Two Seriously Injured in Drunk Driving Crash

Two people were injured in a head-on collision on Interstate 85 near West Mallard Creek Church Road early Monday morning. The accident occurred when a woman who was driving south in the northbound lanes hit another car head on. Both drivers were transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. News reports indicate police suspected that the woman was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.

Sadly, drunk driving crashes such as this one are often fatal. Statistics show that drunk driving deaths make up 35% of all traffic fatalities in North Carolina. In 2008, there were a total of 500 alcohol-related traffic deaths throughout the state. The accident lawyers at Auger & Auger Law Firm have extensive experience litigating drunk driving cases. If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a drunk driving crash, contact a Charlotte accident lawyer to discuss your legal options.

Call the Charlotte auto accident law firm of Auger & Auger at 800-977-7396 to explore all avenues of recovery in your case. Our experienced auto accident attorneys represent injury victims in Charlotte, Bakers, Belmont, Brief, Cabarrus, Concord, Cornelius, Cramerton, Croft, Fairview, Forest Lake, Fort Mill, Gastonia, Harrisburg, Hemby Bridge, Huntersville, Indian Trail, Kannapolis, Lake Park, Lowell, Lucia, Marvin, Matthews, Midland, Mint Hill, Monroe, Mt. Holly, Paw Creek, Pineville, Roberta Mill, Rock Hill, Rocky River, Shopton, Stallings, Unionville, Weddington, and Wesley Chapel. The Charlotte car accident lawyers at Auger & Auger offer a free, no-obligation consultation regarding your case.

Winter Storms Headed to North Carolina

Winter storms moving into the state are likely to bring rain, sleet, and a foot of snow to the mountain areas. Wet, icy roads and low visibility create hazardous road conditions in the winter months. However, if you are involved in an auto accident this winter, weather conditions may not be entirely to blame. Motorists who do not alter their driving to suit the weather conditions are often responsible for causing auto accidents.

To avoid accidents in inclement weather, motorists should employ the following precautions when hazardous road conditions are present:

• Because it takes more space to stop a vehicle on icy roads, drivers should leave extra room between their car and the vehicle in front of them.
• Motorists should drive with their headlights on at all times to increase their vehicle’s visibility to other drivers on the road.
• Drivers should slow down when crossing bridges or overpasses, as these areas will be icy even when other areas of the road are not.
• Motorists should clear snow and ice from their windshield, back window, driver and passenger windows, as well as their headlights and tail lights before operating their vehicle.

If you or someone you know has been injured in an auto accident caused by a negligent driver, we encourage you to call our Charlotte auto accident lawyers at 800-977-7396 to discuss your case. Our experienced auto accident attorneys represent injury victims in Charlotte, Bakers, Belmont, Brief, Cabarrus, Concord, Cornelius, Cramerton, Croft, Fairview, Forest Lake, Fort Mill, Gastonia, Harrisburg, Hemby Bridge, Huntersville, Indian Trail, Kannapolis, Lake Park, Lowell, Lucia, Marvin, Matthews, Midland, Mint Hill, Monroe, Mt. Holly, Paw Creek, Pineville, Roberta Mill, Rock Hill, Rocky River, Shopton, Stallings, Unionville, Weddington, and Wesley Chapel. The Charlotte auto accident law firm of Auger & Auger won’t charge a fee unless you receive a favorable verdict or settlement in your case.

18-Wheeler Overturns on I-77, Driver Injured

An 18 wheeler overturned at about 9 a.m. this morning on I-77, causing all southbound lanes to close for about an hour while rescue crews worked to remove the driver, who was trapped in the wreckage, from the truck. The driver was rushed to Carolinas Medical Center, where he is said to be in serious condition. Only the right lane remained closed at 11 a.m. this morning. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

The majority of truck accidents are caused by negligence, either on the part of the driver or of the trucking company. According to a study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, driver negligence is the critical reason for 87% of truck crashes. In a truck accident causation study involving 120,000 large truck crashes over a two-year period, 87% of the crashes were found to be caused by one of the following types of driver negligence:

