Summertime is here, and with it, one of our favorite things: vacation!
Our entire team loves to go on vacation with our families each summer. Some of our favorite destinations include flying up to New York City or taking a trip down to the low country for a week of relaxation at the beach. Where do you and your family enjoy vacationing over the summer?
If you’re hitting the road to travel down to the coast for a week at the beach or to road trip to visit the grandparents, you’ll want to take extra care on the roadways. Millions of Americans gas up and travel by car throughout the summer months from Memorial Day weekend all the way through Labor Day. Traffic is heavier and patience is thinner as people hurry to get to their vacation destination.
In South Carolina alone this year, 438 people have died on South Carolina roadways.
How can you make sure that you and your family stay safe on the roads as you travel to your vacation destinations this summer?
Buckle Up.
According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, of the 438 people who have died in 2019, 292 had access to seatbelts and 143 of them were not wearing them. It’s the easiest step towards keeping your family safe: buckle up!
Stay Alert.
Plan ahead for long drives and have stops mapped out along the way for you to stretch, wake up, and refuel for the next portion of your drive. You don’t want to drive while drowsy!
Look Twice.
Help keep everyone safe on the road this summer, and be sure to look twice for motorcycles. Be alert and be sure to share the road with all motorists including motorcyclists and bicyclists.
Here’s to a safe, fun-filled summer full of wonderful vacations with your friends and family!
The entire team at Goings Law Firm is proud to announce that our team of attorneys—Robert Goings, Christian Boesl, and Jessica Gooding, were all included in the 2019 South Carolina Super Lawyers List.
Both Robert and Christian were recognized as Super Lawyers and Jessica was named as a Rising Star.
Photo by: Joshua Aaron Photography
Being recognized on the South Carolina Super Lawyers list is a true honor in our field as Super Layers is an exclusive list that recognizes the top 2.5% of lawyers in our state. Selections are made annually and they are based on several factors including peer nominations, research by the team at Super Lawyers, and on evaluations put together by a panel of attorneys.
Please join us in congratulating Robert, Christian, and Jessica on this honor!
In a new study conducted by QuoteWizard, Columbia has been ranked among cities with the highest rate of car crashes.
This is a fact that our firm already knew to be true. In 2017,more than 40,000 people nationwide died in car crashes. And that number is on the rise, with a six percent increase in traffic deaths since 2015. No matter what part of the country you live in, being on the road is always a risk. But driving is apparently more dangerous in some places than others. QuoteWizard analyzed self-reported driving infractions data from site users, which includes accidents. These rankings account for more than one million data points on accidents from 2017.
Cities ranked ‘most accident-prone’ have the highest rate of accidents per driver. “Car crashes are, sadly, all too common across the country. But crash rates vary quite a bit from city to city. Whether it’s distracted driving, lousy roads, bad drivers, or a combination of all three, drivers in some cities seem to crash more often than others,” says Adam Johnson, QuoteWizard content manager. “QuoteWizard analyzed over a million datapoints on drivers in America to find out where people are getting into accidents at the highest rates.”
From the most accidents to the least, these are the 25 most car accident-prone cities in the US:
- Columbus, OH
- St. Louis, MO
- Los Angeles, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- New Orleans, LA
- Charlotte, SC
- Columbia, SC
- Washington DC
- Baltimore, MD
- Greenville, SC
The study reveals that Charlotte, NC, Columbia, SC, and Greenville, SC all rank in the top 10 most car accident prone cities in the country. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car collision, please contact our firm immediately. We have the ability to ensure that you receive all the compensation that you are entitled under the law. We hold reckless drivers, and their insurance companies accountable. For a free consultation, call us today at (803) 350-9230.
Here is a list of the frequently asked questions about workers’ compensation laws that we receive from people who have been injured on the at work.
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If you or a loved one has a question about any worker’s compensation issue that you are facing, please do not hesitate to contact us today. Often times a claim for workers compensation benefits can be tricky to navigate on your own, and the insurance companies can be notorious for my protecting the injured workers so that it can save money. Don’t put your financial benefits in the hands of a workers’ compensation insurance adjuster without first talking to a seasoned worker’s compensation attorney. We are here to help, so call the Goings Law Firm today at (803) 350-9230.
Do you feel like this when you treat with the Insurance Company Doctor?
Question: Do I have to use the workers comp insurance doctor?
Answer:
This is a question that we often hear from individuals who are dissatisfied with the medical care they been receiving from their employer’s worker’s compensation insurance carrier. For individuals who choose to go through this legal process by themselves the answer is most likely yes….you are stuck with their doctor. To those who seek the proper legal representation the answer and the outcome can be quite different.
The South Carolina Worker’s Compensation Act provides that individuals who are injured while working on the job are entitled to medical benefits. These benefits need to be provided at no expense to the injured worker. At first blush, the Workers Compensation Act provides that those individuals seeking medical treatment must receive treatment initially from a doctor provided by the employer and their worker’s compensation insurance carrier. That medical treatment must continue until it lessens the period of disability or the insurance doctor has placed you at maximum medical improvement (“MMI”). Similar to how your car’s damage is devalued instantly in an automobile accident by the insurance carrier, some injured workers find the insurance carrier’s physician devalue their injuries as well. This process often leads to months of frustration treating with a physician who will not listen to their needs or hastily rushes them out the door to end treatment.
If you have the proper legal representation, however, the process may be very different. Prior to my representation of injured workers, I worked as counsel for 14 years representing workers compensation insurance carriers. I have worked with some excellent carriers and physicians and unfortunately have seen firsthand some of the struggles injured workers face when paired with some carriers and physicians who do not care. My unique perspective allows me to know which physicians to steer away from and how to utilize the insurance industry standards and protocols for changing medical providers. We work, using the law, to obtain second opinions provided by the carriers or through our own means to allow our clients to get the best medical treatment that they need. Let me see if I can provide you that same medical treatment. For free consultation on your workers compensation claim, call me at 803-350-9230.
