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Motorcycle Fatalities in North Carolina

A motorcyclist is especially vulnerable to the dangers of the road. There is an appeal to the way you can zoom down the highway, feeling the rush of the wind against your body. However, this leaves you open to uniquely bad injuries in the event of an accident. There is nothing to protect you from the impact of another vehicle. Your body will take the force of the impact, and there is a good chance of being thrown from your motorcycle or making direct contact with the road.

In North Carolina, motorcycle deaths are no longer on the rise. In 2016, the fatalities resulting from motorcycle accidents decreased by 7.4 percent. However, people are still killed in accidents involving motorcycles every year. 154 of 2016’s motorcycle crashes were fatal. Overall, nearly 4,000 accidents involving motorcycles occurred in North Carolina in 2016. The number of accidents far exceeds those of some other types of vehicles. There are more motorcycle accidents than pedestrian accidents, bus accidents, and many other types of accidents.

Laws for Motorcyclists in North Carolina

Motorcycle Accident LawyerIn recent years, it is true that North Carolina is seeing a decrease in motorcycle accidents. In 2017, lawmakers attempted to pass a law that would make helmets optional for motorcyclists older than 21 years of age. Lawmakers argued that a helmet would not adequately protect a motorcyclist in the event of an accident, and they should not be required.

A study found that helmet use for motorcyclists could still reduce the risk of head injuries by more than 70 percent. When Florida passed a similar law, allowing looser rules about motorcyclist wearing helmets, the number of deaths increased by a significant amount.

The higher rate at which motorcyclists die in the event of an accident could also be an issue when looking to adjust laws about motorcycle helmets. Data shows that motorcyclists are 26 times more likely to die if they are in an accident than someone driving a car. There are also statistics to support the high costs of medical care for victims of motorcycle accidents. Twenty-five percent of those who are injured in a motorcycle accident accrued medical expenses greater than $100,000.

Opponents of the bill also pointed out that North Carolina’s motorcycle helmet laws save a great deal of economic cost for the state. $1,627 is saved per motorcyclist simply because the state requires them to wear helmets while operating a motorcycle.

The bill was eventually pulled from the state House of Representatives’ calendar and was not made into North Carolina law.

Have You Been Involved in a North Carolina Motorcycle Accident?

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a motorcycle accident, do not let the medical bills continue to negatively impact your life. You may be eligible to bring a claim against the negligent party in your accident. Contact The Nye Law Group today to see what your options are. Our free case evaluation can help you decide what to do next.

Boating Accidents Becoming Increasingly Common in South Carolina

Every year, hundreds of people are killed in boat accidents across the United States. In 2017, 658 Americans were killed in boat accidents. Another 2,629 people were injured as a result of boat accidents. This number has increased more 9 percent since 2016. In South Carolina, officials are currently observing similar trends to those of the entire country.

Local news outlets have observed the increasing amount of boat accidents in recent years. Between 2015 and 2016, the number of fatal boat accidents per 100,000 boats increased from 3.4 to 4.4. While this increase is still below the national statistics, the increasing number of fatalities and injuries are cause for concern.

What are the Common Causes of Boat Accidents?

Boating accident lawyerWhile every boating accident is unique, several factors appear in many boat accidents. According to statistics, some types of vessels are involved in far more fatal crashes than others. In 2017, the most dangerous kind of vessel was an open motorboat. These were responsible for 305 deaths and 1,367 injuries in 2017. Kayaks and canoes were the second and third most deadly and were responsible for 138 deaths.

There are also contributing factors that directly led to the accident that are often seen in an incident involving a boat. The number one contributing factor to boat accidents is operator inattention. While this caused 620 accidents, it only led to 45 fatalities and 381 injuries. The greatest number of deaths can be contributed to a boat operator who is under the influence of alcohol. While this is the fifth cause of boat accidents, it caused a total of 102 fatalities. Two hundred twenty-seven people were also injured in accidents caused by alcohol use.

Negligent operation of a boat was responsible for many other accidents in 2017. The second and third most common causes of accidents were improper lookout and operator inexperience, leading to a combined 907 accidents. Excessive speed and navigation rules violations also caused several hundred accidents last year.

