Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Who Is Liable For Gas Can Injuries?
Outdoor recreation in South Carolina is so much fun that South Carolinians will not let a little bit of cold weather force us to stay indoors. What could be better than spending a winter’s evening gathered around a campfire, singing songs and roasting marshmallows, or barbecuing over the fire pit in your backyard? As… Read More »
The Truth About Vehicle Blind Spots And South Carolina Car Accidents
If a car accident occurs because one driver did not see the other, it goes without saying that the accident was preventable. There are many reasons that one driver might not see another until it is too late to avoid a collision, from cell phone distractions to slowed reaction time due to alcohol impairment. … Read More »
Restaurants Pay Settlement In Highly Publicized Dram Shop Liability Case
Drunk driving is extraordinarily dangerous and destructive. It accounts for approximately one third of fatal traffic accidents; the rate of drunk driving crashes used to be even higher before laws criminalizing driving under the influence of alcohol went into effect. Even if you manage to avoid the worst-case scenario, the medical bills that result… Read More »
Do Premises Liability Laws Cover Horseback Riding Accidents?
Premises liability laws give you the right to sue the owner of a real estate property or operator of a business if you suffer an injury caused by a preventable accident while you were on the defendant’s premises for legitimate purposes. It is not quite as simple as it sounds, however. Accidents are not… Read More »
Why Representing Yourself In A Personal Injury Lawsuit Is A Bad Idea
Parties in lawsuits, whether they are plaintiffs or defendants, have the right to represent themselves in litigation or to hire lawyers to represent them. When you act as a personal representative of an estate, file for bankruptcy protection, file or respond to a divorce petition, or attempt to modify a court-ordered parenting plan or… Read More »
Sheriff’s Deputy Injured In Hit And Run Collision In Front Of School
Accidental injuries expose everyone’s financial vulnerability. If you are a full-time employee, you are in a better position than most. Your employer-provided health insurance will reduce the cost of your medical expenses, although the portion you pay will still be considerable. If your employer provides paid medical leave or short-term or long-term disability insurance,… Read More »
Chronic Pain: A Common Point Of Disagreement In Personal Injury Cases
Pain is hard to measure, and hard to ignore. Diagnostic tests can show you the concentration of myriad types of molecules in your blood and can visualize bones and other internal tissues of the body in considerable detail, but they cannot show pain signals transmitted to and from nerves. Your words and actions can… Read More »
Five Points Bar Faces Lawsuit After A Series Of Catastrophic DUI Accidents Involving Its Customers
When you are on campus, the University of South Carolina may not seem much like a party school, but if you are looking to spend your first semester of college in a drunken haze, then you need go no farther than the Five Points neighborhood. It was in Five Points that the Stage Door… Read More »
Can Insurance Companies Really Blame A Pedestrian For Getting Hit By A Car?
Some common assumptions we make about fault for car accidents are not always true in practice. Are rear end collisions always the rear driver’s fault? Usually, but not always. If the front driver applied the brakes suddenly and without a good reason, he or she could bear some or all of the fault for… Read More »
Do South Carolina Premises Liability Laws Cover Dog Bite Injuries?
Premises liability laws are not just for customers who get injured at places of business. Homeowners are also legally responsible for preventable accidental injuries to people who visit their homes and outdoor areas that are part of the homeowner’s property. Premises liability laws apply when a guest gets injured in an accidental fall because… Read More »