• If speeding, a driver can receive a fine up to $1000.
• If a driver hits and injure a worker, he may be fined up to $2000.
• Speeding in a work zone equals 2 points on the driver's license.
• Injuring a worker is 4 points.
• If worker suffers great bodily harm, 6 points will be applied to the license.

Work Accidents can happen but following the laws help reduce the likelihood of crashes. Some accidents happen on the job by no fault of the worker. 

Motorcycle accidents are even more dangerous for the rider and bikers must take precautions and learn ways to avoid accidents when circumstances arise.

If you are involved in a serious crash, speaking with an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer can help you understand your legal options and protect your rights throughout the recovery process.

Below are 10 of the most common motorcycle accidents and ways to avoid them:

1. A car turns left in front of you: Drivers are programed to look for cars, big objects, and not necessarily motorcycles. Motorcycles are small and harder to spot which causes some drivers to miss the motorcycle and make the turn despite oncoming traffic.

How to Avoid: See it coming. Look for signs and situations that might predict an oncoming car's actions. If you prepare yourself for the worst, you will be on the lookout and ready to slow your bike or take other actions to protect yourself.

2. Debris in the road: Sand, gravel, leaves, etc... can pile up in corners of a turn in the road and wipe you, and your bike, out!

How to Avoid: Don't hit it, if you can. Ride at a pace that allows for an appropriate reaction time. If you are traveling too fast, you may not see a danger until you are upon it. Your pace should reflect your visibility of the road so your reaction time does not suffer.

3. You enter a corner too fast: ...and now you aren't going to make it around.

How to Avoid: First, don't ride recklessly. Drive at a pace that is appropriate for the road conditions and for your visibility. If you can't read the road to know where it is going or turning, slow down.

If it is too late, and you are coming around the curve, trust your bike and attempt to ride it out. Your bike is likely more capable than you so do not brake hard, hit the throttle, or do anything else that may upset the bike.

4. A car changes their lane into you: Motorcycles are small and often fit into blind spots.

How to Avoid: If you cannot see a car driver's eyes in their mirrors, they probably cannot see you either. Try to stay out of potential blind spots and be aware of situations where cars are more likely to change lanes. Situations like merging lanes, cars with a blinker on, and a driver checking lanes should alert you that their vehicle could move at any moment.

5. A car hits you from behind: Sometimes you must stop quickly and if the person behind you is not paying attention, they can rear end you on your bike. Rear-end collisions can kill bikers.

How to Avoid: Use other cars as your buffer. Try to politely pull in front of an already stopped car at a red light so that if a rear-end collision occurs, they will take the most of the impact. If there is not a car to use as a buffer, stick to the side of the lane instead of the center. This may allow you to scoot out of the way more quickly if a car is not able to stop without hitting you.

6. Your riding group is questionable: People in your group are not paying attention or are playing around, and then bump into the back of your bike.

How to Avoid: Discuss riding etiquette before getting on the road with a group. This might also include riding in a staggered formation to give every rider better vision and keep fender benders amongst the bikes from happening.

7. Your front brake locked up: Something caused you to hit the brakes hard, you squeeze your front brakes, and then you see your bike flip down the road after you hit the ground.

How to Avoid: Learn your bike and learn your brakes. Practice braking at increasing speeds so that your comfort level is high in the event you need to brake hard. Another option is to buy a bike with an Antilock Braking System and use it in the event of a quick stop.

8. A car opened its door: You are traveling down a street and a car parked on the side of the road opens their door, and you hit it, or it hits you.

How to Avoid: Never ride between active traffic and a line of parked cars. Not only do car doors swing out, but pedestrians may step out into your path as well.

9. Wet roads: Weather conditions affect how you and others drive. Some drivers maintain normal speed and habits although they may be too fast for conditions.

How to Avoid:  Make sure your tires are in good condition. Riding on worn tires is never a safe idea, especially if the roads are wet. Also, stay off the roads if the rain or snow will affect your visibility. If you can't see in front of you, others probably can't see you and you won't be able to see hazards in your way.

10. The Most Common Motorcycle Accident: Drinking and Driving. Most motorcycle accidents involve alcohol.

How to Avoid: Don't do it.

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Do Not's:

1. Do not drive under the influence: This includes drinking as well as being on medication or other drugs that can influence your reaction times while driving.

