The most common cause of death in the US for people between the ages of five and 24 is car crashes, and a large percentage of accidents are caused by impaired driving. Drunk driving is a serious problem across the entire country, but some states have a bigger issue than others when it comes to DUI deaths.
Continue reading “South Carolina Is Second in the Country for DUI Deaths (2020)”South Carolina Is Second in the Country for DUI Deaths
The most common cause of death in the US for people between the ages of five and 24 is car crashes, and a large percentage of accidents are caused by impaired driving. Drunk driving is a serious problem across the entire country, but some states have a bigger issue than others when it comes to DUI deaths.
Unfortunately, a report from the security company SafeWise found that South Carolina has the second highest rate of DUI deaths per capita.
Continue reading “South Carolina Is Second in the Country for DUI Deaths”The Dangers of Driving While Live Video Streaming (2020)
First time offenders of the new bill face a $50 fine, and second-timers double to $100. For three or more offenses, the cost goes up to $150 per offense. More than 12 other states have passed similar laws. The majority of them reportedly experiencing a decrease in traffic-related deaths.
A crucial aspect of this type of legislation is the factor of live video streaming.
Continue reading “The Dangers of Driving While Live Video Streaming (2020)”Fraudulent Vehicle Accidents in Charleston
Signs You’ve Been Victimized and What to Do Next
Last updated September 16, 2022
There are about 17,000 car accidents across the country each day. Most of us do our best to avoid traffic crashes. But did you know that some motor vehicle accidents are staged? You may be surprised to learn just how common fraudulent car accidents are.
Continue reading “Fraudulent Vehicle Accidents in Charleston”The Takata Airbag Recall: Plans for Safety in a Car Accident Might Explode in Your Face
If you own a vehicle with a Takata airbag, you could be putting your life in the wrong hands. Imagine the shock of an auto collision; the impact of steel and fiberglass at 25 miles per hour.
Now, imagine that your accident was a minor fender bender. The most trusted safety feature, the airbag, deployed. And when it deployed, it exploded . Shrapnel from the sudden failure blew into your face and body.
Continue reading “The Takata Airbag Recall: Plans for Safety in a Car Accident Might Explode in Your Face”What Did the Doctor Say to the Insurance Company?
Imagine this:
Jane is a young woman driving herself home from work after a long day. She is exhausted and distracted by her workload. As she approaches a traffic light, the message notification on her phone dings. She quickly glances down instinctively. It’s her husband asking what she what wants to do for dinner.
In that moment, as Jane is trying to multitask between driving, handling her job stress, and her dinner plans, the light changes from green to yellow, then red. But, Jane isn’t paying attention and she passes through the light.
Continue reading “What Did the Doctor Say to the Insurance Company?”Serious Head Injuries Caused By Charleston Auto Crashes
Last updated November 12, 2022
While federal agencies such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration compile statistics on motor vehicle accidents and the number of people killed or injured, there is no national database that specifically tracks head injuries and resulting traumatic brain injuries. Here are some things we do know, however, from government statistics, neuroscientists, and consumer safety studies regarding head injuries caused from auto collisions:
- Millions of people suffer head injuries each year, most of which are minor because of the protection the skull provides the brain. The symptoms of these minor injuries usually disappear on their own.
- Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of all head injuries. These accidents cause about 28% of traumatic brain injuries.
- Traffic accidents account for half (49%) of the 500,000 head injuries serious enough to require hospitalization each year.
- Traumatic brain injuries cause about a third (34%) of all injury deaths in the United States.
- There is increasing scientific evidence that brain damage can be caused by head injuries even when there has been no loss of consciousness. The result can be not only long-term physical disability, but emotional, intellectual, and social trauma.
South Carolina Head Injury Classifications
Generally, head injuries are classified as either open or closed:
- Open Injuries: Open head injuries are those incurred when an object fractures and goes into the skull. In a traffic wreck, for example, this can happen when a driver or passenger goes through the windshield.
- Closed Injuries: A closed head injury is one where an accident or object causes a strong blow to the head, but the skull is not broken. For example, this could happen to a driver who hits the steering wheel or another hard component of a car. Perhaps the most common kind of traumatic brain injury is a concussion, a closed-head injury that occurs when the brain is shaken back and forth in the skull by the impact of a motor vehicle accident.
Diagnosis of a Serious Head Injury Following a Car Wreck
If you hit your head in a car collision, do not be tempted to dismiss the possibility of a traumatic brain injury without being checked by a medical professional. You should get medical help immediately if you or anyone else in the accident:
- Becomes drowsy
- Behaves abnormally
- Has a stiff neck
- Develops a severe headache
- Loses consciousness – even briefly
- Vomits
According to the National Institutes of Health Medline Plus, you require emergency treatment if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Loss of consciousness or drowsiness
- Convulsions
- Impaired hearing, smell, taste, or vision
- Clear or bloody fluid running from your nose, ears, or mouth
- Changes in size of your pupils
- Skull fracture or swelling, or scalp wound
- Facial fracture or bruising
- Inability to move arms or legs or lack of coordination
- Low blood pressure or rate of breathing
- Severe headache or stiff neck
- Slurred speech or blurred vision
- Vomiting
- Confusion or irritability
Of course, this isn’t an exhaustive list. If you have any unexpected or worsening symptoms, you should contact your doctor or visit an emergency room or urgent care facility.
