Recent News – Smith & Griffith Legal Blog

Truck drivers and sleep apnea Truck drivers in South Carolina and throughout the country may be required to undergo screening for sleep apnea under a proposed new regulation, but the potential rule has come in for a great deal of criticism as well. The Federal Railroad Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration received…

How employers can improve workplace safety Business owners and human resources staff in South Carolina may want to consider how safe their workplaces are. Accidents can happen in any type of workplace from construction sites to offices. The first step is to take stock of the workplace’s physical environment as well as any risks. This…

Older drivers could be aided by new safety technology For older drivers in South Carolina and across the U.S., roadway safety has become an important issue. Car makers are aware of this, and new safety technology is being offered to accommodate the Baby Boomers who are beginning to turn 70 years old. There is estimated…

The 30-minute break rule for truckers A petition to rescind a rule requiring truck drivers to take a 30-minute break in their first eight hours of service was denied in August 2016. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance represents North American truck and bus inspectors, and it sought to get rid of the rule arguing that…

Concern expressed over rise in traffic fatalities South Carolina motorists might want to be more careful while driving since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released figures for traffic fatalities in 2015. More than 35,000 people died in automobile accidents in 2015, and this was a 7.2 percent increase over the previous year. Fatalities had…

Agencies proposing forcible speed limints on trucks South Carolina motorists may be interested to learn the U.S. government is considering requiring technology that would force drivers of semi-trucks and other large vehicles to dive slower while on the nation’s highways. The federal agencies promoting the cap on speeds truckers can drive say doing so would…

Working on computers for long hours can cause eye strain Many South Carolina workers are required to spend large amounts of time in front of a computer screen, tablet or smartphone. While these devices are often necessary to do a job successfully, they can increase the risk of digital eye strain. According to a report,…

When businesses offer workers’ compensation Employers in South Carolina and other states have certain responsibilities when their employees get injured while on the job. Most businesses are required to have workers’ compensation insurance so that a worker receives part of their regular salary while recovering from a workplace accident. An injury must be work-related to…

Fatigue while driving may lead to fatal accidents On Aug. 8, the Governors Highway Safety Association released a report that estimated that about 5,000 deaths in 2015 were because of motor vehicle accidents related to driving while drowsy. However, drivers in South Carolina and other states may not be aware of the dangers of driving…

Driver charged with DUI after 4-car crash The South Carolina Highway Patrol reported a four-car accident July 26 that occurred on a bridge near Highway 17 at approximately 2:30 p.m. The crash took place between Georgetown and Pawleys Island. It appeared that the driver who may have caused the accident was intoxicated. Law enforcement stated…