Attorney Blog

New Campaign Convinces Teens Not to Text While Driving

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)74429 — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST

Statistics from the SC Highway Patrol state that car accidents are the leading cause of death in young drivers. 165 young drivers aged 15 to 24 died on SC highways last year due to distracted driving. Part of the issue that causes so many tragic lost lives is texting while driving. That is why the highway patrol and Subway restaurants have kicked off a new campaign called W8 2 TXT Safe Driver Awareness.
The goal of the campaign is to promote the importance of not texting while dirivng and to get students to take a plede against it. The campaign hopes to keep preventable tragic accidents from happening on South Carolina roadways. For more information on the campaign and to sign a virtual pledge, visit www.w82txtpledge.com.

Kia Recalling 145,000 Vehicles Due to Airbag Defect

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)73791 — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

Kia Motors America has announced that it will recall 2006-2008 Kia Optimas and 2007-2008 Rondos because of a faulty air bag release system. The recall of vehicles will affect 145,000 cars. The defect is described as the clock spring contact assembly for the driver's side air bag can become damaged
over time causing the warning to light on the dashboard to display. this can potentially cause the air to fail to deploy in the event of a crash.
According to Kia, if the clock spring contact assembly becomes damaged, the electrical circuit that is required to deploy the air bag could experience a high resistance condition. Kia Motors also stated they would notify owners and replace the faulty assembly at no cost to the owners. The recall is scheduled to begin in March.
For more information, consumers can call 800-333-4542.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC personal injury attorney, Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Ford Recalling 450,000 Minivans and SUV's

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)72986 — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

Ford Motor Company has announced a recall of over 450,000 minivans and SUV's because of a pair of mechanical issues. 205,896 Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans made during 2004-2005 model years because their torque converter output shaft mail fail. If this occurs, there could be a sudden loss of power that can cause an accident.
Ford is also recalling 244,530 Escape SUV's made during 2001-2002 model years because the brake master cylinder reservoir cap could leak brake fluid. If it leaks, it can corrode electrical connectors in the vehicle's braking system and lead to melting, smoke or a fire.
With both recalls, Ford says it will inform the affected owners and dealers will replace the parts for free. Owners of the SUV's will begin being notified the week of Jan. 23rd. Owners are urged to park the vehicles outside until the repairs can be made. For more information, contact Ford Motor Company.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Head Injuries In Children Can Lead to Long-Term Effects

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)72452 — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

A study published in November 2011 in Pediatrics magazine indicates a strong link between head trauma in children and long-term negative health effects. It is also noted in the article that moderate to severe head injuries can lead to "substantial long-term reduction" of a child's quality of life.
In the study, several hundred children under the age of 18, who had suffered head injuries were included as test subjects. The child's pre-injury conditions were reviewed and contrasted with the after effects of their injuries. This information was compared to 200 other children who were treated at the same hospital for non-serious, non-head injuries. The study showed that kids who suffered a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury experienced lasting effects from the injury to include difficulty with everyday tasks like teeth brushing, social interactions, memory, depression, and attentiveness. In the most severe cases, the children had a lower quality of life than children undergoing treatment for cancer. It was also noted in the study that those children with severe deficits were not likely to make any significant improvement after two years following the head injury.
The major point of the article and study was to bring awareness to childhood head injuries and especially to those injuries that can be avoided by wearing a helmet. Many injuries in outdoor recreation type activities can be avoided with helmets and gates can prevent young children from falling down stairs. Most of all, however, is just being an attentive parent. Keeping a close on on your children and their activities is the best way to protect them, and if they become injured, know the signs and symptoms of a serious head injury.

If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC traumatic brain injury attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at the The Derrick Law Firm has been handling traumatic brain injury cases in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Ford Recalls Fusion and Mercury Milan Models for Wheel Defect

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)71198 — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

Ford is recalling 2010-2011 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan vehicles that are equipped with 17 inch steel wheels after discovering a defect in which the wheel studs may fracture. In the 128,616 vehicles affected by the recall, multiple stud fractures could occur at the wheel location causing vehicle vibrations while driving. If ignored, wheel seperation could occur. The wheel seperating from the vehicle can pose serious risks for significant injuries. However, Ford has stated it knows of no accidents or injuries due to the defect.

The recalled vehicles were built between April 1-April 30th 2009 and December 1, 2009 to November 13, 2010. Owners of the cars will be notified at the beginning of January and dealers will inspect the rear brake disc surface and replace discs at no charge if necessary. The lug nuts will also be replaced in all the vehicles.

For more information, owners can contact Ford or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website.

If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC personal injury attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Serious Head Injuries Occur Due to Fall from Bumbo Baby Seats

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)70275 — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Bumbo International are again urging parents and caregivers never to place Bumbo baby seats on tables, countertops, chairs and other raised surfaces because of the serious risk of injury.

At least 45 incidents have occurred in which infants fell out of the Bumbo seat while it was being used on an elevated surface. 17 infants suffered skull fractures after falling from the seats since the initial recall in October 2007. The CPSC and Bumbo are also aware of 50 additional reports of infants falling or maneuvering out of the seats even while they were placed on the floor and becomming injured after hitting their heads on the floor or nearby toys.

The CPSC and Bumbo continue to warn parents and caretakers about the risks and urge them to take all safety precautions.

If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC personal injury attorney, Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

NHTSA Expands Probe of 2007-2008 Saturn Auras

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)69063 — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

Federal safety regulators have widened and upgraded the investigation in the Saturn Aura vehicles after reports of a transmission shift cable that could fail. This failure could result in the parking gear to not fully engage. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the investigation has been upgraded and that the scope of the vehicles may be affected.

The investigation was widened from only 2007 model year cars to include 2008 models which raised the total number of affected cars to 88,729. According to GM, the makers of the cars, the problem affects mosly cars with 4-speed transmissions. The complaints received by the NHTSA allege the transmission shift cable failed causing the vehicle to roll, move, or accelerate while the shifter was in park, or to accelerate in the opposite direction than the driver intended.

The NHTSA says it has received 23 complaints and GM has received another 111, however, some of those were duplicate complaints. There was several reports of crashes and one injury. In the injury accident, the driver reportedly placed the shifter in park, exited the vehicle, and then was struck when the car unexpectedly rolled backwards.

For more information on the investigation please visit the NHTSA website.

Cadillac Recalls 700 CTS Models for Possible Brake Failure

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)68959 — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

The automaker G.M. through its division Cadillac has recalled around 700 of its 2012 CTS model cars due to a possible brake failure. According to the report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that an improperly torqued retaining nut could come loose, disconnecting the brake pedal from the brake-boost pushroad. This disconnection could result in a sudden loss of ability to brake and could cause serious accidents without warning.

The spokesman for G.M. said the problem was discovered at the assembly plant. G.M. ordered dealers to stop selling the cars the day after the issue was discovered.

South Carolina Highway Patrol Receives Grant For DUI and Safety Belt Education

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)67399 — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

The South Carolina Highway Patrol has been awarded four grants to further enhance the DUI education as well as seatbelt enforcement and education efforts. The SC Department of Public Safety, Office of Highway Safety awarded the grants with funding provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

A portion of the money will be used for three troopers on the DUI team in Richland and Lexington counties. Another portion of the money will be used for the Florence/Horry DUI team to continue to pay salaries for three troopers on the DUI team. Horry County ranks 6th in the state for DUI deaths. A third portion of the money will go to purchase 2 rollover simulators to be used statewide in order to educate the public about safety belts. And the last portion of the money will be used to purchase 7 pairs of DUI fatal vision goggles, seven golf carts, and equipment for those golf carts. This type of equipment is used to teach teenagers about the dangers of impaired driving.

The SCHP has been quoted as stating that these grants will enhance the equipment, manpower, and resources that will allow them to better address these issues on all fronts.

Harley Davidson Recalls 250,000 Motorcycles to Correct Brake Issue

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)67289 — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

The motorcycle maker Harley Davidson has issued a recall for certian touring motorcycles and trikes from its Custom Vehicle Operation (CVO) from model years 2009-2012. The reason for the recall is because the rear brake light switch can become damaged by heat from the bike's exhaust systems. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states the recall includes 250,757 models built from June 6, 2008 through September 16, 2011. According to the report the company knows of one alleged crash that can be attributed to the defect.

The company says that excessive heat may cause the switch to fail to activate the brake light when applying the brakes. This problem could aslo result in brake fluid leaking that can stop the rear brake from working properly. Harley Davidson states that its dealers will replace the rear brake light switch free of charge. The recall is expected to being around October 31, 2011. For a full list of affected motorcycles please visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Website.

If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC motorcycle accident attorney, Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling motorcycle accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

VW Recalls 168,000 Diesel Cars to Fix Fire Hazard Issue

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)66442 — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

German automakers Volkswagen are recalling 168,275 cars equipped with diesel engines because of a defect in the fuel injection system that could cause fuel leaks and lead to a fire hazard. The recall affects 2009-2012 Jettas as well as 2010-2012 Golf small cars and Audi A3 cars from 2010-2012. All of the cars are equipped with a 2-liter TDI diesel engine.

According to reports, cracks can develop in the fuel injection system and cause the fuel to leak which could possibly cause an engine fire. The company does not know of any fires, crashes, or injuries caused by the defect. Volkswagen will replace the fuel injector line in some models and will install dampers to cut the vibrations on all of them. The repairs will be made free of charge and will start in November according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recall includes 161,144 Golf and Jetta models and another 7,131 Audi A3's. About 20% of the cars made during the recall model years will need to have the fuel lines replaced and all will get vibration dampers. More than 20% of the Volkswagens sold in the U.S. have diesel engines.

Texting While Driving More Dangerous Than We Know

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)66328 — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

A new study has shown that texting or emailing while driving is more dangerous than previously thought. According to Christine Yager, leader of the study from Texas A&M University's Texas Transportation Institute, texting while driving doubles a driver's reaction time. This makes drivers less able to respond to sudden roadway dangers.

In the study, 42 drivers betweent he ages of 16 and 54 drove an 11 mile test track course while sending and receiving texts and/or emails. The same test subjects then re-did the test course while completely focused on driving. On the course, drivers were instructed to stop when they saw a flashing yellow light. The reaction time was recorded for each driver. The study showed that the typical time it took a driver to stop that was not texting was 1 to 2 seconds. When the driver was distracted, the reaction time was on average 3 to 4 seconds. It was also shown that the texting driver was 11 times more likely to miss the flashing light altogether. Yager did state that the reaction time was the same regardless of whether the driver was sending a text or reading one. Yager says this study is different from previous studies on the same subject matter because participants were driving an actual car, not a simulator. It was also shown that the distracted drivers were more likely to swerve in the lanes, which can lead to accidents on actual highways.

The U.S. Transportation Department statistics show that distracted driving contributes to as much as 20% of all fatal crashes and that cell phones are the primary source of driver distractions. They also report that 1 in 5 motorists admit to texting while driving.

While many states are moving towards tougher legislation regarding texting while driving, it is important for each and every driver on the roadways to be aware of the dangers it poses. Distracted driving is an easy problem to solve, and in doing so, our roadways would be much safer.

Officials Investigating 2002-2003 Jeep Liberty's Because of Unexpected Airbag Deployment

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)65770 — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

The federal government has begun to look into 2002-2003 Jeep Liberty SUV's after seven complaints that the front air bags deployed without warning and for no reason. In some cases, owners said that the warning light was on or had been going on and off before the bag went off.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has also reported there have been 15 injuries from these unexpected deployments.
Investigations will continue to see if the issue warrants a recall. Visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the latest in auto recalls.

Lawmakers Want the CDC to Compile a Student Concussion Protocol

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)65771 — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Recent Sports-related concussions among children have lawmakers calling for nationwide protocols governing these types of injuries. Lawmakers announced Tuesday that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) agreed to study and develop national guidelines for managing sports-related concussions for student athletes.

The lawmakers and the CDC have stressed that every concussion is brain damage and that students that suffer these types of injuries and return to the sport too soon can result with serious and sometimes fatal consequences. The CDC says that the guideline initiative will work to improve diagnosis and management of brain injuries in younger children and teens who are injured on or off the field.

Concussions are dangerous because they can affect memory, judgment, reflexes, speech, balance and muscle coordination and these symptoms can become increasingly worse if not treated properly. For years now, the CDC has been working on this issue and to develop materials for coaches on steps to take if they think an athlete has suffered a concussion. The CDC has now put together an expert panel to discuss pediatric guidelines for doctors to best diagnose and treat concussions not only in sports but also in car accidents, falls, and other common causes.

This is a step in the right direction towards establishing guidelines to help protect kids in sports. Concussions are serious injuries and there is a need for common protocols for diagnosing and treating these types of injuries.

If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC traumatic brain injury attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at the The Derrick Law Firm has been handling traumatic brain injury cases in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

NHTSA Funds Development of Alcohol Measuring Start Button in Cars

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)65674 — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has awarded Takata-TruTouch with $2.25 million to continue to develop an in-vehicle alcohol detection device. The two companies have created a vehicle start button with an integrated infrared censor that can measure blood-alcohol content. If the reading exceeds legal limits, the system will disable to the starter rendering the car inoperable for the impaired driver.

The company says that as the technology advances, it could help eliminate drunk drivers on the roadways. The company says "the award from the NHTSA will help expedite the work and adapt the technology for use in automotive applications." The device produces accurate results in seconds and has a biometric system to prevent tampering. According to reports, the test is 96% accurate which is more than the breath test administered by the police. This device has the potential to help save many lives.

National Transportation Safety Board Requests National Cell Phone Ban for All Commercial Drivers

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)65595 — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has called for a ban on the use of cell phones by truckers, except for emergency situations in order to help reduce trucking accidents. The recommendation for a nationwide ban was one of 15 new safety proposals recently issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration(FMCSA), and various other state agencies across the US.

Studies indicate that changes in a driver's ability to maintain control of a vehicle result when cognitive abilities are diverted to cell phone use. Based on this investigation, the NTSB has called ont he FMCSA as well as each state to prohibit the use of both handheld and hands-free cell phones while operating commerical trucks.

Distracted driving causes many accidents across the US every day. Steps need to be taken for commerical drivers as well as regular vehicle drivers to ensure better road safety.

Home Fires from Dehumidifier Prompt Recall Re-announcement

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)65181 — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

LG Electronics, in cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission has reannounced a recall of Goldstar and Comfort-Aire dehumidifiers. The recall includes about 98,000 dehumidifiers that pose a serious fire and burn hazard. The faulty products are also believed to be respobsible for over $1 million in property damage.

According to the reports the power connector for the dehumidifiers compressor can short circuit, which can pose a fire and burn hazard to consumers and/or their property. The products were first recalled in December of 2009 following 11 incidents, with 4 significant fires. Since that time, the company has received 16 more reports of arcing, smoke and fire associated with the products, including 9 significant fires.

Because of the severity of the risks, the CPSC and LG have become concerned with the lack of consumer response and want to urge people to check their dehumidifiers to see if they are included in the recall. There is a free repair for the products to correct the problem. Consumers are urged to check the model and serial number and cross reference the list posted on the CPSC's website. The products were sold at The Home Depot, WalMart, Ace Hardware, and other retailers from January 2007 - June 2008.

Investigation Into Defect of Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey OEM Jacks

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)65110 — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

According to a statement from the National Highway Traffic Safety Adminstration, an investigation has been opened into 205,661 2004-2005 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans after 1 death and 3 injuries occured in relation to the service jack.

The NHTSA says the complaints allege that the jack failed, and allowed the vehicle to fall on top of the person working under the car. In the failures reported, the jacks apparently failed at the slotted hinge joints which seperate under the load of the vehicle.

The NHTSA does not recommend for the OEM jacks in the minivans to be used for anything other than changing a tire.

Consumer Product Recall of Pourable Gel Fuel Due to Burn and Flash Fire Hazards

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)63956 — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

The Consumer Product Safety Commission in cooperation with nine manufacturers and distributors, has announced a voluntary recall of all pourable gel fuels due to the serious risks of flash fire and burns when consumers add pourable gel to an already buring fire pot.

The recall invovles 2 million units of various pourable gel fuels sold since 2008 for between $5-$20. Reports state that the pourable gel fuel can ignite unexpectedly and splatter onto people and nearby objects when it is poured into a fire pot that is still burning. The CPSC has knowledge of 65 incidents resulting in 2 deaths and 34 victims who were hospitalized with second and third degree burns.

Consumers should not attempt to use or fix the pourable gel fuel bottles or replace the fuel with other flammable materials. Retailers are asked to immediately stop the sales of existing inventory and remove all the stock from shelves. For a complete list of the companies and distributors, as well as the name on the products, please visit www.cpsc.gov

The Department of Defense and National Institutes of Health to Build Traumatic Brain Injury Database

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)63637 — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST

The Department of Defense and the National Institutes of Health have announced a partnership to build a Traumatic Brain Injury focused database. It has been titled The Federal Interagency Traumatic Brain Injury Research (FITBIR) database, it is designed to accelerate comparative effectiveness research on brain injury treatment and diagnosis. It will serve as a central place for new data, link to current databases, and allow valid comparison of results across studies.

The FITBIR database will collect uniform, high-quality data on traumatic brain injuries, including brain imaging scans and neurological test results. The data will be obtained with informed consent and stripped of any patient identifying information in order to protect patient confidentiality. This has been the result of efforts by the government to make taxpayer funded research more broadly available and usable.

Some of the things the database is supposed to aid with are: a system to classify different types of traumatic brain injury; more targeted studies to determine which treatments are effective and for whom and under what conditions; enhanced diagnositc criteria for concussions and milder injuries; predictive markers to identify those at risk of developing conditions that have been linked to traumatic brain injury, such as Alzheimer's disease; clearer understanding of the effects of age, sex, and other medical conditions on injury and recovery; and improved evidence-based guidelines for patient care, fromt he time of injury through rehabilitation. The database will be structured similarly to the National Database on Autism Research.

This database builds upon a larger effort to create a common data element for the study of traumatic brain injuries. Currently, almost 1.7 million people in the U.S. sustain traumatic brain injuries each year from common causes like auto accidents and falls. However, treatments are still limited because each case is highly variable, with different causes, different locations in the brain, and different kinds of damage to brain tissue. This database will help uniformly bring the data together to try to set a treatment plan based on what has worked in previous patients with similar injuries. It will be a great tool for doctors to be able to use comparative anaylysis when determining a treatment plan for those who suffer a traumatic brain injury.

Table Top Clip-On Chair Recalled Due to Fall and Amputation Hazard

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)63114 — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled the "metoo" Clip-On Chair imported by phil&teds. According to the release, missing or worn clamp pads allow the chairs to detach from a variety of different table surfaces which poses a fall hazard. In addition, when the chair detaches, childrens fingers can be caught between the bar and clamping mechanism posing an amputation hazard.

The company, phil&teds, and the CPSC have received 19 reports of the chairs falling from different table surfaces including 5 reports that included injuries. Two of those reports stated that children's fingers were severely pinched, lacerated, crushed or amuptated. The other three reports stated injuries of bruising after a chair detached suddenly and the child struck the floor or table.

The chair was sold by Buy Buy Baby, Target, Toys R US, and their online sites. Consumers should stop using the product immediately and contact the company to receive a free repair kit. For more information please visit www.CPSC.gov

Apps That Will Help Keep Your Kids From Texting and Driving

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)63032 — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST

If you have children that are driving, chances are they have cell phones. It is also likely that they are texting and/or talking on the phone while driving which can lead to accidents. However, adults can't seem to stop themselves from doing the same thing. The Insurance Institute Of Highway Safety says that 40% of drivers reported they are on their phones while driving at least a few times per week and 19% talk daily. It is because of this that 22% of car accidents in 2009 were caused by cell phone usage and distracted driving.

So what can be done to help keep adults and teens alike from being distracted while driving? One solution is cell phone apps that disable a large portion of phone functionality while driving. Apps like T-Mobile's "DriveSmart Plus" and "Key2SafeDriving" sense when you're driving by the GPS in your phone measuring speed. After doing this, the app disables most of the phone's functional features once a pre-determined speed is reached. Of course there is an emergency override feature built in to the app, as well as an override feature for passengers in the car.

Another solution suggested is a combination of phone hardware and applications. This type of solution uses a small module that gets attached to part of the car. Once the module is triggered by the car being used, a signal is transmitted to disable the phone. The last suggestion is a Bluetooth type technology that enables all voice and text-to-speech capabilites in the phone.

Setting a good example for teen drivers is important. Not using the phone while driving keeps you alert and focused on the road, instead of being a distracted driver that is likely to cause an accident. These technologies are available to help make our roads safer and keep our kids safe as well.

Heat Waves Cause Concern for Athletes in Trainging Camps for Fall Seasons

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)62524 — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST

This summer has been espcially hot. In fact, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has said that many areas across the U.S. have been under excessive heat advisories for long periods of the summer with record breaking temperatures. With all of this focus on the heat waves, many are beginning to question how safe it is for young athletes to be starting fall practices in August.

Football is one of the most risky sports to start in August because of the high heat and high humidity, especially in the south. In the past several weeks, two 16-year-old football players from Georgia, one 14-year-old player from South Carolina, and an assitant football coach in Texas have all died with some form of heat related injury. These types of senseless deaths can be prevented.

In a study in the International Journal of Biometeorology using data from the last 29 years, found that there has been an increase of heat-related illnesses and deaths among football players and mostly since the mid 1990's. Most of the cases involved high school football players. The study indicated that working out in helmets and full pads caused the most problems because it interferes with the heat loss mechanism in the body and increases heat production. One interesting point in the study was that most of the deaths occurred during morning practice which have high humidity levels. Working out in the mornings provides athletes with a false sense of security because it is cooler; however, the high humidity makes it just as dangerous when you are working out as hard as they do in training camps.

The body regulates temperature by sweating, and when it is very humid outside, it is increasingly harder for the body to regulate its temperature. This puts you at higher risk for heat stroke. Some of the symptoms include cool, sweaty, moist skin with goosebumps despite the heat, dizziness, headache, muscle cramps, nausea and vomiting. Confusion and disorentation can also be warning signs. The American Academy of Pediatrics have released new guidelines that state healthy kids can safely participate in outdoor sports as long as they are sufficiently hydrated, have adaptive training, and get frequent rest periods. The guidelines also recommend coaches, trainers, and other adults receive education as to the risks and and warning signs associated with heat stress.

The most important thing is to be very careful and very aware of all players and athletes that are participating in practices. Heat can be a killer, and knowing the warning signs is the best weapon to combat this growing issue. Staying hydrated, as well as acclimating the players to the heat, is the best way to protect them.

If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC personal injury attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Chevy Impala and Buick LaCrosse Recalled for Steering Defect

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)62313 — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST

GM annouced a recall of certain 2012 Buick LaCrosse and Chevy Impala models in the U.S. and Canada for two spereate defects related to the steering systems.

The first recall is of 4,293 LaCrosses because of an incorrect calibration of the Stabilitrak electronic stability system. According to reports, a malfunction int he system could cause it to "falsely activate" which could result in a sudden change in the vehicle handling and deceleration. It could result in a crash without any warning according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Adminstration.

In a seperate recall, GM is recalling 11,905 2012 Impala models to checky for faulty installation of the power steering hose. The reports state that a wrongly placed hose could be damaged and spray fluid onto hot parts of the engine, creating a potential fire hazard.

GM has stated that it has no reports or crashes or injuries related to either defect. The 16,198 owners affected by the recalls will receive letters in the mail from the company this month.

Perfect Fitness to Pay $425,000 For Failing to Report Fall Injury Hazard

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)61958 — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST

Perfect Fitness has been ordered to pay a $425,000 civil penalty for knowingly failing to report to the CPSC a product defect in reference to the Perfect Pullup exercise equipment. The penalty satisfies staff allegations that Pefect Fitness knowingly failed to report the defect; the product could break during use resulting in a fall hazard.

Perfect Fitness determined in June 2008 that the equipment was defective following re-testing of the handle design. The testing was done after the company received complaints and an unusual number of product returns. Perfect Fitness redesigned the product to correct the defect in July 2008.

However, the CPSC says that Perfect Fitness was aware of at least 23 injuries associated with the product in March 2010. The company posted a notice on its website to let the customers know about a free product replacement. The firm did not report the defect to the CPSC until December 2010. By this time, the company was aware of at least 45 complaints of injury.

The company issued a recall in February 2011 of about 7,000 Perfect Pullup products.

Black & Decker Fined $960,000 by the Consumer Product Safety Commission

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)61526 — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST

According to a statement by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Black & Decker will have to pay $960,000 in a settlement on allegations it did not alert U.S. regulators about a defective weed trimmer. In the statement, the CPSC says that Black & Decker "knowingly failed to report several safety defects and hazards" related to the Grasshog XP model. The agency also says that it withheld information as the agency tried to investigate reports of injury. About 158 people were injured between 2005 and 2009 from the trimmer.

