South Carolina Bicycle Accident Attorneys At Matthews & Megna Comment On Fatal Tractor-Trailer Accident Involving Child
Columbia, SC (PRWEB) October 29, 2013 -- South Carolina personal injury attorney Ben Matthews of Matthews & Megna today issued a warning to cyclists to be careful in response to an 18-wheeler accident that resulted in a fatal bike accident in South Carolina.
Matthews commented on an article in The State about the death of a child who was struck by a tractor trailer in Newberry County (The State, “Update: Whitmire boy, 9, dies when bike hits tractor trailer,” Sept. 24, 2013).
“Bicycles are no match for tractor trailers or any other vehicle on the road for that matter,” Matthews said. “The impact of a serious or fatal bike accident in South Carolina can be devastating on families. A story like this illustrates the need for all drivers to stay alert and keep an eye on bicycles and for parents to talk to their kids about bicycle safety.”
The fatal bicycle accident occurred at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 23 in the small town of Whitmire, S.C., in Newberry County, S.C., according to The State. The boy killed in the bicycle accident was riding his bike out of a driveway when an 18-wheeler struck him, The State reported. The boy was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, which is under investigation, The State reported.
Bicycle accidents happen far more often than many people might realize, said Matthews, who represents victims of negligence and families who lost loved ones in accidents. Nationwide, more than 48,000 cyclists were injured and 677 cyclists were killed in 2011, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Most bicycle injury victims are older than the boy who was killed recently in South Carolina, according to the NHTSA. The highest fatality rate for cyclists is among men 45 to 54 years old. As for injuries, men 16 to 20 years old are most likely be injured while cycling, according to the same NHTSA statistics. However, the time of the accident in South Carolina does match the most common time for bicycle accidents statistically. Nationwide, 30 percent of bicycle accidents occurred between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. in 2011.
Cyclists of all ages need to be careful every time they share the road with other bikes and vehicles, especially tractor trailers, according to South Carolina truck accident lawyer Tony R. Megna of Matthews & Megna. “Truck accidents involving bicycles are among the most severe accidents we deal with at our Columbia, SC personal injury law firm,” Megna said. “Even when bicyclists are wearing their helmets, the consequences can be dramatic.”
Megna said he urges victims and families who lost loved ones in accidents to contact a personal injury lawyer to learn about their rights. An attorney can help a victim recover compensation and hold the negligent individual or business accountable.
About Matthews & Megna
Serving the Columbia, Florence, Darlington and all of South Carolina since 1985, attorneys Ben Matthews and Tony R. Megna have handled thousands of cases and won major settlements for clients, whether settling out of court or going to trial. Matthews & Megna’s areas of practice include bankruptcy law, auto accidents and workers’ compensation cases. They also handle truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, golf cart accidents and moped accidents. The law firm handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. As a result, clients only pay for legal services if they win.
For more information about bicycle accidents and the legal options available to injury victims and their families in South Carolina, call (803) 799-1700 or visit our law firm’s web site at http://www.matthewsandmegna.com/contact
Along with an office in Darlington, the law firm’s main office is located at 3406 West Avenue, Columbia, SC 29203. To schedule a free case evaluation or for more information, call or visit the law firm’s website at http://www.matthewsandmegna.com.
Jacob M Del Hagen, Big Voodoo Interactive, http://www.bigvoodoo.com, +1 (413) 650-0593, [email protected]
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