Lawmakers in this state have had enough of drivers using their cell phones while driving. At least, that may be the case. The SC Legislature is back in session, and they are considering making changes to state law that could affect how you use your phone while driving. 

What are the proposed changes?

South Carolina lawmakers seem to be borrowing from our neighboring state of Georgia. They passed a law in 2018 that prohibits drivers from holding a phone at all, even if they are making a call. The proposed bill in SC, which is in front of the Senate Transportation Subcommittee, would do the same. 

This would mean that drivers can only talk on a cell phone while driving if they use it completely hands-free. They could not touch the screen for any reason. 

Texting and driving is already off-limits

SC law already makes texting and driving illegal. However, law enforcement officials in the state say that the $25 fine is not enough of a deterrent to keep drivers from using their phones behind the wheel. They also say the law is virtually unenforceable because drivers can say they were just using the phone’s GPS or trying to make a call – both of which are legal under the current law. 

The new law change, if passed as written, would clear up any ambiguity about whether holding the phone is illegal. It would also slap drivers with a stiffer penalty. The proposed changes would see drivers fined up to $150 for a first offense and up to $400 for a second offense. Drivers would also be penalized two points on their license for a first offense and four points for a second offense. 

Distracted driving is dangerous

If you or someone you care about has been injured by a distracted driver, contact the Dan Pruitt Law Firm Greenville car accident attorneys for a free consultation today. We will investigate your case and secure the compensation you are entitled to.

Car accidents are not uncommon in our area. While many are relatively minor, there are some accidents that cause serious injuries and fatalities. Car accidents happen in a variety of ways and are usually caused by driver errors. However, there are times when other parties contribute to a crash and should be held accountable. In Greenville, a widow was awarded a $350,000 settlement due to the actions of agencies involved in the aftermath of a separate crash her husband was there to help with. 

What happened in this incident?

The incident in question happened on Dec. 16, 2016, when a Greenville man was called to a crash scene to help one of his coworkers who was involved in the accident. Greenville police were the first to arrive at the scene of a crash in which a driver skidded off the roadway due to icy conditions. The officer told the driver he could call a coworker to pick him up. 

A coworker arrived at the crash scene and began walking up the interstate to help his colleague. That was when he was struck by another vehicle that slid on ice. The man was thrown over a concrete retaining wall and down an embankment. He died at the scene, and three others were injured. 

The man’s widow filed a lawsuit that alleged that the officer and other agencies were at fault for “allowing Clay to exit his vehicle and walk about the area of the accident when they know or should have known it was extremely dangerous and that was an area where pedestrians are prohibited.” 

The lawsuit claims the agencies failed to properly train employees to handle emergency situations. The City of Greenville agreed to pay $75,000 from Travelers Indemnity Company. The Department of Public Safety agreed to pay $50,000 and the Department of Transportation agreed to pay $225,000 through the state’s Insurance Reserve Fund. 

Seek assistance if you are injured

If you or someone you love has been injured in a crash that was caused by another person’s negligence, contact the Dan Pruitt Law Firm today. Our Greenville car accident attorneys offer a free consultation, and we want to work on securing the compensation you need.

Drunk driving accidents often result in serious injuries and property damage. Preventing drunk driving accidents is one of the top priorities of law enforcement in Greenville and around South Carolina. However, these incidents happen at alarmingly high rates. 

Understanding a recent case

In 2017, a woman pleaded guilty to felony DUI for the January 2016 death of another man. According to authorities, the man was riding his Honda motorcycle on SE Main Street in Simpsonville when he stopped to turn into a parking lot. That was when the woman, driving a Ford 4S, slammed into the rear of the man’s motorcycle. He was ejected and killed on the scene.  

The man’s estate filed a lawsuit against both the woman and Full House Sporzaria, a sport’s bar in Simpsonville. The lawsuit alleged that the bar “failed to reasonably serve alcohol” to Fuller. The lawsuit said that the woman “miserably failed all field sobriety tests and ultimately registered a blood alcohol level over twice the legal limit several hours after the wreck.”

Police testified that her blood-alcohol level was .168, over double the legal limit. 

Many people do not realize that restaurants and bars can be held liable if it is found they irresponsibly serve alcohol to a person who is visibly intoxicated, who then causes serious injuries or a fatality. 

A jury in the case awarded a massive settlement to the Gibson estate – $2,523,500 in actual damages as well as $5 million in punitive damages. An attorney for the Gibson estate said that this award sends “a firm message from the community on drunk driving.”

Drunk driving accidents are a major concern in South Carolina

According to the state Department of Public Safety, out of the nearly 1,000 total fatalities in traffic crashes during the latest reporting year, 313 of them were the result of alcohol-impaired driving. Each year, approximately 30% of all traffic crash fatalities are related to alcohol-impaired incidents.

Seek help for your case

If you or someone you love has been injured due to the actions of a drunk driver, contact the Dan Pruitt Law Firm today. Our Greenville car accident attorneys are ready to help you through this. Let us investigate what happened so we can secure the compensation you deserve.

There are plenty of motorcycle Enthusiasts in South Carolina, Particularly here in the Greenville area. We have beautiful sights to see and plenty of good riding weather. Unfortunately, motorcyclists face more risks on the roadway then those traveling in regular passenger vehicles. A recent article in the state newspaper said that 2019 has seen a rise in motorcycle rider deaths on South Carolina roadways. 