The company knew that the high-powered, electric trimmer was defective by May 2006. After the CPSC closed the inital investigation based on incomplete information, Black & Decker did not provide complete information regarding the numerous incidents and injuries until late October of 2006.

By July 2007 the trimmers had been recalled and there were more than 700 reported incident cases, according to the CPSC. The device's spool, spool cap and pieces of the trimmer string could come loose and become projectiles. The Grasshog could also overheat and burn consumers.

Following reports of an additional 100 injuries, the recall was re-issued in August 2009. A repair kit is available for free in order to correct the issues.

Black & Decker does deny the CPSC's allegations that it knowingly violated the law.

Study Links Sports-Related Brain Injury with Brain Disease

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)61398 — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST

As fall sports seasons start gearing up, the discussion about brain injuries, concussions, and other injuries begin to start again as well. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 135,000 sports related concussion cases in kids between the ages of 5 and 18 are reported each year in emergency rooms. Overall, about 1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury each year and of those, more than 50,000 die.

A new study of professional and high and school athletes has concluded that those who suffer repeated blows to the head are at risk to develop a brain disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). This disease does not present itself until years later in the form of memory loss, mood disorders, and sometimes early dementia.

The disease was first documented in 2002 after UC Davis clinical professor Bennet Omalu examined the brain of former Pittsburgh Steeler Mike Webster. The current study used brain tissue from 17 deceased athletes and 3 high school football players.

After examining the tissue under a microscope, the researchers found plaques and protein tangles consistent with what is typically observed in Alzheimer's patients. The pattern however, was different. The tangles in an Alzheimer's patient are scattered throughout the brain in a fairly even distribution. The tangles found in the athletes' brains were found in concentrated pockets. Another notable distiction was that Alzheimer's patients are typically over 60 years old and all of the athletes were between the ages of 18 and 52.

Of the 17 tissue samples, researchers determined that 10 of the 14 professional athletes had CTE and 1 of the 3 high school players had CTE.

So far, the only way to find the disease is in an autopsy. Professor Omalu and his colleagues are working on ways to identify the disease in those that are still living in order to help develop drugs for treatment.

This study helps further the evidence that better head protection is needed for athletes of any age that engage in full contact sports. Being informed and knowing the signs of traumatic brain injuries is also key to prevention and treatment.

Federal Safety Regulators Upgrade Investigation of Ford Fusions and Mercury Milans for Wheel Defects

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)61298 — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST

Federal safety regulators have upgraded their investigation into wheel defects in more than 310,000 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan cars. The National Highway Traffic Safety Adminstration posted a notice over the weekend that the investigation had been upgraded regarding the analysis of 317,315 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans in 2010 models because of complaints of wheel stud fractures. A wheel stud fracture can result in wheel seperation and loss of vehicle control.

The government originally opened the investigation in January for just the Ford models, however it is now expanded to include the Mercury models. The NHTSA has received 29 complaints and 128 warrenty claims. The NHTSA said there have been 4 reported wheel seperation incidents. A spokesperson for Ford said that the company is cooperating fully with investigators.

The majority of reports state that a significant noise and/or a vibration is present prior to the risk of wheel seperation. Ford says that most claims stated that the drivers reported hearing a noise, feeling vibrations, or seeing the broken studs which prompted them to bring the car in for service. The cars included in the investigation all had low milage, between 5,000 and 11,000 miles and the wheels had not ever been serviced prior to the incident.

New Crib Standards Help Ensure Your Child's Safety

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)61205 — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST

On June 28, 2011 new mandatory safety standards took effect for infant cribs. These new standards were released by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and require manufacturers and retailers to meet the new standards. These include the following 5 things:

1.) Traditional drop-side cribs cannot be made or sold; immobilizers and repair kits are not allowed
2.) Wood slats must be made of stronger woods to prevent breakage
3.) Crib hardware must have anti-loosening devices to keep it from coming loose or falling off
4.) Mattress supports must be more durable
5.) Safety testing must be more rigorous

According to reports from the CPSC, detaching drop-side rails were associatedc with at least 32 infant deaths since 2000. These new standards will make for a safer enviroment while your children are sleeping. For more information please visit www.cpsc.gov

New Report Links Traumatic Brain Injury to an Increase in Stroke Risk

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)60803 — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

In a study released in "Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association" there is now a direct correlation between traumatic brain injury and the risk of stroke within three months.

According to Herng-Ching Lin, PhD.; senior study author and professor at the School of Health Care Administration, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University in Taiwan, states " It's reasonable to assume that cerebrovascular damage in the head caused by traumatic brain injury can trigger either a hemorrhagic stroke or an ischemic stroke." This is the first study that pinpoints traumatic brain injury as a risk factor for a stroke.

Using a nationwide Taiwanese database, the researchers investigated the risk of stroke in TBI patients over the course of a 5-year period. There were 23,199 adult TBI patients who received ambulatory hospital care between 2001-2003. In the comparison group there were 69,597 non-TBI injury patients. The average patient age was 42 and a little over half of those were male. During the three month period after injury, 2.91% of TBI patients suffered a stroke as compared to only 0.30% of those with non-TBI injuries. The risk for stroke did decrease over time, according to the research.

It was also noted that stroke risk was high in those patients that had suffered a bone fracture than those that did not have fractures. The researchers also came to the conclusion that considering age and gender, TBI patients were more likely to have hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure than those without traumatic brain injuries.

Lin suggests that early neuroimaging exams, like a MRI, as well as extensive medical monitoring should be required following a traumatic brain injury. He also said that better health education could increase public awareness about the factors that cause strokes and the signs and symptoms of stroke in patients that have sustained a traumatic brain injury.

The study is another step in proving that there is a link between traumatic brain injuries and other health problems later. It is important to be informed of the signs and symptoms of a traumatic brain injury and then to be very aware of the signs of other health problems, like stroke, that can occur after a TBI.

Consumer Product Safety Commission Releases Drowning Numbers from Memorial Day to 4th of July

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)60682 — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

The Consumer Product Safety Commission released a snapshot of the number of drowning or near drowning incidents from Memorial Day to July 4th of 2011. The release conincided with Pool Safety Day across America and also in conjuction with the American Red Cross's National Water Safety Survey.

According to the report, there have been 48 drownings and 75 near-drowning incidents in 35 states and territories. The numbers have drawn attention to the issue of pool and aquatic facilities safety and also the need for added vigilance. Pool Safety Campaign leader for the CPSC, Kathleen Reilly, said "We want to encourage everyone to remember that simple steps save lives. You never know which safety step will save a life ...until it does."

The CPSC hopes that the numbers will decrease over the rest of the summer after the awareness campaign. Keep safe this summer by educating your family about the simple steps around water that can help save their lives.

Automatic Braking in Cars Can Help Reduce Crashes

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)60000 — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

New automatic braking systems are being credited with reducing crashes. These systems, found on higher end cars like Audi, Lexus, and BMW have paved the way for more affordable automakers to jump on board. Several Chrysler models have a similar system.

The new evidence that shows how the systems help reduce crashes was released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In the study, a version of the system found in Volvo SUVs prevented one out of four low-speed crashes. The IIHS is hoping that the new evidence will help pursuade regulators to consider making the automatic braking system a requirement.

The IIHS is continuing to also study other safety measures that would work together with the braking system to help reduce the severity of injuries in an auto accident. Things like advanced safety belts that work with the brakes, adaptive headlights, as well as alerts that warn drivers when they leave their lane are some of the items on their list. The IIHS estimates that these systems can help prevent or lessen the impact of 1.9 million crashes per year and prevent at least one out of three fatal accidents.

Even though there would be an added cost to automakers to install the systems, either high speed or low speed braking, the benefits and evidence are pointing towards making it a requirement. Advanced safety features help reduce insurance claims costs especially when compared to what a claim would be after an accident.

In the end, safety systems can only do so much. It is up to the driver to stay alert and practice defensive driving.

If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

New Study Indicates Traumatic Brain Injuries Double the Risk of Developing Dementia in Later Years

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)59894 — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

A new study from scientists at the University of California - San Francisco has suggested a stong link between traumatic brain injuries and the occurance of dementia later in life. In fact, the researchers say that those who have suffered a TBI are more than two times as likely to develop dementia.

Kristine Yaffe, director of the Memory Disorders Program at the San Francisco VA Medical Center, and her colleagues looked at medical records of nearly 300,000 veterans all 55 or older. None of the subjects had dementia at the beginning of the study. Around 2% of the cases had been affected by a TBI, and all of them had a least one inpatient or outpatient visit between 1997 and 2000 and a follow-up visit between 2001-2007.

According to her findings, the risk of dementia was 15% in those that had been diagnosed with a TBI and only 7% in those who had never had a TBI. In fact, other studies have shown that a traumatic brain injury can increase the risk of dementia. This study helps to further solidify previous findings. However, Yaffe and her collegues say that more research is needed in order to explore whether or not early rehabilitation can help reduce the risk. She also states it is very important for someone who has had a head injury and is approaching older age to be monitored and screened for cognitive dementia.

Child Booster Seats Recalled from Target Due to Risk of Fall

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)59896 — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has expanded its recall of children's booster seats sold at Target stores after reports of additional falls. According to the press release, the restraint buckle can open unexpectedly and allow the child to fall from the chair and get injured.

After the initial recall, Target received 10 additional reports of the buckles opening and three reported bumps and/or bruises when the child fell forward out of the booster seat and hit an object or the floor.

The recall invovles Circo Booster seats sold as early as 2005 through 2009. Consumers should stop using the seats and return them to any Target store for a full refund.

Waterparks: Summer Fun Can Lead to Injuries and Deaths

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)59605 — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

As the summer temperatures rise, waterparks become a popular destination for people looking to beat the heat and have a little fun. However, they can be dangerous places where accidents causing injuries and even deaths can occur. Recently, there have been a number of accidents and even deaths at waterparks all over the U.S.

Waterparks first gained popularity in the 1980's and today there are over 1,000 facilities. Over 79 million people visited waterparks in 2010 alone; however, according to a study from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance Survey, 3,819 people sought treatment for injuries sustained at waterparks between 1998-2007. The vast majority of those injuries came from people riding down a waterslide. Fractures, lacerations, extremity sprains, head injuries, and contusions are the most common injuries.

Some contributing factors to those injuries are the speeds patrons reach while riding down the slides. One study showed that a person could reach speeds on certain slides that could crush cervical vertebrae and could also get a severe head injury if they hit the side of the slide or the bottom of the pool. Spinal injuries can also occur if the patron is sliding head-first down the slide.

So what can be done to prevent accidents while still having fun? The biggest thing is to just be aware and use common sense. Always follow the rules and regulations for the slides and rides at a waterpark. Also, be aware of others around you, and never use an attraction if you do not meet the regulations. The waterparks are also trying to do their part by adding supervision, eliminating tight turns, smoothing out rough edges, and installing non-slip surfaces. Waterparks can be fun and enjoyable for the entire family and are a great way to cool off during the summer. Just remember to have fun but always put safety first.

Toy Dart Sets Sold at Family Dollar Stores Target of Recall

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)59606 — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall of toy dart sets sold exclusively at Family Dollar stores. The CPSC received two reports of asphyxiation deaths involving children under the age of 10.

The darts are made of a soft, pliable plastic and if placed in the mouth, it can be easily inhaled and lodge in the throat making it impossible for the child to breathe. The Family Dollar store worked with the CPSC to recall the toy because the maker of the set, Henry Gordy International, refused to recall the product. The sets were sold between September 2005 and January 2009.

Consumers are urged to throw the toy dart gun sets away or contact the store for a refund.

Char-Broil Recalled Vertical Gas Smokers Due to Injury Risk

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)59608 — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

Char-Broil recalled their vertical gas smokers due to an apparent risk of injury after the possiblity of gas building up inside the smoker.

According to the CPSC, when the temperature setting is on "low" the smoker's hose/valve/regulator did not allow sufficient gas to flow causing the flame to go out. However, gas continued to flow and build up inside the smoker. If it was re-lit, the build up of propane could cause an explosion and burst the smoker door open.

The Product Safety Commission received five reports of doors bursting open and hitting consumers, causing injuries that included burns to the face and head, cuts, and head concussions. These smokers were sold between March 2008 and June 2010.

The CPSC urges consumers to stop using the recalled smokers and can contract Char-Broil for a free replacement hose/valve/regulator.

Fingertip Amputations and Lacerations Prompt Recall of Strollers Made by Maclaren USA

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)59375 — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

On May 12, 2011 The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall of Maclaren single and double umbrella strollers that were sold prior to November 2009. Maclaren has received over 149 incident reports about this product.

The strollers were originally recalled in 2009 and they were able to be repaired. However, since the first recall, Maclaren has reported another 37 injuries have occured; including 5 more fingertip amputations, 16 additional lacerations, and 16 fingertip entrapments/bruising.

A free repair kit is available to correct the problem for strollers sold before November 2009. Any strollers sold after May 2010 have a different hinge design and are not effected by the recall.

For more information please visit the CPSC website.

Recall of Video Baby Monitor that Killed a Conway, SC 6 Month Old

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)59376 — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a voluntary recall of Summer Infant video baby monitors in order to provide new product labels and instructions. The monitors have electrical cords and can cause a strangulation hazard to infants and toddlers if placed too close to the crib.

There have been two reports of strangulation deaths of infants, one in March 2010 involving a 10-month old girl who was strangled in her crib. The monitor camera had been placed on top of the crib rail. The other death was in November 2010, and involved a 6-month old boy from Conway. In that case, the camera had been placed on a changing table attached to the crib.

The makers of the monitor system have begun a campaign to provide new on-product labels for the video monitors sold between January 2003 and February 2011. Consumers are urged to check the location of the video monitors, electrical cords, and even those mounted on the wall to make sure they are out of reach of children.

New Law May Require Hybrid and EV Vehicles to Sound Alerts to Pedestrians

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)59244 — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

A new proposal by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration could require hybrid and electric cars to sound an alert to pedestrians. These cars are so quiet that they can be almost silent and make it very hard for pedestrians and bikers to hear an approaching vehicle.

The NHTSA posted a notice on their website outlining the first steps toward making this rule into an enforced regulation. It would require light-duty cars, motorcycles, vans, and truckts to automatically sound an alert at a low speed, thus making those types of vehicles safer. Two previous reports investigated by the NHTSA found that quiet hybrid and electric cars pose a greater safety risk than their gas-powered equivalents to pedestrians, and especially to the visually impaired.

The step towards making this a manadatory regulation was mandated under the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010, and it calls for the NHTSA to publish a final rule in regards to alerts and the standards by January 2014. Cars such as the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf have these types of sounds already installed; however, the Volt requires the driver to activate the system.

The NHTSA has stated that the agency will explore several options for the sound system that will make use of the best combination of sounds that will be most beneficial for preventing unnecessary accidents.

University of Florida Scientists Develop Way to Sort Brain Cells for Potential Transplants

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)58977 — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

Scientists at the University of Florida have discovered a way to seperate brain cells in for the potential use as treatment for patients suffering from a wide range of diseases, including traumatic brain injury. The technique could be applied to stem cell treatments for Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries as it would allow doctors to deliver neurons to patients without including large amounts of other types of unnecessary brain cells.

Brent A. Reynolds, professor of Neurosurgery with UF's McKnight Brain Institute says, " We need to be able to deliver precise doses of the therapeutic drug, which in this case is neurons, that are needed to restore function lost as a result of disease or injury." He goes on to state, "Prior to the development of our technology, it was not possible to deliver highly pure populations of neurons, or to be able to control the number of neurons delivered."

This method uses non-controversial adult brain tissue, and researchers, experimenting with neural stem cells from rodents, were able to generate hearty, immature cells that will be fully committed to becoming neurons. This discovery leads researchers to believe it will be possible to provide unlimited quantites of neurons from a safe, renewable source of cells for replacement therapies in the central nervous system.

The researchers explain that by suspending neural stem cell offspring in a tissue culture medium and running it through a cytometer, they were able to efficiently select and seperate the neurons from other less desirable brain cells, based solely on their unique size and internal composition.

Reynolds says that transplantation therapies using neural stem cells are moving forward into clinical trials with about 6 or 7 groups around the world testing them for safety and efficiency. He says "whether it will work or not is yet to be seen. This technology is going to increase the chances that transplantation will show efficacy and will be a valid approach to repair the injured brain."

Alabama Wrongful Death Verdict Awards $40 Million Against Kia Motors

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)58490 — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST

On June 23, 2011 the Alabama Supreme Court awarded a $40 Million wrongful death verdict against Kia Motors of America, Kia Motors Corporation, and DBI/Celltrion. The case involved the A97 seatbelt buckle that was in Kia Sephia and Sportage car models from the years 1995 to 2000. The buckles had a safety defect which caused them to be susceptible to "false latching". This meant that the user believed they were properly belted when they were not. When an accident occurs, the latch can become unlatched and increase the risk of serious injury or death.

According to records, in 2002 the U.S. Government inquired about the problem and in December of 2002 Kia issued a safety recall for model years 1995-1998. The model years 1999-2000 were not included in the recall even though they had the same seatbelt buckle with the same defect. 189,000 cars were recalled but another 251,000 cars were not recalled and the owners of those vehicles were not notified of the possibly dangerous situation.

The government then inquired in 2004 why the model years 1999-2000 had not been included and asked for samples of the seatbelt buckles be sent for independent testing. Kia did not provide the buckles and in August of 2004 told the U.S. government it would expand the recall to include model years 1999-2000.

Unfortunatly, the recall came too late for Tiffany Stabler. Tiffany turned 16 in May of 2004 and was given a used 1999 Kia Sephia as a gift from her father. Her father had the car serviced at a local Kia dealership and had all recall work done prior to giving his daughter the car. He had no idea that the seatbelt defect existed in the vehicle. He had done everything in his power to make sure the car was safe for his daughter. Since Kia had not recalled that particular model year, even though they knew the defect was present, the defective seatbelt buckles remained in the car. On July 4, 2004 Tiffany was driving the car and wearing her seatbelt when she lost control of the car and was in an accident. The seatbelt failed and Tiffany was ejected from the car. She later died from her injuries.

According to Tiffanys father's attorneys, "Tiffany's death could have and should have been prevented. Hopefully the verdict will result in a change in business practices so that when a product manufacturer knows that its product has a safety defect, it will make full and complete disclosure and promptly recall all of the defective products and not just some of them."

If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC wrongful death attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at the The Derrick Law Firm has been handling wrongful death cases in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

South Carolina Couple Awarded $1.2 Million in Motorcycle Accident Case

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)57350 — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST

A ruling by the South Carolina Supreme Court awarded $1.2 million to an upstate couple that was severely injured in a motorcycle accident due to a damaged traffic signal. On Monday June 6, the court affirmed in part and reversed in part the decision from the Spartanburg County Circuit Court.

Larry Lee and Jeannie Boiter were injured when the motorcycle they were riding collided with a car at an intersection near Inman, SC. According to the documents, the lightbulbs in the red signal that faced the road the car was travling down had burned out earlier in the day. The couple received major injuries after being thrown from the motorcycle that required lengthy hospital stays, medical bills, and lost wages. The couple settled with the driver of the car for her policy limits.

However, the Boiters filed four seperate lawsuits against the SC Department of Transportation and the SC Department of Public Safety for negligence in their failure to prevent the accident. The Boiters alleged agaisnt the SCDOT that it failed to implement an appropriate re-lamping policy to replace bulbs in traffic signals before they burned out. For the SCDPS, the couple alleged that a citizen's call an hour and twenty-seven mintues prior to the accident reporting the red light outage should have resulted in notifying a trooper to report to the scene and direct traffic.

At the culmination of the trial, the jury found in favor of the Boiters and awarded each of them with a total of $1.875 million. However, the SCDOT and the SCDPS filed motions for judgement notwithstanding the verdict, a new trial, and to reduce the verdict amount pursuant to the Tort Claims Act. As a response to this, the Boiters filed a motion challenging the constitutionality of the two-tier cap in the Tort Claims Act and were able to assert that the agencies' negligence constituted two seperate occurances.

The decision from the circuit court denied the agencies' motions for judgement notwithstanding the verdict and a new trial, as well as the Boiters motion challenging the cap's constitutionality. The court found there was only one occurance and granted the agencies' motion to reduce the verdict pursuant to the Tort Claims Act. Their verdict was reduced to $300,00 each, for a total of $600,000.

The Boiter's appealed to the state's high court. In the ruling, the court said that it did find two seperate occurances in the two seperate acts of negligence commited by the SCDOT and the SCDPS. Therefore, the Boiters demonstrated that there were two occurances and were awarded a combined verdict of $1.2 million.

If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC motorcycle accident attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling motorcycle accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Boating Tips During Summer Storms

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)57239 — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST

Visitors and residents of Horry County enjoy our many waterways during the summer months. However, one thing that can catch even an experienced boater off guard is a summer storm. Lightening is very dangerous on the water, and summer storms typically produce lots of lightening. Below are a few safety tips to protect yourself and your loved ones if you find yourselves in the midst of a summer lightening storm.

1.) Don't wait until it's too late. Get off the water as quickly and safely as possible if you see an approaching storm.
2.) Inside is best. The best place to go if possible is inside any cabin on the boat. However, steer clear of masts, chainplates, or large metal appliances like refrigerators.
3.) Keep away from metal. If there is not a place to go and you are forced to stay on deck, stay away from metal railings, wheels, or any other metal fittings.
4.) If you are on an open boat, stay low and in the center. Depending on how bad the lightening is, you may want to remove any jewelry in order to keep from being a "lightening rod".
5.) Stay out of the water; also don't fish or put your feet in the water.
6.) Disconnect the power and antenna that leads to your electronics to keep them from being hit.
7.) Lower antennas. If they are not part of a lightening protection system it is best to lower them.

Finally, if your boat or occupants are struck by lightening here are some helpful tips.

1.) Check people first
2.) Check the bilge. Strikes can can rupture through hull-fittings and punch holes in the hull
3.) Check electronics and compass

It is important for everyone to be safe while enjoying the water this summer. Keep these tips in mind the next time you and your family venture out onto the water.

If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC boat/jet ski accident attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling boat/jet ski accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Spinal Cord Injury Patient First to be Treated With Embryonic Stem-Cell Therapy

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)56518 — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST

Dr. Donald Leslie, who is the medical director at the Shepard Center in Atlanta, is using embryonic stem cell therapy to help treat his patient who suffers from a spinal cord injury. He hopes that through this experimental research that the cure for paralysis can be found.

His first test case is TJ Atchinson. At 21 years old, he is the first human to undergo the experimental treatment. He was home from the University of Alabama with he lost control of his car and sustained a spinal cord injury that caused paralysis from the waist down. The doctor's told him that he would never walk again.

The treatment uses stem cells which are considered the building blocks of life. They have been used in laboratory's to repair the spinal cords of small animals and those animals successfully walked again. The procedure for Atchinson required the doctor's to open his wound and use a remote guided needle to inject the spinal cord with 2 million cells that the doctor's hope will transform into new nerve cells, attach to muscles, and then restart Atchinson's central nervous system. Atchinson's role in the trial is just to prove that the procedure is safe, however he believes that it is already working.

According to Atchinson, he is now able to feel hair being pulled on his legs, and is also able to feel the pressure of a heavy item placed on his lap. These small things are bringing hope and cautious optimism from his doctors. Dr. Leslie said it is very hard to measure sensation but if Atchinson says he can feel something that he was previously unable to feel, then that must be good news.

The doctors will continue to measure Atchinson's strength and test his nerves and muscles. Atchinson will return to school in the fall, but he is still optimistic that his injury is slowly but surely healing.

If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC spinal cord injury attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at the The Derrick Law Firm has been handling spinal cord injury cases in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

SC Legislature Approves Lawsuit Payout Limit Bill has limited effect on personal injury and auto accident cases

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)56520 — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST

According to and new bill passed by the South Carolina Legislature, punitive damage payouts for lawsuits will be limited in South Carolina. The House approved capping punitive damage awards in the typical case at $500,000, or three times the actual damages, whichever is greater.

The bill allows the court to lift the cap if the defendant's conduct could bring a felony conviction or was motivated by unreasonable financial gain. In cases like that, punitive awards are limited to $2 million, or four times the actual damages that include things like lost wages and hospital bills, if that amount is larger. There would be no cap at all if the defendant intended to cause harm, was guilty of a felony tied to the incident, or was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The main cause of punitive damages in auto accident cases are individuals driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

This bill and the limits it sets are very similar to other states within the southeast, such as the state of Florida.

Initially the House approved a lower cap of $350,000 or triple actual damages and the inital bill also would allow juries to hear whether accident victims were wearing seat belts in auto accidents. Howver, the Senate dropped the seat belt provision and raised the caps after business groups and lawyers spent many hours working out a compromise.

