North Carolina Car Accident Lawyers Blog

A recent survival story involving a 9-year-old girl that did what it took to stay alive following a North Carolina car accident that killed her father is both tragic and heartwarming all at the same time. Independent Online News reports the young girl survived the crash alone for nearly two days by eating cold Pop-Tarts, snacks and drinking Gatorade while lying next to her father who was killed in the crash.

Statesville car accident lawyers know how difficult it is for an adult to survive an accident for nearly two days let alone a young child who didn't have the guidance of an adult to assist her through this difficult time.

The father and daughter duo were on their way home in Cove City when the father lost control of the car and the vehicle ended up overturned in a ditch 16 feet below the driving surface. The child's father was found dead in the driver's seat. The 9-year-old survived below-freezing temperatures while wearing a coat, rationing food and keeping hydrated for 43 hours following the accident. The child attempted to dig herself out of the vehicle but was unsuccessful as she was upside down in the vehicle.

USA Today reports that ironically the child's mother was searching for her daughter and was also involved in an accident within 100 feet of where her daughter was trapped. Rescuers did not locate the vehicle involved in the first accident while attending to the accident involving the child's mother despite screams being made by the young child trapped inside the vehicle. It wasn't until almost 24 hours later that a person walking discovered the overturned vehicle lying in the ravine. The person called 911 and rescuers were able to help the child to safety.

Stories like these are reminders that with a little planning car accident victims can survive the aftermath of a potentially dangerous car crash. Winter weather can often make driving conditions more dangerous so there is no time like the present to place a car safety kit in your vehicle. Many retailers offer a pre-made safety kit but putting together your own is simple and may be more cost-efficient. The safety kit should contain the following items:

-Thermal blanket or heavy sleeping bag.

-Large flashlight with extra batteries.

-A knife or sharp cutting blade.

-Plastic cover with tissues or paper towels for sanitary purposes.

-Kitty litter or sand to help with traction and a shovel.

-Several bottles of water and dry or perishable foods and snacks.

-First-aid kit which contains bandages, gauze, wraps, rubbing alcohol, ointments, aspirin among other treatment remedies.

-Extra clothing like sweaters, sweatpants, heavy jackets or thermal underwear.

Once you have the kit put together, place as many items as you can in a backpack or travel bag. Put the emergency items in the bag and place in the back seat of your vehicle. Items that don't fit in the bag can be put in the back seat or trunk for storage.

Increase your chances of survival by preparing for the worst and having an emergency survival kit handy in the back seat of your vehicle at all times.

Continue reading "North Carolina Child Survivor Story a Reminder for Motorists to Consider Travel Safety Kit" »

Halloween can be a scary time for kids, literally, because they are at considerable risk of being struck in a car accident in Winston-Salem, Gastonia, or elsewhere in the state. Motorists may find small trick-or treaters difficult to spot because the activity occurs at dusk or dark when visibility is limited.

Our Asheville car accident attorneys want to remind motorists that October is Halloween Safety Month so be mindful of children walking to help reduce the risk of causing severe injury.

American College of Emergency Physicians reports that Halloween is the most dangerous day of the year for pedestrian accidents involving young children. For children under age 16, 38 percent of all pedestrian accidents happen between 3 and 7 p.m., which is prime time for trick-or-treating. Children walking at night in a costume can inhibit their ability to see, presenting a high risk for a fall accident. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are the most dangerous days of the week for pedestrian deaths, especially when Halloween falls on one of these days. Even though Halloween is on a Monday tris year, don't let your guard down.

Research is limited when it comes to the dangers of pedestrian deaths on Halloween but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at data from 1975-1996 and determined that children were four times more at risk of a pedestrian accident involving a motor vehicle on Halloween than any other night of the year. Data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) narrowed down the number of pedestrian deaths involved in a motor vehicle crash on October 31 between 4 and 10 p.m. From 1975-1996, researchers found that 89 deaths occurred for children between the ages of 5-14 years old. This equates to an average of four deaths per year on Halloween between 4 and 7 p.m. for this age group.

