North Carolina Car Accident Attorney Blog

The driver of a tour bus that struck and killed a man crossing the street has been charged with Vehicular Manslaughter and Driving While Impaired.

Timothy White was struck and killed by a luxury tour bus operated by Steve Drappel.

It has been reported that Drappel blew a 0.14 at the scene, and that a second blood alcohol test taken later at the police station found a blood alcohol level of 0.08, twice the legal limit of 0.04 for commercial drivers.

Investigators discovered vodka in Drappel's travel mug along with a half-empty bottle of Smirnoff vodka. Drappel dragged White for almost 30 feet before heeding to onlookers cries to stop.

Continue reading "Pedestrian Killed by Drunk Bus Driver" »

Ji Sheng Lu and his daughter, Jing Lu, were killed Wednesday morning in a Charlotte, North Carolina car accident involving a distracted driver. Ms. Lu's one-year old son, who was in a stroller, suffered serious injuries. The family was walking in their Charlotte neighborhood when Sharai Marie Bauer, driving on Corsica Forest Drive, took her eyes off the road to reach to the floorboard to recover something that had fallen. Witnesses told Charlotte Mecklenburg Police that the car swerved towards the Lu family, who was walking with traffic and close to the curb, and hit them from behind. According to local residents, drivers often speed on this road, which has a posted speed limit of 25mph.

Bauer has been charged with two counts of misdemeanor death by vehicle.

All drivers have a duty to maintain a proper lookout and maintain a safe distance. According to The University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center (HSRC), as many as 30% of all reported car accidents are due to driver distraction.

If you or a loved one has been injured due to a distracted driver, call the experienced car accident attorneys at Auger & Auger for your free consultation.

On Wednesday, October 6, 2010, thousands of Americans will participate in International Walk to School Day by walking or bicycling to school. This program, initiated in 1997, was originally intended to bring attention to the need for more walkable communities. Today, its effect is more far-reaching. It has helped bring more awareness to the Presidential Active Lifestyle Program by encouraging children to walk or bike to school. It also brings attention to the Safe Routes to School Program, which participates in building sidewalks, generating driver awareness, and encouraging students to be more physically active. For more information, go to Saferoutesinfo.org.

A Charlotte, North Carolina car accident claimed the life of an innocent pedestrian Sunday morning, and a second pedestrian is clinging to life at Carolinas Medical Center. The Charlotte Observer reports that 21 year old Leah Anne Watson was driving down Craig Avenue when she turned her attention from the road in order to reach for a cigarette. In doing so, she crossed the center double yellow line and crossed two lanes of oncoming traffic before jumping the curb, striking two pedestrians. Watson, who had previously been arrested but not convicted of compumption of alcohol under the age of 19, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, reckless driving, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, no liability insurance, and driving with a revoked registration.

The University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center (HSRC) estimates that as many as 30% of all reported car accidents are due to driver distraction. A study conducted by HSRC found one third of subjects used a cellphone while driving, and 40% engaged in reading or writing. The severity of distracted driving in this country has lead the US Department of Transportation to hold a Distracted Driving Summit and launch a government website, www.distraction.gov, in order to bring awareness to this growing problem. The second national Distracted Driving Summit is scheduled for September 21, 2010.

If you or a family member has been seriously injured due to a distracted driver, call Auger & Auger. Your consultation is free.

Our Charlotte, North Carolina car accident lawyers want to remind you to exercise extra caution on the roadways as Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will begin classes on Wednesday, August 25. School buses are already navigating Charlotte's roads learning their routes.

Under North Carolina law, motorists are required to stop when a school bus is operating flashing red lights or has its mechanical stop sign displayed. The only time a vehicle is not required by law to stop is when a vehicle is traveling in the opposite direction of the school bus and is on a divided highway made up of four or more lanes that are separated by either a median or center turn lane.

Traffic Team 9 of WSOCTV has identified the heaviest traffic spots as Old Statesville Road between Huntersville and Harris Boulevard, Park Road between Johnson Road and Sharon Road West, Monroe Road between Village Lake Drive and Rama Road, and Pineville-Matthews Road between Providence Road and Alexander Road.

Twenty-eight states, including North Carolina, have made it illegal to text while driving, yet some drivers are still doing it, sometimes with devastating consequences.

Early on the morning of May 30, Jedadiah Allen Woodcock struck 2 North Carolina pedestrians in Wrightsville Beach. Wtinesses observed Woodcock speeding in the direction of the pedestrians, strike them, and then flee the scene.

Investigating police officers found Woodcock's cell phone on the floor of the car with a partially written text message appearing on the screen, as well as marijuana and rolling papers. Investigators say that Woodcock blew .09 in a breathalyzer test.

In addition to violating the no texting law, Allen was also charged with driving while impaired, possession of up to ½ ounce of marijuana, and two counts of aggravated felony with serious injury by vehicle. If convicted, it will be his second DWI conviction in less than a year.

Our Charlotte, North Carolina car accident lawyers are often called upon by the families of pedestrians injured when hit by a car. On Tuesday, May 11, 2010, 17 year old Rayshawn Rainey was killed from injuries suffered in a Charlotte pedestrian accident.

According to witnesses, the teenager was trying to cross The Plaza. After clearing the two inbound lanes, he was struck when crossing the first outbound lane. The minor was struck by a second vehicle when he fell into the next lane.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Police continue to investigate, and neither drive has been charged.

Pedestrian Accidents

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 12% of traffic deaths in 2008 were pedestrian, with approximately 75% of pedestrian deaths occurring at nonintersections (i.e., crossing in the middle of the street).

NHTSA has also found that although overall traffic related deaths have decreased, pedestrian traffic deaths have not seen the same decline.

Resources

Transportation Administration to Focus on Pedestrians, Cape Cod Times, April 22, 2010