While under the influence, your coordination and reactions are slowed, your vision can become blurred, and you are more likely to make foolish decisions. Take a cab, or find an uber or lyft to get you to your destination safely.

2. Do not speed: This seems simple enough but drivers push the limits of how quickly they can get to their destination by going over the speed limit. With each mile per hour over the speed limit, a driver's chance of an accident increases.

3. Do not text and drive: To limit your distractions, put your phone out of reach while driving. Texting or getting on social media, etc... take your eyes off the road and reduce your reaction time. It can wait. #textlater

4. Do not drive drowsy: Driving drowsy has proven to be similar to driving under the influence in recent studies. Many people ask, Is drowsy driving comparable to drunk driving? Research shows that by not getting the recommended seven hours of sleep, your chances of getting into an accident nearly double. 

If you are not well rested, take a break and sleep before getting back on the road.

While helping a customer, he slipped and fell and severely injured his back.

After seeing a neurologist, the doctor determined Mr. Clemmons had a herniated disk that would require surgery.

The doctor performed the surgery in which he removed the herniated disk, fused two vertebrae together, and then screwed a rod into the back. After surgery, extensive physical therapy was ordered but despite treatment, Mr. Clemmons still had trouble walking and maintaining his balance. He also continued to suffer from pain in his neck and back.

A worker's compensation claim was admitted through Lowe's and they agreed to pay his Temporary Total Disability benefits until he reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) or was able to go back to work.

In June 2011, Mr. Clemmons saw his doctor and it was determined that he had reached MMI and could return to work with a permanent restriction. His whole person impairment rating was 25%, however his regional impairment to the spine was at 71%.

A year later, Mr. Clemmons had a follow up evaluation with his doctor who found the same MMI. Lowe's requested a hearing with the Worker's Compensation Commission to see if any permanent disability benefits were owed.

This case highlighted the challenges many injured workers face when it comes to getting fair workers’ compensation benefits for permanent disability in South Carolina. Despite medical evidence, the commission initially ruled that Mr. Clemmons had not suffered a permanent total disability and awarded only permanent partial disability. 

An appeal was filed, and the Court of Appeals affirmed.

The case then went to the SC Supreme Court where they disagreed. The Supreme Court found that Mr. Clemmons had suffered a 50% loss of back function and should be awarded Permanent and Total Disability.

The only rebuttal from Lowe's was that there was wage loss but no evidence contrary to the medicals.

Judges also left open the option for employers to use medical testimony and evidence from their own professionals to put up the burden of proof in future cases.

When you’re sleep deprived, your ability to focus and pay attention decreases significantly. This means that you’re more likely to make mistakes while driving, which could lead to a motor vehicle accident. If you’ve been injured in such a crash, consulting an experienced auto accident attorney can help you understand your rights and pursue compensation.

What the Statistics Say About Drowsy Driving

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, not getting at least 7 hours of sleep can nearly double your risk of getting into a car accident. Drowsy drivers are involved in more than 20% of fatal crashes each year. Someone who has slept between 6 to 7 hours is 1.3 times more likely to crash than someone who slept at least 7 hours and those who get between 4 to 5 hours of sleep are 4.3 times more likely to crash.

Most alarmingly, even though around 97% of people recognize that drowsy driving is dangerous almost 1/3 of drivers admit that they do it anyway. Drowsy driving is even one of the leading causes of South Carolina truck accidents.

If you find yourself feeling tired while driving, it’s important to pull over and take a break. Get some fresh air, walk around, and drink some caffeine if you need to. If possible, it’s also a good idea to avoid driving late at night or early in the morning when your natural energy levels are low.

Comparing Drowsy Driving to Drunk Driving

When you’re drunk, your judgment and reaction time are impaired. This can obviously lead to dangerous situations on the road. However, being drunk and being sleepy have a lot in common when it comes to driving.

Both drunk driving and drowsy driving reduce your ability to pay attention to the road. They both slow down your reaction time and make it harder to make good decisions. In fact, being awake for 17 hours has a similar effect on your body as having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05%. This is below the legal limit for driving in most states, but it’s still enough to impair your ability to drive.

