Teenage Drivers

South Carolina State Representative Don Bowen is supporting a ban on texting while driving. Different versions of the bill have failed over the past two years. However, two recent collisions and a recommendation by the National Transportation Safety Board may sway people to support the bill, which says drivers face a fine of $100 and 2 points off their driving record if caught texting while driving. They could face a $10,000 fine and as many as 10 years in prison if there is a fatal collision.  One particular collision involving a 22-year-old who had high blood alcohol content and was texting previous to the collision. His father is pushing for lawmakers to support the bill which bans texting in South Carolina, according to news reports. Don Bowen says, “We need to have a strong law that pertains to texting, especially when somebody’s killed or dismembered in an accident that’s caused by texting.”

As a Columbia personal injury attorney, I look forward to hearing more about this bill. I hope nobody is harmed in an accident caused by a texting driver. I always discourage drivers from distractions. If you or a loved one were harmed in a crash caused by recklessness, discuss your case with a personal injury attorney.

Prior to a collision that resulted in four injuries, a 17-year-old girl had bought alcohol using someone else’s driver’s license. The investigation revealed that the teen had purchased alcohol using the ID three times. She was identified in liquor store video surveillance footage. The woman she stole the license from had lost it around a year and half ago, and is not sure how it entered the possession of the suspect. According to news reports, it was determined there was alcohol inside her vehicle at the time of the wreck. There will be no criminal charges at this time.

As a car accident attorney Walterboro, I hope those who were injured in this collision heal quickly and fully. If you, or someone you know, were hurt in a crash, contact a personal injury lawyer who can evaluate your claim and discuss your rights, along with answer your legal questions relating to the case. A personal injury lawyer can guide you through the case to help ensure your rights are protected.

Before a fatal collision, a teenager sent or received 11 texts in the 11 minutes. The 19-year-old crashed his pickup into the back of a tractor-trailer, which resulted in a chain-reaction and caused two school buses to collide. A 15-year-old student on-board a bus and pickup truck driver were also killed in the collision. The NTSB chairman said the crash represents a “big red flag for all drivers.”

Revised recommendations on restricting driver use of electronic devices while driving will soon be released. The state where the collision occurred, Missouri, had a law that banned drivers under 21 from texting and driving, but it wasn’t  enforced. Current recommendations say cell phones are not recommended for use by commercial truck drivers, bus drivers, and beginning drivers, but they have not yet to made a recommendation for all drivers. According to news reports, investigators also believe the pickup truck driver was experiencing fatigue prior to the crash.

As a Charleston auto accident attorney, I always urge motorists to avoid distracted driving. There are many other methods drivers can use to avoid making a dangerous mistake, such as using a hands-free system, having a passenger send and read txt messages for you, pull over on the side of the road, or using an app that auto-responds so you will get back to them when you aren’t on the road. If you or a loved one experienced a car wreck, discuss your case with a personal injury attorney.

A teenager hospitalized after a collision is finally coming home this weekend. The other teen involved in the wreck is undergoing further rehab for spinal-cord and brain injuries. The wreck is currently under investigation by police, who believe alcohol was involved in the wreck that resulted in the death of a 17-year-old driver. Others injured in the wreck include a teen receiving treatment for neck, hip, and spinal injuries. Authorities will continue to investigate as the teens recover from their injuries. The wreck happened November 17th when a driver veered the car off the road and slammed into a tree, according to news reports.

As an Orangeburg auto accident attorney, my thoughts are with the family of the teenagers involved in this auto accident. I hope nobody else was hurt in this collision. If you or a loved one were injured in an auto accident, discuss your case with a personal injury attorney who can assess your case and help protect your legal rights, and answer any important legal questions you may have regarding your claim. A personal injury lawyer can help walk you through your case by assisting you with the legal processes involved with case in order to reach the best possible results for your claim.

News agencies reported that a 12-year-old child was knocked unconscious during an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) accident in the Conway area Tuesday afternoon.

Initial reports from the Horry County Fire Rescue stated that the 12-year-old was riding in a golf cart at the time of the accident, however it has since been confirmed that the vehicle involved was an ATV. Details about the cause of the accident are still unavailable, but it is known that the child was ejected from the vehicle during the accident on Hampton Road and knocked unconscious upon impact with the ground. At the time of this release, South Carolina Highway Patrol officials were still investigating the scene.

The 12-year-old was taken by helicopter to the Medical University of South Carolina in stable condition. It is unknown whether or not the child was wearing a helmet at the time of the incident.

As a Florence personal injury attorney, I’m glad to learn that this child is conscious and in stable condition after this unfortunate and potentially fatal accident. If you’ve been injured in an accident that was the fault of another driver, speak with a personal injury lawyer in your town to learn more about your legal rights as they apply in the matter.

