Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Congratulations to Attorney Stephen Vicari

Attorney Stephen Vicari of the Stewart Law Offices recently helped our Client obtain a $33,805,430.20 judgment after suffering serious injuries in a car crash.  A drunk driver got behind the wheel after a night out drinking and caused a wreck.  The wreck resulted in our Client, the passenger of the drunk driver, sustaining catastrophic and life-altering injuries, including, a traumatic-brain injury, a fractured neck, a fracture of the right femur, and other injuries.

A lawsuit was filed against the drunk driver and both bars who overserved the drunk driver, and a judge awarded a judgment of $33,805,430.20, representing medical bills incurred, future medical expenses, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life.*  Judgments such as this send a clear message: businesses that serve alcohol have a duty to not over serve its patrons.

As a South Carolina native, attorney Stephen Vicari works to protect the members of our community. We are proud to have him representing clients on behalf of Stewart Law Offices. Stewart Law Offices focuses exclusively on helping injured victims in North and South Carolina. For over 25 years our firm has fought to protect the rights of accident victims, recovering millions of dollars in compensation for our deserving clients.*

*Listed results are before deduction of fees and cost. Case results vary. Prior results do not guarantee any future outcomes.

 Attorney Stephen Vicari

10 Calendar Ct. Suite 100

Columbia, SC 29206

The post Congratulations to Attorney Stephen Vicari appeared first on Stewart Law Offices.



from Blog – Stewart Law Offices https://www.stewartlawoffices.net/congratulations-to-attorney-stephen-vicari
via https://www.stewartlawoffices.net

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Car Accident Deaths Up to Record Levels

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has just released a concerning report that shows the number of car accident deaths is way up in 2021. Early projections of the traffic fatality rates for the first half of 2021 show the largest six-month increase of traffic fatalities ever recorded in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System’s (FARS) history. The staggering number of fatal car crashes led to the United States Transportation Secretary referring to the number of rising traffic deaths as a “crisis” and urging immediate change and cooperation to alter course. Stewart Law Offices urges you to take notice of this concerning information and try to stay safe while driving.

Results from New Data on Car Accident Death Toll

The NHTSA released the Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities for the First Half (January-June) of 2021 that revealed a startling number of innocent people have lost their lives during the first six months of 2021. According to this report, an estimated 20,160 people died in fatal car crashes in the first half of 2021.

One of the reasons why more traffic deaths may have occurred in the first half of 2021 than in 2020 is that more vehicle miles are being logged in 2021. During the first half of 2020, many businesses and establishments were closed during the COVID-19 crisis. Now that things have largely reopened, people are getting out more. Preliminary data reported by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) show that vehicle miles traveled in the first half of 2021 increased by approximately 173 billion miles, representing a 13-percent increase in the number of miles reported for the first half of 2020. With more people on the roads logging more miles, it is important to watch out for careless drivers and to drive defensively.

How This Compares to Previous Years’ Fatality Rates in Car Accidents

20,160 people are believed to have died in traffic accidents during the first six months of 2021, compared to the 17,020 people who tragically lost their lives in traffic accidents in the first half of 2020. This represents 3,140 more deaths or an 18.4-percent increase. Traffic fatalities in the first half of 2021 represent the highest number of traffic fatalities during the first half of the year since 2006 and the highest half-year percentage increase in the history of data recorded by FARS.

Additionally, the second quarter of 2021 compared to 2020 also represents a significant increase in the number of traffic fatalities. For the second quarter in 2021, there are a reported 11,225 fatalities, the highest number of traffic fatalities since 1990 and the highest quarterly percentage change of 23.1 percent in FARS data recorded history.

Possible Reasons for Increased Traffic Fatality Rates

The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly had a major impact on the recent spike in traffic fatalities. The NHTSA reported 38,680 deaths on U.S. roadways in 2020, the highest number of traffic deaths since 2007. And this was despite a 13-percent reduction in the total number of vehicle miles traveled due to widespread lockdowns and more people working from home.

The LA Times released an exposé in which they revealed that after decades of safety gains, the pandemic caused many U.S. drivers to become more reckless, more likely to speed, drink, use drugs, and leave their seat belts unbuckled. Safety experts believe that many drivers have adopted unsafe driving habits that may persist. They also believe that these driving behaviors are a reflection of widespread feelings of isolation, loneliness, and depression.
These statistics show that driving on roadways today can be very dangerous, especially if you encounter aggressive, impaired, or reckless drivers. We urge you to take all necessary safety precautions on the road and to drive defensively. If someone hurts you on the road, we will be there to help.