Steps to Take if You Are an Accident With a Drowsy Driver

Accidents can happen anywhere and at any time, so it's important to be aware of your surroundings and make good decisions before getting behind the wheel. If you do have the misfortune of being involved in an accident with a drowsy driver, there are a few things you should do to protect your legal right to compensation:

• Call the police and make a report. This will create an official record of the accident.
• Get the other driver’s insurance information.
• Get contact details for any witnesses. 
• Take pictures of the accident scene, including any damage to your car. Get pictures from as many different angles as possible.
• See a doctor as soon as possible, even if you don’t think you’re injured. Some injuries, like whiplash, can take days or weeks to show up.

Once you've reported your accident and addressed your immediate medical needs, you'll want to contact a personal injury lawyer who has experience with drowsy driving accidents. Your lawyer will investigate the accident and look for evidence to establish fault. For example:

• The other driver admitted to being tired or falling asleep at the wheel.
• There were witnesses who saw the other driver nodding off or driving erratically before the accident.
• The other driver has a history of drowsy driving accidents or traffic violations.
• The accident happened late at night or early in the morning.
• You have dashcam footage of the other driver swerving or driving erratically.

The National Coalition for Safer Roads campaigns that every driver stop at every red light. After accumulating data on driver behavior and accidents records over several years, they have discovered that a large portion of drivers have ran a red light.

In 2013 (latest data available), "697 people were killed and an estimated 127,000 were injured in auto crashes that involved red light running." (www.ncsrsafety.org)

Because of such high numbers, the NCSR campaigns to stop on red and provides a top ten list for why stopping at each red light is important.

Top 10 Reasons to Stop on Red:

1. Red light running is dangerous.

2. Between 2004-2013, an estimated 7,799 people were killed from red light running incidents.

3. The cost to society of all crashes exceeds $230 billion annually.

4. One in three Americans know someone who has been injured or killed in a red light running crash.

5. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children age 4 and the second leading cause of death for children age 3 and 5-14.

6. About half of the deaths in red light running crashes are pedestrians, bicyclists and occupants in other vehicles that are hit by the red light runners.

7. In 2013, more than 697 people were killed and an estimated 127,000 were injured in crashes that involved red light running.

8. Motorists in urban areas are more likely to be injured in crashes involving red light running than in any other type of crash.

9. Red light runners are more than three times as likely as other drivers to have multiple speeding convictions on their driver records.

10. More than 36 percent of drivers continue to run red lights and take risks, despite the fact that 55 percent of the participants said it was a very serious threat and 73 percent acknowledged that running red lights is unacceptable.

Slow down and come to a complete stop at a red light. Look both ways before entering an intersection when the light turns green. These simple things can reduce intersection accidents and people who are injured or killed. Make the pledge to stop on red!

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According to the Act, the first requirement is referred to as the “legal causation” while the second refers to “medical causation.” Satisfying these requirements categorizes the stroke or heart attack as an accident which is the foremost requirement to fulfill under the standard Worker’s Compensation Act.

In South Carolina, the Worker’s Compensation Commission performs this test to judge what accidents are covered in most heart attack and stroke cases. For example, an employer would not be held responsible for an injury that occurred from natural causes. The injury must come from “unusual exertion or strain.”

In the court case Price v BF Shaw Company, a man passed away due to a coronary thrombosis while working and performing routine duties. The case went to the Supreme Court and the decision that unless the worker is performing a task out of the ordinary that causes unusual exertion or strain, it is not covered under the Workers' Compensation Act.

In most cases, someone that has heart disease and dies, or has a heart attack, is the result of natural causes more than from traumatic causes. That is why this test is used within the Act.

Be aware of your surroundings and only ride with a driver that you trust to make safe decisions.

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Free Report: The Truth About Your South Carolina Injury Claim

Free Report: The Truth About Your South Carolina Injury Claim

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.

Free Report: The Truth About Your South Carolina Injury Claim

Have You Or A Loved One Been Injured In A Boat or Jet Ski Accident?

If you've been injured in a boating accident or a jet ski accident you should speak with an boating accident injury lawyer as soon as possible. Contact us online or call our Charleston, South Carolina office directly at 843.488.2359 to schedule your consultation. We are also able to meet clients at our Conway, Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet, Mt. Pleasant, North Myrtle Beach or North Charleston office locations.

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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.

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.

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.