According to reports, the South Carolina woman was driving down a wooded and windy section of road when she hit "something," but failed to stop to see what she had hit. She came back later with her boyfriend to see what had happened and discovered her friend on the roadway and left again. During the first 911 call, dispatchers heard the woman and her boyfriend talking about the fact that she had been drinking and driving at the time of the incident.
]]> Her boyfriend then made a second 911 call from the scene, where he could be heard attempting to revive the victim. He told dispatchers that he happened upon the victim as he was driving past and there were no other cars in the vicinity. He said he was alone.The victim's brother attended the woman's bond hearing. He believes she is a threat to the safety of the community. Regardless of the outcome of the criminal case, the family of the victim may file a wrongful death claim in connection with the loss of their loved one in this car accident. Being awarded monetary compensation won't bring her back, but it may give the victim's family some sense of justice and closure.
Source: GoUpstate.com, "Colleen Adaire Casey still in custody in fatal hit-and-run crash," May 9, 2013
]]>The driver of the car lost control of his vehicle and slammed into a tree. Even though the driver was properly restrained at the time of the accident, it wasn't enough to keep the driver from suffering fatal injuries. The driver has not yet been identified.
]]> The driver of the tractor did not stop after the collision. Police were able to locate the tractor and its driver who has since been charged with fleeing the scene of the accident and driver over the center line. He was taken to the Lexington County Detention Center.The family of the victim retains the right to file a wrongful death claim against the driver to recover the costs and damages they have incurred as the result of the car accident. The driver of the tractor is having to learn the hard way that it is just as important to pay attention to the rules of the road when driving farm equipment as it is when driving any other street legal vehicle. Even though he may have driven that rural South Carolina road on his tractor hundreds of times before, it only takes one careless moment to end the life of another motorist.
Source: thestate.com, "Driver killed after collision with plow in Lexington County," May 3, 2013
]]>An accident reconstruction team first ruled out any impairment on the part of the driver of the Jeep. Several officers at the scene of the accident that day did not see any indications that the driver was impaired, and toxicology results have supported those suppositions. Further investigation has resulted in police coming to the conclusion that speed was also not a factor in this crash. It has also been discovered that the driver of the Jeep was not using his cell phone when the accident happened.
]]> Through their investigation, police feel they have ruled out the possibility of charging the driver of the Jeep with crimes such as involuntary manslaughter, reckless driving and even vehicular homicide. According to authorities, the crime that best fits the facts of this case turns out to be careless driving. So, that is what the driver has been charged with by authorities.Fortunately, for the victims and others impacted by this accident, South Carolina law provides for victims of car accidents to file separate civil actions against the party or parties deemed responsible. In this case, the deceased victim's family and the critically injured victim have the right to file civil action against the driver in addition to the criminal charge. Not only is it possible to recover the costs and damages incurred as a result of the car accident, but it may also be possible for the injured pedestrian and the deceased pedestrian's family members to feel they have achieved some of their own justice in this tragedy.
Source: wjbf.com, "Charges Filed In Deadly York Street Crash," April 19, 2013
]]>When emergency personnel arrived at the scene of the accident between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m., the vehicle that struck the woman was nowhere to be found. Despite the efforts of medical personnel at an area hospital, the victim as not able to survive the injuries she sustained and died about an hour after she was struck. By around 6:30 a.m., police had the vehicle involved in the accident. By 3:00 p.m., the woman they believe had been driving that vehicle was booked into the jail.
]]> The South Carolina Highway Patrol and its accident reconstruction team are investigating the accident. Once they have completed their investigation, it is possible that the driver could end up being charged with additional crimes. However, criminal action is not the only court action the driver could face.The driver may also find herself in civil court as the defendant in a wrongful death claim. The victim's family has the right to file such a claim in connection with the car accident under our state laws. No amount of monetary compensation will ever be able to erase the loss of a loved one, but it may help give the family a sense of peace and justice in connection with her death.