The bill is expected to be approved by Gov. Nikki Haley as early as this week.

Children Operating a Jet Ski or Wave Runner: What You Need to Know

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)56524 — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST

As the summer begins, many people are flocking the the beaches and area lakes and rivers with boats, jet skis, wave runners, and other personal watercrafts. However, many are unaware about the laws in South Carolina regarding children and teenagers operating things like jet ski's and wave runners. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources has created a free downloadable handbook known as The South Carolina Boating Handbook with sections specifically addressing use and operation of personal watercrafts.

According to the handbook, some of the general laws are:
-persons ages 16 and older can operate a personal watercraft with no restrictions
-persons under the age of 16 can drive a boat or personal watercraft less than 15 horsepower without restrictions
-children under the age of 16 can operate a boat or personal watercraft that is 15 horsepower or greater only when accompanied by an adult who is 18 years old or older and that person is not under the influence of drugs or alcohol
-anyone operating a personal watercraft must wear a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device

For more information on safety, restrictions, and laws for children and adults operating jet skis, wave runners, or other personal watercraft, the S.C. DNR has provided the handbook free of charge for download from there website. Click here to download your copy today.

Spinal Cord Injury Patient Able to Stand and Move With Implanted Device and Rehab

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)56085 — Tue, 31 May 2011 08:00:00 EST

Rob Summers, a paraplegic, has regained voluntary movement with an implanted device in his spine as well as months of rehabilitation. After a devastating spinal cord injury that was the result of car hitting him while he was standing at his trunk removing a gym bag, he is able to stand up from his wheelchair when he wants to. He is able to do this because of a pacemaker-like device that sends a very gentle electric current through 16 electrodes implanted in his spine. The device does not make his muscles move, rather he is able to control the muscle movements himself. The device activates and excites the neurons in his spine which allows them to receive and react to sensory information from his legs. Summers' has never been more excited about his progress and plans to one day be able to play baseball again.

The results of this type of treatment are being described as "unprecedented in spinal cord injury medicine". The study was lead by Susan Harkema, PhD, of the University of Louisville, Ky. and was also based off of over 30 years of animal research by her mentor and study partner, researcher V. Reggie Edgerton, PhD. from the Unversity of California, Los Angeles.

Harkema and Summers met at the TIRR Research Center in Houston and she invited him to the Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center where she is the director. Summers became the first of five planned patients to receive the epidural stimulation device which was orginally designed and FDA-approved for pain relief. Engineer Joel Burdick, PhD., of the California Institute of Technology adapted the device for spinal cord treatment. Although Summers spent 26 months trying to move, he was unable to until he received the implant. After Harkema's team found the correct level and pattern of electric stimulation, he was able to stand with only minimal support for balance. After seven months, he was able to move his legs on command. The device however is not meant to be left on, so he can neither stand nor move when the device is off. However, that small factor has not stopped his determination. He wants to one day be able to play baseball again.

Harkema and her team warn that the procedure is still experimental and that not all patients will be candidates or see the same type of results. The study was funded by thge Christopher and Dana Reeves Foundation and by the National Institutes of Health. The entire report and findings of Harkema's study will be published in the May 20th online issue of The Lancet.

Understanding the Difference Between Long-Term Disability Insurance and Social Security Disability

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)55434 — Thu, 19 May 2011 08:00:00 EST

Many Americans understand that there is help in the form of benefits for those who become disabled and are no longer able to work. However, there are significant differences in the various disability programs. For example, the difference between long-term disability insurance and social security disability insurance can be very confusing. The following is a simple explanation of both long-term disability and social security disability and how they affect the insured.

Long-Term Disability Insurance:

Long-term disability insurance is an insurance policy you purchase to protect yourself and your family in the event you become disabled for a long period of time. In most cases, workers purchase both short-term and long-term disability policies. The long-term disability policy will become effective once the short-term disability policy expires, which is usually within three to six months.

A long-term disability policy will pay you between fifty and sixty percent of the salary you received while you were working. Payment amounts and premiums will vary, as will the length of time that the policy will pay out, so it is important to understand the terms of your particular policy. For example, some policies will only pay for one year, while others will pay out until the age of retirement is reached.

Short and long-term disability policies are usually offered through the individual's employer, however if the employer does not offer policies, they can be purchased from an insurance agent or broker.

Social Security Disability Insurance:

Social security disability insurance, or SSDI, is a government funded disability program. Each individual pays into the program in the form of Social Security taxes. If you become disabled and meet the Social Security Administration's disability requirements, you can begin receiving disability payments after the six month waiting period. The period begins on the date you were determined to have become disabled. In order to be eligible for SSD benefits, you must have earned a certain number of work credits. These credits are earned through each quarter that you work and pay into the Social Security system. The amount of money you receive in Social Security Disability depends on the number of work credits you have earned and how much you earned while you were employed.

In order to qualify for SSD benefits you must also meet the administration's strict definition of disability. This means that you must be able to prove to the social security administration that your disability prevents you from performing any type of work in the national economy.

How Long-Term Disability Insurance is Affected By Social Security Disability Benefits:

It is possible to receive long-term disability insurance and Social Security Disability benefits at the same time. Moreover, some long term disability policies require that you apply for Social Security Disability in order to receive payments. Once you are approved for Social Security disability benefits, the long term disability insurance provider will simply pay the difference between your SSDI payment and your total policy amount. The exact amount they can offset will depend on the terms of your insurance policy and also the amount your receive each month in SSD benefits.

If you have long term disability insurance and are going to apply for Social Security Disability benefits, it may be best to contact a disability attorney to help you understand exactly how your SSD benefits will affect your long term disability payments. They can also help inform you whether or not your long term disability carrier can offset any of the back payment you are entitled to by the Social Security Administration.

It is always important to understand the facts and differences in the various disability programs. This can help you make the most informed decision and help alleviate the confusion of the process.

If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC social security disability attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at the The Derrick Law Firm has been handling social security disability cases in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Anderson County School District 5 Requires Students to Take "Alive at 25" Course

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)55283 — Tue, 17 May 2011 08:00:00 EST

Anderson County School District 5 will begin requiring students who want to park on either of their high school campuses to complete a safe driving course known as "Alive at 25". According to the school district, any student who wishes to drive on either of their high school campuses must complete the driving program before purchasing the $12 parking sticker.

The 4 and 1/2 hour program is taught by former South Carolina Highway Patrol officers, and teaches sutdents about the dangers of speeding, using a cell phone while driving, and driving while intoxicated, as well as how to drive defensively. The "Alive at 25" website says that recent studies suggest teen driving accidents account for up to 44% of all teen deaths, making it the leading cause of teenage deaths in the United States. The site also states that another leading factor in teenage driving accidents is the influence of drugs and alcohol. So, the goal for this program is to teach teens and young adults to drive safely.

The school district says that several sessions of the course will be offered, with the first one starting this summer. Anderson school districts 1, 2, and 4 also require students to pass the "Alive at 25" program in order to drive and park on their campuses. This progam can be an effective way to lower the instances of teenage accidents by providing the students with the education they need to make responsible choices.

Volvo XC90 Named as Least Expensive Car to Insure in the United States

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)55189 — Mon, 16 May 2011 08:00:00 EST

The online auto insurance provider 4autoinsurancequote.org has released their annual list of the least expensive cars to insure in the United States. The provider's website offers free auto insurance quotes and also features an extensive content library that includes insurance-related research reports, blogs, and news articles. They say that this year's list differs greatly from their findings in previous years.

It is a fact that cars that receive high safety rankings continue to remain at the top of the least expensive cars to insure list. These kind of cars are often large, spacious, and full of safety features. These kind of cars are targeted to people who have families or will be driving around children. At the top of the list for 2011 is the Volvo XC90. It received perfect marks in all safety tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The Swedish automaker Volvo is known for their commitment to safety. All Volvo vehicles stress car safety as the main component of the vehicle's design. The XC90 was first released in the U.S. in 2003 and has received perfect ratings from the IIHS every year since then.

New System Enables Hands-Free Control of Motorized Wheelchairs

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)55004 — Thu, 12 May 2011 08:00:00 EST

Researchers at Essex University have developed a new system that would allow people suffering from severe physical disabilities, such as spinal cord injuries or quadriplegia, to control an electric wheelchair or mobile scooter.

Lai Wei and Huosheng Hu from the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering at Essex University developed a system for the hands-free control of electric powered wheelchairs using an inexpensive webcam and a sensing headband. Their prototype system uses pattern recognition and the analysis of electromyographic signals from the user's forehead and visual signals to identify which of five winking and jaw-clenching movements the user is making. The combination of a left and right wink, with and without a jaw clench , and a jaw clench alone is mapped to six control commands for the wheelchair.

In tests with users on an indoor obstacle circuit, the researchers determined that all users were able to control a wheeled robot simulator. They then demonstrated that they could also control a wheelchair well enough to navigate the obstacle course and also were able to follow a specific route.

The researchers did point out that individual wheelchair users would have different needs, but that the software could be adapted to suit particular facial and muscular characteristics. In the future, the researchers will attempt to examine whether the same technology might allow additional facial expressions and movements to control other devices as well.

This technology is a big step in helping those with severe disabilities be able to be more mobile by helping users regain some of their independence.

New Report From the Center for Disease Control Assesses Impact of Traumatic Brain Injury Related Deaths

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)54818 — Wed, 11 May 2011 08:00:00 EST

According to a new report released from the Centers for Disease Control, traumatic brain injury remains a major public health problem within the United States, contibuting to many deaths and permanent disability. Each year, almost one-third of all injury deaths involve a TBI and approximately 275,000 Americans are hospitalized. Another 1.4 million are seen in an emergency department for a TBI injury.

In the report released from the CDC, "Surveillance for Traumatic Brain Injury-Related Deaths - United States, 1997-2007" it summarizes key insights to help assess the impact of traumatic brain injury. The study has shown that during the reporting period on average 53,000 Americans die each year as a result of a TBI, the overall rates of TBI-related deaths decreased by 8.2 percent, and the rates for all causes of TBI decreased, with execption of those related to falls. The overall goal of the report is to help inform TBI education or programmatic strategies, and to improve the prevention efforts to protect people at the greatest risk.

Traumatic brain injuries are a major health epidemic in the United States, and efforts to help reduce these numbers are proving to be effective. Education is one of the major components to continue to reduce the number of American's affected by traumatic brain injuries.

Statistics Indicate Red Light Cameras Reduce Accidents

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)54816 — Tue, 10 May 2011 08:00:00 EST

According to the National Safety Council, statistics show that fatal accidents at red light controlled intersections have decreased by 17% from 2005 to 2009. Statistics also indicate that fatal intersection accidents from running red lights has decreased by 27% during that same period. Many have attributed the decrease in the accident rates to the greater, more wide-spread use of red-light cameras. If motorists are aware that a violation is being recorded and will result in a large fine and increased insurance rates, the less likely they will be to run the red light.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) also released a report which supported the opinion of the executive director of the National Coalition for Safer Roads which was that red light cameras were behind the decrease in fatalities at intersections with red light controlled cameras. In fact, the NCSR has expressed the need to expand the use of these cameras as a tool for law enforcement in order to continue the downward trend in accident rates.

IIHS said that red light cameras saved about 150 lives in the 14 largest cities in the United States between 2004 and 2008. The organization also projected that another 800 lives would have been saved if the cameras had been installed and utilized in 99 other major metropolitan areas throughout the U.S.

The consequences of an accident from running a red light are typically more severe because many drivers attempt to run the red light by accelerating into the intersection. This means that a car moving into the intersection on the green light is prone to a "t-bone" accident that can severely injure the person seated by the door that is impacted; this risk of injury is exacerbated by the increased speed of the vehicle running the red light.

It has been shown that when red light cameras are prominently advertised, drivers have demonstrated that they are more likely to obey the law and slow down when the light turns to yellow, instead of speeding up in hopes of making it through the intersection. Implementing these devices are more intersection should continue to decrease the number of fatal accidents. The cameras have proven to be worthwhile aides to help keep intersections safer, and are also an effective law enforcement tool.

May Is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)54382 — Tue, 03 May 2011 08:00:00 EST

May is designated as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and the biggest component to keep cyclists safer is motorist awareness. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has listed motorist awareness as an important component in its comprehensive motorcycle safety program. According to their data, over two-thirds of fatal motorcycle accidents involve a motorcycle and another vehicle. Many times the motorist does not see the motorcycle or does not see the motorcycle in time to avoid the crash. Another important aspect to remember is that a vehicle and a motorcycle may take different actions for the same driving or highway situation; such as a piece of debris in the road. A vehicle may ignore the debris but a motorcycle will have to maneuver around it or it could become deadly. Below are some tips to keep in mind about motorcycle safety:

1.) Respect the motorcyclist: A motorcycle is a vehicle with all the priviledges of any vehicle on the roadway.

2.) Give the motorcyclist a full lane of travel

3.) Look for motorcyclists on the highway, at intersections when a motorcyclist may be making a left turn, and also when a motorcyclist may be changing lanes.

4.) Clearly signal your intentions

5.) Try to anticipate a motorcyclist's maneuver: Potholes, debris etc. can be deadly for a motorcyclist, so predict evasive actions

6.) Allow plenty of space. Don't follow a motorcycle too closely: a suggestion would be the 3 or 4 second rule

By being aware of motorcyclists on the road, motorists can help reduce the occurance of accidents and fatalities. As the weather warms up, more motorcycles will be on the roadways and it is important to be aware of them as well as respect their priviledges on the roads.

New Invention Helping Those With Spinal Cord Injuries

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)54055 — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST

A new invention created by two engineering students at the University of Manitoba in Canada is helping rehabilitate those with spinal cord injuries. The invention looks like a cross between an ab-exerciser and a stationary bicycle. The Neuro Mechano Stimulator Pedals stimulates receptors on the sole of the patient's feet. By stimulating sensory inputs and spinal reflexes at the same time, the device is supposed to help generate new neural pathways in the spine.

According to Professor of Electrical Engineering, Dr. Zahra Moussavi, "NASA has been using special shoes to stimulate the mechanoreceptors of the foot sole for astronauts to compensate for the void of stimulation due to being in zero gravity, which enables them to walk normally when they get back to earth." What the students did was to use that idea in combination with other sensory input stimulation and then use that technology to help people with spinal cord injuries.

After the first 8-week trial, participants have had a noticable improvement in their mobility. Based on the positive results from the first study, researchers are now planning to start a more large-scale clinical trial.

More Advanced Imaging Research Could Lead to Better Diagnosis of Traumatic Brain Injuries

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)53968 — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST

With 2.1 million injuries and 50,000 deaths annually in the United States, traumatic brain injury is the leading cause of death in people under the age of 35. The reason for this is the challenge of obtaining a prompt and accurate diagnosis. The existing clinical imaging methods for detecting TBI are CT scans or MRI. These are usually confined to a hospital setting and provide information concerning gross changes to brain structure. Although emerging methods using functional and diffusion MRI have shown promise in improving capabilities to detect TBI, the is a clear disconnect between changes known to occur in TBI and those which clinicians are able to detect with imaging.

In order to tackle these issues, two researchers at the University of Virginia Health System, in partnership with federal laboratories and supported by a $6 million Department of Defense grant, are exploring two new potential imaging approaches to improve the diagnosis. The first project is a handheld ultra-sound system capable of measuring tissue stiffness and builds on previous research which examined the viscoelastic properties of injured tissue. Previously Dr. James Stone, assistant professor of radiology and medical imaging and the University of Virginia School of Medicine, and his colleagues demonstrated measurable changes in tissue stiffness after TBI. It is known that tissues can be disrupted after a TBI, and this study showed that it occurs in a physically measurable fashion. The second project, which launched last year, involves the development of PET probes for improved diagnosis of TBI where advanced imaging is available. Stone and his colleagues are focusing on probes that will assess hypoxia, inflammation, neutrophil infiltration, apoptosis and necrosis to determine if it may help in the diagnosis of TBI.

Although the Department of Defense grant emphasized a battlefield ready system, researchers hope that the technology can be used by emergency personnel too. It would help them on the sidelines of a sporting event, the most common places for mild TBI to occur, to be able to inform a player that sustained a blow to the head whether the injury requires immediate follow-up. If the research team is able to successfully develop the new diagnostic techniques, they could help physicians better diagnose TBI. Improved diagnosis could then equip doctors with better tools to optimize the management of the injury and refine the prognosis.

This research is leading the way to a better diagnosis of traumatic brain injuries. With better imaging and more advanced technology, traumatic brain injuries can be treated more effectively and efficiently.

Tractor Trailer Rear End Crashes Often Are Fatal

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)53967 — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST

When it comes to rear-end collisions between a passenger vehicle and a tractor-trailer, chances are the passengers of the vehicle will suffer serious injuries or even death, even if the collision happens at relatively low speeds. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is in the process of petitioning the federal government to require under-ride guards on all commercial trucks, and also to have more durable, stronger under-ride guards. The studies have shown that in 2009 there were 3, 163 fatalities in all large commerical truck accidents. In those accidents, 70% of the fatalities were of occupants in lower-riding passenger vehicles.

Analysts have found that in many of the car accidents, the upper part of the car's vehicle cabin crushed as it collided with the back of the large truck and then slid underneath the back end of the tractor-trailer. The same crushing effect was not found in collisions involving two passenger cars because front-end structures were able to distribute most of the impact and force and injuries were minimized.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released statistics that show an average of 423 people die each year and another 5, 000 are injured when passenger cars rear-end tractor-trailer trucks. Using the 2010 Chevy Malibu, the IIHS tested several different under-ride guards. The car was crashed into the rear of a parked tractor-trailer at different speeds to see if some under-ride guards performed better than others. The results showed that the under-ride guards are poorly designed and result with serious injury to potential passengers. They then tested the under-ride guards that met the more stringent Canadian standards against the American standard guard and the result was the better designed and more durable Canadian guard kept the car from sliding under the truck, while the American standard guard did not.

The IIHS has shown evidence that tractor-trailers in the U.S. should have to have under-ride guards similar to those that meet the Canadian standard in order to prevent more fatalities when passenger cars rear-end the trucks. Having these guards will help prevent the cabin of the car from being crushed and potentially saving the lives of those in the lower riding vehicle. Without stricter regulations on the under-ride guards, the fatality and injury rate will not decrease.

If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling truck accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

5 Driving Innovations That Help Save Lives, and 1 Innovation That Doesn't

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)53866 — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST

There are new technologies that are making driving safer as well as lowering car insurance rates. Many auto insurers are able to offer specific discounts for thinkgs like electronic stability control and daytime running lights. Based on research, below is a list of 5 driving innovations that have helped save lives and improved driving awareness, and 1 innovation that hasn't helped save lives.

1.) Red-Light Cameras

While this is a hotly debated topic in some areas, a study released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in February found that in 14 large cities that installed red-light cameras, fatal crashes caused by drivers running red lights declined by 24% over a four year period betwen 2004-2008. Because the cameras are placed at intersections with the highest crash rates, fatalities and even just accidents due to motorists running red lights declined. It becomes a deterrant for those who break the law.

2.) Electronic Stability Control

Snow, ice, and rain are key factors that cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles. Electronic Stability Control is designed to help maintain control of the car on slippery roads or during high-speed maneuvers. This technology that comes standard on most new vehicles, has reduced the risk of fatal single-car accidents by half. Cars that have the system have a 70% reduced risk of losing control when you run off the road, hit a tree, or are involved in a accident that may cause a roll-over.

3.) Daytime Running Lights

According to the IIHS, cars that have daytime running lights have 5% fewer accidents that cars that don't. They said that daytime running lights help improve your visibility which allows the driver to see both other drivers and pedestrians more easily. It is a low-cost way to help reduce the number of crashes.

4.) Inflatable Seat Belts

Ford Motor Company has just released inflatable seat belts that combine the tranditional features of a seat belt with the features of an airbag. The new seat belts spread the crash forces over a larger area of the person's body, which helps reduce pressure on the person's chest and also helps to control head and neck motion. The IIHS does not have any safety data yet because the new seat belts were just released in Ford's 2011 Explorer.

5.) Head Restraints

Redesigned head and seat restraints are higher and fit closer to the back of the motorists' heads than earlier versions. This reduces the risk of whiplash in the event that the vehicle is hit from behind. The restraints keep the head and torso moving together and it has resulted in a 15% decline in injury rates.

And lastly, the 1 innovation that hasn't improved driver safety:

1.) Hands-Free Cell Phones

Although the idea seemed like a no-brainer, it has not paid off as expected by industry experts. A study in 2009 done by the Highway Loss Data Institute looked at insurance claims for 4 jurisdictions before and after bans on hand-held cell phone use went into effect. The study found that there was no change in claim rates after the bans went into effect. 9 states have banned the use of hand-held cell phones, however, research shows no difference in the risk between hand-held and hands-free cell phone usage. The distraction of the conversation is still occuring.

Distracted driving is still one of the biggest causes of accidents. Technologies are continually being developed that will help counteract some of the outcomes of distracted driving. However, despite the technological advancements, the main point is to always remain focused on driving.

Text-Blocking Technology to Help Reduce Distracted Driving Accidents

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)53417 — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST

Distracted driving from text messaging and internet use has become a leading cause of accidents on the highways. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 20% of traffic injury crashes in 2009 involved distracted driving. Over 5,000 Americans lost their lives and 448,000 were injured by distracted driving and nearly 18% of the fatalities were linked back to cell phone use. The need for awareness about this issue is evident. Studies have actually shown that cell phone use while driving reduces driver reactions similar to that of having a blood alcohol content of .08 percent. However, laws against this distraction are only as effective as to how people respond to them and how they are enforced.

However, there is now a new tool to combat this problem. Text-blocking tools or software make it possible to fight technology with technology. This technology blocks the signals that are transmitted and/or received by mobile devices. Some cell phone carriers such as Sprint, AT&T, and Nextel are developing their own blocking technologies. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has recently announced that the federal government is also looking into developing this technology as a means to promote public safety. However, they do have to take into account the input from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC recently instituted a crack down on cell phone and GPS jammers becuase of the potential negative impact it could have on emergency communications. They have said that systems must be devised that maximize traffic safety and do not encumber public or emergency safety responses.

Overall it all comes back to being a responsible, defensive driver. Eliminating distractions while driving reduces the risk of being involved in a car accident. While technology is becoming more accessible, it is important to always be focused on driving without distractions.

If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

New Technology to Help Spinal Cord Injury Patients

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)53416 — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST

Researchers are in the process of developing a new technology that will help those who suffer from spinal cord injuries. A common result of the violent force associated with serious accidents is a spinal cord injury. This can leave the patient with severe disabilities. An injury to the spinal cord, which is the body's central conduit for delivery of pain and mobility impulses, most often results in paraplegia or quadriplegia. However, technological breakthroughs are going to provide tremendous assitance to these victims.

Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and Johns Hopkins University have annouced funding for projects to begin implementing brain-computer interfaces or (BCI). These interfaces will soon allow patients to control robotic limbs, a computer mouse, or other external device with their minds. The technique involves placing a BCI on the motor cortex surface of the brain, which will then pick up neural activity and translate the signals through a computer.

Senior Scientist Michael Boninger said. "Our ultimate aim is to develop technologies that can give patients with physical disabilities control of assistive devices that will help restore their independence." This technology will be able to provide relief for patients that will be confined to a wheelchair and will hopefully reduce the need for constant nursing care.

This new technology will help give hope back to those victims of spinal cord injuries. It will help assist them with basic movements, functions, and communications. It will also help restore some of the independence lost after the injury that caused the damage to their spinal cord.

If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC spinal cord injury attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at the The Derrick Law Firm has been handling spinal cord injury cases in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

New Study Shows Experimental Alzheimer's Drugs May Help Patients with Spinal Cord Injuries

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)53135 — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST

A new study from Johns Hopkins has shown evidence that drugs already in development to treat Alzheimer's disease may eventually be used to treat patients with nerve injuries, such as spinal cord injuries. The drugs have been effective at re-growing the ends of injured nerves to relieve pain and paralysis. The drugs were orginally designed to combat a protein that builds up in alzheimers patients' brains, but they appear to make crushed or cut nerve endings grow back at significantly faster rates.

The new drugs target a protein known as "b-Site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1" or BACE 1. Neurology Professor Mohamed Farah, PhD., and Neurology Professor John Griffin, M.D., tried blocking the action of BACE 1 to analyze the effects on injured axon projections. They started their experiments with mice whose ability to make BACE 1 had been genetically removed. After the animals' sciatic nerves were cut or crushed, the scientists watched what happend as the axons regenerated. Compared to normal mice that had the ability to make BACE 1, the animals lacking the protein cleaned up the debris around the injury site faster. Because the debris can inhibit regeneration, the scientists expected that the axons would regrow faster. As expected, the cut ends of the animals' nerve cells generated more new sprouts that grew into extensions that reached the targets of muscles or nerve cells days faster than mice that made BACE 1.

