Moncks Corner Legal Issues Blog

South Carolina debates workers' compensation for first responders

On behalf of George Bishop of George B. Bishop, Jr. PA posted in workers' compensation on Thursday, December 19, 2019.

There is a lot of hard work keeping communities in South Carolina moving the right direction. Factory workers, mechanics and others in high-risk jobs may know the price as well. This is why the Palmetto State has a series of laws and a state agency that guarantee injured workers rights to compensation for their medical expenses.

Many of the most dangerous jobs out there are in the field of emergency services, where people can spend years never knowing what sort of issues will come up that day. These men and women also handle a lot of traumatic situations, such as gunshot wounds and motor vehicle accidents.

Ways to cope with holiday stress and anger

On behalf of George Bishop of George B. Bishop, Jr. PA posted in assault crimes on Friday, December 6, 2019.

The holiday season is all about family -- but that's not always a good thing. Many people come from dysfunctional families where frustrations, resentments and disputes tend to pile up over the years, creating what can be a toxic -- and volatile -- situation.

So, how do you handle the holidays around your family without losing your cool? Here are some things to try:

Drug dealer sentenced for murder in student's overdose

On behalf of George Bishop of George B. Bishop, Jr. PA posted in drug crimes on Friday, November 22, 2019.

When a 26-year-old South Carolina college student was found dead in her off-campus housing of a drug overdose, the death didn't appear to be accidental. She had been depressed and evidence led investigators to first classify the death as a suicide.

Then, they called it murder and charged her 27-year-old drug dealer and sometimes friend with killing her by knowingly supplying her with the oxycodone and other drugs that took her life. He eventually accepted a plea deal with the state and will now spend 24 years in prison.

Did a minor incident lead to assault and battery charges?

On behalf of George Bishop of George B. Bishop, Jr. PA on Monday, November 11, 2019.

If you are facing charges of assault and battery, you may be confused. After all, perhaps you are far from the kind of person who drinks too much and stirs up a fight in a bar. Furthermore, when you think back on the incident in question, you may have no recollection of hurting or even putting your hands on anyone.

You may be surprised to learn that the charges of assault and battery may still stick under these circumstances. The penalties for a conviction can be quite severe, and the potential collateral consequences may be enough to derail your future.

Motor vehicle accidents and crush injuries

On behalf of George Bishop of George B. Bishop, Jr. PA posted in personal injury on Friday, November 8, 2019.

A motor vehicle accident doesn't have to serious to lead to serious injuries. It all depends on the force of the impact, the location of the impact and how your body is affected by the crash. One of the more serious injuries victims of car accidents can suffer is that of the crush injury. Crush injuries can change your life in an instant, especially if they lead to amputation.

So, how does a crush injury occur? A crush injury happens when any part of the body is crushed between two objects. When this type of injury happens in a car accident it's usually because the victim was ejected from the vehicle and then pinned underneath it or between their own vehicle and another vehicle.

Bluffton officials file DUI charges despite breath test results

On behalf of George Bishop of George B. Bishop, Jr. PA posted in dui/dwi on Wednesday, October 30, 2019.

There is no denying that there is a stigma that comes with a charge for driving under the influence of alcohol. Those in Monck's Corner who face such accusations are often assumed to be irresponsible individuals whose alleged actions imply that they care little for the safety of others. Such assumptions can often lead to ramifications that go far beyond the legal world, with people losing their jobs and suffering irreparable damage to their reputations. This stigma is often assigned simply due to the news of an arrest being made; one can imagine how tragic it might be if it was later found that the charge was unwarranted.

They may turn out the be what happens in the case of a local high school band director. The woman was arrested on suspicion of DUI after a local officer pulled her over for driving erratically in Bluffton. While field sobriety test (as well as the officer's own observations) indicated that she was indeed intoxicated, a subsequent breath revealed a blood alcohol content that was well below the legal limit. The officer involved tried to contact local drug testing experts to analyze the results of her test, yet known responded to his queries. Still, despite the results of the test, the woman was charged with DUI, with the officer implying that once a DUI arrest is made, a charge is inevitable.

Is drunk driving still a big problem in South Carolina?

On behalf of George Bishop of George B. Bishop, Jr. PA posted in personal injury on Wednesday, October 9, 2019.

If you are one of the residents in South Carolina who is concerned about the ongoing risk of being involved in an accident caused by a drunk driver, you unfortunately have good reason for your worries. Even as laws have changed and the penalties for a driving under the influence offense have gotten stronger, people continue to get behind the wheels of cars when they should not. Too many innocent people end up experiencing serious injuries or the loss of loved ones due to these decisions.

According to records from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drunk drivers were responsible for 32% of the state's total vehicular fatalities in 2017. Between 2013 and 2017, the number of people who died in drunk driving accidents in South Carolina each year ranged from a low of 313 to a high of 341.

Listen up about National Protect Your Hearing Month

On behalf of George Bishop of George B. Bishop, Jr. PA posted in workers' compensation on Sunday, September 29, 2019.

Many industries commonly contribute to hearing loss among countless Americans, but it is important to note that it is not required to work in a hazardous industry to put one’s hearing at risk. Hearing loss, including job-related hearing damage, is a prevalent risk affecting people in South Carolina and elsewhere.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has designated October as National Protect Your Hearing Month, according to the National Safety Council. People can benefit from this important awareness program by learning about their risks and how to take measures to protect their hearing. While anyone can – and should – take part in this effort, it can be especially beneficial to those who work in environments that can cause auditory damage.

This test may be one of the most important you take in college

On behalf of George Bishop of George B. Bishop, Jr. PA on Saturday, September 28, 2019.

When you arrived on campus for the start of your junior or senior year at a South Carolina college or university, you likely felt excited and a bit anxious. After all, you're more than halfway through earning your undergrad degree, and you know you'll likely encounter a few challenges between now and then. You hopefully have developed good study habits by now and have a close group of friends on campus who offer encouragement and support.

You were probably also looking forward to this year's college social scene. Perhaps you celebrated your birthday over the summer and are now age 21. You plan on having a few drinks with your friends in between the rigors of academics. As long as your campus isn't a dry one, that shouldn't be a problem. However, if you leave campus, have a drink or two, then a police officer pulls you over, you may need support that your study partners can't provide.

Spinal fusion treatments may treat chronic back pain

On behalf of George Bishop of George B. Bishop, Jr. PA posted in workers' compensation on Thursday, September 26, 2019.

Many workers in California suffer from chronic back pain regardless of the field they work in. Even office workers can develop back injuries from moving office equipment or sitting for long periods of time on poorly designed chairs. Still, workers who perform manual labor face a higher risk of developing back injuries, particularly if they do a lot of heavy lifting. Bad falls may also lead to back injuries, such as falling from a roof or down a long flight of stairs.

Sometimes back injuries are so bad that a worker must rely on workers’ compensation to cover expenses while they recover. If doctors do not expect a good or speedy recovery, then the worker may begin to consider the possibility of applying for Social Security benefits. Whether patients make a full recovery or not, they may suffer from chronic back pain for the rest of their lives.