AAA Exchange offers these Halloween safety tips:

To Motorists

-Use peripheral vision to be alert for children on front yards or walking away from the front porch of a house.

-Use extra caution when pulling into or out of private driveways or alleys.

-Use your headlights, even during daylight hours, so that your vehicle becomes more visible.

-Be prepared for children crossing streets mid-block and not at a designated crosswalk.

-Keep an eye out for children walking on sidewalks, curbs, medians and roadways.

To Trick-or-Treaters

-Avoid wearing a costume with a mask that covers your entire head when possible. Use nontoxic face paint to avoid problems with vision.

-Props should be blunt-tipped and flexible to avoid serious injury if a fall occurs.

-Place reflective tape on your costume if you plan to go out at night. Reflectors make children more visible.

-Never shine a flashlight into the eyes of a motorists, instead place it face down in your treat bucket.

-Choose homes that are clearly participating in Halloween activities with well-lit porches or driveways.

-Always trick-or-treat with an adult present.

Keep your children safe this Halloween by going over some helpful rules and tips to help them avoid being struck by a car. Remind them to steer clear of vehicles by crossing at intersections and making themselves visible at all times.

Continue reading "Halloween Increases Risks of Car Collisions with Trick-or-Treaters in Winston-Salem, Gastonia" »

A recent fatal teen car crash in Fayetteville, which injured four passengers and killed two others, has resulted in the young female driver being charged with two counts of felony death by motor vehicle and two counts of felony assault by motor vehicle.

WTVD ABC News reports the teen driver had previously been charged with driving without a license, reckless driving, speeding and driving under the influence. These behaviors are common among young drivers and often lead to fatal consequences following a teen car accident in Statesville, Greensboro or Winston-Salem. The 17-year-old driver had six teen passengers (ranging in ages 14-19) in the car with her at the time of the accident.

This incident, along with many others is why New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has been working so diligently to get the Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection (STANDUP) Act to be considered by the Senate Commerce Committee. Her advocacy has finally paid off reports WAMC, stating that her teen driver proposal has made it through one more step in Congress on its way to becoming law.

Asheville car accident lawyers know that creating a uniform standard for strengthened Graduated Driver's License (GDL) programs nationwide could give young drivers more experience, as well as, limit the number of passengers permitted to ride with them which in effect should reduce teen car accidents in North Carolina and throughout the country.

Saferoads4teens.org explains that collectively, all states would offer a strengthened GDL program which includes the following key points of the STANDUP Act:

• Offer three phases of obtaining a license - learner's permit, intermediate and full license.
• Teens would not be permitted to start learner's permit procedure before age 16. A full license with no restrictions would not be obtained before age 18.
• Only at the full licensure stage would unsupervised night time driving be allowed.
• Use of mobile devices in any capacity would be forbidden until a full license is obtained.
• Teen drivers would be restricted to driving with another teen companion until a full license is obtained at age 18.
• States would have up to three years to comply with the standard GDL requirements. A state failing to comply would forfeit a percentage of federal funds provided to improve highway safety each year.

If the STANDUP Act is passed, North Carolina would need to change the minimum age requirement to obtain a learner's permit to age 16. Currently, teens can start the process at age 15. Teens are also currently permitted to obtain a full license at 16 years and 6 months which would need to be extended to age 18 under the proposed bill.

Any restrictions placed on teen drivers would need to be extended until they turn 18. For example, North Carolina teens are currently permitted to drive alone at night when they reach the intermediate stage which is age 16.

More research is needed, but studies have shown that teen drivers who gain a lot of experience driving in stages can improve their safety. Gaining knowledge and experience in how to handle dangerous driving situations should be learned a little at a time but can make a difference in keeping young driver accidents to a minimum.

Continue reading "Fatal Teen Car Accident in North Carolina a Reminder to Limit Number of Teen Passengers Riding with an Inexperienced Driver" »

The Garner Citizen reports that the National Association of Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) and Allstate Foundation are teaming up to recognize youth safety and teen driving during National Youth Traffic Safety Month. Chapters throughout the state are advocating and initiating youth programs during the month of May in order to reduce teen car accidents in North Carolina.

