Recent News – Smith & Griffith Legal Blog

IIHS study: collision avoidance systems save lives The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has just published a study that should be of interest to drivers in South Carolina, and elsewhere in the nation. The study indicates that collision avoidance systems, such as blind spot alerts and lane departure warning systems, actually do help in saving…

Trade group petitions FMCSA to revise hours of service rules Studies have shown that drowsy driving can be just as deadly as getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol, and the peril is even greater when the vehicle involved is a semi-tractor trailer that weighs 40 tons. Road users in South Carolina and around the…

Companies ready for increased rule enforcement South Carolina residents who cut concrete or saw bricks may come into contact with a substance called crystalline silica. Too much exposure to the substance can cause several health hazards such as lung cancer or silicosis. Over time, it may also lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or problems…

Fatigue emerges as safety threat for EMS workers Emergency medical service workers in South Carolina are a common sight at accident scenes. As one might imagine, they must often endure stressful working conditions. A partnership between a university research hospital and the National Association of State EMS Officials has sounded the alarm about the effects…

Shifting cargo is a major safety risk to motorists The overwhelming majority of freight moved across South Carolina and the United States is moved at least part of the way by truck. Since improperly loaded cargo is a major of tractor-trailer accidents, every one of the 15 million transport trucks in operation on American roadways…

Timelines to keep in mind when reporting a car crash South Carolina motorists generally dread dealing with the aftermath of a car accident. No matter how carefully one strives to remain a safe driver, everyone is at risk from distracted, drunk and other dangerous or negligent drivers. Auto accidents can cause severe injuries and ongoing…

New bill may mandate side guards on commercial trucks More than 200 motorists die every year in what are called side underride accidents. This is where a vehicle collides into the side of a big rig and slides underneath. Drivers in South Carolina should know, however, that Congress members proposed a bill that would mandate…

Fewer OSHA inspectors on staff than 1 year ago The chance that safety inspectors might visit a workplace in South Carolina is probably lower than a year ago. Since President Obama left office, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration staff has lost 40 inspectors. An investigation of documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act…

Coal mining deaths nearly double in 2017 After seeing a record low of eight deaths in 2016, the U.S. coal mining industry has witnessed a dramatic rise in 2017. In that year, there were 15 deaths, with eight occurring in West Virginia, two in Kentucky, and one each in Alabama, Colorado, Montana, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming.…

How teen motorcyclists can stay safe Motorcycles have a 35 percent higher risk for fatal accidents than cars. The risk only grows greater when teens are the ones operating. In South Carolina and the rest of the U.S., the majority of teens opt for sports bikes; these account for more collisions than any other motorcycle…