Charlotte Personal Injury And Workers' Compensation Blog

North Carolina residents may have heard that the number of road users killed around the country fell slightly in 2018, but pedestrian and cyclist deaths rose sharply. Data released by the National Highway Traffic Administration reveals that 36,560 people died on the nation's roads in 2018, which represents a 2% decline over grim 2017 figures. However, pedestrian deaths rose by 3% to 6,283 and cyclist fatalities increased by 6% to 857.

The worrying pedestrian and cyclist fatality figures are likely to increase calls for more thorough crash-test standards. Accident survivability tests are currently not as rigorous in the United States as they are in Europe. NHTSA says that it plans to publish a proposed update to its crash-test standards in 2020 that will better determine how vulnerable road users like pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists would fare in an accident. Updates the agency is said to be pushing for include formal ratings for pedestrian detection and emergency braking systems.

While accidents happen simple because it was an accident, others are caused due to negligence. South Carolina has not had a great year when it comes to the number of motorcycle accident related deaths. A recent crash that happened on a Midlands road became the 102nd death this year involving a motorcyclist or moped driver. The state had only 88 of those same death in the entire year of 2018.

In the most recent accident, the rider of a 2000 Honda motorcycle struck a 2007 Ford Edge at approximately 4:15 p.m. on Sprinkle Avenue in Orangeburg County. While making a left turn, the north bound vehicle was struck by the South bound motorcycle. The rider was not wearing a helmet and was pronounced dead at the scene. Both parties in the vehicle were uninjured. The accident is still under investigation. It remains unknown whether criminal charges, such as drunk or distracted driving, are possible.

Because of their size and strength, professional athletes, especially football players, often appear to be immortal. Sometimes, this image of immortality extends to their families or girlfriends. When death or serious injury strikes one of these elite people, the reaction can be intense grief mixed with disbelief. These emotions were on the loose recently after the girlfriend of Cleveland Browns player Chris Smith was struck and killed by a car while she was standing on the shoulder of I-90.

Both Smith and the woman were residents of Charlotte, and she had flown to Cleveland to watch her boyfriend perform as a member of the Cleveland Browns. The two were traveling west on I-90 when one of the tires on Smith's Lamborghini suddenly deflated and caused the vehicle to strike the retaining wall. Smith stopped the car, and he and the woman got out to inspect the damage. While the woman was standing on the shoulder of the freeway, she was struck and killed by a Mazda heading west on I-90.

In a scenic state such as North Carolina, riding a motorcycle is a favorite pastime for many people. The problem is that motorcyclists are far more vulnerable to injury or death than occupants of passenger vehicles and trucks.

A recent report by a nonprofit organization shows that motorcycle fatalities decreased in 2017 over the previous year, which is an encouraging sign. Compared to the deaths of passenger car occupants, however, the number is still alarmingly high. Consequently, efforts continue on several fronts to keep the incidents of motorcycle injuries and fatalities down.