Recent Blog Posts

Suicide or Wrongful Death? When the Lines Are Blurred, Legal Help Is Crucial

Katelin Shenberger — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:20:00 GMT

The death of a Wright State University student in 2008 is now up for legal investigation, as a wrongful death lawsuit has been filed by the parents of N. Conner who killed himself on March 21, 2008. According to reports concerning the incident, Conner's friend and roommate alerted campus police to the potential suicide after becoming fearful that his friend might take his life. Campus officers reportedly arrived at Conner's apartment on the lookout for any signs of suicidal tendencies based on the threats made earlier by Conner indicating that he was contemplating killing himself with helium.

After investigating the situation, officers concluded that Conner was not suicidal, dismissing the tank of helium in the Jonathan Alder High School honor graduate's dorm room. However, their inspections were clearly proven wrong, as later that evening Conner proceeded to cover his head with a bag and inhale copious amounts of helium, ultimately causing asphyxiation and death. Now, his parents, residents of Plain City, are suing the Dayton public university for wrongful death. Their claims stem from the belief that campus police failed to adhere to their duties to protect Conner from harm.

The lawsuit is one of contest, as Wright State University officials have adamantly denied any wrongdoing in the case. Instead, they are vehemently backing their belief that Conner was solely responsible for his own death. However, this is far from the feelings of Conner's parents who have openly expressed their sentiment that the officers acted negligently, thereby allowing for the death of their son when it could otherwise have been prevented. According to the Conners, the "foreseeable risk of harm" indicated by the helium tank in their son's room was dismissed too quickly.

The suit has brought attention to the fact that two of the officers who reported to the phone call made by Conner's roommate failed to follow the University's policy regarding notification to the school's wellness center. Whenever a mental health crisis is reported and responded to, it is required that the wellness center also be made aware of the incident. Unfortunately, this was not the case in the Conner incident, and it may have cost the student his life.

If the loss of your loved one calls for a wrongful death claim, then you should not hesitate to speak with a North Carolina personal injury lawyer at our office today. With the help of an associate from our firm, you can make a claim of this nature or pursue any other type of personal injury claim for which legal assistance is required. With decades of experience, we are here to help in any way possible so we encourage you to contact a North Carolina wrongful death attorney from our office as soon as possible.

Mother Files Wrongful Death Claim against Daughter's Killer

North Carolina Personal Injury Lawyer — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:20:00 GMT

The mother of a slain daughter has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the man responsible for taking her child's life. She is asking for over $30 million in damages on behalf of her daughter and her family. In 2006, the victim, Y.L., was a fourth-year student at the University of Virginia. She was wrestling with her boyfriend, G.H., also a fourth-year student at the University, when something when awry. Officers were called and when G.H. spoke with the police, he told them that the two had been wrestling playfully when Y.L.'s nose started to bleed. By the time that EMTs arrived at the University, the young girl had already passed away.

During the trial for the girl's death, an autopsy report presented by the prosecution showed that Y.L.'s brain stem punctured her brain, causing irreparable damage. The medical expert involved went on to say that the victim would have been alive for 2 to 6 hours after the brain damage occurred. The amount of time was later disputed by other witnesses brought to the stand by the defense. News sources say that following both legal teams' arguments G.H. was convicted and ordered to serve 26 years in a federal prison. Do you intend to move forward with a wrongful death claim in the state of North Carolina? If so, get immediate legal help now by contacting the Lanier Law Group to arrange a case evaluation with a North Carolina personal injury attorney from our team.

Oil Spill Caused by Operator Under the Influence of Prescription Drugs

North Carolina Personal Injury Lawyer — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:30:00 GMT

An oil spill caused by a container ship in 2007 is now being blamed on the use of prescription drugs. The owners of the container ship are suing the pharmacist, whom they say was negligent, in dispensing certain prescription drugs to the pilot of the ship. Regal Stone Ship Ltd., along with the vessel's operating company Fleet Management Ltd., has filed a joint suit against a drug store in Petaluma, California. The companies claim that the pharmacist gave the pilot drugs that impaired his judgment and prevented him from acting quickly enough to prevent an accident.

The tanker collided with the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and spilled 50,000 gallons of oil into the waterway. In addition to the millions of dollars it took to clean up the spill, 2,400 birds lost their lives after becoming stuck in the oil. The companies were forced to pay out $4.4 million in damages to several state and federal agencies, as well as $3.6 million to members of the Bay Area fishing community. Did you incur extensive property damage due to another person's negligence? If so, you may be allowed to file a personal injury claim to seek compensation for your expenses. To learn more, contact the Lanier Law Group to consult a North Carolina personal injury attorney from our firm.