What we know about the rise of motorcycle fatalities

The article mentioned above states that there were 104 motorcyclist fatalities on SC roadways in 2018. By mid-November of this year, the number of motorcyclist fatalities had already reached 113. At that pace, the state Department of Public Safety estimates that there will be approximately 140 motorcycle fatalities this year. 

When we look at statistics provided by the DPS, we can see that this number would mean a return to the record high for motorcycle fatalities set in 2016. State officials claim that distracted driving by other motorists is a leading factor in the increase in motorcycle fatalities. 

Motorcyclists often sustain serious injuries

Total fatalities only show part of the overall picture. Those who survive a motorcycle accident often sustain serious injuries. Even when a cyclist is wearing a helmet, there is a high probability that they will sustain the following injuries:

• Spinal cord trauma (possible paralysis)
• Head injuries/traumatic brain injuries
• Internal organ damage or internal bleeding
• Broken or dislocated bones
• Severe lacerations or road rash

Motorcycle accident victims who suffer from these injuries often need extensive medical care. They will incur tremendous medical expenses as well as other “hidden expenses” associated with these incidents such as lost income, home and vehicle modifications, and pain and suffering damages. 

We are ready to help you through this

If you or someone you care about has been injured in a motorcycle accident that was caused by another person’s careless or negligent actions, seek legal assistance immediately. You can count on the Dan Pruitt Law Firm to help you secure the compensation you are entitled to. You can contact the Greenville motorcycle accident attorneys at our firm for a free consultation of your case today.

Driving during the holidays is more dangerous in most other times of the year. While Thanksgiving has already passed, Christmas and New Years are approaching. Unfortunately, this is a time when there are more alcohol-impaired drivers on the roadway. 

Looking at statistics from the state Department of Public Safety, we can look at which Holidays in South Carolina see the most roadway fatalities. 

The deadliest holidays nationally coincide with our state

Collectively, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years make up the time when there are the most DUI arrests in this country. This coincides with information from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC says that there is two to three times the number of alcohol-related crashes between Thanksgiving and New Year’s than at any other point throughout the year. According to the South Carolina DPS, the latest reporting year of data showed the following number of deaths for these holidays:

• Thanksgiving: 12 fatalities 
• Christmas: 7 fatalities
• New Years: 5 fatalities (which was a dramatic decrease from the previous year)

These are not the only dangerous holidays when it comes to drunk driving incidents in the state and across the country. These holidays saw the following traffic fatality numbers in SC during the latest reporting year:

• Memorial Day: 13 fatalities
• Fourth of July: 14 fatalities
• Labor Day: 6 fatalities

Drunk driving is a major concern in South Carolina 

Each year in SC, drunk driving incidents are the cause of approximately 30% of all traffic crash deaths. The total number of fatalities is just one facet of concern. Many thousands are injured in drunk driving crashes and are left dealing with the consequences. It is not uncommon for our Greenville car accident attorneys to help clients suffering from the following:

• Broken and dislocated bones
• Severe lacerations
• Internal organ damage
• Internal bleeding
• Spinal cord injuries
• Whiplash injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Concussions

Each of these incidents can lead to major medical expenses, along with other costs, for victims. 

Seek help after a DUI crash

If you or someone you care about has been injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver, you should seek legal assistance immediately. The Dan Pruitt Law Firm is dedicated to helping victims recover the compensation they deserve. You can contact our Greenville car accident attorneys for a free consultation of your case today.

As the holiday season approaches, many people are buying toys, clothing, and other items for the children in their lives. However, one thing that most shoppers do not think about is whether or not what they are buying could end up causing injuries. Defective products are a regular occurrence in the US marketplace, and there have been many toys recalled this year alone. 

Popular toy recalls in 2019

USA Today reports that many recalls have been conducted this year, and one of them was associated with infant deaths. 

• Target’s Bullseye Playground
  • Nearly 500,000 wooden toys sold by Target were recalled due to their wheels detaching and posing choking hazards. 
• Go Couture children’s loungewear
  • Go Couture children’s sleepwear was recalled because it failed the federal flammability standard and posed a risk of burn injuries.
• Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play sleepers
  • These sleepers were recalled after there were reports of more than 30 infant deaths caused by babies rolling over. 4.7 million units were recalled, and consumers were asked to immediately stop using the products. 
• Power Wheels Barbie Campers
  • The camper was recalled because some of the units would continue to move after the foot pedal had been released. 

Toys were not the only items that were recalled. Many children’s medications and food items also faced scrutiny and recalls throughout the year. Parents and guardians must ensure that the items they let their children use and consume are safe. 

What makes products faulty?

There are three basic ways in which products become faulty:

1. Design flaws that are not discovered when the product is being tested.
2. Manufacturing errors that alter a product’s design, rendering the product harmful for consumers.
3. Labeling issues that mislead consumers, including missing warnings, ingredients, side effects, and hazards as well as incorrect dosages or ingredient lists. 

Contact a personal injury attorney in South Carolina

If you or someone you love has been injured due to a defective product, the Dan Pruitt Law Firm will help. You can contact our Greenville product liability attorney us for a free consultation today to determine your next steps today.