SAVE is an organization of teens that focuses on positive peer pressure which influences peers to make smart choices. Members often take a lead role in their schools and communities in creating positive energy and commitment to activities to promote teen safe driving and youth safety. These teens are well aware that car crashes are the leading cause of death among young people. Car accident attorneys in Hickory, Asheville, and Greensboro know that this is a dangerous time of year for a young driver with events like prom and graduation taking place; building awareness can only help to reduce the risks of an accident.

In recognition of National Youth Traffic Safety Month, National Organizations for Youth Safety are promoting a number of programs and contests to get teens involved in making smart choices and practicing safe driving.

-Act Out Loud Contest: Over 200 teams have applied in local communities to create a video about the dangers of distracted driving. Local youth safety organizations can win up to $10,000 for the winning video and an opportunity to create and implement prevention projects about distracted driving.

-Youth-Turn It Around Awards: This program awards up to $5,000 for taking an adverse traffic situation in a teen's community and making it an educational learning experience for other teens that may prevent a similar tragedy from happening again. The winner will receive a cash reward for the organization of their choice.

-Above the Influence Poster Contest: A contest directed at teens expressing themselves artistically in a poster about not giving in to drugs and alcohol. Contestants were encouraged to be creative and expressive about the dangers of drugs and alcohol among teens today.

-NOYS Traffic Safety Leaders College Scholarship: Teens interested in going to college to major in a traffic safety degree are urged to apply for this Traffic Safety Leaders Scholarship sponsored by The National Organizations for Youth Safety and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. High school juniors and seniors planning to attend college can apply for the scholarship if they intend to continue their advocacy for traffic safety. Three scholarships will be awarded upon peer review of applications.

Continue reading "Teen Safety Awareness Month aimed at reducing teen driving accidents in Hickory, Asheville" »

Our car accident attorneys in Greensboro, Asheville and Hickory often report about fatal crashes involving young drivers and the reasons that are likely to be the cause of them.

WNCT recently reported about several fatal accidents in Eastern Carolina, three of which occurred in a single day with one common factor. Young drivers were behind the wheel in each of the North Carolina car accidents.

Lack of experience is often a common cause of crashes involving young drivers. In these particular cases, it is believed that the driver being distracted was the cause since there were other passengers in the vehicle at the time of each accident. Backseat passengers can be especially distracting because a young driver can't see them.

The Daily Reflector reports on each of the incidents. The first crash involved an 18-year-old driver who drove off the left side of the road and crashed into the fencing around a cemetery before coming back on the roadway. The vehicle landed on its roof. The crash involved one other vehicle and resulted in one fatality and one seriously injured.

The second crash, also a two-vehicle accident, occurred a few hours later near D.H. Conley High School. Both drivers were sent to the hospital; one driver was rescued after being trapped in the vehicle. Later that evening a third crash occurred involving a single vehicle. The teen driver was estimated to be speeding 30mph over the speed limit when he lost control of the vehicle.

He hit a curb which caused his vehicle to roll-over. No fatalities occurred but one passenger was ejected from the vehicle during the crash. It was reported that all three passengers suffered some injuries.

The Center for the Study of Young Drivers was established in 2005 with the intention of improving the safety of young drivers. The Center's goal is to focus on and try to understand the numerous factors that contribute to the high number of crashes involving young drivers each year.

Current research involves the following studies:
-Examining the long-term effects of how graduated driver licensing has been improved and the changes that have been made.

-First ever study was recently completed on parental supervision of young drivers.

-Cameras have been mounted in the vehicles of young drivers to collect data, which provides scientists with an opportunity to study driver distractions, effects of passengers being in the car with the driver and parental supervision of young drivers.

-Scientists recently completed a study of whether a later start time for school would reduce the number of crashes among drowsy teen drivers.

-Numerous studies are being conducted on teen drivers using cell phones.

-CSYD relays information and findings to the Department of Transportation in order to reduce young driver crashes and fatalities.