Auto Accident Defendant Enters Guilty Plea

North Carolina Personal Injury Lawyer — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:00:00 GMT

A man responsible for taking the life of another last year entered a guilty plea last week in the state of North Carolina. Now, he could be given up to twenty years behind bars for charges of leaving the scene of an accident and involuntary manslaughter. C.S., 41, was involved in an auto accident in 2011 that took the life of 24-year-old C.L.F. When police arrived at the scene of the collision, they learned that the two became involved in an incident of road rage. C.S. had just left a concert with his wife when a vehicle sped by them on the highway. It was driven by the victim, who proceeded to engage in what was described as aggressive behavior by eyewitnesses.

At one point the smaller vehicle was forced off the roadway and struck a manhole cover. Because it was traveling at such a high rate of speed, it went airborne and struck a concrete bridge abutment. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital within minutes of the accident taking places and was declared dead shortly after due to massive blunt force injuries to his chest. If you were injured due to another person's reckless driving behaviors, contact the Lanier Law Group now to get immediate help from a North Carolina personal injury attorney that is ready to listen to your side of the story.

Woman Driving Wrong Way Causes Hit and Run Crash

North Carolina Personal Injury Lawyer — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:20:00 GMT

In the city of Milwaukee, reports indicate that a 26-year-old woman was detained by police after she caused an auto accident and fled the scene of the crash, which is illegal in the state of Wisconsin. Officers now say that the woman is facing charges for not only fleeing the scene of an accident, but also driving under the influence (DUI). Local law enforcement learned about the incident when a man called 911 to report that he saw a woman driving in the wrong direction and that she hit his car. Instead of stopping, she sped off.

The accident took place around 2:00 a.m. and the Sheriff's Office that received the call reached out to other departments to help stop the woman's vehicle near Pennsylvania Avenue. Police were able to locate the woman at 2:17 a.m. and forced her to stop driving. She was then arrested on suspicion of drunk driving, two counts of recklessly endangering safety, as well as hit-and-run. After she was stopped, police say that the woman's blood alcohol level was 0.20%, well over the state's legal limit of 0.08%. Were you hit by a negligent driver in North Carolina? Contact the Lanier Law Group now to get immediate legal advice from a North Carolina personal injury attorney!

Nursing Home Cited for 50+ Deficiencies

North Carolina Personal Injury Lawyer — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:05:00 GMT

New York's Guilderland Center Nursing Home has been inspected by the state and cited for 52 separate deficiencies in only the past three years. This staggering number is more than double that of the average among other nursing home facilities statewide. When looking at the brevity of the problem, one can see that the nursing home facility filed for bankruptcy in 2008 before being taken over by the owner of Route 146 nursing home, Guilderland Realty Holdings Corporation.

Under new direction, the nursing home reportedly struck a deal with the city of Albany in which they agreed to repay one million dollars in property taxes – an action that would permit the care facility to stay in business despite its current struggles to do so. As of March, the nursing home was almost completely full, with only a four percent vacancy out of 127 beds total. This number should be kept in consideration when thinking of the number of elderly individuals who were adversely affected by the nursing home's deficiencies.

Inspectors of the facility found the nursing home to be in violation of several precautionary measures that should have been in place in order to protect the safety of its patients. One blind resident reportedly fell and broke his ankle due to a lack of proper safety measures being taken by staff members. Another patient with dementia was not treated for suicidal ideation even after threatening to shoot himself with a gun. These are only two of the fifty plus citations made against the facility, and there are likely more that were not even identified.

If you believe that your loved one is being mistreated /abused / neglected by the care staff at their nursing home facility then you should at once reach out to a personal injury attorney in North Carolina from the Lanier Law Firm. With the help of an associate at our office you can address this problem and work towards ceasing the issue altogether. We have been doing precisely that for nearly two decades, and we are ready to help do the same for you.

At our office, we will work diligently on behalf of you and your loved one, never resting until you can too. Therefore, you can feel confident that the instance of nursing home abuse that is currently plaguing one or more elderly individuals in a facility near you is actively being brought to the attention of officials who have the power to put an end to such behaviors. We encourage you to contact a North Carolina nursing home abuse lawyer at our office today to learn more about how we can help you address a problem of this nature.

Truck Rollover Accident Shuts Down Interstate

North Carolina Personal Injury Lawyer — Thu, 10 May 2012 03:10:00 GMT

In Gaston County, North Carolina, local news sources have reported that a truck accident led to serious delays on Interstate 85. During the collision, a tractor trailer overturned, causing the highway some delays. According to the North Carolina Highway Patrol (NHP), the truck flipped over near the Mcadenville exit and led to two lanes being closed for a period of time on Thursday morning, just after 5:00 a.m. Officers with the NHP say that the driver of the truck lost control of the vehicle. However, he escaped the accident uninjured and police say no one else was involved in the crash.

