Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “What should I do if I have been injured by another party but I can’t afford a lawyer?”
A terrible accident in February of last year that left two Charlotte, NC brothers dead moved to a courtroom this week as the driver of the delivery truck testified about his actions that terrible morning.
The driver, Dirk Jerome Brown, told a Charlotte judge earlier this week that he was not distracted the morning of February 22, 2012 as he was on his way to his first delivery of the morning. Brown said that he had just picked up his co-worker and was heading to Rock Hill when he approached the intersection of W. Tyvola Road and Shady Lane.
Brown claimed that he was looking in his mirrors and made sure that everything was clear before he made his turn. Sadly, his turn was not clear and Brown has since been charged with two counts of misdemeanor death by vehicle after running over one-year-old and five-year-old brothers. The two boys were walking with their sister and father on their way to daycare along the shoulder of the road prior to the accident. 
Brown testified that he made a wide turn and then heard screaming and noticed the children on the ground. Authorities have said an investigation revealed that the tire of Brown’s truck clipped the shoulder of the road which is what killed the two young boys. A witness also testified that the driver did not make a wide turn and had far more room to turn more broadly then he did.
Prosecutors have argued that Brown was in a rush to get to his delivery and was distracted while behind the wheel. They argue that it was his distraction that led to the terrible accident and death of the two young boys. Some of the questioning also hinted that they believed Brown had been on his phone during or immediately prior to the accident, though Brown has so far denied this.
According to AAA, using a cellphone while driving more than quadruples your risk of being involved in a car accident. The group says that each and every day distracted driving contributes to more than 8,000 car accidents, far too many given how easily prevented the accidents are.
This tragedy should serve as an important moment to remind North Carolina drivers about remaining focused when behind the wheel. Given the endless distractions available to us all, it’s easy to forget just how dangerous driving can be. Taking the time to be alert, avoiding unnecessary distractions and remembering the rules of the road will help keep everyone safer on North Carolina roadways.
If you, or someone you know, have any questions regarding personal injury claims, please feel free to contact the experienced personal injury attorneys and lawyers in Charlotte, North Carolina at Arnold & Smith, PLLC for a free consultation. Call at 704-370-2828.
Source:
“Driver charged after 2 children hit, denies being distracted,” by Tony Burbeck, published at WCNC.com.
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