Continue reading "Spring a Dangerous Time for Teen Car Accidents in Charlotte, Throughout North Carolina" »

Several national safety organizations are inviting teenagers to submit public-service announcements warning other young drivers of the dangers of distraction behind the wheel.

Our personal injury lawyers in Asheville and elsewhere understand the risk of distracted driving -- particularly when it comes to teens. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports 16 percent of all fatal crashes are caused by distraction and teenagers are most likely to take their eyes off the road while behind the wheel.

"A quarter of all teens admit to texting behind the wheel and, in 2009, the highest proportion of distracted drivers in fatal crashes was under the age of 20," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "We know we have to engage teens in order to put an end to distracted driving. With their help, we can educate teens and adults about making smarter choices that will save lives."

The "JST DRV" content is being sponsored by the National Road Safety Foundation and National Student Safety Program. Teens ages 14 to 18 are invited to submit a 15- or 30-second radio commercial. The winning announcement will be broadcast nationwide during National Youth Traffic Safety Month in May.

The winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship and a trip to Honolulu for the NSSP national youth conference this summer. Three runners-up will each receive a $500 scholarship and a Bluetooth device.

Contest deadline is March 25. Those wanting more information can visit www.nrsf.org or www.adtsea.org/nssp.

"The JST DRV Radio PSA Contest hopes to engage young people in communicating important messages about distracted driving in their own voice," said Michelle Anderson, operations director of the National Road Safety Foundation.

Continue reading "Teen contest aims to reduce risk of North Carolina car accidents caused by distracted driving" »

As our Charlotte car accident attorneys noted in an earlier posting to our North Carolina Car Accident Lawyers blog, vehicle blind spots contribute to a significant number of tragic pedestrian accidents involving children. Nationwide, more than 40 percent of such accidents involve children aged 5 and younger. Making matters worse, in most cases the driver is a parent, grandparent or family member who inadvertently strikes an out-of-sight child when backing up or pulling forward.

This type of accident has become such a concern that the U.S. Department of Transportation has proposed new vehicle safety regulations requiring an expanded field of view for all motor vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds.

On average, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates there are more than 290 fatalities and 18,000 injuries each year as a result of back-over accidents. The NHTSA is urging vehicle manufactures to install rear-mounted video cameras with in-vehicle displays, with 100 percent compliance by 2014.

"The steps we are taking today will help reduce back-over fatalities and injuries not only to children, but to the elderly, and other pedestrians," said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. Strickland further notes that while such changes will help diminish the risk of a back-over accident, "no technology can, or should, replace full attention and vigilance when backing up. Always know where your children are before you start your car and make sure you check that there is no one behind you before you back up."

The Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007 was named after a two-year-old boy struck and killed by his father in the family driveway. North Carolina Safe Kids offers a simple checklist that all motorists should run through before putting their vehicle in gear.

~ Implement a five-second rule: Before driving off, take five seconds to walk all the way around your vehicle to make sure no pets, children, toys or unseen obstacles are blocking your path.

~ Implement a five-foot rule: Teach children that driveways are not play areas. Create a no-kid "bubble-zone" around your vehicle. Have your kid use chalk or tape to mark off the no-tread area.

~ Implement a safe-spot rule: Designate a "safe spot" in your yard - that is visible to drivers - and teach kids to stand still and wait in that area until they are told the coast is clear. (Waiting until a moving vehicle has stopped moving is not license to leave the safe-spot!)

~ Implement a safe-driveway rule: Never let your kid play in or near a parked car or in a parking lot or driveway. Hold hands when walking to or from a vehicle or when walking through a parking lot. Teach your kids traffic safety and set a good example.

Continue reading "Government aims to reduce backover pedestrian accidents in North Carolina" »

While driving on the highway or a major roadway you should always be aware of blind spots with other vehicles behind you or to your side. While off the road, a tragic number of North Carolina car accidents involve children in the driveway.