Following the accident, a hazmat crew was dispatched to clean up the scene as fuel leaked from the large truck. The two lanes that were shut down were finally reopened at around 6:30 a.m. Were you involved in a truck accident that caused you to sustain serious injuries? If so, contact the Lanier Law Group now to see if you have grounds to file a claim by taking the time to consult a North Carolina personal injury attorney from our team.

Two Injured After Car Crashes into Johnston County Front Lawn

North Carolina Personal Injury Attorney — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:01:00 GMT

Around 9:30 p.m. on May 7, 2012, an 18-year-old driver operating his vehicle at 80 mph crashed into the lawn of a home in Angier. The daughter of the homeowner said the car lost control after going around a curve on Zacks Mill Road, hit a telephone pole, ran through a ditch, and went airborne before rolling several times and coming to a stop in the home's front yard.

The teen driver, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was thrown 75 feet from his vehicle, and his 20-year-old passenger crawled out of the wreckage with minor injuries. The driver and passenger were rushed to WakeMed in Raleigh, and expected to fully recover from their injuries. No one was injured inside of the home, though there was some small damage to the front of the house from pieces of the car that flew off during the crash. The driver, a student at South Johnston High School, was charged with reckless driving, driving while impaired, and provisional DWI.

If you or a loved one was injured because of the reckless behavior of a driver, Lanier Law Group may be able to help. A skilled personal injury attorney in North Carolina from the firm can examine your accident, police report, and the extent of your injuries to create a solid case to help your family obtain the compensation you need to rebuild after a devastating accident.

Our team has recovered over $150 million in damages for our clients, and we can provide you with the sound legal counsel and caring support necessary to fight for justice through a personal injury claim. We are committed to providing victims with the aggressive representation and adamant advocacy they need to hold those that caused their pain accountable. If you are interested in learning more about our services and how you can seek compensation, contact a North Carolina car accident lawyer from our offices today.

Brief Overview of Premises Liability

North Carolina Personal Injury Lawyer — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:30:00 GMT

There are times when people suffer injuries while visiting another person's property. When this happens, it is legally referred to as a premises liability accident. An example of such an accident would be a person going to a grocery store, slipping on a wet surface, and sustaining serious injuries. If the grocery store owner and staff failed to warn customers of the slippery surface or did not clean up surface knowing it was hazardous, the person that slipped and fell may have the right to file a premises liability claim in the state of North Carolina.

People who file such claims make seek monetary damages for numerous things ranging from their medical expenses to compensation for their pain and suffering. However, when people are serious about filing a premises liability claim, it is important that they work with a North Carolina personal injury lawyer that has experience handling these types of lawsuits as they can be complicated to litigate. If you were injured on another person's property and want to explore your legal options as a victim, contact the Lanier Law Group today to arrange a time to speak with a lawyer from our legal team as soon as possible.

Two Major Car Accidents Occur Within Hours of Each Other

North Carolina Personal Injury Lawyer — Thu, 03 May 2012 19:45:00 GMT

Two fatal car accidents took place within hours of one another in western North Carolina last week. Police are still investigating both incidents and are speaking with family and friends about the deaths that occurred as a result. The first accident took place early Wednesday morning near Ellenboro. A man driving a pickup truck lost control of his vehicle and drifted across the center divider. He ran into the path of an oncoming vehicle, another pickup truck driven by victim R.D.S. She was declared dead at the scene by the coroner's office.

About four hours later, the second auto accident took place near Columbus. C.G., of Tryon, was driving a passenger vehicle when he started to drift off the roadway. Police believe that he over-corrected, sending his car into a telephone pole. Even though he was wearing a seat belt at the time, the victim was pronounced dead by emergency response crews. Did you suffer injuries, property damage, and/or lost wages as the result of an auto accident in North Carolina? If so, contact the Lanier Law Group and set up your case evaluation with a North Carolina personal injury attorney from our office as we may be able to help you file a lawsuit to seek compensation.

FBI Called in to Investigate Shooting Death

North Carolina Personal Injury Lawyer — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:30:00 GMT

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is looking into the death of a teenage girl that may have been a hate crime. Four months ago the victim, 16-year-old J.T., was killed while visiting with her friend in Columbus County. The victim was standing with her friend and her friend's godmother in the front yard of a residence when a gun fired out of nowhere. The bullet struck all three women, killing the teenager and wounding the godmother and the other teenage girl. When police arrived at the scene, they went to the home across from where the women had been standing. The home owner at the residence told police that his rifle had fired without him actually pulling the trigger. He asserted the gunfire was accidental.

