COLUMBIA Injury Law Blog

Olympic gold medalist swimmer Michael Phelps was arrested in Baltimore for driving a vehicle under the influence (DUI), NBC Washington reported on October 1. Police reports said before 2:00 a.m. Phelps, 29, drove 84mph down I-395 where a speed limit of 45mph should be maintained. Phelps was seen speeding and crossing double lines inside the Fort McHenry tunnel.… Read More

More than 200,000 General Motors (GM) vehicles in the U.S. are being recalled due to a potential fire risks caused by a braking defect, USA Today reported on September 20. The recall affects 205,309 previous and recent models of GM Cadillac and Impalas in the U.S. that are equipped with an electronic parking brake arm.… Read More

What is the Defense Base Act? The Defense Base Act (DBA) is an extension of the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA).  This Act provides disability compensation and medical benefits to employees and death benefits to eligible survivors of employees of U.S. government contractors who perform work overseas.  The DBA incorporates the provisions of… Read More

Two people were killed and seven others injured in a DUI-related crash in South Carolina, and charges have been filed against the driver who instigated the accident, WYFF reported on September 9. Reports said the accident occurred on September 7 before 8:00 p.m. when the side of the vehicle driven by Joshua Adam Silvers was struck by a vehicle… Read More

Early Monday, August 15, 2014, two men were involved in a fatal car accident on I-26 around Spartanburg, SC. When the accident happened, the two victims in the crash were on their way to go hunting, and were pulling a trailer with a pickup truck. Both men were thrown from the pickup when the accident… Read More

South Carolina’s workers compensation benefits only apply to injuries suffered by an employee, not an independent contractor. Often times, your employer will try to wrongfully classify you as an “independent contractor” instead of a employee for purposes of attempting to get around workers’ compensation laws and other employment-related requirements. We have seen that employers may… Read More

American technology firm Hewlett-Packard (HP) is recalling more than 6 million electrical cords sold in the U.S., Canada, and Australia due to potential fire hazards, International Business Times reported on August 28. The recall was issued after reports of dozens of incidents where the cords either melted or burned, resulting in minor injuries and some… Read More

What is DVT? DVT stands for “Deep Vein Thrombosis” or “Deep Venous Thrombosis.”  DVT is a blood clot that forms in a vein deep in the body. Blood clots occur when blood thickens and clumps together. Most deep vein blood clots occur in the lower leg or thigh. They also can occur in other parts… Read More

Over 15,000 pounds of chicken nuggets sold in U.S. markets are being recalled due to plastic pieces found in the meat, a Fox 43 article stated on August 14. The recall affects the 8oz boxes of Applegate “Naturals” chicken nuggets that can be bought at Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods Markets, as well as other… Read More

Large commercial vehicles, like tractor-trailers, are the largest vehicles traveling on road today. Because trucks are so large, they pose a significant safety concern, as accidents involving tractor-trailers can often be catastrophic. Safety is such a big concern that the government has an entire agency dedicated to monitoring and regulating the safe operation of large… Read More