In hopes that compounds able to block BACE 1 activity would have a similar effect, the team worked with two experimental drugs already developed to target Alzheimer's disease. The mice were given either of the two drugs systematically after nerve injuries and had similar increases in re-growth, though slightly less pronouced. This was because the drugs dampen the effect of BACE 1, instead of completely removing it.

The researchers stated their proof of the work was reason to celebrate because "anything that speeds up nerve re-growth could be enormously helpful to people with nerve injuries caused by a range of injuries and diseases." "After an injury, the environment around nerves and their target tissues sometimes degenerates before nerves can heal, which kills the chances that the nerve will re-grow. If we can help nerves re-grow faster, we increase the chances that they can reach their target and become healthy again after an injury." The researchers now plan to test the compounds in other animal models of nerve injury such as neuropathies and spinal cord injuries.

This is a step in the right direction to help those with nerve injuries. Helping patients recover more quickly and with less damage to nerves is a big step in the treatment of spinal cord and nerve injuries.

The Effects and Outcomes of Decompressive Craniectomy in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)52986 — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST

In an article published in the New England Journal of Medicine, a study was conducted to determine whether patients had a more favorable outcome using Decompressive Craniectomy as a form of treatment for severe traumatic brain injury versus using the standard care method. Among patients who are hospitalized with severe traumatic brain injury, 60% either die or survive with severe disabilities. In the United States, the annual fincancial burden of traumatic brain injury is more than $60 billion.

After severe traumatic brain injuries, medical and surgical therapies are performed to minimize secondary brain injury. A common secondary injury is increased intracranial pressure which is typically caused by cerebral edema. Many patients have increased intracranial pressure that is resistant to ordinary methods of treatment. In these cases, decompressive craniectomy is performed with increasing frequency as a means to control the intracranial pressure. The study that took place used a multicenter, randomized, controlled Decompressive Craniectomy trial in patients with severe traumatic brain injuries with increased intracranial pressure under the age of 60. 15 hospitals throughout Australia, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia were used to recruit patients with severe traumatic brain injuries.

To qualify for consideration in the trial, patients were between the ages of 15 and 59 with a severe, nonpenetrating traumatic brain injury. The injury was defined as a score of 3 to 8 on the Glasgow Coma Scale. Patients were excluded if there were not deemed suitable for full active treatment by the clinical staff caring for the patient, or if they had dialated, unreactive pupils, mass lesions, spinal cord injury, or cardiac arrest at the scene of the injury. Within the first 72 hours after injury, patients were randomly assigned to either undergo decompressive craniectomy plus receive standard care or to receive standard care alone. In patients that were randomly chosen to undergo the decompressive craniectomy, the excised bone was stored at -70 degrees celsius, or in subcutaneous abdominal pouch. After swelling and infection had resolved, usually around 2 to 3 months after surgery, the bone was replaced.

The trial was designed to identify an increase in the proportion of favorable outcomes, defined as a score of 5 to 8 on the extended Glasgow Outcome Scale, from 30% among patients receiving standard care to 50% among patients undergoing craniectomy. Out of 3,478 patients that were assessed for eligibility, 155 patients were enrolled. The patients were randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups: 73 were to undergo early decompressive craniectomy and 82 were to receive regular standard care. The median age for the craniectomy group was 23.7 and 24.6 for the standard care group. After randomization, fewer interventions were required to decrease intracranial pressure in patients who had undergone the craniectomy. The mean intracranial pressure was lower in the craniectomy group than in the standard care group. Patients in the craniectomy group had a shorter duration of mechanical ventilation and a shorter stay in the ICU, although there was no significant difference in the total time in the hospital in both groups. 37% of patients in the craniectomy group had a medical or surgical complication versus on 17% in the standard care group. After examination, the Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale was worse in the craniectomy patients than in the standard care patients. 70% of patients had an unfavorable outcome in the craniectomy group versus 51% in the standard care group.

Among those adults with severe diffuse traumatic brain injury with increased intracranial pressure that was resistant to regular treatment methods, the study found that the decompressive craniectomy decreased intracranial pressure, decreased the duration of mechanical ventilation, and decreased the time spent in the ICU. However, patients in the craniectomy group had a lower median score on the Glasgow Coma Scale and had a higher risk of an unfavorable outcome than those patients in the standard care group. Despite positive signs in the ICU, it was determined that decompressive craniectomy increased the likelihood of a poor outcome. It shifted survivors from a favorable outcome to and unfavorable one (i.e., dependence on assistance to complete activities of daily living). One possible explanation is that the craniectomy allowed for expansion of the swollen brain outside the skull and caused axonal stretch, which in vitro causes neural injury. Also, alterations in cerebral blood flow and metabolism may also be relevant.

Overall, the conclusions show that patients with severe diffuse traumatic brain injury and increased intracranial pressure that is resistant to regular treatment methods that undergo decompressive craniectomy have decreased intracranial pressure, decreased duration of both ventilatory support and stay in the ICU, but have a significantly worse outcome at 6 months as measured by the Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale, as compared to patients who receive the standard care treatment.

Social Security Will Stop Mailing Earnings Statements

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)52880 — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST

The Social Security Administration has announced that it will stop mailing earnings statements. These statements that help Americans determine the amount of retirement they would receive at certain age levels will now be able to be viewed online through the SSA's website. The administration says this is an effort to reduce costs and steer more people to their website.

Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue says that it hopes to have the statements online by the end of the year, once security issues can be resolved. These statements are a key tool in helping individuals plan for retirement. It allows a person to project future benefit payments based on average earnings over the course of a work lifetime.

However, advocates for older Americans say they are sympathetic about the SSA's budget problems, but have pointed out that many older Americans may not have the computer skills necessary to access this information or may not have access to a computer; showing that an online only option is insufficient.

The statements, which have been mailed to American worker's over the age of 25 since the 1980's, are a way for worker's to check for mistakes in earned income, and also to keep track of the total amount of Social Security and Medicare taxes paid over the lifetime of the worker. The statements also provide an estimate of montly benefits based on current earnings and when the person plans to retire. The SSA now offers an online benefits estimator on their website that can be more helpful than the actual earnings statements. The website does not however, provide detailed earnings and payroll tax history that the statements previously provided. While the website tool is useful for running scenarios about retirement, it does not give the worker the concrete information that the mailed statements did.

Ending the statements is part of a government trend to conduct more business electronically. For more information on social security earnings statements please visit www.ssa.gov

Requirements for Social Security Mental Disability

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)52641 — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST

The South Carolina Department of Health has said that Americans with mental disorders have much higher rates of unemployment versus the general population. Because of this, people with serious mental conditions that render them unable to maintain or find work are able to apply for social security disability benefits. These benefits provide monthly benefit checks for the U.S. government; however, the Social Security Administration sets strict eligibility guidelines on the type and severity of mental impairments before the applicant can receive benefits.

The social security administration has defined the type of mental disorders that qualify for disability payments. Those types of mental disorders include organic, schizophrenic, affective, anxiety, somatoform, personality, substance addiction, and autistic disorders. Mentally retarded individuals also qualify for diability payments. A stipulation for receiving benefits is that any mental disorder or medication used to treat a mental disorder must severely limit the sufferer's daily activities and social functioning on an episodic of permanent basis to the extent that the person cannot obtain or maintain employment.

Another requirement for the applicant is that they must have a record of attempting to work before making their claim. This includes independent attempts to find employment or participation in a community health employment program. The social security administration does not require a set number of attempts, however, individuals repeatedly fired by employers for their behavior due to mental illness have a greater chance of successfully receiving benefits.

The next requirement is that the mentally ill individuals must provide documentation proving their inability to work. This includes a medical assessment of the severity of their illness, proof that the illness limits their ability to work, as well as a diagnosis from a psychiatrist or psychologist. The social security administration does allow intelligence testing or personality testing to prove a limit in cognitive functioning due to a mental disability. The side effects from psychiatric medications can also further limit a person's ability to work, but a medical professional must provide documentation of these side effects.

Lastly, there is a time frame to follow. According to the SSA, a disability must severely limit or have the potential to limit an individuals ability to work for a continuous time period of at least 12 months in most cases. If the person suffers from an anxiety or paranoid disorder such as manic depression or schizophrenia, a doctor must have diagnosed this disorder at least two years before the person applies for benefits. Also, a person who suffers from temporary mental episodes, such as bipolar mood swings, must suffer at least three episodes lasting at least two weeks in a one-year period, with an average of one severe episode every four months.

For more information on the guidelines and specific rules and requirements please visit the Social Security Administration's website: www.ssa.gov

Head Injury Prevention Tips from the American Association of Neurological Surgeons

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)52711 — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST

The American Association of Neurological Surgeons has sent out some basic head injury prevention tips for children, and especially children that are involved in sports. A spokesman for the AANS, Dr. Gail Rosseau said that "there needs to be greater awareness about the potentially devastating consequences of head and spinal cord injuries associated wtih sports and all involved need to take steps to prevent these types of injuries."

There were an estimated 446,788 sports-related head injuries treated and U.S. hospital emergency rooms in 2009. This number is 95,000 higher than the previous year with all of the top 20 sports reporting increases in head injuries. So, the AANS has released a list of prevention tips to keep children from experiencing head injuries while enjoying sports.

Tips:

1.) Buy and use helmets or protective head gear approved by the ASTM International for specific sports 100% of the time. Helmets should be worn at all times for sports such as: cycling, football, hockey, horseback riding, inline skating, powered recreational vehicles, skateboards/scooters, skiing, snowboarding, and wrestling.

2.) Supervise younger children at all times and do not let them use sporting equipment or play sports unsuitable for their age.

3.) Do not dive in water less than 12 feet deep or in above-ground pools.

4.) Follow all rules at water parks and swimming pools.

5.) Wear appropriate clothing for the sport.

6.) Do not wear any clothing that can interfere with your vision.

7.) Do not participate in sports when you are ill or very tired.

8.) Obey all traffic signals, and be aware of drivers when cycling, skateboarding, or rollerblading.

9.) Avoid uneven or unpaved surfaces when cycling, skateboarding, or rollerblading.

10.) Perform regular safety checks of sports fields, playgrounds, and equipment.

11.) Discard and replace sporting equipment or protective gear that is damaged.

For more information about sports related injury and more prevention tips please visit http://www.aans.org/PatientInformation.aspx. Click on Conditions and Treatments and Patient Safety for more on sports-related injury prevention.

New Programs Are Targeting Alcohol and Drug Use During Prom Season

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)52640 — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST

Prom and graduation are milestones in a teenagers' life. They are events that mark progress in a young person's life. However, these times also mean there is a marked increase in the number of young people using drugs or alcohol. Unfortunately, this time has also become very deadly. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1/3 of alcohol related traffic fatalities involving teens occur during prom and graduation season. It is why many teens and schools are starting new programs to keep teens from partaking in these activities. The programs reward those who pledge to abstain from risky behaviors during prom and graduation.

The statistics about alcohol related deaths for minors and other risky behaviors are steep. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 5,000 people under the age of 21 die annually from underage drinking. Of those, 1,900 are related to drunk driving, and alcohol has been a facotr in crashes responsible for nearly half of all deaths of 15- to 20-year-olds during prom season. Additionally, studies have linked underage drinking to other health hazards, such as contracting a sexually transmitted disease through unprotected sex.

Many of the progams to combat this issue during the season are very simple. Schools have teens sign pledge cards that are promises to be drug and alcohol free. One school even sells daisies, representing life, to raise awareness and add romance to the actual prom. Other schools are promoting National Youth Traffic Safety Month, which encourages safe-driving projects near prom and graduation season. Harris Blackwood, director of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety in Georgia said "The more we do to raise awareness, the better. We lose more teens this time of year than at any other time and we are using every tool in our arsenal to keep that number low."

Prom and graduation are exciting times. Unfortunately, for many teens it is also a deadly time. These programs, which raise awareness and protect lives, are great tools in helping keep teenagers safe.

New Policy from the Department of Defense Aims to Better Identify and Treat Concussions

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)52710 — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST

In a new memorandum that will be in full effect by June the Department of Defense has changed its policy regarding the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injuries. This new system will systematically and quickly identify and treat traumatic brain injuries in the combat realm. The memo, which sets policy and mangement guidelines concerning TBI in deployed settings will rely for the first time on events, instead of personal reporting, to trigger a chain of institutional responses.

According to Army Maj. Sarah Goldman, "This is an absolutely revolutionary policy. This is the first time in traumatic brain injury care, and certainly in the Department of Defense traumatic brain injury care, that we have an event-driven protocol. It means that you don't have to rely on service members to report problems after they have been involved in an event." "It is an event-driven policy meaning the if a service member hits their head, or is somewhere near a blast, they have to get checked out, they have to get treated, and it has to be reported. There is also mandatory down time for recovery." DOD officials have struggled with ways to more quickly identify and treat the often invisible combat injury.

Traumatic brain injuries often result from bullet blasts, vehicle accidents that cause a jolt to the head, or exposure to a blast. Navy Cmdr. Dr. David Tarantino said that moderate and severe TBI's are relatively easy to recognize. The more challenging is the mild TBI, more commonly known as a concussion. He says that not diagnosing a service member with a mild TBI can have serious operational impact. They can have difficulty following instructions, poor marksmanship, slow reaction time, and decreased concentration. He says sending service members suffering from mild TBI back out onto the front lines can do a lot of harm.

The new memo requires commanders to ensure all service members involved in potentially concussive events receive a medical evaluation, even if they have no obvious or apparent injuries. It authorizes commanders to refer a service member under their charge, who appears to be showing symptoms, for an evaluation. It also mandates that all cases of TBI be documented into an electronic medical record. This documentation will provide a registry for the Defense Department and a tool to inform commanders whose units are about to redeploy.

Air Force Maj. Dr. Laura Baugh, the Air Force TBI program manager, called this leadership responsibility a key part of the new policy. She says, "It requires leaders to recognize service memebers who have been involved in an event that could cause a concussion and to ensure they get a medical evaluation and requires them to track these service members in the electronic database. Not only does this ensure service members get the follow-up care they need down the road, but it also helps the DOD understand the true incidence of this problem in the field."

In terms of patient care, it mandates two of the best-known treatments for mild TBI, rest and education. Troops suffering mild TBI require at least 24 hours of rest before returning to duty, and often more as they receive their medical evaluations. As the military works to improve the way it treats and diagnoses mild TBI, it is also focusing on more education for service members about TBI. Service members start their education in the pre-deployment cycle and continues through deployment and on redeployment home. This new policy is a big step in helping the military better identify and treat mild TBI and helps ensure that service members have the best chance at a full recovery.

Underage Drinking Linked to Long Term Brain Injury

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)52639 — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST

A new study done by researchers at the University of North Carolina have found that binge drinking during the adolescent years of brain development, can affect the frontal cortex which then affects decision making and other behaviors later in adult life.

Binge drinking is defined as the consumption of eight or more units in a single session for men, and six or more units in a single session for women. This means that underage users of alcohol that are consuming at least those amounts could be damaging their brain; however these effects may not be seen until later into adult hood. Dr. Fulton Crews, who led the study, said that during adolescense, the brain's developing neural circuits are more vulnerable to damage. He goes on to state "our findings suggest that individuals who drink heavily during adolescence may be more likely to have deficits in being able to adapt successfully to changing life situations as adults, possibly tied to chemical and/or structural changes in the frontal cortex."

He goes on to explain that drinking alcohol impacts the part of the brain that allows individuals to predict the consequences of a particular action, control impulses, refine reasoning, and evaluate rewards. Thus, by impairing the part of the brain that controls these things, people are more prone to make bad choices and be unaware of the possible consequences.

Therefore, it is important for adolescents to be aware of the affect binge drinking can have on overall brain development. It has now been linked to causing brain injuries that may not manifest until much later in life.

Spike in Pedestrians Killed in the Midlands is Alarming

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)52469 — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST

Pedestrians in Richland and Lexington counties are being hit and/or killed at an alarming rate this year according to authorities. Nine pedestrians have died on public streets in both counties in the first 3 months of 2011. In comparison, 14 were killed in both counties in all of 2010. This number is alarming to officials because it accounts for more than 1/3 of the 25 pedestrians run over and killed statewide since January 1, 2011.

Police and other safety officials worry the trend will grow worse as the sluggish economy and steadily rising gas prices force more people to walk and inadequate transit systems fail to take people where they need to go.

In an analysis done by The State Newspaper, using data provided by the state Highway Safety office, data collected from 2008-2010 found the following:

-428 collisions injured or killed 456 pedestrians
-25 pedestrians died in those collisions: 15 in Richland County and 10 in Lexington County
-58% of the time pedestrians contributed to the collisions
-the most dangerous time was 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
-the safest time was 3 a.m. to 6 a.m.

Four South Carolina counties have more than one pedestrian death this year; Greenville, Horry, York, and Berkeley each have two deaths according to the Highway Safety office. Statewide, the pace of pedestrian deaths is causing concern with officials stating that if it does not slow, the tally would be at least 100 deaths which would reverse the previous 2 years of improvement.

So, officals begin attacking the problem. Columbia police Chief Randy Scott has turned more of his departments focus onto pedestrian safety; USC transportation director along with campus police chief Chris Wuchenich created a working group to address safety issues. Statewide, highway patrol troopers lauched their own pedestrian safety effort back in January. Just last week, Columbia enacted a ban on texting while driving aiming to keep those who are walking safe from distracted drivers.

The issue remains; pedestrians need to watch where they are going, be aware of whats going on around them, and obey all traffic laws. Motorists also have a responsibility to watch out for pedestrians and keep distractions in the car to a minimum, and obey traffic laws. Being aware and undistracted will help reduce the number of pedestrian deaths in South Carolina.

Over 1,500 DUI Cases Pending in Horry County

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)52568 — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST

South Carolina has over 10,000 drunk driving cases that have not gone to trial, with some of those cases pending for close to 10 years. In Horry County, there are over 1,500 cases that have not gone to trial, and now there is a statewide push to get these cases to court to be resolved.

The issue was raised after the state's public safety director said that troopers were complaining about the numerous DUI cases that had not gone to trial. For troopers, it becomes hard for them to remember specific DUI arrests after so much time has passed. However, the use of police car surveillance systems will be relied on to recall the details of each arrest.

In Horry county, Assistant Solicitor Ricky Todd said "My first reaction was this is going to be tough, but it is definitely doable." Horry county leads the state in pending cases mainly because of the tourism factor. People in the area on vacation wind up with DUI's as well as college kids and Spring break visitors. It is why there are so many in the Grand Strand. According to the highway patrol, between January and March of 2010, 271 DUI arrests were made. During January to March of 2011 that number increased by more than fifty.

The county is determined to work through the backlog as quickly and efficiently as possible. Assistant Solicitor Todd says that they will do everything that is allowable and do everything they can.

Working through all the backlogged cases will help the county become more efficient at processing new cases. Reports will be processed quicker as the pending cases are resolved. Horry County is working towards resolving the pending cases and hopes that in the future this issue will not happen again.

Highway Deaths at Lowest Level Since 1949

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)52467 — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST

The Transportation Department has said that highway deaths have fallen to the lowest rate in more than 60 years. This drop in fatalities has been linked to more people wearing their seatbelts, better safety equipment in cars, and better efforts to remove drunk drivers from the roadways. The department estimated that 32,788 people were killed on roads in the U.S. in 2010, which is a decrease of about 3% from 2009. It is the fewest number of deaths recorded since 1949, when more than 30,000 people were killed.

The Pacific Northwest saw one of the largest declines in highway deaths, with a 12% fall in fatalities; this is followed by the western states like Arizona and California which also posted large declines. Although the number of deaths is still significant, efforts on mulitiple fronts have made the roads safer. The largest effort has been the campaign to convince more motorists to wear their seatbelts. This, along with safer cars with airbags, are the leading reasons that fatalities are so low.

According to the the U.S. Transportation Department, traffic deaths typically decline during hard economic times, mainly because many motorists cut back on discretionary travel. This is supported by the fact that deaths fell in the early 1980's and early 1990's when the U.S. economy was also struggling. According to the Federal Highway Administration, the number of miles traveled by American drivers in 2010 grew by 20.5 billion, or 0.7% compared with 2009. Seperately, the rate of deaths per 100 million miles traveled has hit a record low of 1.09 in 2010.

Executive Director of the Governors Highway Safety Association, Barbara Harsha, said "it's a really good sign that fatalities are down despite the fact that vehicle miles traveled is up." Harsha relates this decline to better vehicle technology, safer driving, and safer road designs. Safety equipment in cars like side air bags and anti-rollover technology are becomming standard equipment on new cars and trucks making each new car safer. Another reason for the decline is the fact that many states have become more aggressive about stopping drunk drivers. Alcohol related driving fatalities fell more than 7% in 2009. Seatbelt use is also at an all-time high noting that 84% of people in cars and trucks were buckling up in 2009. Seatbelts are the most basic defense in a crash, so higher seatbelt usage means lower highway fatalities.

Since highway deaths are at their lowest record since 1949, it means that U.S. roads are becomming safer. Basic things like airbags, both side and front, and seatbelt usage have been the major factors in helping reach such low numbers.

MLB Now Requires Brain Injury Specialist for Each Club

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)52258 — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST

In an effort to reduce the effects of mild traumatic brain injuries, Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association have instituted new concussion protocols requiring each club to have a traumatic brain injury specialist located in the home city of the team.

This policy was created with the help of a committee of concussion experts which will oversee how soon the players and umpires effected by a concussion can return to play. This policy goes into effect on Opening day. It also includes the creation of a 7-day disabled list for players with concussions. This is to prevent players from returning to the game too soon. Additionally, the policy calls for a mandatory baseline neuropsychological test for players and umpires during spring training.

This policy will help protect players and umpires from additional damage after receiving a concussion.

Cameras on I-95 to Catch Speeders Sparking Controversy

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)52160 — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST

Interstate 95 runs up and down the east coast, and near one small town in South Carolina a section of the interstate is being patrolled by a photo-radar. Ridgeland, S.C. has the areas' only stretch of I-95 that is using cameras to help catch people speeding. The camera works by taking photos of the car, driver, and license plate at the time of the violation. The driver of the car is then mailed a speeding ticket.

The Mayor of Ridgeland, Gary Hodges, is an advocate of the program saying that the cameras are working by slowing people down, reducing accidents, and saving lives. However, many opponents say that the system is just a "money maker" and can be viewed as selective law enforcement. Violaters say that receiving a ticket in the mail is not fair and you should be pulled over by law enforcement and be aware that you have been caught speeding.

Speed cameras are used in 14 states and the District of Columbia according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The cameras have brought controversy in other states besides South Carolina as well. Just last year, Arizona ended a two-year program using speed cameras on its roads partly because the perception was prevelant that they were just being used to build revenue.

Mayor Hodges says the cameras are working and obtaining the goal. From January to July of 2010, there were 55 crashes and 4 deaths. From August to the end of February 2011, there were 38 crashes and no fatalities. He says that from the time the cameras started operating through the end of February, there has been more than a 50% drop in the number of motorists going 81 MPH or more. AAA Carolinas says that you must be doing more than 80 MPH to be issued a ticket. However, this is where the controversy begins because it is not ticketing all speeders; just those going over 80 MPH. It is why the opponents are calling it "selective law enforcement." In fact, state law prohibits issuing tickets solely on photographic evidence, however Mayor Hodges says this doesn't apply in Ridgeland because an officer is also there to see the speeder from an observation van. Federal law contends that it is unconstitutional to send tickets by mail to motorists and also to addresses outside of the town limits.

So, the controversy continues as highway officials report safer roads, fewer crashes, and fewer deaths related to speeding. The cameras are currently still in use and have not replaced actual officers patrolling the highway.

Social Security: Never too Young to Start Planning

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)52071 — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST

Many young people just beginning their careers don't give a second thought to Social Security, retirement, or planning for retirement. However, in a new webinar, the Social Security Administration begins to address the issue of Social Security's stability for the future and how young workers tax dollars are being put to use.

One of the biggest question young people have is whether or not Social Security will still be around by the time they are old enough to receive benefits. Because of the current economic crisis this country is in, many question whether there will still be money left for when today's 20-30-year-olds are ready to retire. The answer is Yes. While the current system does need some reform, Social Security will still be active and paying out benefits. One of the reasons for the need for reform is the fact that people are living longer. The average 60 year old man can expect to live until the age of 81, and the average 60 year old woman can expect to live until the age of 85. So young people today can expect to spend 20 years in retirement. This means that the amount of Social Security and retirement income received is spread out over a longer time period. Another reason for the need for reform is that people are having fewer children. After WWII, the U.S. had a population spike, known as the "baby boomer" generation. Today, with fewer children being born, means that there are fewer young people in the work force trying to support the 80 million "baby boomers". In fact, 20% of the U.S. population will be 65 by the year 2035. With fewer workers trying to support more aging adults, means that financial stress is put on the system.