Although the police did detain the neighbor for future questioning, he was released later that day without any charges. The FBI is joining the investigation to determine whether the incident was actually a hate crime or an accident as the neighbor claimed. Have you lost a close loved one due to a wrongful killing or wrongful death? If so, you may be allowed to file a claim to seek damages for your loss of companionship and suffering. To learn more, contact the Lanier Law Group now to discuss your situation with a North Carolina personal injury attorney from our team.

Speeding May Have Led to Fatal Auto Accident

North Carolina Personal Injury Lawyer — Wed, 02 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Alcohol does not seem to be a factor in a crash that took the life of one person last week. When police arrived at the scene of the fatal auto accident, they found the passenger dead in the car while the driver had fled on foot. Initial reports show that the driver of a passenger car slammed into the back of a parked tow truck. It is uncertain why the driver crashed into the truck since alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the collision. However, police say excessive speeds and distracted driving may have occurred, so officers are continuing their investigations.

The driver that fled was discovered in a field close to the accident scene. Police have since charged 23-year-old F.D.A. with involuntary manslaughter for his role in the crash. The victim was his friend, 22-year-old J.H.O. Upon investigating the scene of the crash, officers believe that the driver was traveling at speeds exceeding 90 mph, which is much greater than the posted speed limit. If you were involved in an auto accident that resulted from another person's reckless driving behaviors, contact the Lanier Law Group now to discuss your legal options with a North Carolina personal injury lawyer that can help you take appropriate measures.

Report of Nursing Home Abuse to be Investigated

North Carolina Personal Injury Lawyer — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:40:00 GMT

Another incidence of nursing home abuse made headlines last week. News sources say that a nursing home aide has been detained after being accused of holding a pillow over a patient's face. According to the police report, M.A.A., 53, has been taken into custody on suspicion of nursing home abuse. Police were called in to investigate the situation when a co-worker heard the patient screaming. She rushed to the room and saw the nursing aide holding a pillow over the face of an elderly woman. Initial reports show that the patient has a history of screaming out the same terrified phrase regularly, but police need to determine whether abuse did actually took place.

The same nursing home came under fire last year when another report of nursing home negligence was lodged against an employee. At that time, the employee was detained on suspicion of battery on a person over the age of 65. If you or an elderly loved one has been subjected to abuse, you may have legal options which you can exercise by working with a North Carolina personal injury lawyer. To learn how you can seek justice for the maltreatment you had to endure, contact the Lanier Law Group now!

Truck Accident Kills 31-Year-Old Driver

North Carolina Personal Injury Lawyer — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 03:20:00 GMT

Police in the state of North Carolina are still investigating a truck accident that took the life of a man last week. The big rig driver lost control of his vehicle on a busy highway and crashed onto another highway below. The victim was recently identified as being 31-year-old C.G. of Spencer. According to the police report, the incident took place around 4 a.m. when his vehicle left the highway, overturned and eventually caught fire. There were several witnesses who described the truck becoming airborne for a few moments before crashing onto the highway below.

Due to the severe nature of the accident, traffic was backed up for hours as police and emergency road crews worked at the scene of the truck accident. A bridge involved in the collision will be checked by engineers to ensure soundness for future traffic flows. Truck accidents can lead to serious injuries and property damage. If you've been hurt in this type of crash, contact the Lanier Law Group today to learn how a North Carolina personal injury lawyer can be of service to you as you file a lawsuit.

Older Women Found to Mistake Gas Pedal for Brake

North Carolina Personal Injury Lawyer — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:00:00 GMT

A recent government study confirms some peoples' belief that older female drivers are more prone to make certain mistakes behind the wheel. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, this demographic is more likely to confuse the gas pedal for the brake pedal and cause an accident. The study revealed that of the accidents in which the driver claimed to mistake the pedals, two-thirds were older female respondents. However, when looking at the sum total of car accidents, 60% were caused by male drivers. When it comes to gas pedal accidents, the two demographics most likely to cause an incident are people over the age of 76 and under the age of 20.

Auto accidents are caused by a variety of reasons, some of which are preventable and some which are not. A large portion of accidents are avoidable, however, as they involve drivers being distracted by radios, cell phones, eating or talking to passengers. If you were in an auto accident caused by driver negligence, contact the Lanier Law Group today to get immediate advice and help from an experienced North Carolina personal injury lawyer.