Sport utility vehicles have become the vehicle of choice in most families. What most people don't realize is the risk involved with blind spots while driving these larger vehicles. More specifically the accidents that can occur on your own property with young children standing behind the vehicle as it is driven in reverse out of a driveway. Kids and Cars an organization founded in 1998, reports that from 2002-2007, 44 percent of non-traffic fatalities involving children under the age of 15 occurred because of backovers.

In July 2010, in Wayne County, North Carolina a 15-month-old child was critically injured while the father was moving his vehicle. As a result, Wayne Goodman, Chair of Safe Kids North Carolina, offered that doing a quick 5-second check around the vehicle prior to leaving could reduce the risk of injury or even save a young person's life.

Safe Kids North Carolina offers some helpful suggestions to help prevent the tragedy that can occur from backover accidents.

-Always maintain supervision when children are in your care.

-It is important to make sure your driveway is not conceived as a playground to small children by keeping all toys or sporting equipment removed when vehicles are parked.

-Create a barrier separating the play area from where the cars are parked or driven when entering or exiting the driveway.

-Maintaining a safe play area away from parked or running vehicles can ultimately save a life.

Continue reading "Blind spots are common cause for North Carolina car accidents" »

Our Raleigh injury attorneys commend the highway patrol for displaying at the North Carolina State Fair the car driven by a teenager killed in an Asheville car accident while text messaging earlier this year.

As we continue to report, car accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. When it comes to dangerous driving habits, teens are at risk for all of them, including distracted driving drunk driving, speeding, not wearing seat belts and riding with too many passengers in the vehicle.

But they are at particular risk for distracted driving car accidents caused by cell phones and text messaging. The government reports that teen drivers are more likely to text while driving than any other age group on the road. Nationwide, the government blames distracted driving for 5,474 deaths and 448,000 injuries last year.

Sixteen-year-old Ashley Johnson was on her way to an after-school volunteer session on May 10 when she was killed in a car accident while trying to read a text message, according to the North Carolina Highway Patrol.

Her car crossed the centerline and collided head on with a pickup truck.

Her father, Amos Johnson, hopes his daughter's crumpled BMW will help fairgoers understand nothing in a text message is worth dying for.

A recent survey by AAA found that about half of all teenagers admitted to either texting or using a cell phone while driving.

"Somebody's going to see this car, and they're going to stop texting and driving. I know they will," Amos Johnson said.

Continue reading "North Carolina State Fair displays wrecked vehicle involved in fatal Asheville car accident blamed on teen's text messaging " »

As her stepfather watched, the 11-year-old Northwest Elementary School student crossed N.C. Hwy. 150 North to collect the mail. The last thing he told her was to watch the road. It was just after 6 p.m. when the child was struck and killed in the North Carolina hit-and-run accident. Her body was thrown about 50 feet. The driver continued without braking, the dispatch.com reports.

One in five pedestrian fatalities is caused by a hit-and-run accident and 90 percent of incidents involve a single vehicle. Most accidents occur at non-intersections or on city streets, according to the National Traffic Safety Administration.

In the U.S. a pedestrian is killed because of a car accident every 107 minutes. Pedestrian fatalities are most common during Autumn as kids head back to school and adults and children alike enjoy the last weeks of nice weather. In 2006, 173 pedestrians died on North Carolina roadways after being struck by a car. Charlotte pedestrian accidents claimed 15 lives.

According to police reports, the 19-year-old driver was speeding - about 9 m.p.h. over the posted limit of 50 m.p.h. - and was located within four hours of the fatal accident. She was driving a 2002 Acura that sustained significant front-end damage. The investigation is ongoing and she has not yet been charged.

The family reported that the child was taken off life support about 24 hours after the accident. Aside from her parents and grandparents, she leaves behind a five-year-old brother and a baby due in five weeks.

If you walk, jog or stroll alongside North Carolina roadways, here are a few simple tips from the UNC Highway Safety Research Center that can help you stand out and potentially save your life:

~ Don't jaywalk. In other words, before crossing the street, think like you are behind the wheel and follow traffic laws and signage instructions. Use designated crosswalks. Don't walk on the freeway.