To understand why it is hard for workers today to support all those on Social Security, you need to understand how the system works. When you work or earn money, you pay taxes on that income. One of those taxes is FICA - or Federal Insurance Contributions Act. A portion of your paycheck is used for this program and your employer matches the contribution. This money is put into the Social Security Trust Fund. This fund is what pays out the benefits for those receiving Social Security. 85 cents of every dollar that is taken out for FICA goes into the trust fund. The other 15 cents goes into disability in order for the government to pay out Social Security Disability benefits. It is important to remember that every person who is receiving benefits has paid into the system, so the money you will get later in life after you retire or become disabled, is money that you earned throughout your work history. According to the Social Security Administration, in 2011, the maximum amount of income that you will pay FICA taxes on is $106,800.

Now, how does the government keep track of how much you earn over the course of your work history? Each person is issued a social security number and that number is what is used to track your work earnings. Your social security number is used to match your work earnings with you; this is why you have to fill it in on your work form when you start a new job. Your Social Security payments are calculated based on what you earn (or paid into) over the course of your work history.

The next logical question when understanding how Social Security works, is how do you become "eligible" to receive benefits? This is calculated through what the government calls "credits". You must have earned enough work credits during the time you worked in order to receive payments. Credits are earned in the same manner, no matter where you work. You can work for a company, be self employed, or work for a non-profit. Your earnings are reported and the credits are earned just the same. Guidelines stipulate that you must earn 40 "credits" to qualify for Social Security. As you work and pay taxes, you are earning credits. You can earn up to a maximum of 4 credits per year. In 2010, you had to make $1,120.00 to earn 1 credit. So a person who earned at least $4,480.00 in 2010 earned 4 credits. It is possible to get social security benefits with fewer than 40 credits, but this will depend on your age and the type of payments you are applying for. But as a general rule of thumb, at least 10 years making more than $5000.00 a year will make you eligible for benefits based on work credits.

Young people can be eligible for survivor benefits and disability benefits, depending on the circumstances. The government estimates that 1 in 7 of today's 20-year-olds will die before the age of 67. Social security will pay money to the spouse of a worker who dies and the children regardless of the age of the worker. Young people can also qualify for benefits through the social security disability program. There are 2 types: Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). It is estimated that 3 in 10 of today's 20-year-olds will become disabled before the age of 67. Social security will pay money to those that become disabled and cannot work, as well as their families. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is for those who have disabilities and have limited income. It is possible to qualify for SSI but not for disability because of not earning enough work "credits." SSI payments come from general taxes; not the portion of a paycheck that is designated to go into the social security trust fund.

The last piece of the puzzle is retirement benefits. Retirement payments are based on the montly average of your highest 35 earning years. This means that the best 35 years of your work history will be used to calculate how much you will receive in monthly retirement payments. Currently, the earliest age that you can begin collecting retirement benefits is 62. However, the longer you wait to begin receiving these benefits, the higher your monthly payment will be. The government keeps track of your earnings record through your W-2 forms that are submitted yearly from your employer. This is called your Lifelong Earnings Record. This record is used to determine whether you can get future payments and the amount of those payments. This is why it is important to read your statements from the Social Security Administration and check it for accuracy. You want to make sure that the government has an accurate record of your work history. If there is an error, you can contact a local office and provide them with the accurate information in the form of a W-2. Most importantly though, is to remember that social security retirement benefits were only meant to be a part of your income during your retirement years. Most finanacial advisors state that an average retiree will need 70% or more of their pre-retirement earnings in order to live comfortably. Social security will only make up about 40% of that income so it is very important to have savings and investments to make up the difference.

Lastly, it is important to begin saving now for the future. Everyone has heard that "it's never to early to begin saving." This is true. Even a few dollars a week can pay off later on. If you were to save $25 a week and place it into a savings fund that had an average of 5% annual growth, it would end up being $165,000 in 40 years. Every little bit helps take care of you in the future, so make sure you start with whatever you can, as early as you can.

Social security may seem confusing and its important to understand what your tax dollars are being used for. Each worker pays into the system in order to take care of yourself later in life. Workers today are paying into the system to take care of the previous generation and the next generation will pay into the system in order to take care of you. Learning to save, and remembering the importance of savings and investments will help bridge the gap once you are older. For more information on the different programs or eligibility, please visit www.ssa.gov

Tips for Applying for Social Security Disability

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)51976 — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST

Applying for Social Security Disability benefits can be frustrating and time-consuming. The majority of applicants are denied benefits in the inital stanges of the application and in most cases it takes months and months before the claimant is finally awarded the benefits they are entitled too.

The most important thing in to remember in approaching the application process is the be fully prepared and have a complete understanding of the requirements of the Social Security Administration and the state run Disability Determination Services.

Below is a list of helpful tips to aid in the process of preparing for filing a Social Security Disability claim.

1.) Understand the Social Security Disability Application process
2.) Be prepared when filing a Social Security Disability Application
3.) Understand the difference between Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
4.) Be honest during the Social Security Disability Application process
5.) Continue your medical treatemtn after applying for social Security Disability
6.) Keep a detailed journal describing your disabling condition
7.) Don't panic if your claim is denied
8.) Appeal immediately after your social security benefits are denied
9.) Hire a qualified Social Security Disability Attorney
10.) Keep notes of phone conversations with the Social Security Administration
11.) Be proactive with your disability claim
12.) Contact your physician regularly
13.) Get a diagnosis from a specialist

Using these helpful tips can make the process for applying for Social Security benefits a little easier. If you need help with your Social Security Disability claim, or if your claim has been denied, please contact The Derrick Law Firm at 843-248-7486.

If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC social security disability attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at the The Derrick Law Firm has been handling social security disability cases in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Researcher Discovers Spinal Cord Capable of Processing Information

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)51975 — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST

It has been well understood that the brain is the center for many functions, including the processing of information in all vertebrates. However, a researcher at the Queen's MRI Facility has found that the spinal cord is capapble of processing information as well and is working on a way to map this function to help people with spinal cord injuries.

Dr. Patrick Stroman, study leader and the Director of the Queen's MRI Facility, has been in the process of mapping the function of the spinal cord, which includes the capability of information processing. He has studied the regions above and below spinal cord injuries in an effort to better understand the injury and the treatment. Through the course of this study, he has developed a technique to aid in bridging injuries to the spinal cord. This technique consists of an MRI system taking multiple images of the spinal cord while temperature sensations are performed on the skin. As the temperature sensations varied, it caused certain areas of the spinal cord to react. The MRI is then able to capture the reactions and can be used to identify the injury that needs to be bridged.

In addition to the reactions, Stroman also realized that a persons level of attention affects the spinal cord's information processing. The MRI was also able to capture spinal cord activity in those patients who were alert and those who were distracted by other tasks.

Stromans states, "The effect of attention is one of the reasons that when you're playing sports and you get hurt, you often don't become aware of the injury until after the game when you attention and focus changes. We already knew that a person's level of attention affects information processing in the brain, but this finding has made us aware that level of attention has to be properly controlled in research that aims to accurately map spinal cord function." "Basic physiology books describe the spinal cord as a relay system, but it's a part of the central nervous system and processes information just like part of the brain do," added Stroman.

This research has the capacity to improve treatment and technology for spinal cord injuries, leading to more effecient, effective recovery.

If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC spinal cord injury attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at the The Derrick Law Firm has been handling spinal cord injury cases in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

New Protection from Traumatic Brain Injuries May be Available for Baseball Pitchers

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)51658 — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST

Everyone knows that baseballs are flying pretty fast in most games, so the need for protective head gear for pitchers is obvious. A sporting goods equipment company has announced the creation of a prototype to protect pitchers, from little league all the way to the major leagues.

It is very common for head injuries to occur in various sports like football and baseball. Brain swelling, concussions, comas, and other less predictable conditions can occur after a head injury. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, young people have suffered more serious head injuries in the game of baseball. The Consumer Product Safety Commission quoted statistics for one year saying 21 children died due to their baseball head injuries.

The prototype, designed by Easton-Bell is made of expandable polystyrene that is lightweight and capable of absorbing energy. They have said that the helmet will not interfere with pitching duties, and used footage from 5,000 pitchers playing baseball to aid in the design process. It is said to look very similar to a regular baseball cap, but has enhanced quality padding in the most vulnerable areas.

According to the CEO of Easton-Bell, the product should be available for players to purchase by the fall of 2011.

If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC traumatic brain injury attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at the The Derrick Law Firm has been handling traumatic brain injury cases in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

A Gap in Treatment for Those Suffering from Brain Injury

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)51777 — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST

Many people suffering from traumatic brain injuries require intensive rehabilitation and care. Unfortunately, most Americans cannot afford state-of-the-art rehabilitation centers. Medicare, Medicaid, and most insurance companies will cover the costs of the brain surgery and intensive care required to save the patient's life. However, most insurers shortchange the benefits for rehab programs and brain injury "boot camps" that teach patients to relearn skills and abilities that are destroyed after a traumatic brain injury. These types of services can cost anywhere from $600 to $8,000 a day depending on the services according to Susan Conners, President of the Brain Injury Association of America.

This lack of coverage means that thousands of brain injury patients are discharged each year from hospitals and are left to languish in bed during those critical early months when the brain is most receptive to healing; this according to the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. At least two-thirds of patients that are discharged from rehabilitation hospitals get no further care after the typical 16-day treatment. Based on research, patients without intensive therapy may never regain full use of their limbs, their ability to use language, their emotional balance, or their power to think clearly.

The only state in the United States that requires major insurers to cover comprehensive brain-injury rehabilitation is Texas. Sadly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 1.7 million people suffer brain trauma each year in the U.S. Most of these cases are from motor vehicle accidents, strokes, assaults, falls, gunshot wounds, and sports related accidents.

The problem is that while most private insurers say they offer coverage, the coverage varies drastically. It's a matter of reading the fine print and understanding what the coverage limits are; making sure your insurance company does not exclude cognitive therapy or see brain injury therapy as an "experimental" treatment.

With millions of Americans suffering from brain injuries, the help is out there. Unfortunately, sometimes it can be difficult and costly to find.

Mild Brain Injury Could Soon Be Cause for Purple Heart

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)51600 — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST

Senior military leaders at the Pentagon are now considering individual service proposals to change the guidelines for awarding the Purple Heart to troops who sustain mild traumatic brain injuries. Currently, the Purple Heart is given to those military personnel who are wounded or killed by enemy action.

Officials from all four services were scheduled to meet with Dr. Clifford Stanley, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, to discuss the recommendation, according to Army Lt. Col. Steve Warren, spokesman for Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli, the leader of the Army's initiative. Warren states, "Up to now, he thinks soldiers have received concussions and not received Purple Hearts as they should."

Marine Commandant Gen. James Amos ordered the Marine Corps' to review the new research that indicates the severity of a head wound is not necessarily linked to being knocked unconscious on the battlefield, which is what current Purple Heart Criteria dictates, noting that in some cases, the long-term effects can be much worse.

The issue, according to Warren, is that the regulation needs to be clarified. Meaning, the question of "what is a concussion?" needs to be clear about exactly what has to happen to be defined as a concussion.

According to Defense Department data, since 2000, more than 202,000 troops have been diagnosed with some form of traumatic brain injury, with more than 150,000 cases classified as "mild". These numbers have shown a rising trend with the proliferation of improvised explosive devices as the weapons of choice from insurgents targeting U.S. troops overseas. Nearly 31,000 troops suffered a brain injury in the last year alone.

The existing guidelines for determining a traumatic brain injury are based on the American Academy of Neurology's definition for mild traumatic brain injury. Before, head injuries were thought to be less serious if the soldier did not black out from the trauma. Traumatic brain injury has been called a signature wound of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. This trauma can cause mood swings, memory loss, depression, and paranoia, among other symptoms. Unfortunately, initial detection can be problematic and at first can appear to be symptom-free.

The Pentagon has since stepped up its response to traumatic brain injuries, and since last summer have required 24-hour rest for any personnel suffering even a mild concussion. If a second head injury occurs, they are then required to spend seven days with no physical activity. If a third head injury occurs, an evaulation by a neurologist is required.

Amos likes to refer to this approach as the "three strikes and you're in," meaning inside the wire and not out in the field.

Woodruff Baseball Player Returns After Suffering a Brain Injury

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)51769 — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST

On May 13, 2010 Rhett Nelson, a Woodruff High School baseball player, was driving north on Highway 221 when he lost control of his 2002 Ford Sport Trac, overcorrected, lost control and caused the SUV to flip four and a half times. Rhett suffered a life-threatening traumatic brain injury and had to be airlifted to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center for treatment. Acccording to his parents, Rhett suffered his brain injury from the tremendous impact of the accident. His head was pinned against the pavement.

After three days on life support, seven days in the intensive care unit, and a few more in normal care, Rhett had made enough of a recovery to be released to go home. Doctors told Rhett it could take up to an entire year for him to be able to walk again. Miraculously, less than two weeks after the accident, Rhett was learning to to take steps and was alert and talking. His only lasting side effect has been some short-term memory loss.

By January 2011, Rhett was totally cleared by doctors to return to the game he loved, baseball. On opening day for the Woodruff High School Wolverines', Rhett was in the lineup. He is greatful to his family, friends, and community for their support. With his recovery behind him,he now has his sights set on other goals; the state championship.

If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC traumatic brain injury attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at the The Derrick Law Firm has been handling traumatic brain injury cases in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

New Legislation Introduced to Make Safer Football Helmets for Young Athletes

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)51771 — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST

Two members of Congress have introduced legislation that would require improvements in safety for companies that make football helmets for young athletes. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) and Congressman Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) sponsored the bill which would give those companies nine months to improve helmet safety standards. According to the bill, if those companies fail to do so, then the Consumer Product Safety Commission would then be required to set the standards. The bill will also enforce stricter penalties for companies that make false safety claims.

Nacy Chiaravalloti, PhD, and the Director of Neuroscience Research at Kessler Foundation in West Orange, NJ says the medical implications of a concussion are severe. "Concussions are brain injuries that impact the brain permanently...with every concussion you are weakening the connections in the brain. Repeat concussions increase the risk of mild cognitive impairment and depression later in life, as well as illnesses such as Alzheimer's Disease."

Rep. Bill Pascrell says, "We want our children to be active and athletic, but in the safest possible circumstances right down to the helmets they put on their heads. The bill is the logical next step in Congress' effort to protect our young athletes from brain injuries."

According to WebMD, 40% of approximately 250,000 sports related head injuries seen in the emergency room between 2001-2005 were children between the ages of 8-13. A study by the National Association of Injury Prevention, released in January 2011, stated that 47% of high school football players endure a concussion in one season, while 35% have multiple concussions in a season. Unfortunatley another 85% of concussions remain undetected. Sports are the 2nd leading cause of traumatic brain injury for Americans ages 15-24 and every year 3.8 million U.S. Athletes suffer sports-related concussions with football being responsible for more concussions than any other sport.

This new bill would direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to determine within nine months if the voluntary safety standards for helmet makers are adequate enough to result in a reduction of the risk of injury. If they are not found to be good enough, the CPSC would have 30 days to set new standards for all football helmets that manufacturers would be required to follow. The bill also requires manufacturers to post warning labels on helmets noting their limited protection capabilities, a date of manufacture, and also the date the helmet was last reconditioned. The reason for this is because a football helmet's ability to protect athletes from injury decreases over time as the helmets receive hits.

This bill will help make sure young athletes are protected from brain injuries as much as possible, while still being able to enjoy the sports they love.

If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC traumatic brain injury attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at the The Derrick Law Firm has been handling traumatic brain injury cases in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Family Raises Grandson, Brings Awareness For Special Needs

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)51585 — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST

May 1, 2004 was a sad day for a young couple who lost their lives in a car accident on Ala. 144. The accident also left their 3-year-old son in critical condition with brain injuries. The accident injured the right frontal lobe of the young boy's brain.

The parents, John and Summer Kay, were driving home from a fun-filled day at Visionland in Birmingham, Alabama with their son, Hunter. It was raining, and the bad road conditions were what caused the deadly accident. 7 years later, Hunter is now living with his grandparents and they want to make sure that word gets out about March being Traumatic Brain Injury month.

His grandparents remember that night vividly; "Because of the bad weather, LifeSaver was not able to fly in to pick Hunter up. The critical care unit from Children's Hospital came to the hospital he was taken to after the accident to pick him up." Hunter was in the critical care unit for 15 days. In addition to the right frontal lobe injury, Hunter had a lacerated liver, two broken bones in his left arm, and a crushed growth plate in his right leg. His grandmother says, "His right frontal lobe damage affects the left side of his body. He has a hard time staying mobile, and falls a lot due to his injury."

Today, Hunter is a third-grade student and is doing as well as can be expected considering the extent of his injuries. His social skills are a little slower than his same-aged peers. Wanda, his grandmother, says that his mind is like that of a 4-year-old, so he enjoys playing with 4-year-olds. She does say that no matter how difficult some days are, she still feels blessed to have Hunter in her life. She looks forward to the day when he will graduate from high school and become a productive member of society.

It is reported that every 21 seconds in America, someone sustains a head injury. Everyone should be aware of how life-changing a traumatic brain injury can be, and that it can happen to anyone.

If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC traumatic brain injury attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at the The Derrick Law Firm has been handling traumatic brain injury cases in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Car Accident Victim Warns Others to Drive Safely

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)51580 — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST

Teaching teenagers to drive causes many parents to panic. However, for B.J. Williams, a survivor of a car accident that caused brain injury, talking to soon-to-be teenage drivers about how dangerous bad road habits can be is crucial.

Williams said, "It's the importance of understanding it before they get their licenses. One second of eyes off the road, the distraction can change your life in the worst way." Brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability in people ages 15 to 24, and car crashes account for almost 40% of those injuries in teens.

Williams' message is that such trauma is preventable. Distractions, such as eating, texting, or friends, are a major problem; so is not wearing a seatbelt.

Williams' story is this: At the age of 21, he was an unbuckled passenger of his friend's car when it crashed on the Massachusetts Turnpike. The accident left Williams with a traumatic brain injury that obliterated his sense of taste, smell, hearing in one ear, and his dream of playing professional hockey. At the time of the accident, he was playing for the Baystate Breakers, an amateur hockey club. He says, "Hockey was taken from me...something I'd worked my whole life for. Just from the one time in my life I didn't wear a seatbelt."

Six years after the accident, Williams now speaks to teens around the state of Massachusetts as the program manager of the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts' Keep Every Youth Safe program. He says the program isn't about scare tactics, but does show some videos about how damaging not wearing your seatbelt can be to your body.

The message is simple: be safe. Don't let distrations cause you to injure yourself or others, and always wear a seat belt.

If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC traumatic brain injury attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at the The Derrick Law Firm has been handling traumatic brain injury cases in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Social Security: Compassionate Allowances Process Helps Expedite Benefits

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)51573 — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST

Social Security is dedicated to helping people with medical conditions that are so serious that they meet the Social Security disability standards. They are obligated to provide benefits quickly to Americans with devastating illnesses.

The Social Security Administration has a process called Compassionate Allowances. This initiative was designed to speed up the disability application process for people with severe conditions. This program allows Social Security to identify the most obviously disabled candidates for allowances based on medical information that they can obtain quickly.

Currently, there are 88 specific diseases and conditions that qualify for Compassionate Allowances. As a result, claims filed by people who are disabled because of one of those conditions are put on the fast track to receiving benefits.

Social Security Commissioner, Michael Astrue, said during the current fiscal year, which ends September 30, around 150,000 people will benefit from the fast-track disability process. He also said that the administration will continue to hold public Compassionate Allowances hearings.

You can view a complete list of the conditions that qualify for Compassionate Allowances at: www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances

To learn more about Social Security Disability benefits, please visit: www.socialsecurity.gov/disability

If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC social security disability attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at the The Derrick Law Firm has been handling social security disability cases in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

States Debate Workers' Compensation Benefits for Undocumented Workers

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)51418 — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST

A number of states, including Georgia, Montana, New Hampshire, and South Carolina are in the process of considering bills that would deny workers'compensation benefits to illegal immigrants who are injured on the job.

The United State Supreme Court recently declined to hear a case involving an illegal immigrant in Louisana who pursued workers' compensation benefits after an accident in the workplace. The Court decided to leave it up to the states to rule about coverage in their jurisdictions.

The issue at hand is a significant one considering there are about 8 million unauthorized immigrants in the nation's workforce, according to the Pew Hispanic Center.

Although federal law prohibits knowingly hiring illegal immigrants, once they are hired, most states provide workers' compensation benefits regardless of their immigration status. Generally, courts have held that these workers are entitled to benefits, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

The Insurance Information Institute reports that most insurers favor keeping coverage, saying that denying those benefits runs counter to public policy and that workers compensation laws serve a humanitarian purpose. They also point out that unscrupulous employers could recruit illegal aliens, knowing that they could save the cost of workers' compensation coverage.

Opponents counter that undocumented workers should not be eligible for benefits, primarily because they are in this country illegally.

However, in Montana, legislators approved H.B. 71 which would prohibit illegal immigrant workers from collecting benefits when they are injured. If this bill is passed, Montana will become the first state in the nation to completely ban illegal aliens from receiving workers' compensation benefits.

If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC workers compensation attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at the Derrick Law Firm has been handling worker's compensation claims and on the job injury cases in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Study Claims Helmets Reduce Spinal Injury

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)51225 — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University have completed a study that links the use of motorcycle helmets to a reduced chance of spinal injury in an accident. Utilizing data gathered from 40,588 accidents, researchers can cite a 22% reduction of cervical spine injury for helmeted riders compared to those not wearing helmets. This study contradicts beliefs by anti-helmet lobbyists that the extra weight of the helmet can increase damage to the spine. The study used data from the National Trauma Databank.

Adil H. Haider, M.D., M.P.H., Johns Hopkins assistant professor of surgery and the study leader says: "We are debunking a popular myth that wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle can be detrimental during a motorcycle crash. Using this new evidence, legislators should revisit the need for mandatory helmet laws. There is no doubt that helmets save lives and reduce head injury. And now we know they are also associated with a decreased risk of cervical spine injury."

Along with showing a reduced risk of cervical spine injury, the study also confirms other safety benefits of wearing a helmet such as a 65% reduction in traumatic brain injury and a 37% decrease in death.

The study was published in the Journal of American College of Surgeons, with the conclusion stating: "Helmeted motorcyclists are less likely to suffer a cervical spine injury after a motorcycle collision. This finding challenges a long-standing objection to mandatory helmet use that claims helmets are associated with cervical spine injury. Re-enactment of the universal helmet law should be considered in states where it has been repealed."

Over the past decade many states have repealed universal helmet laws; only 20 states and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico require mandatory helmet usage for all riders. Those remaining states either have no law or only require helmets under various age restrictions.

This report coincides with renewed efforts on both sides of the helmet law. Some states, such as Oregon, are currently considering repealing the universal helmet law. The city of Myrtle Beach, SC had its mandatory helmet law struck down by the South Carolina Supreme Court, which deemed the city ordinance unable to supercede state laws. Nationally, the National Transportation Safety Board placed this measure on its "Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements" for November 2010.

Helmet use makes motorcycle riding safer. It reduces the risk of cervical spine injury, reduces traumatic brain injuries, and greatly reduces the chance of death.

If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC motorcycle accident attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling motorcycle accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

March Madness: Close Games Cause Problems on the Roads

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)51200 — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST

Everyone knows how exciting a close game can be. Unfortunately, this energy and enthusiasm may result in greater driving dangers for the fans of the winning team.

In an analysis comparing traffic fatalities with exciting basketball and football games, using both professional and collegiate games, researchers Stacy Wood of North Carolina State University, and Melayne McInnes of the University of South Carolina, were able to conclude that after a close game, fatal car crashes in the winning team's hometown were over 130% higher than when the win was a complete blowout. Unfortunately, the effect was found wherever the fans were located; both in their hometown and also at the gamesite.

Sadly, the link Wood and McInnes found was that the car accidents were from the winning team's fans, not the losing teams fans. They hypothesize that increased levels of the hormone testosterone might make winning fans more aggressive, thus leading to more accidents. Research has shown that sports fans tend to have higher than normal testosterone levels during competitive games, but when their team loses, those levels quickly drop off. Naturally, if your team wins, those levels will remain elevated.

Wood stated: "Aggression in general could influence a lot of things other than aggressive driving, including speeding and cutting into traffic; it can easily lead to other risky behaviors."

