We all know that cleaning supplies should be left away from the kitchen, stored out of reach from children, and should not come in contact with our hands, eyes, or face. In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) issued a report pertaining to laundry detergent pods, the less-than-a-cubic inch plastic pouches that contain both liquid and powder detergents. Recently, Consumer Reports indicated that not only have there been hundreds of reported cases regarding health incidents in children that have come in contact with the pods, but that the pods are “too dangerous to recommend” for use in family homes where children live.

Tractor-trailers are the large, 16-18-wheeled, multi-cargo big rigs that you see driving on the right side of the highway. Due to their sheer weight, size, and speed, any accident involving these vehicles can be deadly for anyone involved. Just a few weeks ago, an accident involving a tractor-trailer in Spartanburg cost the lives of three individuals, including a child. Understanding the risks of driving and driving near these massive vehicles can make your highway journeys safer and help you avoid catastrophic accidents.

In a court of law, there are specific rules governing what types of things can and cannot be admitted into evidence. Admitting something into evidence means that the evidence, whether it be an object, a statement, documents, photographs, or video, can be introduced for the judge or jury to consider when determining the outcome of the case. If something does not fit in with the rules, it is considered inadmissible and the judge or jury cannot consider it, even if it would be extremely important to the case.

For drunk driving accidents, some of the evidence a lawyer may want to introduce includes a breathalyzer test, statements made to officers during the arrest/stop, statements made at the police station, or videotape evidence showing the completion of a field sobriety test. In 2009, South Carolina law began requiring any videotape evidence to include field sobriety testing. This law has made prosecuting and holding drunk drivers accountable for catastrophic injuries and deaths very difficult.

With summer upon us, and disconcerting news regarding shark attack reports in North Carolina, now is a good time to brush up on water safety for the whole family. While of course patrons of a beach, public park, or public pool have obligations to act reasonably, exercise caution, and follow any posted warning signs, this does not mean that the owners/managers of the premises cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident.

Catastrophic injuries are generally defined as long-term, permanent, or life-changing injuries that severely impair one’s ability to live a normal life. In the context of personal injury law, these types of injuries generally have the greatest monetary awards given the complexity of the underlying legal issues and long-term consequences of the injuries sustained. Catastrophic injuries can arise out of almost any accident, but are most common when a victim becomes paralyzed or suffers a traumatic brain injury due to the negligent acts of another.

We invite friends over to our houses. We run businesses that we open to the public. Many of us are aware that we have some responsibility over what happens to our guests when they are on our property, but few people recognize this for what it truly is: a legal duty. We have a legal obligation to keep our premises reasonably safe for our guests, and failure to fulfill this duty may lead to liability if someone is injured on our land.