~ Be visible. Wear light colors and retro-reflective material. If it's dark - use a flashlight.

~ Pay attention, and act like drivers are not. When possible, make eye contact with drivers before entering a roadway to help communicate your intention.

Continue reading "11-year-old girl killed in North Carolina hit-and-run car accident" »

Carolina Parent recently published an informative article about parents dealing with young teen drivers.

As we reported last month on our North Carolina Car Accident Lawyers Blog, teenagers are at the highest risk of any age group when it comes to being involved in a serious or fatal car accident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that car accidents are the leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 20.

Fatal North Carolina car accidents involving teenagers killed more than 180 motorists last year. While more than 100 motorists died as a result of South Carolina car accidents involving young drivers.

Carolina Parent's article, "Before you hand over the keys," provides parents with several safety and insurance tips:

-Vehicle Ownership: North Carolina's Family Purpose Doctrine can hold a vehicle's owners responsible for a driver's negligence. The law applies whenever a driver is using the car for a family purpose, such as going to the store or running errands. Titling a car in a child's name may best protect a family's assets in the event of an accident.

Insurance Options: Options include adding a teen to your insurance policy or helping a teenage driver obtain his or her own insurance policy. Premiums can be lower for teens who are added to a family policy but there are also liability issues that may be best discussed with a local attorney.

How much coverage: The minimum amount required by law is 30/60/25, meaning $30,000 for any one person injured by a driver, $60,000 for all injured parties combined, and $25,000 in property damage coverage per accident. However, these limits may be nowhere near enough for a serious accident. Setting aside medical expenses, the property liability alone could well exceed $25,000 in the event that a child is involved in an accident with a new Mercedes.

New cars Teens are likely to suffer a few scrapes and bumps on the way to learning to drive. Safe used cars are the best option. As North Carolina child injury lawyers, we also encourage parents to focus on purchasing a larger, safer vehicle for a teenager -- skip the high performance sports cars.

Staying Safe: Speaking early and often with your teenager about the dangers of driving and safe driving habits can help them appreciate the risks associated with climbing behind the wheel.

Continue reading "Teens at high risk of being involved in a North Carolina car accidents" »

Authorities hope a new series of public service announcements will help reduce the risk of North Carolina car accidents involving teenagers who text message while behind the wheel.

The Charlotte Observer interviewed a number of teenagers who said the video was hard to watch.

It depicts teenagers in a car, texting and talking. The ride turns deadly as the teenagers in the car are injured or killed in an accident, along with the family in the other car involved in the wreck.

Authorities are hoping such an in-your-face message will make the point: Distracted driving has become a deadly serious problem on the nation's roads. The number of fatal accidents nationwide has declined from 42,836 in 2004 to 37,261 in 2008. But the number of traffic fatalities blamed on distracted driving has actually increased about 25 percent, from 4,978 in 2004 to 5,870 in 2008, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.

The new video by AAA has gotten mixed reviews because of its graphic nature. However, the agency is making no apologies.

"It's one thing to tell people not to text and drive. By eliciting an emotional response, we hope this video will change deadly distracted driving behavior," said Dave Parsons, CEO of AAA Carolinas, through a news release.

The federal government's distracted driving website reports that more than 6,000 motorists are killed each year and 600,000 are injured in accidents caused by distracted driving. Younger, inexperienced drivers under the age of 20 have the highest rate of distraction-related fatal crashes. Those ages 20 to 29 have the next-highest rate of fatal accidents caused by distracted driving.

Both age groups are among the most likely to text or use a cell phone while driving.

Continue reading "Officials hope graphic video helps reduce North Carolina car accidents caused by text messaging " »

A 17-year-old Raleigh teenager has agreed to plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the wake of a North Carolina car accident that claimed the life of a friend, ABC News reported.

Our North Carolina injury lawyers continue to report the dangers our teenagers face while behind the wheel. Car accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers ages 15 to 20, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In 2008, a total of 2,739 teen drivers were killed in car accidents nationwide.

