According to Citizen-Times.com, an 18-year-old was involved in an Asheville auto accident when the car he was riding in crashed on Bear Creek Road.

The 18-year-old was an honors graduate of Erwin High School before he was involved in the Asheville auto accident.

Read more.

Do you think teenagers are the most vulnerable age group for being in Ashville auto accidents? Under what conditions do you think teens are most likely to be involved in an Ashville auto accident?

If you or someone you know has been involved in an Asheville auto accident, the Asheville auto accident lawyers at Crumley Roberts Attorneys at Law can help.

These payments, known as Temporary Total Disability (TTD) payments, are designed to help an injured worker meet their financial obligations while they are healing from their injury.  In cases where the workers’ compensation insurance company has accepted liability and the injured worker is out of work because of their work injury, specific rules apply regarding ”when”, “where”, “how”, and “how much” TTD a workers’ compensation insurance company has to pay.

We can explain these rules to you and help you understand your rights under the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act.

The AAA Carolinas headquarters in Charlotte is getting phone calls from drivers concerned about the Toyota recall.  A AAA spokesman said people should not panic, and drivers should keep in mind that the car dealer is addressing the safety of all potential vehicles, but still only a fraction are at risk.”  The odds are probably very good that it won’t happen to you, and it’s not going to be like these things are all going to fail at once,” said AAA spokesman Tom Crosby.  The new recall is separate from an earlier Toyota recall involving gas pedals being stuck in floor mats.

via wsoctv.com & Associated Press

1. If you don’t need to travel in a storm, don’t.  Many accidents could be avoided if people just waited for the roads to be safe, and let the snow, sleet, or rain clear.
2. Slow down.  Traveling at high speeds increases the chance for an injury if there is a collision, and traveling at slower speeds helps the driver to stop suddenly if the need arises.
3. Stay in your lane.  Increasingly, we drive on Interstates and highways, and unnecessary lane changes create more chances for cars to collide.  If you spot an aggressive driver, let them pass before attempting to make a lane change maneuver.
   
4. Perform a pre-trip inspection.  It is always wise to periodically check your fluids, check your wipers for damage, check your tires, and make sure all your lights work properly.  This can prevent a car from not seeing you on the highway, and can keep you from breaking down on the side of the road, creating a hazard for yourself and others.
5. Fully clean and defrost your windshield, rear windows, side mirrors, and side windows.  Despite the obvious benefits of these actions, it is tempting to start driving with a less than clear view on an icy or snowy morning if you are in a hurry.  This should not be attempted, and it is very important to be sure you have the entire viewing benefit of clear windows.
6. Don’t try to beat a red light.  Bad weather increases stopping distances, and being cautious at intersections will help you get to your destination safely.

These are only a few tips to help you avoid a collision if you venture out in bad weather.  In our line of work, we help victims of car wrecks every day, and during times of bad weather, we need to be vigilant and do our part to stay safe!

The answer is “No.”  There are specific laws under The North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act that require an insurance company to get Industrial Commission approval to stop an injured workers’ weekly checks.  We are here to assist you in keeping those checks coming so you can pay your bills and take care of your family while you recuperate from your injury.

To learn more about your rights under The North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act, give us a call at 1-866-336-4547.

Sometimes insurance adjusters use contributory negligence to deny legitimate personal injury claims.  One example is when a plaintiff drives through an intersection with a green light and is hit by a car running the red light from the side.  If the impact occurs towards the front of the plaintiff’s vehicle, the insurance companies usually “accepts” the claim as legitimate.  If the impact occurs toward the middle to rear of the plaintiff’s vehicle, the insurance companies often “deny” the claim.  The argument made by the insurance company is that the plaintiff had enough time to respond and react to the defendant running the red light, since the impact occurred toward the middle or rear of the plaintiff’s car.  However, a plaintiff generally expects that he or she can proceed safely through an intersection with a green light, and may not anticipate a car running a red light.

As the plaintiff’s attorney in this case, we may be able to plead the “last clear chance” doctrine, but to do that we must admit that the plaintiff put himself in a position of peril.  In this case, if a jury agrees with the defense attorney, and finds the plaintiff 1% responsible for the injuries, the jury can return a zero verdict.  This is a bad enough result if property damage is the only issue in the case, but really becomes problematic when a family loses a loved one, or suffered severe injuries, and has piles of medical bills to pay.

Contributory Negligence is frequently on the agenda for our legislature, and we may see a change in this system sometime in the future.  For now however, it is extremely important for injured victims to be very careful when talking to insurance companies without an attorney if there is any chance that an insurance adjuster could deny a legitimate claim because of a technical argument of contributory negligence.  If you or a loved one have been hurt in a car wreck, give us a call and we can discuss your legal rights with you, and help you avoid some of the tricks the insurance industry uses to deny legitimate personal injury claims.