000 were injured in 2009. Alcohol involvement, by the cyclist or the driver, was reported in over 40% of the traffic accidents that killed a cyclist in 2009. Only 4 states had more cyclist fatalities than the Carolinas, where 27 riders died in 2009.

Driving while impaired killed almost 11,000 people in 2009 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Nationally, 38% of all traffic fatalities are alcohol-related. In North Carolina, 33% of traffic fatalities involved alcohol consumption to some extent. Alarmingly, in South Carolina alcohol-related traffic fatalities were reported at 47%.

MADD ranks states (includes DC) based on the percentage of total traffic deaths in 2009 that are alcohol-related (1 = lowest percentage of DUI related deaths, 51 = highest percentage of DUI related deaths.) North Carolina ranks in the top 10. South Carolina ranks in the bottom 10.

Continue reading "North Carolina cycling accidents a common spring and summer danger" »