North Carolina car accidents involving teenagers claimed 250 lives, while South Carolina car accidents involving young drivers killed 141 motorists. Our North Carolina Car Accident Lawyers Blog has published a number of resources for parents who wish to speak with their teenagers about the risks they face on the road.

In this case, the North Carolina Highway Patrol reports the young driver was traveling 85 to 90 mph when he lost control of a 1996 Chevy Camaro on Puryear Road near the intersection of Marks Creek. The accident killed a 16-year-old passenger. The teens were on lunch break from East Wake High School at the time of the crash.

A judge sentenced the teenager to 10 days in jail and three years of probation.

Continue reading "Teen pleads guilty after North Carolina car accident claims life of friend " »

Authorities are expected to be out in force to reduce the risk of drunk driving car accidents in North Carolina and South Carolina over the long Fourth of July weekend.

While New Year's Eve gets all the attention, fatal accident statistics show that Fourth of July and Thanksgiving have become the deadliest holidays on the nation's roads, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Nationwide, the federal government reports that someone dies in a drunk driving accident every 45 minutes. Alcohol was involved in 500 of the 1,433 fatal North Carolina car accidents reported in 2008. South Carolina car accidents involving alcohol resulted in half of all traffic deaths in 2008 --463 of 920 fatal accidents.

The USA Today reported that North Carolina teenagers are at particularly high risk for driving accidents. More than 680 teenagers have been killed in the past four years, prompting the North Carolina Highway Patrol's Drive to Live 2010 program. The program provides parents with a driving agreement they can download and enter into with their teenage drivers.

While statistics show that Fourth of July was not the deadliest in North and South Carolina in 2008 (the last year for which statistics are available), drunk driving, heavy traffic and the long holiday weekend will increase the risk of being involved in a serious or fatal traffic accident.

The federal government's Safe Summer Driving Tips are available here.

Fatal 2008 Holiday Accidents

New Years: 104

Memorial Day: 370

Fourth of July: 437

Labor Day: 423

Thanksgiving: 439

Christmas: 364

New Year's Eve: 37

Fatal holiday car accidents in North Carolina in 2008

New Year's: 7

Memorial Day: 10

Fourth of July: 12

Labor Day: 15

Thanksgiving: 14

Christmas: 14

New Year's Eve: 2

Fatal holiday car accidents in South Carolina in 2008

New Year's: 1

Memorial Day: 8

Fourth of July: 9

Labor Day: 14

Thanksgiving: 14

Christmas: 9

Continue reading "North Carolina car accidents a concern over Fourth of July -- drunk driving to be targeted " »

Tragically, yesterday, a car crash involving a North Carolina trooper claimed the lives of two people. According to media reports, a 56-year-old woman and an 11-year-old girl died in Guilford County after their vehicle was hit by a patrol car driven by a trooper who was chasing another driver. Two other children who had also been passengers in the woman's car were injured and required hospitalization.

Last week, Raleigh's ABC11 News reported that in 2009, North Carolina Highway Patrol troopers were involved in an average of 7 North Carolina car crashes a week. According to the report, that number represented a 44% increase over the number of similar crashes reported for 2008. ABC News also noted that 3 people had been killed in car crashes involving troopers in 2009; many more were injured, and some of them sued the Highway Patrol, arguing that the troopers' negligence was responsible for their injuries, property damage, or emotional distress.

In a recent study, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia evaluated 334 parents whose children had been injured in traffic accidents and had been hospitalized as a result. The study found that one month after the injury, 37% of the parents were experiencing what the study called "significant traumatic stress symptoms." The study's lead author emphasized the fact that a traumatic injury to a child impacts the entire family, and stressed the need for the other family members, especially the parents, to find support for themselves as well, as they help the children recover. A website set up by the Children's Hospital, www.AfterTheInjury.org, offers tips for parents whose children have suffered traumatic injuries, as well as other resources to help families handle the consequences of such accidents.

Continue reading "North Carolina Child and Woman Killed, Two Others Injured, in Collision with Highway Patrol Car" »