Recent Blog Posts in July 2010

During these summer months when so many people are out and about with man's best friend, fears about dog bites tend to increase. 74.8 million dogs live in the US today, so the occasional dog bite is bound to happen, but what are the actual statistics? Let's take a look:

A little less than two percent of the US population is bitten by a dog annually. That amounts to about 4.7 million people.

Of those bites, only about one in six is serious enough to require medical attention. That reduces the number of serious bites to about 800,000 annually.

About 368,000 people go to the emergency room each year due to a dog bite.

In 2001, a little fewer than 16,500 dog bites to people age 16 or older were work related.

On average, 2,581 postal carriers are bitten annually.

Of activities common among children, dog bites are the fifth most frequent reason for a trip to the emergency room.

Overall, an American has about a one in fifty chance of being bitten by a dog each year.

If you've had the misfortune of being seriously bit by another person's dog, now is the time to discuss your case with a North Carolina personal injury attorney.  Contact our law office now!

When a vehicle turns on its side or roof during an accident, this is referred to as rollover. Rollover can be caused by a number of factors including excessive cornering, tripping, collision, or traversing a critical slope.

Excessive cornering happens when a vehicle takes a turn too quickly. Inertial forces push a vehicle in the direction it was originally going, so if you're going straight and then suddenly turn, the car's inertia is still moving straight ahead. In smaller vehicles, this will make the car slip out or spin, but often this will cause larger vehicles like trucks or SUVs to rollover.

Tripping rollovers can occur when a vehicle is sliding and then one or more tires hit a curb, suddenly regain traction, dig into soft ground, or something similar. Physics will once again cause the car to topple over in this instance.

Collisions with other vehicles or objects can also cause rollover if the vehicle becomes unstable enough as a result of the collision, such as a strong side impact. Crossing a ditch or slope can also cause a rollover if taken at the wrong angle or too high of a speed.

If you've been involved in a serious truck accident that involved a rollover, speak with a North Carolina personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.  Contact the Lanier Law Group now!

Teenagers are ten times more likely to get into a car accident than any other age group. You can help protect your teen from an accident by teaching them good driving habits. Here is a list of tips that will help your teen become a safe driver.

§  Teens simply don't have the experience that you have. Teach them what you have learned by letting them drive you as much as possible. Whether your state requires it or not, it's a good idea for your teen to learn from a driving instructor.

§  Don't allow your child to text or talk on the phone while driving. 26 states have banned texting while driving, eight more have banned texting while driving by minors, and six states have banned using a handheld phone while driving altogether.

§  Make sure your teen is buckling up whenever they get in a car. In 2008, 55% of teens killed in an auto accident weren't wearing their seatbelts.

§  Set a driving curfew for your child. Teens have the hardest time focusing and making good driving judgments at night, particularly after 10 p.m., making nighttime the riskiest time for your teen to be on the road.

§  Talk to your teen about drinking and driving. Many teens simply don't understand how much their senses and reflexes can be affected by drinking, but the fact is that someone is killed by drunk driving every 45 minutes in America according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

If you have been injured as a result of an unsafe driver, contact a North Carolina personal injury attorney today.

In Hyannis, Massachusetts, police report that they are looking for suspects that are connected to the shooting of a Connecticut man.

Last Friday, 42 year old Patrick Shanahan was shot at night outside of Clothesline Laundry.  After being shot, it is reported that he suffered a serious spinal cord injury. 

Police say that the shooting occurred hours after the laundromat had closed for the night.  They also say that Shanahan had been staying with relatives in Hyannis and they are unsure why he was near the landromat on Friday night.  He was allegedly alone when the shooting took place.

Shanahan, who is a high school guidance counselor in Connecticut, was shot directly in his back.  At this time, authorities say that he is recovering from his injuries at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

Have you suffered a serious injury in North Carolina because another person chose to act negligently?  If so, now is the time to contact the Lanier Law Group and receive advice from a North Carolina personal injury attorney.

This week, a settlement was reached in a wrongful death case.  Court documents indicate that the plaintiff, Jennifer Berg of South Dakota, filed a claim against pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline.