Source: GoUpstate.com, "Authorities investigating fatal hit-and-run crash in Spartanburg County," Jenny Arnold, April 22, 2013
]]>The South Carolina Highway Patrol was looking for a silver Chevy Malibu and its driver. Troopers received a tip that led them to both the car and its driver within days of the accident. That person has been charged with fleeing the scene of the accident, but troopers anticipate more charges may be forthcoming.
]]> When the motorcycle was hit by the car, it was sent flying into a utility pole. The impact killed both the woman's husband and her son. It is not known whether the woman has yet found the answers she is seeking from the man police believe caused the accident.This tragic motorcycle accident has forever changed the life of this South Carolina woman. She will never again be able to see her husband and has been denied the right the watch her son grow up. She has the right to file a wrongful death claim against the driver; and a successfully navigated civil lawsuit may give her some sense of peace that she was able to obtain some justice on behalf of her family.
Source: foxcarolina.com, "Troopers make arrest in double-fatal hit-and-run crash," Casey Vaughn, April 16, 2013
]]>The indictment charges the 19-year-old with fleeing the scene that resulted in death. At the time of the accident, the driver was found, arrested and charged with fleeing the scene and reckless homicide. It would appear that the grand jury did not agree that those charges were warranted.
]]> The driver had been heading westbound on S.C. 544 when he struck the victim and then drove away from the scene. Even though he left the scene, police were able to locate him a little while later. No criminal record could be found for him in South Carolina.The family of the deceased teen has had to learn to adjust to a life without her in it. There are many things the girl and her family will now never get to experience together as a result of the fatal accident. If they are able to prove in court that the accused man was negligent and that his negligent conduct caused or contributed to the victim's death, they may be awarded the costs and damages sustained as a result of their loss. Out-of-pocket expenses such as funeral costs are recoverable in a civil action along with other damages allowed under our state laws.
Source: myrtlebeachonline.com, "N.Y. teen indicted in fatal hit-and-run crash death of CCU student," Tonya Root, April 3, 2013
]]>For instance, a South Carolina man was recently killed in a one vehicle crash. He had entrusted his life to the driver, and ended up being killed in a car accident. From what has thus far been pieced together by authorities, the driver was going way to fast and ended up off of the road. The vehicle hit several mail boxes before slamming into a tree.
]]> At last report, the driver of the vehicle was still in critical condition at an area hospital. Even though the passenger was wearing his seat belt, he was fatally injured in the crash. The coroner was able to confirm through an autopsy that trauma sustained by the victim was a result of the accident.The deceased passenger's family has the right under our state laws to file a wrongful death claim against the driver. In order to prevail in a civil action, the family will need to show sufficient evidence to the court that the driver was negligent and that the driver's negligence caused or contributed to the death of their loved one. If they succeed, they may be awarded financial compensation by the court and possibly some sense of peace.
Source: wistv.com, "Passenger dies, driver critical after single-vehicle crash," Jason Old, March 25, 2013
]]>According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, the motorcycle rider swerved to dodge an animal that was in the road. When she did, she lost control and fell off her bike. As she was lying in the road, she was hit by two vehicles.
]]> The drivers of the two vehicles that hit the woman were not injured. However, the motorcycle rider was not as lucky. She was pronounced dead at the scene having suffered severe trauma to her body. She had not been wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. Authorities are still investigating and are awaiting results of toxicology tests.It is unknown if any charges will be filed or citations will be issued in connection with this tragic motorcycle accident. The rider's family does retain the right to file a wrongful death claim against the party or parties deemed responsible for her death. If the family is able to provide the court with evidence that their loved one's death was the result of the negligent actions of another, the court may award them the costs and damages they incurred as the result of her death. Being awarded monetary compensation for the death of a loved one won't bring that victim back, but it may help the family recover from the financial impact that death caused.
Source: Aiken Standard, "Victim in Thursday night collision identified," March 15, 2013
]]>According to preliminary reports from the South Carolina Highway Patrol, a car and logging truck were both heading west on U.S. 521 when a tanker truck heading in the opposite direction crossed the center line for an as yet unknown reason. As a result, the tanker sideswiped both logging truck and the car. The logging truck was thankfully empty at the time, but the tanker was carrying some sort of "explosive material" and police deemed the road to dangerous for traffic.
