James Law Firm Blog

While many people are quick to assume a large truck accident is caused by a truck driver’s reckless behavior such as driver fatigue or overloading the rig, sometimes it is the fault of the passenger vehicle driver. Regardless of who is at fault of an accident, if you are injured, you should contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss the details of your case.

Unsafe maneuvers by passenger drivers

There are many unsafe actions that the driver of a passenger vehicle can make, which lead to a truck accident. Some include the drivers' ignorance of a large truck's performance capabilities, such as the time it takes to brake, accelerate and how much room to leave between vehicles.

Other dangerous acts drivers of passenger vehicles can commit around large trucks include:

• Failing to slow down or speed up when a truck begins to merge or change lanes
• Pulling in front of a truck from the shoulder without accelerating fast enough
• Abruptly changing lanes in front of a truck
• Misjudging a truck's speed at an intersection, and turning in front of it
• Driving between large trucks
• Unsafely passing, especially with insufficient space in front of the truck Passing a truck, then being blown out of position by the wind
• Abandoning a vehicle in a travel lane, or failing to move a broken-down vehicle completely off the highway
• Merging improperly into traffic, causing a semi truck to maneuver or brake quickly

Have you have been involved in a large truck accident in the Greenville, South Carolina area? Then please contact South Carolina truck accident attorneys at the Dick James Law Firm for a free case evaluation.

Pedestrians lack the safety of occupants in motor vehicles, and are without the protective gear of motorcyclists. Therefore, pedestrians are the most vulnerable party when using the same roads and infrastructures as drivers. If you have been hurt in a pedestrian accident, contact a personal injury lawyer to review your case.

Preventing a pedestrian accident

When you are on foot, you should take proactive steps to avoid a pedestrian accident. Here are some things you can do:

• Never trust a driver: Simply because there is a posted stop sign, does not mean that every driver will stop. And a flashing signal that says, "walk" should not give you the OK to blindly stroll into an intersection.
• Look both ways: While you heard it throughout grade school, the same holds true for adults and children alike: look both ways before crossing the street. Blindly putting your trust into the stranger of motor vehicle can prove dangerous, even deadly. Drivers can be distracted, especially with cell phones in today's technology age. Therefore, it is essential that you make sure the driver of a motor vehicle observes you before you enter a cross walk.
• Never cross in the middle of a block: Drivers of motor vehicles are not looking for pedestrians in the middle of a block. Additionally, parked cars can obstruct views for both pedestrians and drivers.
• Wear visible clothing: If you plan on walking near a roadway, especially in the dark, be sure to wear clothing that can be seen at night. White is a good color, reflective clothing is even better. If you can even wear a reflective vest or armband, this can be effective in reflecting headlights from a car.

If you or a family member has been injured in a pedestrian accident in the Greenville, South Carolina area, please contact South Carolina pedestrian accident attorneys at the Dick James Law Firm. We offer free case reviews, so you have nothing to lose. Please call us today.

Initially, a spinal cord injury can be very terrifying incident. Besides the pain of your impact, you may realize that you are not able to move your legs or arms. Some spinal cord injuries are permanent, others only temporary. If you or a loved one has been involved an accident that resulted in this kind of injury, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer today.

Preventing a spinal cord injury

While it may be impossible to completely avoid a spinal cord injury, there are some things you can do to lessen your chance of suffering one, if you are involved in an accident.

Motor vehicle accidents

• Wear a seatbelt at all times.
• Seat children 12 and under in the back seat.
• Never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or get into a vehicle with a driver who is under the influence.

Falls

• Put a non-slip mat on the floor of your bathtub or shower
• Install handrails around staircases and a handle in the tub or shower
• Use a step stool to retrieve objects in high places.
• Wear sturdy shoes with sufficient support.

Sporting activities

• Avoid unnecessary head contact with equipment and athletes.
• Always wear protective gear.
• Never dive head-first into a pool without first checking the depth.
• Use a spotter for new gymnastics moves.
• Do not jump from higher than 10 feet in the air. Even if you land on your feet, you may damage your spinal cord.

Have you been involved in an accident that resulted in a spinal cord injury in the Greenville, South Carolina area? Then please contact the personal injury lawyers at the Dick James Law Firm of South Carolina to schedule your no-cost case review.