• Non-Performance: The driver fell asleep, was disabled by a heart attack or seizure, or was physically impaired for another reason.
• Recognition: The driver was inattentive, was distracted by something inside or outside the vehicle, or failed to observe the situation adequately for some other reason.
• Decision: For example, the driver was driving too fast for conditions, misjudged the speed of other vehicles, or followed other vehicles too closely.
• Performance: For example, the driver panicked, overcompensated, or exercised poor directional control.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, call the Charlotte accident law firm of Auger & Auger at 800-977-7396 for a free consultation. Our experienced auto accident attorneys represent injury victims in Charlotte, Bakers, Belmont, Brief, Cabarrus, Concord, Cornelius, Cramerton, Croft, Fairview, Forest Lake, Fort Mill, Gastonia, Harrisburg, Hemby Bridge, Huntersville, Indian Trail, Kannapolis, Lake Park, Lowell, Lucia, Marvin, Matthews, Midland, Mint Hill, Monroe, Mt. Holly, Paw Creek, Pineville, Roberta Mill, Rock Hill, Rocky River, Shopton, Stallings, Unionville, Weddington, and Wesley Chapel. The Charlotte accident lawyers at Auger & Auger work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless you receive money for your injuries.

Union County Man Killed in Train Accident

A Union County man died after a train crashed into a car near Marshville on Tuesday. According to news reports, 61-year-old William Wessley Morton died as a result of injuries suffered when a train struck the passenger door of his car on Clonnie Strawn Road. According to police, the train pushed the car along the tracks well into Anson County.

When trains collide with cars, trucks, and motorcycles, it is often the result of negligence on the part of the train operator. Train operators may be fatigued or distracted at the time of the crash. In other cases, improper maintenance of the train, tracks, or signaling devices at railroad crossings may have caused the crash. Train accidents can be devastating, often resulting in serious injury and death to occupants of other motor vehicles involved in the crash. Injury victims can often seek compensation from the train operator and company for injuries sustained in the accident.

If you have been hurt in a train accident, call the Charlotte auto accident law firm of Auger & Auger at 800-977-7396 to explore all avenues of recovery. Our experienced auto accident attorneys represent injury victims in Charlotte, Bakers, Belmont, Brief, Cabarrus, Concord, Cornelius, Cramerton, Croft, Fairview, Forest Lake, Fort Mill, Gastonia, Harrisburg, Hemby Bridge, Huntersville, Indian Trail, Kannapolis, Lake Park, Lowell, Lucia, Marvin, Matthews, Midland, Mint Hill, Monroe, Mt. Holly, Paw Creek, Pineville, Roberta Mill, Rock Hill, Rocky River, Shopton, Stallings, Unionville, Weddington, and Wesley Chapel. The Charlotte car accident lawyers at Auger & Auger offer a free, no-obligation consultation regarding your case.

Toyota to Recall 3.8 Million Defective Floor Mats

Toyota is set to recall 3.8 million vehicles in the U.S., the company announced in a press release on Tuesday. The floor mats on the affected models may interfere with the accelerator pedal, causing the accelerator to become stuck while the vehicle is in operation. A stuck accelerator can result in high vehicle speed, which may cause the operator to lose control of the vehicle and crash. A California crash that killed three people last month has been attributed to defective Toyota floor mats. Owners may begin receiving notifications of the recall as early as next week.

According to the press release, the following Toyota and Lexus models will be affected by the recall:

• 2007 - 2010 Camry
• 2005 - 2010 Avalon
• 2004 - 2009 Prius
• 2005 - 2010 Tacoma
• 2007 - 2010 Tundra
• 2007 - 2010 ES350
• 2006 - 2010 IS250 and IS350

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported over 100 incidents in which floor mats in the affected Toyota models caused the accelerator to stick. Owners of vehicles equipped with the defective floor mats are encouraged to remove the floor mats from the vehicle and refrain from installing replacement mats until the company remedies the problem.