What started as a local safety awareness project in Virginia has become a national campaign complete with video competition and a scholarship, all aimed at urging teens not to text and drive, report news sources.

The initiative, Project Yellow Light, recently received support from the Ad Council and the National Organizations for Youth Safety. Project Yellow light is holding a safety ad competition that is open to seniors in high school. Entrants to the competition, which begins December 1, are asked to produce a video that is no longer than 60 seconds on the hazards of texting while driving. The winner will receive a scholarship of at least $2,000, and the winning entry will be submitted to 1,600 televisions stations.

Project Yellow Light was started memory of a Spotsylvania County, Va., teen who died in a car crash in June 2007. He parents started the safety initiative and video competition a year later at their son’s high school.

As a Beaufort auto accident lawyer, motorist safety is something that I am very conscious of. I encourage drivers to avoid distractions like texting while driving. Because of my experience as a Beaufort personal injury attorney, I am very aware of the split-second difference between everything seeming fine and a terrible vehicle crash. I urge motorists to always practice safe driving habits.

A teenage man is dead after a single-vehicle crash Saturday morning in Lancaster County near Jefferson caused by the driver swerving to avoid striking a deer in the roadway, say news reports.

According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, the crash occurred at approximately 10:05 a.m. when the driver of a 1998 Honda vehicle that was traveling on North Taxahaw Road swerved to avoid striking a deer in the roadway. The vehicle went off the right side of the road and smashed into a utility pole about five miles north of Jefferson.

The driver of the Honda, a 19-year-old Kershaw man, was killed in the wreck.

Traffic near the crash site was block for two hours as authorities investigated the fatal crash.

As a Greenville auto accident lawyer, I have witnessed first-hand the grief and pain of those left behind after an sudden death. My heartfelt condolences go out to the man’s family, friends and loved ones. Being a Greenville personal injury attorney, I know how important it is for grieving people to have a strong support network. I hope the man’s loved ones are getting the care and support they need during this difficult time.

Authorities are looking into a vehicle crash, in which a 16-year-old West Union girl died, and that was discovered Monday morning, report news sources.

According to the Oconee County Coroner’s Office, the crash occurred north of Seneca on Sunday night at approximately 11:45 p.m. when a vehicle driven by the teenager was traveling northbound on Davis Mill Road. The vehicle crossed Wells Highway and struck a guardrail. The crash site was not discovered until 6:15 a.m. Monday morning by a passing motorist. It is believed that the teen was driving home from visiting friends in Seneca at the time of the accident.

An investigation into the crash is underway, and an autopsy found that the high school student died form traumatic asphyxiation. Results from a preliminary investigation indicate that the manner of the girl’s death was accidental.

Even with my experience as a Beaufort car accident lawyer, I cannot begin to imagine the shock and grief of the girl’s family and community. My heartfelt condolences go out to the her family, friends and loved ones. Being a Beaufort personal injury attorney, I know how important it is for grieving people to have a strong support network. I hope the girl’s loved ones are getting the care and support they need during this difficult time.

A new study found that teens are at the greatest risk of getting into a crash during their first month of solo driving, with the crash risk dropping sharply soon after one and two years of experience behind the wheel, report news sources.

The study conducted by the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center on behalf of the AAA Foundation found that during their first month of solo driving, teens are 50 percent more likely to be involved in a crash than in their entire first year, and twice as likely to crash than after their second year of driving experience.

The most common mistakes attributed to the crash rate results were failing to reduce speed, inattention and failure to yield. These mistakes composed 57 percent of the crashes in which teen drivers were at least partly to blame during their first month of solo driving.

As a Columbia car accident lawyer, motorist safety is something that I am very conscious of. I encourage drivers of all ages to avoid distractions and remain attentive behind the wheel. Because of my experience as a Columbia personal injury attorney, I am very aware of the split-second difference between everything seeming fine and a terrible vehicle crash. I urge motorists to always practice safe driving habits.

A recent survey found that a majority of parents have been distracted by mobile phones or other devices while teaching their children to drive, report news sources.

The poll, conducted on behalf of a national insurance agency, revealed that 53 percent of parents reported being distracted at least one time while teaching their teenaged children the ins and outs of operating a motor vehicle. The teens questioned about their parents’ distraction put the number higher reporting that 61 percent of parents succumbed to distraction while teaching them to drive.

As for role modeling safe device usage, 43 percent of parents reported using a cell phone behind the wheel while their teen was in the car; however, again, teens put the number higher saying that 54 percent of parents engaged in calling-while-driving behavior while the teen was in the car.

As a Charleston auto accident lawyer, motorist safety is something that I am very conscious of. I encourage drivers, both adults and teens alike, to avoid distractions like calling and texting behind the wheel. Because of my experience as a Charleston personal injury attorney, I am very aware of the split-second difference between everything seeming fine and a terrible vehicle crash. I urge motorists to always practice safe driving habits.