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) often occurs when an outside force traumatically injures your brain. If you have suffered a brain injury, contact a qualified personal injury lawyer to discuss your options.

Causes

These severe brain injuries are typically caused by falls, automobile accidents, or blows to the head. However, a TBI is not always caused by your head colliding with an object. It is possible to suffer a brain injury by internal damages, including:

• Insufficient oxygen to your brain
• Insufficient blood flow to your brain
• Poisoning
• Tumors
• Infection

The outcome of a TBI depends on many factors. The location of your injury and the degree of impairment will play a large role in whether your damage will be temporary or permanent, and the extent of which you will be able to resume the same activities you enjoyed prior to the accident.

A traumatic brain injury often impairs one of more of the following areas:

• Cognition: This includes your attention, concentration, memory, perception, judgment, mood and reading and writing abilities.
• Sensation: This can be your tangible senses like touch and things like vision and hearing problems.
• Movement: This encompasses your endurance, strength, balance and coordination. It can also cause you to experience tremors and have difficulty swallowing.

If you or a family member has suffered a traumatic brain injury in the Greenville, South Carolina area, please contact South Carolina traumatic brain injury attorneys at the Dick James Law Firm today to schedule your free case review.

Generally speaking, if you have a physical or mental disability that prevents you from doing that work you are suited to do, and your disability is expected result in death, or last longer than a year, you may be able to collect Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. By contacting an experienced SSDI attorney, you can find out whether you qualify for these benefits and how to move forward with filing a claim.

SSDI vs. SSI

Many people confuse the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) with the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. Here are the differences:

• SSDI: These benefits are given to you and certain of your family members of if you have worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes (which are used to fund this program). If you qualify for SSDI, you will be enrolled in Medicare after two years of receiving SSDI benefits.
• SSI: These benefits are paid to you on the basis of financial need, regardless of whether or not you have ever worked. The SSI program is federally funded by the US Treasury's general fund as opposed to Social Security taxes. If you qualify for SSI, you automatically qualify for Medicare without having to undergo a wait period.

Dealing with a denied claim

If your claim is denied for SSDI, you are among the majority. Roughly 60 to 70 percent of claims are initially denied. Many people are then awarded these benefits during the appeal process.

If you live in the Greenville, South Carolina area and your SSDI claim was denied, please contact South Carolina workers' SSDI attorneys at the Dick James Law Firm. We can review your case free of charge and help you through the appeal process so you can collect the money to which you are entitled.

While there are many occupations that can result in a work-related injury, some are more common than others. Below are some of the most common injuries you can suffer in a variety of jobs, in which you may claim workers' compensation. If you have been involved in an on-the-job injury, contact a qualified workers' compensation lawyer today.

Falls from heights

Many jobs require workers to climb, even a short distance, in order to complete a task. For example, a painter balances on scaffolding so he can paint the ceiling. Retail workers may have to climb ladders to A truck driver climbs into his cab to begin his route. A retail sales clerk climbs a ladder to gather products from the shelf or a storage area. Even office workers may climb the stairs to get to their office.

These jobs and more carry the risk of falling. The floors may be slick, the pavement may be uneven, or the stairs may not have a railing. Falls are the most common reason for sprains, strains and muscle tears. They can also result in more severe injures like broken bones and head injuries.

Lifting Injuries

Anyone in any occupation can suffer from a lifting injury. But those who work in jobs like manufacturing, nursing and the transportation industry are at a higher risk of a lifting injury. Improper lifting techniques are more to blame than the actual weight of the load. The most common place to become injured is the back; however a lifting injury can also cause damage to your knees, neck or other limbs.

Automobile Accidents

Anyone who uses a vehicle for work is at risk of being involved in an automobile accident, not just truck drivers. A teacher may crash his vehicle while driving to a regional meeting, or a sandwich delivery driver may be hit while making a delivery.
Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of workplace fatalities in America.

When you are on the clock, there is no telling when or where you may become injured in an accident. If you live in the Greenville, South Carolina area and become hurt at work, please contact South Carolina workers' compensation attorneys at the Dick James Law Firm for a complimentary case review.