If you or someone you know has been injured in an auto accident caused by a defective product, we encourage you to call our Charlotte auto accident lawyers at 800-977-7396 to discuss your case. Our experienced auto accident attorneys represent injury victims in Charlotte, Bakers, Belmont, Brief, Cabarrus, Concord, Cornelius, Cramerton, Croft, Fairview, Forest Lake, Fort Mill, Gastonia, Harrisburg, Hemby Bridge, Huntersville, Indian Trail, Kannapolis, Lake Park, Lowell, Lucia, Marvin, Matthews, Midland, Mint Hill, Monroe, Mt. Holly, Paw Creek, Pineville, Roberta Mill, Rock Hill, Rocky River, Shopton, Stallings, Unionville, Weddington, and Wesley Chapel. The Charlotte car accident law firm of Auger & Auger won’t charge a fee unless you receive a favorable verdict or settlement in your case.

Driver Charged with DUI After Train-Car Collision

A driver was charged with DWI early Monday morning after his car was hit by a train in Gastonia. The driver, whose car got stuck on the tracks at about 1 a.m., escaped the vehicle before an Amtrak train carrying 200 passengers to Charlotte slammed into the abandoned vehicle. Fortunately, no one was injured in the accident, but the driver was charged with driving while intoxicated. When train accidents occur at highway crossings, however, the results are often devastating.

According to the Federal Railroad Administration’s Office of Safety Analysis, there were nearly 2,500 train-motor vehicle collisions in 2008, causing almost 300 fatalities and thousands of injuries to passengers of motor vehicles and trains alike. Train accidents often cause serious injuries to occupants of passenger vehicles. If you have been injured in any type of accident, contact the experienced Charlotte accident lawyers at Auger & Auger to discuss your case. You may be entitled to compensation for your physical pain, emotional trauma, and financial losses that resulted from the accident.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, call the Charlotte auto accident law firm of Auger & Auger at 800-977-7396 for a free consultation. Our experienced auto accident attorneys represent injury victims in Charlotte, Bakers, Belmont, Brief, Cabarrus, Concord, Cornelius, Cramerton, Croft, Fairview, Forest Lake, Fort Mill, Gastonia, Harrisburg, Hemby Bridge, Huntersville, Indian Trail, Kannapolis, Lake Park, Lowell, Lucia, Marvin, Matthews, Midland, Mint Hill, Monroe, Mt. Holly, Paw Creek, Pineville, Roberta Mill, Rock Hill, Rocky River, Shopton, Stallings, Unionville, Weddington, and Wesley Chapel. The Charlotte car accident lawyers at Auger & Auger work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless you receive money for your injuries.

Drunk Driver Crashes into Building

A woman was charged with DUI after crashing her SUV into an office building early Friday morning. The accident occurred at around 3 a.m. in the Ballantyne area on Conlan Circle. According to police, the woman was trying to drive through a roundabout when she lost control of the vehicle, hopped a curb, and crashed into a two-story office building, causing an estimated $10,000 in damages. Fortunately, no one was in the building at the time of the crash.

Sadly, most DUI accidents result in serious injuries or death to innocent victims. If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed in a car accident that was caused by a drunk driver, you should consult an experienced Charlotte auto accident lawyer to discuss the details of your case. Victims injured in Charlotte car accidents may be able to seek recovery not only from the drunk driver and their insurance provider, but also from the bar, restaurant, or social host that improperly over served them. An experienced Charlotte auto accident law firm can help you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

If you have been hurt in an accident that was caused by a drunk driver, call the Charlotte auto accident law firm of Auger & Auger at 800-977-7396 to explore all avenues of recovery. Our experienced auto accident attorneys represent injury victims in Charlotte, Bakers, Belmont, Brief, Cabarrus, Concord, Cornelius, Cramerton, Croft, Fairview, Forest Lake, Fort Mill, Gastonia, Harrisburg, Hemby Bridge, Huntersville, Indian Trail, Kannapolis, Lake Park, Lowell, Lucia, Marvin, Matthews, Midland, Mint Hill, Monroe, Mt. Holly, Paw Creek, Pineville, Roberta Mill, Rock Hill, Rocky River, Shopton, Stallings, Unionville, Weddington, and Wesley Chapel. The Charlotte car accident lawyers at Auger & Auger offer a free, no-obligation consultation regarding your case.