Answered by Christian E. Boesl, Manager of the Workers’ Compensation Department
Mallory Haber
A Massachusetts-based importer has issued a recall to estimated 10,000 units of air valves used in training people to conduct a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) due to a problem that could cause harm to people using it, a cpsc.gov article stated on November 23.
According to the recall, the “Practi-VALVE” CPR training air valves of Work ‘N Leisure may possibly cause choking injuries to intended users if a part of it suddenly detaches while being used. In the recall documents submitted by Work ‘N Leisure, the cap attached at the end of the air valves could choke the user when they use it in mouth-to-mouth CPR training using a dummy. Before the recall was issued, the company and the CPSC have been notified of three air valve end-caps accidentally getting into the trainees’ mouth or throat. People who might have the air valves bearing Lot 3197 have been advised to stop from using it and coordinate with the recalling company for the free product replacement.
People could find themselves seriously injured as a result of using defective products sold in the market. If you experienced this, the Columbia product liability lawyers of Goings Law Firm, LLC may possibly help you get compensation from negligent companies. Call us today at (803) 350-9230 to learn more about your legal options.
Over the weekend the state of South Carolina received torrential rainfall that caused historic flooding across our state. Our hometown of Columbia has experienced especially catastrophic damage. Many people have lost their homes to rising floodwaters. Others have been injured in auto accidents resulting from many of South Carolina’s roads and bridges being washed out. As we begin to pick up the pieces and Columbia and South Carolina moves into the clean-up stage of this disaster, there is a lot of work to be done and we are here to help you get through these difficult times.
If you, a loved one, a neighbor, or even someone you know has been the victim of this natural disaster, then contact the Goings Law Firm, LLC to find out if we can help. For homes and property damaged by the storms, if the insurance company has denied your homeowners or property damage claim, then please contact us immediately. Additionally, if you suffered injuries in an automobile during the flood or if you automobile was lost or totaled in the floodwaters, call us to find out if we can help you manage your claim with the insurance company. Claims involving flood insurance can be complex and challenging without the assistance of an experienced lawyer. At the Goings Law Firm, LLC we will be there for you to help you through your difficult time. Call the Goings Law Firm, LLC today at (803) 350-9230 for a free case consultation.
Automotive and traffic safety experts often refer to the period of time between Memorial Day and Labor Day as the “Deadly Days of Summer”. This time period is given that name because summertime always brings an increase in accidents on our roadways. This is especially true for states like South Carolina where many tourists will be traveling into and through South Carolina on the way to vacation. The Goings Law Firm, LLC has already reported to you about two major accidents that occurred on I-26 in just the first week after Memorial Day. Both accidents had major damage and shut down the entire interstate for hours. Your can read about the Charleston I-26 accident by clicking here and the Columbia I-26 accident by clicking here.
In addition to the two I-26 accidents, last week we also reported that fatal accidents are already on the rise in South Carolina. Combining the rise in fatal statistics with the already dangerous summer days ahead means that drivers should use extremely heightened caution as they take to the road this summer. The Goings Law Firm, LLC wants you to stay safe on the road this summer, and we have included a few safety tips below to help you do that.
Safety tips for drivers on the road this summer
One of the key safety tips to remember while driving this summer is to always keep your cool and remain patient. When a driver becomes impatient while in high traffic conditions, he/she becomes an “aggressive driver.” Aggressive driving is major cause of deadly accidents on our roadways. So, always remember to keep your cool behind the wheel. Further, remember to look out for other dangerous and aggressive drivers behind the wheel. This is often referred to as “defensive driving”, which is a fundamental key to safety on the roadway. Also, keep in mind these other safety tips while on the roadways:
- Always wear you seatbelt, and ensure that all passengers are also wearing their seatbelts.
- Obey all traffic signs, yield signs, and instructions.
- Always use your turn signal, and give plenty notice to other drivers by signaling well before applying the breaks or changing lanes.
- Keep a sharp lookout for pedestrians, especially in crosswalk areas.
- Obey the speed limit.
- Move over for accidents and emergency vehicles.
- Give motorcycles and eighteen-wheeler trucks plenty of room.
- Do not follow too closely on the highway or interstate.
- Ensure all children and child seats are secured properly in the car.
- Do not text and drive (It’s against the law- click here for more).
- Do not talk on the phone while driving.
Of course, this is not an exhaustive list, just some quick tips to keep you and your family safe as you take to the road. Summer is a great time to enjoy the outdoors, but keep in mind that convertibles and motorcycles pose a greater safety risk and drivers must take extra precautions when operating these vehicles.
The Goings Law Firm, LLC has also written extensively about motorcycle safety here on our website. To read more about motorcycle safety, click here.
Accidents can happen to anyone. If you are involved in an accident this summer, then contact a South Carolina Accident Attorney at the Goings Law Firm, LLC.
Even the most careful drivers can be involved in accidents because of the negligence or recklessness of other drivers on the road. If you or a loved one have been injured in an auto accident, motorcycle accident, or trucking related accident, then call Robert F. Goings at the Goings Law Firm, LLC today. By seeking punitive damages, we seek to deter aggressive driving by punishing drivers for their wrongful conduct. When you are involved in an accident, there can be many complex issues involved with a case. It is important to hire an attorney who is experienced in dealing with the many complex issues that might arise. Robert F. Goings is a skilled South Carolina Accident attorney, and will advocate on your behalf to get you the results that you deserve. Call (803) 350-9230 today for a free case consultation.