So, what can be done to help alleviate this issue? Many indicate that keeping fans from the winning team in the stadiums to participate in things like getting player autographs, or listening to coaches' post game speeches, can greatly reduce the risk of accidents. Most importantly though is for fans to understand how a game might effect them. Taking time to calm down after a big win can help save lives.

If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Summer Driving Safety

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)34736 — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST

The summer months bring warmer weather and holidays, encouraging more people to take summer trips. However, summer vacation also brings crowded roadways and increased driving risks. Drivers should take extra caution and care of their vehicles while travelling this summer.

Warm weather creates extra risk for underinflated tires. Vehicles loaded with luggage and passengers can put extra stress on tires as well. Drivers should regularly check tire pressure and should consult their owner's manual for the manufacturer's recommended tire pressure for their make and model. They should also be aware of load limits and not overload their vehicles when preparing for long trips. Properly inflated tires are especially important in vehicles like SUVs which are prone to rollover.

Consumers should remember to never leave children alone in or near vehicles. Temperatures can quickly escalate inside a car during the summer months. Drivers should also take precautions when moving vehicles when children are near and should always be aware of their location. Children 12 and under should be kept in appropriate child restraints when riding in a vehicle, including child seats and booster seats for older children. Individuals of all ages should wear a seat belt day and night when riding in or driving a motor vehicle.

Preparation is important before travelling. Drivers should always get plenty of rest the day before travel when planning a road trip to reduce driver fatigue. They should also leave plenty of time to get to their destination in order to reduce stress. Drivers should ensure windshield wipers and lights are working on their vehicle and check their oil and fluid levels before leaving.

Distracted driving is also a serious hazard on the roadways. However, it becomes even more dangerous when the highways and roads become crowded with summer travellers. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 6,000 individuals died in 2008 alone because of accidents caused by distracted drivers. Distracted driving includes talking and texting on a cellphone, drinking, eating, and use of other in-vehicle technologies.

FDA warns of potential confusion over Maalox products

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)26946 — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

The Food and Drug Administration warned consumers on Wednesday to be careful which product they pick up when purchasing Maalox, an over-the-counter antacid. The traditional antacid, Maalox, Maalox Advanced is not to be confused with a product in similar packaging called Maalox Total Relief.

Traditional Maalox contain aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide to neutralize acid in the stomach. Maalox Total Relief, however is not simply an antacid, but an upset stomach and anti-diarrhea medicine that contains bismuth subsalicylate which is similar to aspirin and has been known to cause stomach bleeding in some individuals. The product should not be used by people with a history of gastrointestinal ulcer disorder or a bleeding disorder. The mix-up of the two products has so far caused five cases of adverse reactions. Although the FDA has not specified what those reactions were.

The manufacturer of both drugs, Novartis Consumer Health Inc., will halt sales of the products under similar name and packaging. In the future, the Maalox Total Relief product will no longer be sold with the word "Maalox" on the box and the company has agreed to alter the packaging.

20% of Tennessee Workers Misclassified or Paid Under the Table

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)26947 — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

A study was recently released that showed that 20% or one in five construction workers in the state of Tennessee were misclassified as independent contractors or were paid under the table. This totals a number of 38,680 workers in the state and a cost of nearly $15 million in unemployment taxes and $92 million in workers' compensation premiums.

Data gathered from state and federal agencies were used in the study conducted by William Canak of Middle State University in Tennessee and Randall Adams at Tennessee Tech. The study was presented to the House Consumer Employee Affairs Committee on Wednesday. Canak and Adams recommended tougher enforcement of employment laws and workers' compensation requirements.

CPSC Warns Manufacturers Over Safety of Children's Products

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)26948 — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

On Wednesday, A Utah manufacturer, Allreds Design, recalled 900 baby bracelets and pacifier clips because they contained high levels of lead. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced that a 10-month-old girl, who had been exposed to the baby bracelets, was being treated for elevated lead levels.

CPSC Chairwoman, Inez Tannenbaum delivered a warning to toy manufacturers to put safety first or face lawsuits or other legal action from the the CPSC and their enforcement authorities. Safety legislation passed in 2008 gave the CPSC new powers, which Tannenbaum says she's not afraid to use.

The product safety bill sets strict limits on lead and other chemicals as well as new rules for standards governing cribs.

Pregnant women who are exposed to elevated levels of some types of phthalates may give birth to boys who exhibit less-masculine play behavior than other males

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)22377 — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Pregnant women who are exposed to elevated levels of some types of phthalates may give birth to boys who exhibit less-masculine play behavior than other males, a new study has concluded. According to the study, published in the International Journal of Andrology, boys of women with higher concentrations of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) in their prenatal urine scored 8 percent further away from the masculine end of the scale than other boys. Juliet Eilperin, The Washington Post 11/24/2009

Read Article: The Washington Post

Federal safety regulators have announced the recall of more than 2.1 million drop-side cribs made by a Canadian manufacturer.

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)22374 — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Federal safety regulators have announced the recall of more than 2.1 million drop-side cribs made by a Canadian manufacturer. However, Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Inez Tenenbaum said that her agency likely had not acted fast enough in recalling cribs made by Stork Craft Manufacturing. The recall covers cribs manufactured and distributed between January 1993 and October 2009 and sold at major retailers. Jennifer C. Kerr, Houston Chronicle 11/24/2009

Read Article: Houston Chronicle

Pfizer Inc. must pay $28 million in punitive damages

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)22372 — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Pfizer Inc. must pay $28 million in punitive damages to an Illinois who woman developed breast cancer after taking the hormone replacement drugs Premarin, Prempro and Provera, according to Reuters. In the verdict, jurors found that Pfizer acted with reckless disregard for the plaintiff’s health. The jury previously awarded Donna Kendall $6.3 million in compensatory damages. Reuters, Reuters 11/24/2009

Read Article: Reuters

How to keep your family and others safe from drunk drivers, reckless drivers and road defects by Conway / Myrtle Beach Accident Attorney Dirk Derrick

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)17856 — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST

On Tuesday, I attended court with one of the nicest couples I have ever represented concerning the wrongful death of their daughter. This was the second child out of their four that had been killed in an automobile accident. This daughter was killed as a result of the combination of a drunk driver and a defective highway in Conway South Carolina. Their story made me think of what we as a community can do to safeguard our families on the highways.

The top seven things you can do are:

  1. Don’t drink alcohol and drive a vehicle. If you do, you are playing Russian roulette with your life and the life
of innocent families.

  2. Don’t talk or text on a cell phone while driving. A new study shows that talking on the phone distracts        drivers to the same extent as having a blood-alcohol level of .08.

  3. Sign a contract with your children which makes their driving a vehicle conditioned on: no alcohol, no cell phone use, and limiting the number of kids riding in their car. These three things greatly increase the chance of your child being involved in fatal accident. Call me if you want a sample contract.

  4. If you see a reckless driver or someone who appears to be intoxicated, pull off the road and call 911 giving the Highway Patrol the tag number and location of the vehicle.

  5. If you become aware of a store that is selling alcohol to minors for profit or an adult providing alcohol to minors in order to be “ cool ”, contact my office at 800-704-5412 and I will make sure the appropriate law enforcement agency is notified to investigate. These irresponsible stores and adults are major contributors to thousands of deaths per year.

  6. If you see a defective portion of highway, report it to the South Carolina DOT. Road defects cause numerous one-car fatalities each year. These defects can include: extreme potholes which cause loss of control; shoulders of the road which are more than 2 inches lower than the highway’s surface which cause over-correction accidents; and portions of the highway which have improper drainage causing water to stand and hydroplaning. Do not assume that the DOT knows of the problem. Call the SC DOT at 365-2130 to report road problems.

  7. Drive defensively. My father, as well as all driver education teachers, always teach “drive defensively”. But you really need to. In almost every case I handle, one party was driving legally and responsibly. My suggestion is to treat every vehicle that you face and every vehicle entering the roadway as a bullet and you are the target. You do not know if they are drunk or distracted, so you better assume the worst.

Be safe.

Driving while talking on phone impairs a driver as much as having a .08 alcohol level

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)15824 — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

We've known for years that driving while intoxicated is a leading cause of deaths on the road. Wrongful deaths and serious personal injuries suffered as a result of car and truck accidents involving drunk drivers are reported nightly on your local news. Now a number of studies indicate that when you allow your teenager to use a cell phone while driving a car, you may be condoning conduct as dangerous as driving drunk.

For the sake of your children, your family and those that share the road, please do not "call and drive", "text and drive" or "drink and drive".

Click here for news article about the studies.

Why I Wrote "The Truth About Your South Carolina Injury Claim"

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)15360 — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

Why I Wrote "The Truth About Your South Carolina Injury Claim"

One day you are minding your own business living your life, and in a heartbeat, a drunk; a texting teenagers; a reckless driver or just someone not paying attention, comes into your lane and changes your day, your year and sometimes your life....with no warning. If you are like most people this has never happened to you before. All of a sudden:

You are being contacted by insurance companies;

You are being asked to sign medical releases;

You are being asked to give a recorded statement;

You are being asked to take a quick settlement;

You can’t work;

Your bills are adding up;

Creditors are calling;

You need more medical treatment;

You can’t afford the treatment you need;

Adjusters are smiling and being friendly and companies are telling you that you can trust them because they are
“good hands people”, “a good neighbor”, or “on your side”.

Your friends and family are warning you to be careful;

You see lawyers on billboards, on TV, in the Yellow pages and all over the phone book who say they:

  Are Personal Injury Lawyers,
  Really care for you,
  Are aggressive, and
  Will see you without a fee;

You need information quickly so you won’t make a mistake.

You don’t know who to trust and you don’t want to receive a sales pitch from a fast talking lawyer.
I wrote this book for you to have good information in your hands prior to talking to an insurance adjuster, prior to making a mistake and prior to hiring an attorney.

Download it in 60 seconds for free. BE INFORMED. http://www.derricklawfirm.com/

Every day, 36 people in the United States die, and approximately 700 more are injured, in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver.

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)15100 — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

Every day, 36 people in the United States die, and approximately 700 more are injured, in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver.

The Problem

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about three in every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some point in their lives.
In 2006, 13,470 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, accounting for nearly one-third (32%) of all traffic-related deaths in the United States.
In one year, over 1.4 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. This accounts for less than 1% of the 159 million self-reported episodes of alcohol–impaired driving among U.S. adults each year.
Alcohol-related crashes in the United States cost about $51 billion a year.

Protect Yourself and Your Family and Friends

During the holiday season, and year-round, take steps to make sure that you and everyone you celebrate with avoids driving under the influence of alcohol. Following these tips from NHTSA can help you stay safe:

Plan ahead. Always designate a non-drinking driver before any holiday party or celebration begins.
Take the keys. Do not let a friend drive if they are impaired.
Be a helpful host. If you’re hosting a party this holiday season, remind your guests to plan ahead and designate their sober driver, always offer alcohol-free beverages, and make sure all of your guests leave with a sober driver.

Know How Communities Can Help

Proven community and state-level methods for reducing alcohol-impaired driving include:

Sobriety checkpoints. Studies found that fatal crashes thought to involve alcohol dropped by about 22% following implementation of sobriety checkpoints.
Minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) laws. Studies found that raising the MLDA to 21 reduced crashes by about 16% among people ages 18-20 years.
0.08% BAC laws. Fatal alcohol-related crashes declined about 7% after 0.08% BAC laws were passed.
"Zero tolerance" laws for young drivers. Three studies found that zero tolerance laws resulted in declines in fatal crashes among drivers ages 18.20 years of between 9% and 24%.

Resources for More Information

Web-based Resources

CDC: Impaired Driving Fact Sheet: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/drving.htm

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Traffic Safety Facts 2006: Alcohol-Impaired Driving

Fatal Car and Motorcycle wrecks are taking a toll on Myrtle Beach Area

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)14922 — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

The Sun News has a search tool available ion 7/7/09 edition that allows you to research the fatal accidents in the Myrtle Beach area for the year 2009. The search shows that car accident deaths are taking a toll on our area. It has involved people from the age of 16 to 85. The majority of them were not wearing seatbelts. If you study these accidents, it shows many of them involve individuals running off the edge of the road, turning quick to get back on the road (over-correcting), tires getting turned sideways causing the cars to flip or lose control. During my highschool years, my father was a coach and drivers education teacher. While he was teaching me to drive, he made me run off the road, keep my right tires off the road as I let off the gas and until the car had slowed enough to safely ease my way back on the highway. While I'm not advising everyone to go run off the road. The ability to safely get back on the highwayis a learned skill that someone must have, to avoid one of the most dangerous types of wrecks that occurs. Many personal injuries and premature deaths could be prevented if these types of wrecks were eliminated.

Bone-Growth Proteins Show Risk in New Study

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)14673 — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

Patients who received a bioengineered protein during spinal fusion procedures to correct neck pain had far more complications than patients who did not get it, according to a study released Tuesday.

The study, published Tuesday in The Journal of the American Medical Association, reinforces previous concerns about the use of the proteins in fusion procedures to treat upper spine, or cervical, pain. The substances studied, sold by either Medtronic or Stryker, are not federally approved for cervical procedures, although surgeons are free to use them for that purpose. By BARRY MEIER New York Times

Fusion surgery is a common surgery for those injured in personal injury accidents, including car and truck wrecks, motorcycle accidents and workers compensation claims. Often an injury to the neck involves herniated disks which need to be removed and the vertebrae fused together. Bioengineered protein used in these fusions have not been approved and are causing some additional complications.

Troopers ready to Arrest those who choose to Drink and Drive over the 4th

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)14674 — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

The Fourth of July holiday is cause for celebration. Many of those celebrations unfortunately end with someone drinking and driving. A new Highway Patrol DUI enforcement team aims to prevent drunk driving accidents and fatalities.

Highway Patrol based the statewide team on one being used in Horry County. Last year, Highway Patrol assigned six troopers to the DUI team in Horry County. They say it resulted in more DUI arrests and fewer DUI-related fatalities.

Officials want to see those same results in Florence and Darlington counties where DUI crashes and fatalities have increased this year. Troopers say they will fan out across those counties and hold safety checkpoints, until they see a drop in DUI accidents. (Wpde)

The 10 Worst Insurance Companies in America

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (Blog Author)14383 — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

In order to help consumers before they have to file a claim,
researchers at the American Association for Justice (AAJ)
did a thorough investigation to determine the 10 worst insurance
companies in America. AAJ studied court documents, SEC
and FBI records, state insurance department investigations and
complaints, news accounts from across the country, and the
testimony and depositions of former insurance agents and adjusters.

To no surprise to anyone litigating cases over the past 10 years,
Allstate was rated the Worst Insurance Company in America by a longshot.

Allstate’s organized and settled plan to put profits over policyholders
gave Allstate the title. According to CEO Thomas Wilson,
Allstate’s mission is clear: “our obligation is to earn a return for
our shareholders.” The “good hands” people actually teaches its
claims agents to employ a “boxing gloves” strategy against its own
policyholders.A former Allstate adjuster Jo Ann Katzman said,
“We were told to lie by our supervisors—it’s tough to look at
people and know you’re lying.”

Allstate's plan for profit:

a. Get the Premiums:

   1. Hire your hometown neighbor that you know and trust to sell
      insurance to you. I personally know and like our local agents
       and they are good people doing nothing wrong.  My wife has relatives
       in another state that sell Allstate insurance.

    2. Use a well liked and soft spoken actor to encourage you to
        buy insurance from them because they are "the good hands people".

b. Delay and Deny claims

    1. Instead of paying small claims, try to find anything to deny or delay
        the claim. Wear down claimants. See Anderson Cooper's CNN special
        report located here and part 2 here..

    2. Don't use the same local agents who know you, rather use teams
       of adjusters, most of whom you don't know,
        to deny and delay your claim to wear you down while they
        hold your money.

    3. Drag out small claims by refusing to settle to make it unprofitable
        for attorneys to represent the victims. Once attorneys are out the way,
       Allstate can bully those making claims.

c. Hold down Jury awards once case gets to court

     1. Participate in Tort Reform campaign by telling potential jurors
         through ads that fraud, frivolous suits and high verdicts are causing
         premiums to rise.

      2. Just in case potential jurors research for themselves and determine
           that the tort reform story is a lie, Allstate supports big business
           politicians who will pass laws to make it harder to get fair
           verdicts and overrule you and your neighbors when you determine what is fair..

No wonder they come in at number 1 as the worst Insurance company in America.
The entire list is listed below.

The Ten Worst
Insurance Companies
1. Allstate
2. Unum
3. AIG
4. State Farm
5. Conseco
6. WellPoint
7. Farmers
8. UnitedHealth
9. Torchmark
10. Liberty Mutual

To see the full report on each of these insurance companies, click here.

Preventing problems instead of trying to fix them

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (Blog Author)14378 — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

So often in my practice, I am trying to fix problems or overcome unnecessary obstacles. That is why I started this web page. I want to help people before they hire me or another attorney from making the same mistakes which are made over and over. I have and continue to write information books on the areas of law in which I have practiced for over 20 years. I have written an article called "The top 10 things you need to do after an accident". If these things are done, the injured and/or disabled person will protect his/her rights. Additionally, if it becomes a case in which an attorney is needed, he or she won't be digging the case out of a hole. If any of the 10 things are not done, the insurance carrier has an argument as to why it should either prevent your claim altogether or reduce your benefits.

Why you need uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage on your own vehicle

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)14045 — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

You need to buy as much uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage as you can on your own vehicle. 1 out of every 7 drivers in the country have no car insurance. Most are underinsured even if they do have coverage. Therefore, if you don't have enough uninsured and underinsured coverage, you can become financially devastated in the event of an accident. I wrote the book 3 Feet from Disaster to inform the public. The book is free on my web page.

Statistics on how Alcohol is destroying our kids

derricklawfirm@sc.rr.com (Blog Author)14050 — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

I see the true impact of alcohol on families who have lost fathers, mothers, children, brothers or sisters to drunk drivers. The statistics are staggering. We, as a society have turned our heads by letting establishments continue to sell alcohol when we know they are selling to minors illegally, by giving DUI convicted drivers more and more chances to drive, by refusing to punish parents and adults for giving alcohol to minors, and by treating the abuse as a part of growing up. It's ridiculous and no one becomes angry until alcohol is related to their own injury or the death of a family member. If the same damages were being caused by the swine flu, our country would be in a state of panic and everyone latched inside their homes.

Portion of U.S. 17 Closed After Accident.

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29898 — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST

Emergency officials had to close part of Highway 17 Bypass near Inlet Square Mall Thursday afternoon after a car accident. The accident happened at 1:03 pm and the southbound lanes were closed for over an hour while emergency crews cleared the scene.
Troopers are continuing to investigate the accident.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Man Electrocuted After Colliding with Utility Pole

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29873 — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST

A man was involved in a car accident early Tuesday morning died after he got out of his car and was electrocuted by a live power line from a utility pole. The accident happened at 3:15 am in the 400 block of Kyzer Road in Lexington county. The victim was identified as George Magoolaghan. He lost control of his Honda Odyssey and hit a utility pole. He exited the vehicle and then came into contact with a live downed power line. He was pronounced dead at the scene from his injuries.
The accident remains under investigation.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Cyclist Dies After Crash with School Bus

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29872 — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST

The Berkeley County Cornoner's office has stated that Addison Robinson, Jr., 49, died after his bicycle collided with a school bus. The accident happened at 5:37 pm when the school bus which was traveling east on Universal Circle hit the man and bicycle after Robinson veered in front of the bus. Three students were on the bus and were uninjured in the accident. Robinson was flown to MUSC where he later died from his injuries.
The police will continue to investigate the accident.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Midlands Man Killed in Car Accident, Driver Charged with DUI

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29871 — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST

A woman who survived a car accident Saturday afternoon in Laurens County has been charged with felony DUI after her husband died as a result of the crash. 24-year-old Amanda Dickert was the driver in a crash that occurred around 4 pm on Highway 14 near Wilson Road in Laurens County. Dickert was driving with her husband when she collided with a 1979 Chrysler driven by Phyllis Lyons. The cars were heading in opposite directions at the time of the accident.
Dickert's husband died at the scene of the accident from injuries to the neck and chest. Dickert was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash. Amanda Dickert was flown to the hospital to be treated for injuries and was charged Monday with felony DUI. The other driver was treated at a local emergency room.
The accident remains under investigation by the police.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Domestic Call Ends in Car Accident

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29847 — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

The Darlington County deputies responded to a domestic situation Saturday night and the situation escaled into a car chase and subsequent car accident. The 911 call said that a man was fighting with his wife and threatening to shoot her. When officers got to the scene, Terry Dubose, 35, got in his truck and left.
Authorties tried to stop Dubose and he began a chase. He lost control of the vehicle and crashed at the intersection of Broad and S. Main Street in Darlington. He was taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries, and will be charged with criminal domestic violence, failure to stop for blue lights, and DUI.
The crash is still under investigation by the highway patrol.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

One Dead After Single Car Accident

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29846 — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

One man is dead after a car accident in Dillon County Sunday morning. The accident happened around 2:40 am on Pleasant Hill Road. The driver was traveling north when the car veered off the right side of the road, then the left side of the road and hit a tree. The driver was not wearing a seatbelt and was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim was later identified as 32-year-old Bobby McAllister.
The police continue to investigate the accident.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Man Charged with DUI After Wreck Injures Teenage Girl

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29845 — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

A 16-year-old was hospitalized after the car she was driving was hit by a drunk driver. The accident happened Thursday at 8:10 pm on Highway 260 in Clarendon County when Clarence Vaughn hit Brittani Steen's car. She was driving west when Vaughn veered over the center line and hit her head-on. She was ejected from the vehicle in the course of the accident.
Vaughn was charged with felony DUI, open container, and operating an uninsured vehicle. The police will continue to investigate.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Driver Charged After Wreck with Police Officer

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29844 — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

A Friday morning car crash sent one North Charleston police officer to the hospital. The accident happened on Ashley Phosphate road when the officer was struck by a Toyota trying to make a left turn. The driver of the Toyota, Kristle Cassel, was charged with failure to yield the right of way.
The accident is still being investigated by the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Florence Crash Kills Loris Teenager

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29843 — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

A Thursday night crash in Florence killed a Loris teenager. Amber Michelle Menus, 17, died at the scene when her Ford Explorer collided with an 18-wheeler commercial wood chip truck at the intersection of SC 327 and Old Marion Highway. Several other people were injured in the accident and were trasported to the hospital.
The accident is still under investigation by the authorities.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Motorcyclist Air Lifted to Hospital After Accident

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29669 — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

A man was air lifted to Carolinas Medical Center after a motorcycle accident Wednesday afternoon in Lancaster County. The accident happened on Great Falls Road near Memorial Park Road around 3:10 pm. Robert Junior White, 53, became trapped under a car after the driver a 1992 Honda hit him and his Harley Davidson motorcycle as he was pulling onto the road from a private driveway. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, and the driver of the car was unharmed.
The police continue to investigate the accident.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC motorcycle accident attorney, Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling motorcycle accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Gaston Man Dead After Early Morning Accident

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29609 — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

A Gaston man is dead after a single car accident early Tuesday morning in Lexington County. The accident happened at 12:18 am when 37-year-old Larry Conrad Davies, III was traveling southbound on Glenn Road when he ran off the left side of the roadway in a curve. The vehicle struck a tree, a culvert pipe, a power pole, and a fence before overturning and hitting a second tree. Davies was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle.
The accident remains under investigation by the Lexington Coroner's office and the SC Highway Patrol.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

One Person Injured After Boats Collide in Berkeley County

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29573 — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

One person was taken to the hospital and treated for injuries after two boats collided on Tailrace Canal in Berkeley County Saturday afternoon. The EMS responded to the scene. The accident is still under investigation and the injured person is expected to recover.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC boat/jet ski accident attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling boat/jet ski accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

One Person Dead in Dillon County Accident

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29572 — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

A Dillon County woman was killed early Sunday morning after she crashed into a parked vehicle. The accident happened around 6:49 am on Smithboro Road after the driver ran a stop sign and hit a parked vehicle on private property. The victim was identified as 24-year-old Rachel Tijerina.
The SC Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate the accident.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Car Hits Police Cruiser, then Building; Driver Charged with DUI

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29571 — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

The SC Highway patrol says that a 21-year-old has been arrested and charged with DUI after he crashed into a police cruiser and then a restaurant storefront Saturday morning. Joshua Waters was taken to a Columbia hospital to be treated for injuries after police say he ran a red light while crossing Sumter Street at Hampton Street, hit a police cruiser and then crashed into the front of Greek Boys Restaurant.
The police officer was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Waters has been charged with DUI.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Teen Dies in Car Crash

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29570 — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