Not every accident is due to negligence though. Sometimes, the causes of an accident are entirely outside the control of anyone involved. Machinery failure was responsible for 305 accidents, but only nine people were killed in these situations. Weather caused 40 fatalities last year while dangerous waters and force from waves or wakes were the ninth and tenth most common cause of accidents in 2017.

While negligence is not the cause of every boating accident, the causes that are outside of the operator’s control are often less deadly and less frequent.

Get Help for Your Injuries from A Boat Accident

Were you the victim of a boat accident caused by operator negligence? You may be entitled to compensation to help you deal with your medical bills and lost wages that resulted from that accident. Contact The Nye Law Group to learn how you can start to recover from your boat accident. Our experienced attorneys can offer you a free case evaluation to help you decide on your next steps.

Burn Injuries Sustained in Georgia

Thousands of people are injured in fires or explosions every year. Many of these injuries will occur in the workplace, and they can happen because the fire safety standards of the workplace were not up to par with what they should be. For those who are affected by fire-related injuries, the injuries can be emotionally, physically, and financially catastrophic.

The Impact of Burn Injuries on Georgians

Burn Injuries lawyerIn a 2011 study, it was found that 15 percent of the nearly 4,000 burn victims admitted to a Georgia hospital sustained their burns while they were at work. Overall, hundreds of Georgians are hospitalized every year because of these kinds of accidents.

Nationwide, 486,000 people sustained burn injuries that required medical treatment in 2016, encompassing both major and minor injuries that were treated at different kinds of facilities such as a small clinic or a hospital burn center. As the numbers show, this problem is prevalent in Georgia and across the nation.

The Effects of a Burn Injury on a Person

If someone is the victim of a serious burn, it can be hard to return to their normal life after the accident. One of the major effects can be coping with the changes in their appearance after they suffer from a burn. If an injury is severe enough, it can be hard for someone to hide the effects of it. People may be upset about their differing appearance and physical ability, be nervous about how other people may react to scars, or they may feel like they need to be with someone when they go out in public rather than facing the world alone.

The changes that take place on a victim’s body can take up to two years to finalize into how they will look for the rest of their lives. Once scars begin to form, a person may suffer from stiffness as well as pain from the body’s healing process. As the scars start to mature, the skin will start to soften.

People may also experience issues related to their burns years after the healing process is complete. Inner body structures like cartilage can be damaged when someone is burned, possibly causing ears and noses to look permanently different. Skin grafts do not always work with follicles, so some people may be unable to regrow hair in places where they were burned. If a burn is severe enough, some people may have to have their fingers, toes, or entire limbs amputated. Even after the healing process is complete, a burn victim may have issues for years to come.

Get Help for Your Accident That Caused You Burn Injuries

At Nye Law Group, we can help you after your burn accident. If you were injured in a workplace or other location that did not have its fire safety code up to the appropriate standards, you may be entitled to compensation. Our experienced attorneys have worked on burn injury cases throughout the state of Georgia. Call us today to start working on your case.

 

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The Very Real Costs of Motorcycle Accidents in North Carolina

For many motorcyclists, a big part of the joy of riding is the feeling of personal freedom. Exposure to the elements while cruising roads is an inherent part of the thrill.

The unfortunate truth remains that as part of such openness, motorcyclists are also susceptible to a wide range of highly serious and possibly fatal injuries when they are involved in accidents with other motor vehicles. Even when victims are lucky enough to survive motorcycle crashes, the nature of their injuries can often be so severe that they will never have any hope of being able to return to their former states.

If you suffered severe injuries or your loved one was killed in a motorcycle accident in North Carolina, do not delay in contacting the Nye Law Group. Our firm will fight to help you recover every dollar of compensation you are entitled to.

Motorcycle Accident Damages in North Carolina

motorcycle accident lawyerWhen a person files a legal action for damages relating to injuries he or she sustained in a motorcycle crash, the types of damages he or she may be awarded can vary. In most cases, a person will be awarded some combination of economic and noneconomic damages.

Economic damages are the more calculable personal losses, usually intended to cover a victim’s out-of-pocket expenses. Typical kinds of economic damages typically include lost wages and medical bills.

Noneconomic damages are much more subjective because they are not inherently quantifiable. Typical kinds of noneconomic damages include awards for disfigurement or pain and suffering.