In 2007, Berg filed her lawsuit and alleged that her infant side was wrongfully killed as a result of a heart disorder that was caused by her prescribed usage of the antidepressant, Paxil.  Berg had taken the antidepressant throughout her pregnancy.

In her federal court lawsuit, she sought unspecified damages from the company as she claimed it failed to warn consumers about the dangers of its medication.

At this time, letter to the judge presiding over the case indicate that a settlement has been reached, but no additional filings have been made to date.  GlaxoSmithKline said it would take a $2.3 billion charge against is second-quarter earnings to resolve its settlements and agreements to settle other cases involving Paxil usage.

Have you lost a loved one due to wrongful death in North Carolina?  If so, a North Carolina personal injury lawyer from the Lanier Law Group can help.  Contact us today!

This Monday at approximately 2:00 AM, the driver of a gold cart had to be airlifted to the hospital after being involved in an auto accident with another vehicle.  Police say that the accident occurred in Horry County, South Carolina.

According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, the golf cart had been heading the wrong way down Highway 90, which is near Old Altman Road.  After the accident, the 19 year old golf cart driver was taken to the New Hanover Regional Medical Center.  No updates have been released on his physical condition at this time.

Police say that the driver of the other motor vehicle did not suffer any injuries.  They also said that driving golf carts after dark is illegal.  Additionally, the driving of golf carts on any South Carolina Highway is prohibited at all times.

If you have been involved in an auto accident due to another person's recklessness or negligence, now is the time to discuss your case and injuries with a North Carolina personal injury lawyer.  To speak with an attorney, contact the Lanier Law Group today!

This past Monday in Iowa, authorities reported that a construction worker was hit and killed by a dump truck.  The worker was in a construction area on Interstate 80 in Iowa City when the construction accident took place. 

According to reports, Iowa City Police, Iowa State Patrol, Johnson County Ambulance and Iowa DOT all responded to the accident.  However, they found that the worker was already dead when they arrived at the scene of the accident.

At this time, authorities say that the accident remains under investigation.  They have not released the name of the deceased victim.

Were you involved in a North Carolina construction accident that caused you injuries and pain?  If you answered "yes", know that by hiring a North Carolina personal injury lawyer, you may be able to recover monetary damages.  To learn more, contact the Lanier Law Group today.  We would be happy to review your case and advise you of your rights and legal choices.

In Ohio, it is reported that a former assisted living facility worker has withdrawn her guilty plea and will now stand trial.  The worker, Iindia Weatherly was accused of nursing home abuse after an 87 year old man fell and broke his hip three weeks prior to his death, which occurred last summer.

Weatherly was charged with a fourth-degree felony and if she is convicted by a jury she will face a six to 18 month prison sentence.

In court, Weatherly admitted that she had been careless, but she denied that she had any intention of causing the victim harm.  Witnesses said that Weatherly pushed a kitchen door open, which hit the 87 year old and caused him to fall.  Witnesses also said that while the man was on the ground, Weatherly punched him.

A coroner ruled the elderly man's death as a homicide, but prosecutors cannot prove that the incident caused his death. 

Have you or someone you love been victimized by nursing home negligence in North Carolina?  If so, get the help you need by hiring a North Carolina personal injury attorney.  Contact our legal team now!

In North Carolina, two people have been charged with providing alcohol to a lady that was involved in a serious auto accident.  After consuming alcohol, the woman was involved in a crash that led to the death of three individuals in February.

According to North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement agents, 51 year old Theresa Bruckner and 22 year old Kyle Bruckner are now facing three counts of a aiding and abetting a persona younger than 21 years of age in possessing an alcoholic beverage.

Police say that the defendants gave 20 year old Amanda Sperdute, 18 year old Sascha Adela Hoffman and 18 year old Taylor Leigh McCaskill alcohol.  The three left the Bruckner's home with another individual before 11 PM with Sperduti behind the wheel.

Troopers said that Sperduti was driving 90 MPH when she sped off the right side of Fairgrove Church Road, hit a street sign and then a tree.  Warrants issued later revealed that Sperduti had a blood alcohol level of .20%.  The state's legal limit is 0.08%.