An Andrews teen was killed in a single car accident early Sunday morning in Kingstree. The accident happened around 3:30 am on Santee Road when the driver of a 2008 Toyota ran off the road and hit an embankment. The victim was identified as Meagan Elizabeth Piatt. The police say that Piatt was not wearing her seatbelt properly at the time of the accident.
The accident remains under investigation by authorities.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Horry County Man Dead After Being Hit by Car

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29569 — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

Horry County police state that Wallace Parmley died Saturday night after being struck by a car on Red Bluff Road near Highway 905. He was hit by a 2009 Saturn around 6:45 pm as he was walking in the road. The driver will not be charged because Parmley was wearing dark clothing and it is illegal to walk in the roadway instead of on the side of the highway. He was taken to Grand Strand Regional Medical Center where he died from his injuries.
The police continue to investigate the accident.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC personal injury attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Motorist Dies After Head On Crash

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29568 — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

One person is dead after a head on collision Saturday afternoon on SC 41 near Lake View. Nelson Grissett, 59, died after his 2001 Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck was hit head on by a 1998 Chevrolet Z-71 truck that crossed the center line. The Z-71's driver was taken to a Florence medical center to be treated for injuries. A child in that truck was restrained properly and was not injured in the accident.
Grissett was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The accident remains under investigation by authorities.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

4 Dead After Car Hits Building and Catches Fire

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29565 — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

Columbia police have stated that four people died after the car they were in crashed into a building and caught fire. The accident happened around 5:00 am at 960 George Rogers Blvd. The car crashed at a high rate of speed into the Farm Bureau Insurance building. The car then burst into flames and no one was able to escape. George Rogers Blvd. near the state fair grounds was closed for several hours while emergency crews worked the scene.
The investigation and indentification process continue by authorities.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

3 Car Pile up on Ravenel Bridge Friday Morning

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29397 — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

A three car accident snarled traffic Friday morning on the Ravenel Bridge. The accident occurred around 8:45 am in the southbound lanes near Coleman Blvd. Two lanes of the bridge were blocked as a result of the accident. One driver suffered minor injuries when the air bag deployed.
The accident is under investigation by officials.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

One Killed in Surfside Beach Accident

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29396 — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

Troopers from the South Carolina Highway Patrol have stated that a pedestrian was struck and killed on U.S. 17 Business early Saturday morning in Surfside Beach. The accident occurred around 12:15 am on the 1700 Block of 17 Business. The victim has been identified as 50-year-old James Monroe Johnson. He died from multiple traumas sustained in the crash. Officials have not released the cause of the accident.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC personal injury attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Driver Charged With DUI Following Deadly Accident on Highway 90

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29395 — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

A 21-year-old man has been charged with two counts of felony DUI after the car he was driving flipped into a ditch and ejected one passenger. Ryan Douglas Roszel has been charged with DUI with great bodily injury and one count of felony DUI resulting in death. Roszel was the driver of a 1997 Honda that crashed Saturday night on Highway 90 near Carriage Lake Drive. The vehicle flipped into a ditch, trapped one person inside, and ejected a second passenger.
The victim was identified as 34-year-old Gail Lynch. Roszel and the other passenger were transported to the hospital to be treated for injuries and Roszel was later arrested and charged. The accident remains under investigation by the authorities.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

West Columbia Woman Dies in Accident

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29317 — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

A fatal accident involving a West Columbia woman happened near Leaphart Road Thursday morning. Sheila H. Casserly, 40, was driving south on Chris Drive when she lost control of her car, ran off the road and hit a tree. She was not wearing a seatbelt in the accident and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The accident remains under investigation by the coroner's office and the SC Highway Patrol.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Accident in Columbia Claims Life

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29316 — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

The South Carolina Highway Patrol reported a fatal accident around 12:38 a.m. Thursday morning about a half mile south of Batesburg-Leesville. 42-year-old Sylvester Anderson, Jr. was injured in the head a chest in the accident. He was driving a 4-door Nissan south on S.C. 23 when the car went off the right side of the road and collided with a telephone box. The car then crossed the left side of the road and overturned. Anderson was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the car. He died from his injuries around 2:00 a.m.
The Highway Patrol will continue to investigate the accident.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Victim Identified After Fatal Car Accident in Charleston

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29281 — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

A 31-year-old Ladson man has died after a single car accident Monday night on Maybank Highway. Robert Session died of blunt force trauma in the accidnet on Wadmalaw Island. The accident shut down the highway for several hours after 10:00 pm Monday night.
The Charleston County sheriff's office are still investigating the accident.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Pelion Man Dies After Weekend Auto Accident

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29280 — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

A Pelion man died Tuesday from injuries sustained in a car accident over the weekend. The accident happened on Sunday at the intersection of James Dunbar Road and Calks Ferry Road in Pelion. Vasquez-Perez was driving a 1995 Pontiac eastbound on James Dunbar Road when he went off the right side, overcorrected, and then went off the left side and hit a utility pole. He was taken to the hospital after the accident, but did not survive.
The accident remains under investigation by the authorities.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Lexington County Teenager Killed in Single Car Accident

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29264 — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

A Batesburg-Leesville teenager was killed Sunday afternoon when he was thrown from the SUV he was driving. The coroner says that Joshua Jackson was heading south on Neely Wingard Road around 1:30 pm with his mother when he lost control of the SUV he was driving and it crashed and rolled several times. He was not wearing a seatbelt and was thrown from the SUV and died at the scene from his injuries. The boy's mother was taken to the hospital to be treated for her injuries.
The Lexington County Coroner's Office and the S.C. Highway Patrol are still investigating the accident.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Police Investigate After Fatal Collision in Kershaw County

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29263 — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

South Carolina Highway Patrol troopers have confirmed one driver is dead after a collision on U.S. 521 on Friday. The driver of a 1995 Buick crossed into the opposite lane and hit a Nissan head-on carrying two women and a child.
Both drivers were airlifted to Palmetto Richland Hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the Buick later died at the hospital from the injuries sustained in the crash.
The accident is still under investigation by the authorities.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Fatal Motorcycle Accident Victim Identified

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29262 — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

The Charleston County deputies have identified the victim from a fatal motorcycle accident that occured Saturday evening. The accident happened at 5:25 pm near the intersection of Lincolnville and Ladson road. The victim was identified as 57-year-old John McKillop and was pronounced dead at the scene. Another person suffered severe injuries in the accident. Unfortunately, McKillop was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accidnet.
Police continue to investigate the accident to determine exactly what happened.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC motorcycle accident attorney, Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling motorcycle accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

2 Die in Georgetown County Accident

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29249 — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

The South Carolina Highway Patrol reports that two men died after their car crashed into a log truck in
Georgetown County. The accident occurred around 9:45 pm Friday night on Powell Road when a 2011 Chevy
Corvette hit a log truck that was backing into a private driveway. The two victims were identified as Willie
Duncan, 58, and Willie Deas, 57. They both died at the scene from blunt force trauma. The driver of the log
truck was not injured in the accident.
The crash remains under investigation by the SC Highway patrol.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at The Derrick
Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North
Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Dillon Man Dies After Crashing Car Into Tree

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29179 — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

A Dillon man has died after being thrown from his car in a collision with a tree on Marion Street. He crashed after leading police on a chase. The driver of the car, Kevin Maurice Dickerson, 30, died at the hospital after the accident. Dickerson had a number of outstanding warrants in both North Carolina and South Carolina and deputies with the Sheriff's office and the Marion County Combined Drug Unit and U.S. Marshals were in the area searching for Dickerson shortly before the crash.
The police are still investigating the accident and reconstructing the scene.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Bicyclist Dies in Tuesday Evening Accident with SUV

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29162 — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

A 60-year-old Darlington man died Tuesday night from injuries sustained in bicycle accident. The victim, Carl Spann, was traveling west in the east-bound lane of East 7 Pines Street near U.S. 401 when he ran head-on into a Jeep Laredo around 7:15 p.m.
The driver of the SUV was not injured in the accident and will not face charges because bicycles are required by law to ride with traffic. The bicycle also had no reflectors and Spann was also wearing dark clothing.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Man Charged with DUI After Single Car Accident on I-20

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29116 — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

The South Carolina Highway Patrol states that one person has been charged with DUI after a single car accident on I-20 Sunday afternoon. 25-year-old Alejandro Vasquez was driving down I-20 when he ran off the left side of the road and hit the cables in the median. He was transported to the hospital to be treated for injuries and was later released. He was then arrested and charged with DUI and driving without a driver's license.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Man Charged in Fatal Lexington DUI Crash Convicted of DUI Previously

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29115 — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

A Gilbert man has been charged with felony DUI after killing a 6-year-old girl and injuring four others Sunday morning. 26-year-old Billy Hutto ran a red light at the intersection of Sunset Boukevard and Old Cherokee Road around 10:40 a.m. Sunday morning and slammed into the site of a minivan carrying a family of 6. The crash killed 6-year-old Emma Longstreet. Lexington police had previously charged Hutto with DUI and operating an uninsured vehicle in February 2009 after a breathalyzer showed his blood alcohol to be more than .16. The Highway Patrol's MAIT team is investigating the accident to reconstruct the crash and show the speed and force of impact of Hutto's Jeep when it struck the minivan on Sunday.
Hutto remains behind bars at the Lexington County Detention Center.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Lexington County Teen Dies in Pickup Truck Accident

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29082 — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

A 17-year-old Lexington boy died Wednesday after he sustained injuries in a pickup truck accident. The accident happened on Founders Road in Lexington around 3:22 p.m. Jonathan Lee Humphrey, II was the passenger in a Ford Ranger pickup truck that crashed. The driver of the truck, David C. Onley, 45, has been charged with felony driving under the influence involving death. Neither one was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.
Humphrey was transported to Palmetto Health Richland where he later died. The accident remains under investigation by the police.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Accident With Injuries on Highway 701 Wednesday Afternoon

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29055 — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

The South Carolina Highway Patrol reported a car accident Wednesday afternoon on Highway 701 in Horry County. The accident happened around 1:30 pm near Baker's Chapel. According to the reports, a Chevy Blazer was going towards the beach on 701 crossed over the center line and hit a truck pulling a horse trailer and a Nissan sedan.
The driver of the Blazer was taken to Conway Medical Center and the driver of the Nissan was air-lifted to Grand Strand Regional Medical Center. The police stated that the driver of the Blazer may face charges in the accident. Highway 701 near Highway 22 was closed for a while to allow for crews to clear the scene.
The police continue to investigate the accident.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Single Car Accident Kills Harsville Man

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29021 — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

A single car accident Monday night killed one Hartsville man. The collision occurred on Kelleytown Road in Darlington Monday night around 8:00 pm when the driver of a 2006 Chevy going north ran off the right side of the road, overcorrected, and crossed to the left side and then hit a mailbox and a tree. The driver, who was identified as Michael Antone Thomas, was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident and was killed. There were not any other passengers in the car.
The police continue to investigate the accident.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Motorcyclist Killed In DUI Related Accident

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29023 — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

A woman has been charged with felony DUI related to an accident involving a motorcycle Friday evening around 10:55 pm in Kershaw County. Michael Gaskins was driving south on Highway 341 when he hit a van being driven by Michelle Anthony as it pulled out of a private driveway. Gaskins was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, and was killed. Anthony and 4 other passengers in the van were sent to the hospital to be treated for injuries.
Anthony has been charged with felony DUI, child endangerment, driving under suspension, a child restraint violation, and an alcohol violation. The highway patrol and the MAIT team continues to investigate the accident.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC motorcycle accident attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling motorcycle accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Fatal Car Accident in Dillon County Christmas Eve

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)29022 — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

The South Carolina Highway Patrol reported a death of a Pee Dee man in Dillon County late Christmas eve night. The Dillon County Coroner said the JC Thompson was killed when he was struck by a 2011 PT Cruiser traveling westbound on Grain Bend Road. Thompson was walking in the road and was wearing dark clothing.
The Highway Patrol is investigating the accident.
If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC personal injury attorney, Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Garners Ferry Road Auto Accident Kills One

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28901 — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

An accident overnight on Garners Ferry Road in Columbia killed a woman and injured a child passenger. The woman who was driving failed to yield to oncoming traffic and was involved in an accident. She was not wearing her seatbelt and neither was the child in the car. According to reports the passengers in the other car were not injured.

The police are continuing to investigate the accident.

Moped Driver Killed After Accident with SUV

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28878 — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

The driver of a moped is dead after an accident with an SUV Monday evening. 56-year-old David Helms was traveling on U.S. 378 around 6:15 pm when he attempted to turn onto Highway 763 and was hit by an oncoming SUV. Helms was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

The Highway Patrol is investigating the accident.

Information Needed In Orangeburg Fatal Hit-and-Run

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28874 — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

A 50-year-old man has died after an early morning hit-and-run on Sunday in Orangeburg. The man was walking with a woman on Sugar Hill Road near Holly Hill around 5:00 am when they were struck by an vehicle. The man died instantly at the scene and the woman was transported to a nearby hospital.

The police are continuing to investigate the accident and look for the vehicle and driver involved.

Chapin Man Killed in Single Car Accident

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28877 — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

A Chapin man has been killed after a single car accident Saturday. Justin A Gorman, 21, was driving south on Amicks Ferry Road in Chapin when he lost control of his 1999 Mazda. The car crossed the road and hit a tree. He was wearing a seatbelt but was pronounced dead at the scene.

The highway patrol and the coroner's office are still investigating the accident.

If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Woman Killed Early Sunday in Crash near Orangeburg

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28876 — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

A woman was killed early Sunday morning in a car accident in Orangeburg County. The accident happened on Neeses Highway around 2:30 am after the driver of a 1999 Nissan was driving west on the highway and ran off the right side of the road. The driver overcorrected, went off the left side of the road and hit a drain pipe. The car overturned and the female passenger was ejected. She was identified as 38-year-old Eva Nicole Wright. None of the people int he car were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident.

The Highway Patrol continue to investigate the accident.

I-20 Crash Kills Sumter Man Saturday

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28875 — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

A 75-year-old Sumter man has died after the car he was riding in ran off of I-20 around mile marker 133 and rolled several times. The man was identified as William Howard. The crash occurred around 4:00 pm when a 1998 Nissan ran off the right side of the road, back onto the road, abd then off again before it rolled. The driver was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

The crash is still under investigation by the police.

Fatal Hit and Run Accident in Marion County

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28687 — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal hit-and-run accident in Marion County Wednesday evening. The accident occured around 6:20 pm on US 76 East in front of the Little Pee Dee Manor outside of Mullins. A male victim was struck by a vehicle and killed instantly. The female driver of the car did not stop but was apprehended by the police not far from the accident scene.

The Highway Patrol continues to investigate this accident and is working to identify the victim.

One Killed in Truck Accident Near Chapin

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28666 — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

One man has died after a pick-up truck accident near Chapin late Monday night. The accident happened around 10:40 pm in the 1100 block of Dreher Island Road when Jerome A. Wozniak ran off the road, hit a telephone pole, a power pole, and came to a stop against a tree. The coroner says Wozniak was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.

The accident remains under investigation by the Highway Patrol and the Lexington County Coroner's office.

If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC auto accident attorney, lawyer Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

Motorcyclist Killed in I-26 Accident

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28637 — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

Authorities have identified the man killed in an I-26 motorcycle accident Saturday morning. The victim, 52-year-old Robert Lovell was riding his Harley Davidson westbound on I-26 near mile marker 187 when he drove into the median on and crashed into the trees. He was not wearing a helmet and was pronounced dead at the scene. No other cars were involved in the accident.

The police continue to investigate the accident.

Pee Dee Bridge Crash Causes Traffic Delays

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28636 — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

A three car accident on Saturday in Florence caused traffic delays for over an hour. The accident happened on US 76/301 on the Pee Dee River bridge around 5:51 pm. A Honda collided with a Ford Taurus which had broken down and was stalled in the roadway. After the Honda hit the Ford, a Chevy SUV struck both of them. Several people were taken to area hospitals to be treated for injuries after the accident.

The accident continues to be investigated by the police.

Florence Motorcycle Accident Kills One

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28602 — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

The victim of a fatal motorcycle accident Wednesday night in Florence has been identified as 36-year-old Joseph Clinton Gaskins. The accident occurred near Scranton when Gaskins hit the back of a tractor-trailer that was parked on the side of West Lee Flowers Road. The accident remains under investigation by the highway patrol.

Driver Charged in Crash Involving School Bus and Tractor Trailer

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28601 — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

A tractor-trailer, car, and Berkeley County school bus were involved in an accident Thursday morning on Highway 45 in front of J.K. Gourdin Elementary School. The South Carolina Highway Patrol responded to the accident and determined that the school bus had just finished picking up a student on Highway 45 when a black Nissan tried to pass the bus on a double yellow line. The Nissan hit the back of the bus, veered left, and was struck by an oncoming tractor-trailer. One student from the bus was transported to the hospital as well as the driver of the Nissan. Leslie Boone, the driver of the Nissan was cited for improper passing on a double yellow line.

Tractor-Trailer Accident Closes Robert Grissom Parkway Friday Morning

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28600 — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

An 18-wheeler overturned on Robert Grissom Parkway Friday morning and the northbound lanes were closed for almost 5 hours while crews worked to flip the tractor-trailer back over. The accident happened around 6:40 am and the driver of the truck was ok but did request medical attention. The 18-wheeler was leaking fluids after the crash but the leak was taken care of. The police are continuing to investigate the accident.

School Bus Driver Charged in Crash

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28599 — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

A school bus was involved in a collision with an SUV Friday afternoon on 21st Avenue. The collision left the SUV on its roof. The school bus was trying to turn left onto 21st Avenue from Dunbar Street when it clipped the SUV. Three of the five occupants of the SUV were taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries. No students were on the bus at the time of the accident, and the driver of the bus has been charged with failure to yield right of way.

Family Files Wrongful Death Suit Against SC Department of Public Safety

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28544 — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

The family of a Taylors man has filed a wrongful death suit against the S.C. Department of Public Safety for the crash that took the man's life. On March 4, 2011 Everett Hancock was traveling east on Wade Hampton Boulevard. He tried to make a left turn onto Rutherford Road and his SUV was hit broadside by a State Transport Police cruiser going 29 mph over the speed limit with no lights or sirens on. Officer Gerald Sims, Jr was charged and pleaded guilty to driving too fast for conditions. He paid a fine and was reprimanded by the DPS.

Hancock was killed in the accident and his niece and nephew have filed a wrongful death suit against the agency claiming they were negligent in hiring Sims because he had previously been involed in 2 crashes while working as a law enforcement officer.

According the DPS, they do review a driving record before hiring someone but did not state which traffic charges would disqualify a candidate. The DPS has filed an answer to the suit denying all claims of negligence and stated that Hancock caused the accident by turning against oncoming traffic.

The family will continue to pursue justice and answers for the loss of their loved one.

Single Car Accident Kills One Man

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28543 — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

A single car accident Monday night in Lee County on U.S. 15 killed a 21-year-old man. The man was driving a 2006 Mitsubishi Galant southbound on U.S. 15 just after 9 pm when he ran off the right side of the road into a ditch and overturned.

The accident remains under investigation by the S.C. Highway Patrol.

Hartsville Crash Leaves One Man Dead

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28542 — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

The South Carolina Highway Patrol states that an accident Tuesday afternoon in Hartsville killed a 60-year-old man. The driver of the car was driving a 2005 Mustang and was traveling on Mainsail Road in Hartsville when he ran off the road and hit a tree. Roger Burleson was the passenger in the car and was not wearing a seatbelt. He was killed in the accident. The driver was taken to the hospital.

The police continue to investigate the accident.

Parents Still Fighting for Traffic Light After Another Accident at Cane Bay High School

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28523 — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

Parents are continuing to advocate for a traffic light in front of Cane Bay High School in Berkeley County after another accident occured Sunday night. According to reports 4 boys were leaving basketball practice and pulling onto Highway 176 when the accident happened. They were all taken to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

Reports also state that the Berkeley County Transportation Committee agreed to fund the traffic light and sent the money to the SC DOT in October. However, the money sent is only able to cover a basic traffic light and the developer wants a light that is twice as expensive as the standard traffic light. The developer has agreed to cover the extra cost, but it is unclear if the payment has been sent.

Parents will continue to speak up until the light is installed.

Body Discovered in the Median of I-26

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28491 — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

A body was discovered by mowing crews on I-26 in Harleyville Thursday afternoon. The coroner says that the
remains appear to be male and that it seemed the victim was struck by a "dual wheel vehicle" like a tractor-trailer or large pick-up truck at least 1 month ago.

An accident reconstruction team is investigating the accident while the authorities continue to work to identify the remains.

Carjacking Leads Police on Chase Through Three Counties

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28490 — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

A woman who witnessed a car flipping was the victim of a car carjacking. Lonnie Lamar Hazelton was the driver of the car that flipped, got out of the damaged vehicle and then stole the car of the woman who stopped to help him around 8PM Friday . The chase started in Charleston County and shots were fired at officers near McClellanville. Hazelton then abandoned the car and stole a second vehicle in Georgetown. Georgetown County Sherrif's deputies responded to the chase and spotted the car just north of the North Santee River on Highway 17. The deputies car came into contact with the stolen car and then Hazelton crashed into the woods. Hazelton exited the car again and officers spotted a handgun on the ground behind him. Hazelton was arrested and taken to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries. Luckily, no one was injured during the accidents or the chase.

The police continue to investigate the chase and SLED is also investigating due to shots being fired.

Woman Charged with DUI After Driving Wrong Way on I-26

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28418 — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

The South Carolina Highway Patrol stopped a car driving the wrong way on I-26 on Wednesday near St. Andrews in Lexington County. Vanessa Clark of Ladson was charged with DUI when she got on the interstate travelling east in the westbound lanes. Another vehicle was run off the road to avoid a head on collision. The police were able to force her to stop near mile marker 106 and no injuries were reported.

The highway patrol has kicked off a new safety campaign for the holidays targeting impaired drivers.

Man Killed on Dirt Bike in Columbia

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28417 — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

One man has died after a dirt bike collision Wednesday afternoon in West Columbia. 20-year-old Antonio M. Hill died after the dirt bike he was driving in a driveway on Glenn Road lost control and entered the highway and was hit by a truck around 1:45pm. Hill was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The authorities continue to investigate the accident.

Man Dies in Thanksgiving Motorcycle Crash

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28332 — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

A Great Falls man has died after a motorcycle accident on Thanksgiving day. 55-year-old Michael Broome was driving west on S.C. 97 Thursday when he veered into the path of 1999 Nissan heading in the opposite direction. The impact of the head-on collision caused Broome to be thrown off his Harley Davidson. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, however he still died from injuries sustained in the crash.

The Highway Patrol investigated the accident.

Car Runs Red Light Injures Self and Others

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28266 — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

Two people were injured after a car sped through a red light and crashed into another vehicle in North Charleston Tuesday night. The North Charleston Police Department says around 8 pm an officer attempted a traffic stop on Ranger Drive and Dorchester Road. The driver did not stop and sped off down Dorchester Road and then ran a red light and crashed into another car. Both drivers were transported to MUSC to be treated for injuries. The accident is still being investigated by the SC Highway Patrol.

High School Football Player Killed in Car Accident

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28265 — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

The Dillon County Coroner confirms that a Dillon High School football player was killed early Wednesday morning in a car accident on Highway 57 South. James Wright David, Jr. ran off the road and over corrected and lost control of his car. He died from injuries sustained in the accident. A passenger in the car, Tykel Madison was taken to the hospital but is ok.

The police are still investigating the accident.

Crash Closes Northbound Lanes of Highway 17 Bypass

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28264 — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

A multiple car accident Wednesday morning closed the 2 north bound lanes of Highway 17 Bypass near Coastal Grand Mall. A least one person was injured in the accident which involved 3 other vehicles. The South Carolina Highway Patrol and rescue crews were able to clear the scene and reopen all lanes to traffic.

The Highway Patrol is still investigating the accident.

Myrtle Beach Man Dead After Crash in Surfside

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28224 — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

A 43-year old Myrtle Beach man has died after an auto accident Monday night in Surfside. Dennis Sawyer was killed after the moped he was driving was involved in an accident with a car around 8 pm on US 17 Business and 13th Avenue North. Sawyer died from multiple injuries sustained in the accident. He was not wearing a helmet. The driver of the car was not injured and no charges have been filed.

The SC Highway Patrol's MAIT team is still investigating the accident.

Child Airlifted After Accident Involving an ATV

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28222 — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

A twelve year old child is conscious again after an accident involving an ATV in Conway Tuesday afternoon. According to reports, the child was ejected from the ATV off of Hampton Road. The child was airlifted to MUSC to be treated. The authorities are continuing to investigate the accident to determine how the child was ejected from the ATV.