Call a North Charleston Auto Collision Attorney
If you or a passenger sustained a serious head injury after a South Carolina car wreck, you need to speak to an experienced North Charleston auto collision attorney as soon as possible. The attorneys at the Hartman Law Firm L.L.C. are prepared to review your case today and to assist you in negotiating an insurance settlement or, if no agreement can be reached, to file a lawsuit on your behalf under South Carolina law. Call us today for a free, no-obligation evaluation of your case at 843-300-7600.
Serious Head Injuries Caused by Charleston Auto Crashes
While federal agencies such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration compile statistics on motor vehicle accidents and the number of people killed or injured, there is no national database that specifically quantifies head injuries and resulting traumatic brain injuries. Here are some things we do know, however, from government statistics, neuroscientists, and consumer safety studies regarding head injuries caused from auto collisions:
- Millions of people suffer head injuries each year, most of which are minor because of the protection the skull provides the brain. The symptoms of these minor injuries usually disappear on their own.
- Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of all head injuries. These accidents cause about 28% of traumatic brain injuries.
- Traffic accidents account for half (49%) of the 500,000 head injuries serious enough to require hospitalization each year.
- Traumatic brain injuries cause about a third (34%) of all injury deaths in the United States.
- There is increasing scientific evidence that brain damage can be caused by head injuries even when there has been no loss of consciousness. The result can be not only long-term physical disability, but emotional, intellectual, and social trauma.
South Carolina Head Injury Classifications
Generally, head injuries are classified as either open or closed:
- Open Injuries: Open head injuries are those incurred when an object fractures and goes into the skull. In a traffic wreck, for example, this can happen when a driver or passenger goes through the windshield.
- Closed Injuries: A closed head injury is one where an accident or object causes a strong blow to the head, but the skull is not broken. For example, this could happen to a driver who hits the steering wheel or another hard component of a car. Perhaps the most common kind of traumatic brain injury is a concussion, a closed-head injury that occurs when the brain is shaken back and forth in the skull by the impact of a motor vehicle accident.
Diagnosis of a Serious Head Injury Following a Car Wreck
If you hit your head in a car collision, do not be tempted to dismiss the possibility of a traumatic brain injury without being checked by a medical professional. You should get medical help immediately if you or anyone else in the accident:
- Becomes drowsy
- Behaves abnormally
- Has a stiff neck
- Develops a severe headache
- Loses consciousness – even briefly
- Vomits
According to the National Institutes of Health Medline Plus, you require emergency treatment if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Loss of consciousness or drowsiness
- Convulsions
- Impaired hearing, smell, taste, or vision
- Clear or bloody fluid running from your nose, ears, or mouth
- Changes in size of your pupils
- Skull fracture or swelling, or scalp wound
- Facial fracture or bruising
- Inability to move arms or legs or lack of coordination
- Low blood pressure or rate of breathing
- Severe headache or stiff neck
- Slurred speech or blurred vision
- Vomiting
• Confusion or irritability
Of course, this isn’t an exhaustive list. If you have any unexpected or worsening symptoms, you should contact your doctor or visit an emergency room or urgent care facility.
Call a North Charleston Auto Collision Attorney
If you or a passenger sustained a serious head injury after a South Carolina car wreck, you need to speak to an experienced North Charleston auto collision attorney as soon as possible. The attorneys at the Hartman Law Firm L.L.C. are prepared to review your case today and to assist you in negotiating an insurance settlement or, if no agreement can be reached, to file a lawsuit on your behalf under South Carolina law. Call us today for a free, no-obligation evaluation of your case at 843-300-7600.
Alcohol-Related Trucking Accidents
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), accidents involving drunk drivers are responsible for roughly one-third of all traffic-related deaths in the United States. Every day, almost 30 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. This amounts to one death every 51 minutes. When the accident involves a large commercial truck, the risk of fatalities is even higher.
Continue reading “Alcohol-Related Trucking Accidents”Jackknifed Trucks: A Dangerous Situation often Caused by Truck Driver Error
Jackknife accidents are a type of accident that are specific to articulated vehicles, which are vehicles that are made up of multiple segments attached by a movable joint. When a semi-truck jackknifes, the trailer folds in against the cab, often coming to rest fully against the cab of the truck. A truck that has jackknifed is virtually impossible to control, making it extremely dangerous to any other motorists in the vicinity. Under South Carolina law victims of jackknife accidents caused by someone else’s negligence are generally entitled to compensation.
Continue reading “Jackknifed Trucks: A Dangerous Situation often Caused by Truck Driver Error“