Hoffman, McCaskill and the third passenger all died during the car accident.  Sperduti was charged with three counts of felony death by a motor vehicle, exceeding a safe speed limit, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while intoxicated on a provisional license.

If you suffered injuries due to someone else's negligence and poor choices, speak with a North Carolina personal injury lawyer by contacting the Lanier Law Group.

In northeastern Wyoming, a couple from North Carolina recently died after being involved in a car accident.  The couple had been riding a motorcycle at the time of the collision.

According to the Wyoming State Patrol, 61 year old Thomas Church and 52 year old Regina Church were traveling on U.S. 85, which is north of Lusk, on Wednesday.  A car allegedly headed north and crossed the center line.

At this time, authorities are not certain whether 77 year old Ingeman Aasness drove into the other lane.  However, they say that when Aasness tried to merge back into his lane, his vehicle hit the Church's motorcycle head on.  Police report that the couple died at the scene of the accident.

Aasness had to be taken to a hospital in Lusk.  He was treated and then released.  Another victim, 73 year old Cordelle Aasness, was flown to Wyoming Medical Center. 

Have you been hurt during an auto accident in North Carolina?   Know that a North Carolina personal injury attorney from the Lanier Law Group can help you.  Contact our legal team now!

New reports indicate that a slip and fall case settled on June 11^th.  The case against Jazz Casino Company LLC had been set for a one-day bench trial in Orleans Parish Civil Court District on June 28^th.  However, a letter was sent by the plaintiff's attorney to Judge Paulette Irons announcing a settlement.

Prior to the settlement, Melinda Abbey had filed a lawsuit against Jazz Casino Company LLC because she said she was involved in a slip and fall accident while at Harrah's Casino in downtown New Orleans.  In June 2006, she filed a petition against the casino to seek monetary damages for her injuries.

Abby said that she "sustained injuries to her back, right hip, left hand, ankle and neck".  She also said that permitting a dangerous condition and/or defective condition to exist on the floor of the premises, the casino was liable for her injuries.

In November 2006, both Abby and the defendants agreed to a stipulated protective order.  The order stated that the parties mutually agreed to allow certain documents produced by the casino to remain private and confidential.

At this time, the amount of the settlement has not been disclosed.

Were you involved in a serious slip and fall in North Carolina?  If so, contact the Lanier Law Group and set up a consultation with a North Carolina personal injury lawyer.

In San Francisco, two people had to be hospitalized for dog bite injuries.  The individuals were attacked at Golden Gate Park on July 1^st at 6:42 AM. 

Animal Care and Control officials report that they seized two dogs.  However, they believe that only one (an unneutered male pit bull) was connected to the attacks.  While trying to catch the pit bull, officers had to fire two shots from their guns and hit the animal in its face.  The other dog that was captured was identified as a female shepherd mix.

Bela Martin, the first victim, had to be rushed to San Francisco General Hospital after suffering dog bites to her lower legs.  She is reportedly in fair conditions.  The second victim, a male in his 40s, had to be taken to UCSF Medical Center.  He also sustained bites to his legs.

At this time, a veterinarian is treating the pit bull.  The dogs' owners may face civil, criminal and/or administrative charges as all male pit bulls must be neutered in the city.

If you have been attacked or bitten by a dog, now is the time to consult with a North Carolina personal injury attorney that can help you recover damages for your pain and suffering.  Contact the Lanier Law Group today!

The family of a man killed by a morphine overdose has been awarded nearly $5 million. The victim, Burr Needham, was checked into Mercy Memorial Nursing Center in April 2002 to receive physical therapy for a non-displaced hip fracture, but was found dead only a week and a half later from a morphine overdose.

The medical examiner ruled Needham's death a homicide, leading the man's family to hire nursing home negligence lawyers. The ensuing investigation revealed that the nursing home staff had failed to monitor the amount of morphine given to Needham and had not recorded that any morphine was given to him on his medical chart. The trial lasted over three weeks, but in the end, Needham's family was awarded nearly $3 million for loss of companionship, $1.5 million for pain and suffering, and $350,000 for damages and lost valuables.

If you or someone you love has been physically harmed by the negligence of another, now is the time to get a North Carolina personal injury lawyer involved.  Contact the Lanier Law Group now!