Darlington Man Killed While Trying to Cross Highway 52

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28221 — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

A Darlington man has been identified after he was fatally struck by an oncoming car Monday evening when he attempted to cross Highway 52. 56-year-old Willie Lee Crag died at a local hospital from injuries he sustained in the accident. He was struck on Highway 52 Business and South Main Street around 7:10 pm. No charges have been filed against the driver yet, however, the police are continuing to investigate the accident.

Horry County Road Re-Opened After Multi-Car Accident

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28220 — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

A multi-car auto accident Tuesday afternoon on Dick Pond Road caused injuries and major traffic delays. The accident caused a five car pile-up and the road had to be closed while officers worked to clear the scene. At least two people were injured.

The police are still investigating the cause of the accident.

Pedestrian Killed Monday in West Columbia

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28195 — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

According to the Lexington County Coronor, 52-year-old Micheal Ray Aycock was killed after being hit while trying to cross the 700 block of Main Street. He was struck by a vehicle traveling eastbound on Main Street. The accident happened around 6:30 am and Aycock was transported to the hospital where he later died from injuries sustained in the accident.

Police officials are still investigating this fatal collision.

Man Charged After High Speed Chase and Crash in Coward

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28194 — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

A high speed chase through Coward ended in a crash Friday afternoon. Rodney McCray is charged with reckless driving and failure to stop for blue lights after he was pursued through Coward at speeds in excess of 120 mph on US 52. It was reported that he was weaving in and out of traffic through Kingstree. The chase ended at CW Robinson Road and US 52 when he crashed his car.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol worked the accident scene and will continue to investigate the incident.

2 Victims Identified in Auto Accident on Highway 501 Sunday

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28193 — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

A fatal car accident happened on Highway 501 southbound at Hallie Martin Road at 12:53 pm Sunday afternoon. The collision involved a 2011 Plymouth which was traveling on Hallie Martin Road and entered Highway 501. It was struck by a 1978 Jeep traveling south on Highway 501. The driver of the Plymouth was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident, however both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene.

The two passengers in the Jeep were transported to the hospital and are still in serious condition. Highway 501 northbound was closed and southbound traffic was diverted while officials cleared the scene. The two victims were identified as Jason Christopher West and Gabriel S. Johnson.

The highway patrol is continuing to investigate the accident.

North Charleston Man Still Missing After Boat Accident

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28026 — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

Emergency workers have been searching for a missing boater since early Sunday morning in North Charleston. According to reports, the police responded to Rivers Edge Marina around 3:30 am in reference to a man falling overboard. 26-year-old Preston Scott Guyse fell off the boat and into the water. A witness saw the boat tilt and the man fall overboard. The boat continued to go in circles around the area where he fell in and Guyse may have been hit by the boat.

As of Monday, the victim had not yet been found. The police continue to investigate the accident to determine what made him fall overboard.

NC Man Dies in Marlboro County Auto Accident

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28025 — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

A 51-year-old man died early Saturday morning after being ejected from his vehicle in a crash on SC 9 near Bennettsville. Linnard Ray Short was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident around 3:30 am in Marlboro County. He was driving a 1997 Pontiac when it went off the left side of the road and he was ejected when the car overturned. He was not wearing a seatbelt.

The accident remains under investigation by the police.

DUI Related Crash Kills One Person

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)28024 — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

The South Carolina Highway Patrol stated that one person was dead after a crash in Berkeley County last Thursday night. Candy Zoll died after being transported to the emergency room from injuries sustained in the crash.

The police say that the accident happened around 8:40 pm when Shana Robinson crossed the center line and struck a sedan head-on. Robinson was also transported to the hospital and was later charged with felony DUI. The passenger in Robinson's car was taken to the emergency room as well. Neither was wearing a seatbelt in the accident.

Collision Causes Injuries on Highway 501 Thursday Afternoon

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)27917 — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

An auto accident on Highway 501 Thursday afternoon caused injuries and shut down part of the highway. The accident happened around 4:30 pm near George Bishop Parkway, River Oaks Drive, and Burcale Road. The southbound lanes were closed while crews worked to clear the accident.

The police are continuing to investigate the cause of the collision.

Man Dies After Collision with Tree

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)27896 — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

The South Carolina Highway Patrol is still investigating a collision in Marlboro County involving a car hitting a tree. The accident killed the driver of the car. According to reports, the accident happened around 5:30 AM on County Line Road when a Ford 4-door car traveling southbound ran off the road and hit a tree. The driver and only occupant of the car, Tommy Jernigan, was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.

Jernigan died of multiple internal injuries and was pronounced dead the scene. The police will continue to investigate the accident.

Accident Kills Motorcyclist, Driver Faces DUI Charges

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)27836 — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

A motorcyclist has died after a collision with a 70-year-old Eutawville man. The accident happened on Highway 6 just inside of Orangeburg County Saturday night. The driver of the car, Laymon Davis has been charged with felony driving under the influence. The driver of the motorcycle, Joseph Michael Lijewski, died at the scene of the accident. He was not wearing a helmet.

According to reports, Lijewski was traveling east around 6:50 pm when the 1997 Lincoln TownCar driven by Davis traveling west collided with him. The Highway Patrol's MAIT team continues to investigate the accident. Davis was being held in the Orangeburg County Jail.

1 Person is Dead After Florence County Accident

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)27835 — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

The South Carolina Highway Patrol says that one person was killed in a accident involving an 18-wheeler on I-95 Monday morning. The accident happened around 11:45 am near mile marker 157. Two vehicles and a tractor-trailer were traveling in the same direction when they collided with each other. It is unclear what caused the collision.

At least one person was killed in the accident and the SC Highway Patrol's MAIT team is continuing to investigate.

Woman Killed In Accident on I-26

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)27703 — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

A 21-year-old Berkeley County woman has died after an accident on I-26 Thursday afternoon. According to reports, Tenille Russell died of head trauma after the Honda Civic westbound on I-26 when she drove off the left side of the road and then into the median. The car then struck a tree and the driver was ejected from the car. She was not wearing her seatbelt at the time of the accident.

The authorities continue to investigate the accident.

Highway 501 Southbound Closed After Crash Thursday Morning

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)27702 — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

The South Carolina Highway Patrol had to close the southbound lanes of Highway 501 Thursday morning after a motorcycle accident at the Waccamaw Pottery Bridge. No other vehicles were involved in the accident and investigators are still working on determining the exact cause of the accident.

Driver Drowns After Crashing Truck into the Water

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)27701 — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

One person is dead after an accident Tuesday afternoon October 26, 2011. According to the SC Highway patrol, the accident happened at 2187 West Dogwood Road near SC 410 around 3:30 pm. A GMC pickup truck overturned before landing in the swampy area. The truck was submerged upside down in the water and the driver died in the accident. A passenger in the truck was taken to the hospital for treatment. The victim was identified as 46-year-old Charles Smith from Loris. He was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.

The Highway Patrol continues to investigate the accident.

Deputy Sent to Hospital After Crash

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)27700 — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

A Berkeley County Sheriff's deputy was taken to the hospital last Monday night after an accident on Jehovahs Lane near Shortcut road. The police officer was trying to stop a 4-wheeler on a gravel road when he lost control of his cruiser and hit a tree. Medics airlifted the officer to MUSC.

The Highway Patrol investigated the accident.

Summerville Man Charged After Hitting Deputy's Patrol Car

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)27699 — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

A Charleston man has been charged after he wrecked his car by hitting a deputies patrol car on I-26 Monday night. The SC Highway Patrol has charged Robert Blankonship with driving too fast for conditions after he hit a patrol car near Aviation Avenue on I-26 around 6 pm. The deputy had slowed down for traffic and was hit from behind which caused two other cars to be hit as well. The deputy was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The police continue to investigate the accident.

Second Child Dies after DUI Accident

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)27698 — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

A 10-year-old girl and her 7-year-old brother have both died after an accident on South Lake Drive. The accident happened Friday night when 37-year-old Robert Craft was driving drunk and hit the car they were in as it was turning into a private driveway. They victims and their grandparents were driving home after church when the accident happened.

A judge has denied bond for Craft, charging him with 2 counts of felony DUI involving death and having an open container of alcohol in the vehicle.

The Lexington County Coroner's Office and the South Carolina Highway Patrol are continuing to investigate the accident.

Motorcycle Driver Dies After Collision With Pickup Truck

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)27500 — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

Highway patrol troopers report that Russell Mangrum, 46, was driving his motorcycle around 9:30 pm in Lancaster County when he collided with a pickup truck. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, but died from injuries sustained in the accident. The driver of the truck was not injured in the accident.

Early Morning Crash Kills 1 Conway Man

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)27436 — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

A Conway man was killed early Friday morning in an auto accident. Dennis C. Hucks, 45, died after a crash on Still Pond Road around 5:45 am. Hucks was driving a 1991 Ford pickup going north on Still Pond Road when he ran off the roadway and struck a tree. He was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.

He died at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center from injuries sustained in the crash.

Two Car Collision Kills One

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)27374 — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

One person died after a car accident Monday evening in Orangeburg County. The accident occured on US 178 about 1/2 mile east of Bowman. The highway patrol says that the passenger in a car driven by 29-year-old Wayne Mitchell died in the accident. A second passenger was not injured in the 6:30 pm accident. All passengers were wearing seat belts.

Deputies state that Mitchell was arrested after the accident and charged with DUI and driving under suspension. He collided with Henry Johnson, 28, who was driving a Dodge westbound on the road. Mitchell's car overturned several times; Johnson was taken to the hospital in Orangeburg. Mitchell was detained at the Orangeburg County Detention Center.

6 Car Accident Causes Traffic Delay Monday

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)27373 — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

A multi-car accident Monday afternoon in Horry County shut down the road and caused traffic headaches for many. The accident happened on Highway 544 and Singleton Ridge Road. Two people were transported to the hospital but the injuries were not life-threatening.

The accident remains under investigation by the highway patrol.

Two Injured After Crash with Florence Police Cruiser

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)27372 — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

Two people suffered minor injuries after a two-car accident involving a Florence police cruiser Tuesday night. The accident happened at 9:45 pm at South Irby Street and West Palmetto Street. The cruiser was traveling east on West Palmetto Street and the other car was going south on South Irby Street when the accident happened. The officer was not injured, but the two people in the other vehicle were treated at an area hospital for injuries.

The accident is still under investigation by the police.

Woman Hits 2 Firefighters, Charged with DUI

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)27371 — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

Two firefighters were injured in Goose Creek early Wednesday morning after being hit by a car while working the scene of another accident. The driver, Jessica Lanier, drove her 2011 Mazda through the scene of a single car accident as the medic unit was checking on the patients. The two firefighters were wearing reflective gear and were walking towards an emergency vehicle when Lanier struck them. One firefighter suffered a fractured left ankle and the other had a fractured left leg. They were both taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries.

Lanier was charged with DUI in the accident.

Motorcycle Officer Hurt After Accident

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)27323 — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

A North Charleston police officer laid down his motorcycle in order to avoid a collision early Friday morning but was injured after he hit a pickup truck. The officer, Phillip Kickland, 38, was taken to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

Kirkland had been heading west on Centre Pointe Drive on his motorcycle around 7 am when Matthew Palmer, 33, tried to make a left turn in front of Kirkland. Kirkland laid the bike down but hit the truck himself. Troopers have charged Palmer with failing to yield right of way.

Florence Man Hit by Car Died Sunday

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)27322 — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

A Florence man was struck by an SUV while crossing North Cashua Drive late Saturday night died Sunday from injuries sustained in the accident. The victim was identified as Larry Dean Morris, 54. He was wearing dark clothing while crossing the street and was hit by a Chevy SUV at 8:25pm.

The accident remains under investigation by the highway patrol.

Vehicle Fire and Crash Kills One on Pee Dee Road Monday

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)27321 — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

The South Carolina Highway patrol is continuing to investigate a collision and vehicle fire Monday afternoon. The accident happened around 1:20 pm on Pee Dee Road near Lake Swamp Road. According to the reports, a 66-year-old female driver went off the roadway and crashed. Her body was later found burned in the vehicle. The police did state that the woman died from a medical condition prior to the car crash.

3 Injured in Charleston County Car Accident

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)27234 — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

According to reports, a police officer and two other people were injured in a car accident after the police officer crashed his car in downtown Charleston Tuesday evening. The South Carolina Highway Patrol states that the Charleston City police officer was at a stop sign on Congress Street at the corner of King street, pulled out and failed to yield the right of way. He collided with a Nissan and a telephone pole.

The driver of the Nissan, the passenger in the car, and the police officer were all taken to the hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries. The highway patrol states that the officer contributed to the collision and that the accident is still under investigation.

6th Grader in Columbia Hit by Car and Dies

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)27190 — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

An 11-year-old boy was struck and killed Tuesday afternoon in Columbia while he was crossing the street after being let out of school. According to troopers, Towanda Sumter, 35, was driving north on Decker Blvd. when she hit Devonte Owens as he crossed the street. Owens was taken to Palmetto Health Richland where he died Wednesday morning from injuries sustained in the accident.

Officals say there was no crossing guard where Owens was because it was just outside of the school zone. The driver of the car was not injured and no charges have been filed yet in the accident. It is still under investigation by the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

One Person Dies After Accident in Front of Conway Medical Center

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)27189 — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

A three-vehicle accident Wednesday afternoon killed one person and sent three others to the hospital. The accident happened in front of Conway Medical Center at 10:30 am. A blue BMW and a gold SUV were involved. The victim was identified as Rosalba Villegas. Three other people were taken to Conway Medical Center to be treated for injuries that occured in the accident.

The police continue to investigate to determine the cause of the accident.

Vehicle Catches Fire Causes Traffic Headache on Highway 17 Bypass

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)27187 — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

An accident on Highway 17 Bypass Tuesday afternoon caused traffic headaches for quite a while. A car caught fire while sitting at a red light near Pine Island Road and 17 Bypass around 3:45pm. Traffic heading southbound was stalled and moving slowly for hours. No one was injured in the accident.

The Myrtle Beach Police Department investigated and assisted with the accident.

U.S. 378 Closed After Multi-Car Accident Monday Morning

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)27188 — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

An accident early Monday morning closed Highway 378 in Conway. The SC Highway Patrol says the multi-car accident happened around 6:30am and caused multiple injuries. According to the reports, one car was passing another along Highway 378 when another vehicle hit the passing car. The driver got out to check on the other driver and a third vehicle hit the original accident.

The highway patrol continues to investigate the accident. It was determined that the tractor-trailer that was thought to be involved was parked along the road and was not involved in the accident.

Early Morning Accident Kills One Person

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)27126 — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

A single car accident early Saturday morning claimed the life of one Horry County resident. The accident happened around 5:30 am on Star Bluff road when the driver of the vehicle lost control and struck a tree. The driver was fatally wounded in the accident. He was identified as Ronald Jerome Livingston, 61.

No other vehicles were involved in the accident and no one else was injured.

Accident At Darlington Raceway Musuem Kills One

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)27125 — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

A woman was killed Thursday afternoon when the vehicle she was riding in struck the Darlington Raceway Museum. The victim of the accident was Evelyn Siple, 81. The accident happened around 3:30 pm on Highway 151 near the Darlington Raceway. The vehicle struck the musuem at the raceway killing Siple. The driver was taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol is still investigating the accident to determine the exact cause.

NC Man Charged with DUI After Motorcycle Accident in Surfside Beach

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)26977 — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

A North Carolina man has been charged in a motorcycle accident in Surfside Beach. On August 11, a motorcycle driven by Jonathan Phillips, 35, who was carrying a female passenger, crashed into a van that was stopped on Melody Lane. The crash caused life-threatening injuries for both Phillips and the female passenger.

Officers were able to determine Phillips was under the influence at the time of the accident and arrested him for felony DUI and possession of marijuana. Phillips long hospital stay delayed his arrest until now.

Loris Man Dies of Natural Causes Before Car Accident

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)26976 — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

A Loris man who was involved in a car accident on Highway 66 Monday afternoon died of natural causes before the accident. The driver, 72 was the only person in the car and was not wearing a seatbelt. The truck, a 1991 GMC pickup truck, was traveling south, ran off the road and hit a pole.

The police continue to investigate the cause of the accident.

Man Involved in Crash with S.C. Highway Patrol Trooper

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)26975 — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

A man is in custody after colliding with a South Carolina Highway Patrol trooper after a high speed chase Monday night on Highway 501. The chase began around 11:45 pm after the trooper attempted to conduct a traffic stop near Addy's Harbor Dodge. The chase reached speeds over 100mph and ended with the trooper and SUV crashing into each other near University Forest Drive. The SUV left the scene and the trooper's car caught fire.

The driver of the SUV was identified as Allen Jackson Goodman. He was captured after hitting another car in Conway and continuing into Aynor. He was apprehended on Highway 501 near Cook Road. Troopers had to use stop sticks in order to stop the SUV.

The trooper did not sustain any serious injuries in the accident. Goodman has been charged with DUI, driving with a suspended license, and failure to stop for a blue light.

Police continue to investigate the accident.

Man Killed In North Charleston Truck Accident

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)26974 — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

A man was killed September 23rd in a North Charleston accident involving a tractor-trailer. According to police reports, the driver of the 18-wheeler was making a turn onto Rivers Street near Beaufort Street and did not see the oncoming car. The driver of the car, Bernard Frost, was unable to stop the car in time and slammed into the tractor-trailer. The car became pinned underneath the 18-wheeler.

Frost was freed from the car by emergency workers and was taken to MUSC where he later died from his injuries.

If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC truck accident attorney, Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling truck accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.

2 Car Accident in West Florence Saturday Afternoon

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)26959 — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

A 2-car accident happened in West Florence Saturday afternoon that caused one person to be trapped. The accident happened on Willow Trace Drive when two vehicles collided causing an SUV to turn on its side. One passenger was trapped in the SUV. The injured person was taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries.

The police continue to investigate the accident to determine the exact cause.

Highway Patrol Investigating Accident Where Toddler was Hit by a Car

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)26958 — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

The South Carolina Highway Patrol are investigating an accident in the Burgess Community that happened Sunday afternoon when a vehicle struck a toddler. The accident happened near St. James United Methodist Church around 1:23 pm. A three year old girl was stuck when a 14-year-old was backing up a vehicle.

The toddler was taken to Waccamaw Community Hospital to be treated for her injuries. The SC Highway patrol is still investigating the accident.

Hit and Run Suspect Caught in Lexington County

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)26957 — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

The South Carolina Highway Patrol has apprehended a hit-and-run suspect in Lexington County. Reports state that the accident happened on Pond Branch Road and left one man dead. 19-year-old Michael Boyd was driving a Ford Crown Victoria when he hit a 26-year-old pedestrian and then fled the scene. He was found shortly after and was charged with hi-and-run involving death.

Motorcyclists' Leg Amputated In Crash

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)26956 — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

The North Myrtle Beach police are investigating a motorcycle accident that happend Thursday afternoon and caused one woman to lose her leg. The accident occurred at 1600 Highway 17 North around 3:30 pm when a vehicle travling northbound hit the motorcycle. The impact of the collision sent the motorcycle into another vehicle traveling southbound. The motorcycle had a male driver and female passenger on board. The female passengers leg was amputated from the knee down in the collision.

The accident remains under investigation by the police.

Motorcyclist Charged with DUI After Crash in Horry County

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)26955 — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

A motorcyclist has been charged with DUI after a motorcycle accident in Horry County late Thursday. Ernest Groves, 40, was charged in connection to the accident that happened on U.S. 17 Business near Offshore Drive, which is 2 miles south of Surfside Beach.

Groves was driving a 2010 Harley Davidson without a helmet when he was involved in a crash with a 2005 Chevy SUV driven by a 21-year-old woman. The motorcycle was driving wrecklessly and Groves lost control of the bike and veered left into the median before falling off the bike. The motorcycle skidded back into the roadway and hit the SUV. Groves was taken to the hospital to be treated for his injuries.

The accident was investigated by the authorities.

Teenager Killed in Car Accident in Sumter

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)26954 — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

A 15 year old boy is dead in Sumter after a car accident Thursday morning. The SC Highway Patrol says that the accident occured at the intersection of Meadows Road and Highway 15 around 7:40 AM. According to reports, a car pulled onto Highway 15 off of Meadows Road into the path of an oncoming SUV. The SUV struck the car on the left side, killing the teenager, who was a passenger in the car. The driver was airlifted to Palmetto Health Richland. The driver of the SUV was not injured.

The police continue to investigate the accident.

Car Bursts Into Flames, No One Injured

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)26953 — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

A car burst into flames on I-26 at Eagle Drive Friday morning in North Charleston. The Highway patrol says the fire occured near mile marker 210. No one was injured, but traffic was block in one lane on eastbound I-26 for a short while. The cause of the accident and fire remains under investigation by the highway patrol.

Major Multi-Car Accident on Highway 501

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)26879 — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

The northbound lanes of Highway 501 at Carolina Forest Boulevard were closed for hours Wednesday afternoon after a car accident. The accident happened at 4:30 pm with one car ending up literally on top of the other car. Another car was turned on its side. Two people were trapped inside of one of the cars and had to be cut out. A medical helicopter was also called to the scene. One person was transported to New Hanover Medical Center and another was taken to Conway Medical Center.

Police are still investigating the exact cause of the accident.

3 Car Accident in Charleston Leaves No Injuries

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)26845 — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Emergency crews were called to the scene of a 3 car accident at the corner of Sam Rittenberg Boulevard and Orleans Road Monday night in Charleston County. No one was injured in the accident although one person did complain of chest pains. The accident remains under investigation by police.

Crash on Highway 501 Causes Major Traffic Delays

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)26844 — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Traffic was tied up for quite a while Wednesday afternoon in the northbound lanes of Highway 501 after an accident. According to the police, the accident happened in front of Dunkin Donuts around 1:30 pm when a car slammed into a tree. The northbound lanes of highway 501 were closed as well as 1 of the southbound lanes while emergency crews cleared the scene.

Police are still investigating the cause of the accident.

1 Killed and 2 Injured After Car Accident in Colleton County

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)26805 — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

A Tuesday morning head-on collision killed one man and sent two others to the hospital. The South Carolina Highway Patrol says the accident happened on Highway 64 when a driver of a 2001 Ford pickup truck heading east, crossed the center line and hit a 2000 Mazda sedan. The driver of the pickup, Charles Simmons, was killed in the accident. Two other passengers in the truck as well as the driver of the sedan were taken to area hospitals to be treated for injuries sustained in the accident.

The Highway Patrol continues to investigate the accident.

Suspect in Fatal Hit-and-Run Stabbed After Returning to Scene of Accident

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)26760 — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

The man accused of hitting and killing a soldier from Texas in Aiken County with his pickup truck Friday night was taken to hospital after being stabbed. The victim, SFC Maurice J. Collier, of Fort Hood, Texas, was attending a motorcycle rally on Edgefield Highway when he was hit around 8:10 pm by a Ford F-350 driven by Glenn Otts.

According to reports, Collier was directing traffic near the parking lot entrance when he was hit. He was taken to Athens Regional Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead. Otts left the scene but returned shortly after and was confronted by a group of bikers. He was stabbed by an unknown assailant during an altercation.

The Highway Patrol is investigating Collier's death and Aiken County deputies are investigating the stabbing.

Driver Charged After Accident Involving Overturned Truck

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)26759 — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

The South Carolina Highway Patrol has charged a 17-year-old with driving too fast for conditions Monday after a single car accident in Monks Corner. A 1995 Dodge pick-up truck traveling east on Whitesville Road ran off the right side of the road and overturned. The driver, William Lee Keller, and a 14-year-old passenger were injured in the wreck and transported to Trident Hospital.

Keller was charged with driving too fast for conditions. The SC Highway Patrol continues to investigate the accident.

Victim in Pawleys Island Car Accident Identified

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)26758 — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

A Sunday afternoon accident killed one man and injured another. According to the SC Highway Patrol, Donald Lacy, 74, was turing out of a shopping center onto Highway 17 around 2 pm when his car was struck by another vehile traveling northbound. The force of the accident caused Lacy's car to overturn. Lacy was taken to MUSC where he later died from his injuries. The passenger in his car was transported to Georgetown Hospital.

The driver of the other vehicle, a Mt. Pleasant man, and his passenger were both wearing their seatbelts and did not require medical attention.

The accident remains under investigation by the Highway Patrol.

Motorcyclist Identified After Fatal Accident

blog@www.derricklawfirm.com (News Author)26553 — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

A 37-year-old man has died after a motorcycle accident Thursday night on U.S. 1 in Lexington County. David O. Perry was killed around 8:40 pm in the 4400 block of Augusta Road after his 2007 Kawasaki collided with a 2007 Chevy SUV. The SUV was attempting to turn left when they collided. Perry was taken to the emergency room at Palmetto Health Richland where he was pronounced dead. He was wearing a helmet in the accident.

The Highway Patrol states that an investigation into the accident is ongoing.