30 June

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Talking about a motorcycle collision with your loved ones

If you were recently involved in a motorcycle crash, our law firm recognizes the multiple stressors you are likely experiencing. Many people are seriously hurt in these collisions, which alters the course of their lives in different ways. For example, working becomes impossible for some of those who are immobilized in a motorcycle wreck, while others require a lot of care and attention because of physical or mental challenges resulting from a crash. It is important to discuss the hardships you are facing with your loved ones. Whether you have a spouse and children, live with your parents or simply need...

22 June

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Protect the spine after a car wreck

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in car accidents, personal injury

The injuries that come from car wrecks can vary from bruises up to catastrophic conditions like spinal cord injuries. Many people don’t think about something like a wreck altering the course of their life, but it is very possible when the spinal cord is damaged. The completeness of the spinal cord injury plays a direct role in how a victim is able to recover. When the injury is complete, the chance of recovery is reduced because the connections in the spinal cord are completely severed. When it is incomplete, there is more of a chance of recovery because some of those connections remain. Spinal...

02 June

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How does contributory negligence affect wrongful death recovery?

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in car accidents

If you are initiating a wrongful death lawsuit against another party, you must prove negligence caused your loved one’s death. The court may then hold a company or an individual liable for a wrongful action that led to the fatality. North Carolina’s civil law follows the pure contributory negligence rule. In order for your suit to end in your favor, a jury must find that the deceased individual did not contribute to the accident in any way. Barring a plaintiff’s recovery Under North Carolina law, your lawsuit may not move forward without showing how the other party contributed 100% to causing the accident....

02 June

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Negligent entrustment in North Carolina

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in car accidents

You likely understand that you assume some level of risk every time you take to Asheville’s roads in your own vehicle. Like most, however, you probably assume that the others on the road around care as much about staying safe as you do. Yet what happens when that is not the case? Such has been the discovery of many of our past clients here at Nielsen Legal. What might be even more shocking than encountering a blatantly reckless driver on the road, though, is learning that another actually trusted such a person with their car. Defining “negligent entrustment” After you learn this...

01 June

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Less traffic, safer roads? It depends on how you look at it.

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in car accidents

With more people working from home and limiting their trips, there has been a noticeable drop in traffic across North Carolina in recent months. It would seem that with fewer vehicles on the road, there would be fewer car accidents. Technically, this has proven to be the case. However, this doesn’t mean that roadways are necessarily safer. Fatal crash rates are holding steady According to a report in The News & Observer, highway traffic has dropped by 40% to 50% since March. However, through May 8th the state has seen 408 fatal vehicle crashes. That’s less than a 2% drop from last year....

28 May

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Motorcycle safety: What you need to know about helmets

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in car accidents

Following North Carolina motorcycle laws and safety recommendations is a smart choice for bikers in the state. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcyclists make up a disproportionate number of traffic fatalities. While motorcycle fatalities did drop by 5% in 2018, there were still over 4,900 motorcycle related deaths. Many states, including North Carolina, have adopted helmet laws to help reduce fatalities. Helmet requirements North Carolina requires all licensed motorcycle riders to wear helmets that meet federal motor vehicle safety standards. Both drivers and passengers must wear a helmet if riding a motorcycle or a moped. There are three requirements for...

23 March

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Coronavirus leads FMCSA to ease trucker hours rule

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in car accidents

Many people may worry about the dangers they face on the roads when they are near a semi-truck. These fears are not without some legitimacy as the sheer size and weight of these big rigs can certainly contribute to extreme outcomes if and when an accident occurs involving a semi-truck. From brake failure to driver distractions and more, there are numerous factors that may contribute to these accidents. Trucker fatigue is one factor that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration tackled when it enacted its Hours of Service rule. The Hours of Service rule placed a limit on the number of...

10 March

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How many people die in vehicle crashes in North Carolina?

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in car accidents

As a North Carolina resident, it is reasonable for you to know how well your state is doing when it comes to keeping people safe. While certainly the state alone cannot be responsible for preventing car accidents, the laws that it puts in place do go a long way toward helping this. Drunk driving is one behavior that provides an example as the state government develops the penalties for these offenses in the hopes of proactively preventing initial and repeat issues. Vehicle manufacturers may also contribute to safety on the roads with the inclusion of safety-focused features in new vehicles. Unfortunately,...

10 March

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Spring DST linked with higher number of fatal crashes

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in car accidents

North Carolina residents may be drowsy during their morning commute as a result of losing one hour of sleep with daylight saving time. What they may be unaware of is that DST has been linked with an annual increase in fatal car crashes nationwide for the first week of the switch. A study from the University of Colorado Boulder says that such accidents are 6% more frequent during that initial week. Researchers came to their conclusion after analyzing a total of 732,835 accidents that occurred in the U.S. from 1996 to 2017. To show that the link is not coincidental, researchers...

03 March

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Road rage: How to protect yourself from aggressive drivers

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in car accidents

It is common to feel angry while navigating through traffic on a busy day in North Carolina. Whether caught behind a slow motorist or rushing to get to an important appointment, it is frustrating to get caught in a busy rush of vehicles. In fact, more than 80% of drivers in the U.S. admit to having feelings of road rage while behind the wheel at some point within the last year, according to AAA. Road rage is often accompanied by aggressive driving behaviors, which can put everyone on the road at risk. Being able to spot the signs of road rage can help...