]]> The driver of the logging truck was injured and taken to an area hospital for treatment. His current condition is not known. The driver of the car was not as lucky. She died as a result of the injuries she sustained in the accident.Authorities have not said whether they will be charging the driver of the tanker truck in connection with this truck and car accident. However, the injured truck driver and the family of the deceased woman both have the right to file and pursue a civil action against the tanker truck driver and possibly his employer. If it can be shown that the party or parties deemed responsible for the accident were negligent and that caused or contributed to the injury or death of the victims, the court may award costs and damages to the victim and the deceased victim's family.
Source: SCNow.com, "Georgetown woman killed in early morning Williamsburg County wreck," Christopher McKagen, March 18, 2013
]]>The accident occurred on U.S. 176 not far from Cane Bay High School. The woman driving the vehicle that hit the boy fled the scene. As the South Carolina Highway Patrol was investigating the accident, the driver returned to the scene.
]]> The driver was originally charged with fleeing the scene of an accident, aggravated by the fact that the teenager died as a result of the injuries he sustained. Recently, she pleaded to fleeing the scene of an accident, but the aggravating circumstance was only "minor injury." At the time the woman was arrested, the family of the victim was shocked that the judge released her on a personal recognizance bond. Their reaction to the woman's sentence was not reported.However, if their reaction to the personal recognizance bond is any indication, it is possible that they did not receive much closure from the result of the criminal proceedings. The victim's family does, however, retain the right to pursue a wrongful death claim against the driver. If they are able to prove that the driver was negligent in a manner that caused the fatality, the family may be awarded costs and damages sustained as a result of this fatal accident. Certainly, no amount of money will ever undo the tragedy that befell this young man and his family, but it may give the family some sense of peace that they held the person responsible for his death fully accountable under the laws of our state.
Source: wistv.com, "Woman sentenced to 2 years probation for fatal hit-and-run," March 11, 2013
]]>Police have discovered that the victim was just blocks from his home when he was run down by a vehicle. His body was found in a ditch and may not have been readily visible from the road, especially in the dark. Authorities suspect that the car that the witness saw idling was the car that hit the victim.
]]> An accident reconstruction team with the South Carolina Highway Patrol is assisting local authorities in their quest to find the vehicle that struck the victim. Authorities have a suspect in the case, but are still looking for anyone that may have information about the accident. The vehicle they are looking for would have damage to the right front.While authorities conduct their investigation, the family of the victim has been forced to bury him prematurely. The family may also exercise their right to file a wrongful death claim against the party responsible for the fatal accident that ripped their loved one from them. The family may be able to recover the out-of-pocket expenses such as funeral costs that they have incurred as a result of the victim's untimely death. In order to prevail in a civil action, the family will need to show that the driver that ran down their loved one was negligent and that that driver's actions caused or contributed to his death.
Source: Anderson Independent Mail, "Authorities: Liberty woman suspect in fatal hit-and-run," Mike Ellis, Feb. 27, 2013
]]>Reports indicate that the coach was forced to swerve in order to avoid a collision with a vehicle that had pulled out in front of her on Highway 52 from a convenience store. As a result of that action, her vehicle overturned. The driver of that vehicle did not stop and is the driver police now have in custody.
]]> At first, the South Carolina Highway Patrol thought that the coach had voluntarily exited her vehicle in order to look at the damage done in the accident. They now believe she had been thrown from her vehicle in the accident since she was not properly restrained. As she lay in the roadway, another vehicle hit her and also failed to stop. There were three other occupants in her vehicle that were taken to an area hospital to have their injuries treated.When asked to comment about the arrest of the driver that pulled out in front of his wife, the deceased woman's husband indicated that he would not want to take a mother away from her children. However, that may not stop him from filing a wrongful death claim against the drivers deemed responsible for her death. Monetary compensation will never replace the loss of his wife, but it may help defray the costs and damages sustained in connection with this fatal auto accident. If her husband is able to show that the drivers were negligent and that their actions caused or contributed to the death of his wife, the court may award him those costs and damages.
