Dunn NC Motor Vehicle Accidents Law Blog

What are the dangers associated with poorly lit parking lots?

On behalf of Hayes, Williams, Turner & Daughtry, P.A. posted in Premises Liability on Tuesday, July 28, 2020.

If there's one thing that property owners could do to minimize their legal exposure, it would be to spend more time and money focusing on better lighting their parking lots. Poorly lit ones are dangerous on multiple levels. They result in countless individuals unnecessarily suffering injuries here in Harnett County and across the rest of North Carolina every year. Any insurance company or court payouts go against a property owner's bottom line.

One danger that you have to worry about when navigating a poorly lit parking lot is becoming a crime victim. Would-be robbers, burglars, carjackers, rapists, kidnappers and rapists all appreciate having the cover of darkness to disguise their presence and identity.

The devastating consequences of facial injuries in a car wreck

On behalf of Hayes, Williams, Turner & Daughtry, P.A. posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, July 16, 2020.

You thought you were lucky to walk away from the wreckage of your vehicle -- until you registered the pain in your head and the blood on your face. When you saw your reflection, you were shocked at just how badly battered you looked from facial injuries that you didn't even immediately register during the accident.

Facial injuries are very common in car accidents. Between flying objects, the force of the air bag explosion and the shattered glass or metal, people end up with all kinds of serious head injuries. While many people worry about traumatic brain injuries after a wreck, injuries that spare the brain but damage the skull are also quite serious.

Why do parents of minor children need an estate plan?

On behalf of Hayes, Williams, Turner & Daughtry, P.A. on Tuesday, July 14, 2020.

Many people think of an estate plan as something only a senior citizen needs to set up. Unfortunately, that line of thinking can leave minor children without a plan for their future if something happens to both of their parents. If you have children who still live at home or who have special needs, you need to get your estate plan in place now for their benefit.

If one of a child's parents passes away, the child will most likely be raised by the surviving parent. But, there is a chance that they will go into foster care if there isn't a plan in place and both of their parents die. Your estate plan can stop your children from having to go through that type of ordeal.

Co-parenting doesn't have to bog you down

On behalf of Hayes, Williams, Turner & Daughtry, P.A. posted in Family Law on Friday, July 10, 2020.

The thought alone of co-parenting after divorce is enough to make many people cringe. They understand the importance, but they have concerns about their ability to get along with their spouse.

Even though you're likely to face challenges, remember this: You're co-parenting with the idea of providing your children with the best life possible in the future.

Go ahead and have a drink (of water) for the road

On behalf of Hayes, Williams, Turner & Daughtry, P.A. posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, July 8, 2020.

When you head out the door, you probably have a mental checklist of the things you need to take with you. Your phone, your car keys, your driver's license and your wallet are likely chief among them.

How about a drink of water? It sounds a little silly, but researchers have found that a dehydrated driver can be deadly behind the wheel of a car.

Second Chance Act passes in North Carolina

On behalf of Hayes, Williams, Turner & Daughtry, P.A. posted in Criminal Defense on Tuesday, June 30, 2020.

Far too often, people's lives are overshadowed by a single mistake in their past. New legislation in North Carolina, known as the Second Chance Act, will help people escape their past by clearing their criminal records.

The Second Chance Act enjoyed bipartisan support, so it passed the North Carolina House with a unanimous vote of approval. The goal of the Second Chance Act is to reduce the problems that many people with criminal records experience when they apply for job, try to get an education and look for housing.

Get off the sidewalks: Untested teens may soon be driving in NC

On behalf of Hayes, Williams, Turner & Daughtry, P.A. posted in Car Accidents on Tuesday, June 23, 2020.

North Carolina is poised to make some big changes to the process that teens go through before they can get a driver's license. If House Bill 158 becomes law, teens in this state would be eligible to obtain their provisional, or Level Two, drivers' licenses without a road test. However, they would still need a road test before they can obtain a Level Three provisional license.

The bill is widely expected to become law. It's already passed the state House and Senate and has now gone to the governor's office for final approval.

What can mitigate a drunk driving conviction?

On behalf of Hayes, Williams, Turner & Daughtry, P.A. posted in Drunk Driving on Tuesday, June 16, 2020.

Let's be perfectly clear about this: Drunk or drugged driving is a bad idea. That being said, people still make mistakes all the time. When a mistake results in an arrest and a conviction, it's time to turn your attention to sentencing.

North Carolina is notoriously tough on drunk and drugged drivers, and there's a complex system of punishments involving six different potential levels of severity for those who are caught. Even within those levels, there's a wide range of potential penalties you may face.

Involved in a crash? Make sure you don't settle too soon

On behalf of Hayes, Williams, Turner & Daughtry, P.A. on Wednesday, June 10, 2020.

You were traveling to visit your son at Kimbell University when a driver, seemingly out of nowhere, struck the side of your car. You were pushed off the roadway and into a ditch. Your car was totaled, and you ended up in the hospital for several days.

During your time at the hospital, you had a surgery, were in significant pain and had to set up dozens of appointments for the coming months. You have a brain injury and damage to the nerves in your arm, so you may not be able to return to work. Your life has been changed, at least in the immediate future, because of that collision.

If your victim drops the charges, does your case go away?

On behalf of Hayes, Williams, Turner & Daughtry, P.A. posted in Criminal Defense on Thursday, June 4, 2020.

You got into a fight with your girlfriend and it got out of control. The police were called. Your girlfriend made allegations that you were assaultive. You were charged with domestic violence. Now, your entire life has been turned upside down and you'd give anything for the whole case to just go away. Should you ask your girlfriend to drop the charges?

Absolutely not.

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