Need a Car Accident Lawyer? Stewart Law Offices Can Help

With more traffic accidents occurring on our roadways, the time may come when you need a personal injury lawyer’s assistance to help you recover after being injured in a car accident. Stewart Law Offices has car accident lawyers in North and South Carolina who are prepared to help you with your case. If you were injured in a car accident and would like to know more about your legal rights and options, contact Stewart Law Offices for your free consultation.

The post Car Accident Deaths Up to Record Levels appeared first on Stewart Law Offices.



from Blog – Stewart Law Offices https://www.stewartlawoffices.net/car-accident-deaths-record-levels
via https://www.stewartlawoffices.net

Friday, December 17, 2021

How Not Wearing a Seat Belt Can Affect Your Car Accident Claim

We know that seat belts help save lives. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, seat belts reduce the risk of death by 45 percent among drivers and front-seat passengers.

What many people don’t realize is that, beyond the safety benefits of wearing a seatbelt, safety restraint use can also impact accident claims. For drivers and passengers involved in accidents, the question of whether they were wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision can have significant repercussions.

If you were not wearing your seatbelt in a crash, you may face challenges recovering compensation, even if the accident wasn’t your fault.

The car accident lawyers in North and South Carolina at Stewart Law Offices want to help you understand how the lack of a seatbelt can affect your car accident claim. You can also contact us to discuss your claim during a free and confidential consultation. 

Repercussions of No Seatbelt in a Car Accident  

First and foremost, one of the most significant repercussions of not wearing a seatbelt at the time of an accident is the severity of a victim’s injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that of the 22,215 people killed in car accidents in a recent year, 47 percent were not wearing seatbelts. 

Those who survive a serious crash while not wearing a seatbelt tend to suffer much more severe injuries. Occupants who fail to wear a safety restraint can be thrown throughout the vehicle and, in some cases, be ejected from the vehicle entirely. Injuries may include:

  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Facial injuries
  • Dental injuries
  • Paralysis
  • Amputations
  • Broken bones
  • Road rash

Not wearing a seatbelt may also affect whether you can pursue compensation against the at-fault driver and how much compensation you might be able to recover, based on contributory negligence and comparative fault rules.

Contributory Negligence and Comparative Fault in North and South Carolina

“Contributory negligence” and “comparative fault” are terms that dictate how a personal injury claim will be affected if an accident victim acted in a negligent way that contributed to the accident. While they are both tort liability states (accident victims file a claim against the at-fault driver for compensation for their injuries instead of filing a claim with their own insurance company), South Carolina and North Carolina have very different rules for personal injury lawsuits.

North Carolina is one of a handful of remaining contributory negligence states. In a contributory negligence system, if a victim is found to be even slightly to blame for the circumstances of a car accident, they are barred from receiving any compensation. In North Carolina, the contributory negligence rule can make it extremely difficult to recover compensation if a victim was not wearing a seatbelt. Insurers or defendants can argue that the failure to wear a seatbelt contributed to the seriousness of the victim’s injuries and that they should have mitigated the risk by wearing a seatbelt. This could be enough to bar a person from receiving money for their injury-related losses. 

South Carolina follows a modified comparative negligence rule. In modified comparative negligence states, a victim’s share of compensation may be reduced by the percentage of responsibility they bear for causing the accident. This is true as long as the victim’s liability is not greater than that of any of the other parties involved in the collision. Therefore, even if they contributed to the accident, they can still pursue a personal injury claim as long as the other party was more negligent. So, if a victim is 10 percent responsible for causing an accident in South Carolina, the courts can reduce that victim’s share of compensation by 10 percent. If the victim is more than 50 percent responsible, they would not be able to recover compensation.

Because these legal issues are complex, consider contacting a knowledgeable car accident attorney to learn how these rules may affect your claim. 

Contact Stewart Law Offices Today to Learn More 

Not wearing a seatbelt at the time of an accident generally does not automatically exclude you from being able to receive compensation. However, it can make your claim significantly more challenging.

If you have been in an accident and weren’t wearing a seatbelt, contact the legal team at Stewart Law Offices today. We can review your case and help you sort through your legal options. Don’t give up on the compensation you may deserve. Set up a free consultation today.

The post How Not Wearing a Seat Belt Can Affect Your Car Accident Claim appeared first on Stewart Law Offices.



from Blog – Stewart Law Offices https://www.stewartlawoffices.net/not-wearing-seatbelt
via https://www.stewartlawoffices.net