Source: wistv.com, "Funeral to be held this weekend for coach killed in hit-and-run," Ray Rivera and Sujata Jain, Feb. 19, 2013
]]>The accident occurred on US 17 in Horry County. The driver that has been indicted was apparently driving in the wrong direction on the highway. As a result, his vehicle slammed into another vehicle. The force and energy of the impact caused both vehicles to careen toward and into a truck.
]]> The occupants of the second vehicle had to be extricated by emergency personnel. Once they were free, they were taken to an area hospital to be treated for their injuries. Their current condition is not known. It is not known whether anyone in the truck was injured.Police that responded to the scene suspected that the driver that had been traveling the wrong way may have been drunk. Field sobriety tests and a Breathalyzer test were performed; and those initial tests indicated that the man was impaired at the time of the accident. The South Carolina Highway Patrol shut down the highway for a couple of hours to conduct the investigation.
The man has been indicted on charges of DUI with death and DUI with injury. If the driver is convicted of these charges, the family of the deceased passenger and anyone injured in the car accident may submit proof of that conviction as evidence of the driver's negligence in a related civil action. A successful civil lawsuit could lead to the recovery of out-of-pocket expenses incurred in this accident such as medical bills, lost wages and funeral costs. A court could also award other monetary damages allowed under our state laws that the court deems are applicable.
Source: MyrtleBeachOnline.com, "Loris man indicted in fatal 2010 crash that killed 28-year-old passenger," Tonya Root, Feb. 13, 2013
]]>The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating an accident involving a North Charleston police officer that is recovering in an area hospital. The preliminary investigation has revealed that the officer hydroplaned on his way to a call, lost control of his cruiser and hit a pole. Emergency personnel had to free the officer from his vehicle.
]]> Even though the officer's injuries were considered non-life threatening, it was reported that he was still in the hospital. How long it will take the officer to recover from his injuries may not yet be known. While the officer recovers, he may be accumulating out-of-pocket expenses and lost wages. These monetary losses may not be covered through sick time and medical insurance.As with other South Carolina workers hurt on the job, the officer may be entitled to workers' compensation benefits. The officer may benefit from advice to ensure that he receives all of the benefits he is entitled to in connection with his injuries. When an employee is injured on the job, the last thing he or she should have to worry about is whether the bills will be paid. Understanding and applying for workers' compensation benefits can be confusing and time consuming. Having advice and assistance through to the process may alleviate unneeded stress and anxiety during recovery from an injury.
Source: live5news.com, "N. Charleston cop recovering at MUSC after wreck," Feb. 8, 2013
]]>The police investigation suggests that the woman was driving east down I-526 when she veered into the highway median. The woman slammed into a Jeep as she tried to get back onto the roadway. As her vehicle was spinning out of control, the Jeep rolled over numerous times.
]]> The rolling of the Jeep caused the driver to be thrown from the vehicle. When police arrived at the scene, the driver was dead in front of the Jeep. The passenger in the Jeep was severely injured and was taken to an area hospital; the passenger's current condition is unknown. The South Carolina woman and her passenger reportedly did not suffer any serious injuries as a result of the accident.The deceased driver's family and the seriously injured passenger have the right to file civil actions against the driver in addition to the criminal charges she is currently facing. Out-of-pocket expenses that are typically recoverable in these civil actions include medical bills, lost wages and funeral costs incurred in connection with this horrible car accident. If it can be shown that the driver was negligent and that her actions caused death and/or injury, a court may award those costs and other damages that are allowed by our state laws. There is no way to put right what went wrong that day, but monetary compensation may help with the financial recovery caused by the crash.
Source: WBTW, "SC woman charged in fatal DUI crash has previous DUI charge," Jan. 28, 2013
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