In some very limited cases, victims could be entitled to punitive damages. Punitive damages are only awarded in North Carolina cases in which a negligent party acted with malice or willful or wanton misconduct. Negligent drivers arrested for driving while impaired (DWI) after causing motorcycle crashes are one of the most common kinds of possible punitive damage cases.

North Carolina Motorcycle Accident Injuries

People can suffer a variety of possible injuries in a motorcycle accident, including:

  • Road rash
  • Paraplegia
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
  • Fractures (broken bones)
  • Muscle damage
  • Internal organ damage
  • Nerve damage
  • Neck injury

Victims who suffer these kinds of injuries not only face extremely lengthy hospital stays that can result in thousands of dollars of medical expenses, but they often require extensive rehabilitation after being released. The additional care results in even more financial strain.

On top of all of this, many victims are unable to return to their former jobs—and some people are completely unable to return to work in any meaningful capacity. In all of these cases, victims deserve to have the challenges they face resolved by the negligent party that cause their injuries.

Find a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in North Carolina

Did you suffer serious injuries or was your loved one killed in a  motorcycle crash in North Carolina? Whatever you do, do not make any statement to an insurance company without first contacting the Nye Law Group.

Our Charlotte personal injury attorney can work to make sure that you get the help you need and deserve. You can have our firm review your case and answer all of your legal questions as soon as you call 855-636-9277 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.

Types of Birth Injuries in South Carolina

In most cases, the birth of a child is a joyous occasion that families savor. Unfortunately, certain errors committed during childbirth frequently result in newborns being born with serious injuries.

In many cases, these children can face entire lifetimes of challenges. If the injury was the result of a medical professional’s negligence, the victim and his or her family could be entitled to compensation.

The Nye Law Group handles various kinds of birth injury claims for client all over South Carolina. Our firm fights to hold negligent parties accountable.

Causes of Birth Injuries in South Carolina

Birth Injuries lawyerA birth injury could be the result of any one of many possible actions that were taken before or during delivery. Many cases require some extensive investigations to uncover the actual causes.

When negligence is discovered, some of the most common examples involved in birth injury claims include, but are not limited to:

  • Forceps delivery errors
  • C-section errors such as delayed C-section or failure to perform C-section
  • Medication errors
  • Failure to diagnose and treat fetal distress

When a child is born with a severe injury, his or her family can be entitled to many kinds of damages relating to the financial and emotional costs of caring for the child. Economic damages are intended to cover calculable losses, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and household modification costs.

Victims may also be awarded noneconomic damages for more subjective kinds of harm. Common noneconomic damage awards can include pain and suffering or emotional distress.

It is crucial for victims in these types of cases to understand that they only have a limited amount of time to take legal action. South Carolina state law places a three-year statute of limitations (time limit) on birth injury claims, so it is critical for people to retain legal counsel as soon as possible.

Common Kinds of South Carolina Birth Injuries

According to a March 2017 National Center for Health Statistics data brief, infant mortality rates have declined from 2005 through 2014. When birth injuries happen, some of the most frequent types include, but are not limited to:

  • Shoulder dystocia
  • Brachial plexus injury
  • Kernicterus
  • Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
  • Meconium Aspiration Syndrome
  • Hypoxia
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Brain damage
  • Fractures (broken bones)
  • Internal bleeding
  • Nerve damage

In addition to injuries to children, certain types of medical negligence may also result in injuries to mothers. Specific injuries to children are not always evident to some parents.

Find a Birth Injury Attorney in South Carolina

If your child was born with a birth injury or you suffered injuries during childbirth because of medical negligence, it is in your best interest to quickly retain legal counsel. Contact the Nye Law Group right away.

Our experienced personal injury lawyer will fight to make sure that you receive every last cent of compensation you are entitled to. You can take advantage of a free consultation to have our firm provide a complete evaluation of your case when you call 855-636-9277 or contact us online today.

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402 West Trade Street,
Suite 112
Charlotte, NC

704-285-6319 get directions

119 Southern Boulevard, Savannah, GA 31405

912-200-5230 get directions
View all locations
CONTACT US

NO PRESSURE. SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY. NO HIDDEN FEES.

* All Fields Required

Or Call 912-200-5230