Moncks Corner Legal Issues Blog

Getting a job after a DUI

On behalf of George Bishop of George B. Bishop, Jr. PA posted in dui/dwi on Saturday, September 22, 2018.

College students or other people early in their working lives in South Carolina who have been convicted of drunk driving offenses may face a wide range of consequences that include fines, the use of an ignition interlock device and more. Another concern for many people is how the criminal conviction for driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated may impact their future ability to get a job.

In today's world, a background check has become all but standard procedure for any job hiring process. According to Monster.com, it is definitely possible to secure a good job even with a criminal mark on one's record. One factor that employers generally taken into consideration is the nature of the offense and its relation or not to the type of position a person is applying for. For example, if a person is applying for a position in which they must drive a company vehicle, a drunk driving conviction may carry more weight than if the person is applying for a position in which driving on behalf of the company has no part.

Worried about violence in the workplace? You should be

On behalf of George Bishop of George B. Bishop, Jr. PA on Friday, September 14, 2018.

Like most people in South Carolina, you probably learned to worry about violence when alone at night or, visiting new areas or in various other situations. Even if you are aware of certain risk factors for violence, you have probably overlooked a serious threat to your safety -- going to work.

Workplace violence is a serious problem that not enough people are talking about. Indeed, you may have gone through extensive work safety training and still received little to no information about violence in the workplace. Although some industries are more affected by this type of injury than others, everyone is still at risk.

How should you answer questions about your conviction?

On behalf of George Bishop of George B. Bishop, Jr. PA posted in personal injury on Sunday, September 9, 2018.

After serving your sentence behind bars in South Carolina, you have been released and are looking forward to a hopeful future. While in jail, you took advantage of programs and resources that were provided to you to give you opportunities to establish core competencies and gain valuable job skills. Now, you have a job interview, but you are worried about what will happen if you are asked questions about your criminal past.

Depending on the industry you are interested in working in, your criminal history could have more of an impact than it would in others. In many cases, you may be sitting in an interview when you are suddenly asked a question about your felony charge. Preparing ahead of time to answer these types of questions with confidence and poise is critical to your success and your ability to establish a good reputation despite your past.

Deadly fall from scaffolding claims 2 lives

On behalf of George Bishop of George B. Bishop, Jr. PA posted in personal injury on Wednesday, August 29, 2018.

People who work in the construction industry in South Carolina face a unique set of risks each day when to go to work. Some of these risks include falls, electrocution and the danger of being struck by debris or crushed by heavy machinery among other things. Their ability to perform their tasks safely and reduce their risk of being injured is highly dependent on their decision to follow safety protocols that have been outlined by their employer.

In some cases however, accidents are unavoidable such as in a recent incident in Orange County, Florida when a sudden scaffolding collapse had fatal consequences. The accident occurred on the construction site of a new JW Marriott hotel where four workers were suspended above ground on some scaffolding. The workers were pouring concrete when the scaffolding suddenly gave way. Two of the workers fell to the ground and were killed. The fall was approximately seven stories high. Another worker was injured while a fourth was able to escape unharmed.

You do not have to take field sobriety tests

On behalf of George Bishop of George B. Bishop, Jr. PA on Wednesday, August 22, 2018.

You may be someone who rarely or never indulges in drinking alcohol. You may have various reasons for this decision, or you may simply not like to drink alcohol. You are not alone in this decision, and because you certainly would never get behind the wheel after even an occasional alcoholic beverage, you may think that you would never face a DUI charge.

This assumption may not be as correct as you think. Many drivers may consider themselves sober only to have police officers stop their vehicles for one reason or another and suspect the drivers of drinking and driving. You could wind up in this particular situation yourself, and an officer may ask you to participate in field sobriety tests.

Reducing the risk of falls from happening in the home

On behalf of George Bishop of George B. Bishop, Jr. PA posted in personal injury on Tuesday, August 14, 2018.

Sometimes, tripping and falling is inevitable when obstructions seemingly appear out of nowhere and leave a person little time to react or move out of the way. In fact, slip and fall accidents can happen at home, at work and even at the grocery store. When people in South Carolina are aware of the hazards that can increase the risk of falling, they can be better educated to make informed decisions that will protect them and the people around them.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, emergency rooms around the United States see an average of 3 million patients each year who have been injured in a slip and fall accident. Of these, over 800,000 are hospitalized as they recover from the injuries they sustained in their accident.

Keeping yourself safe from 2 of the top construction accidents

On behalf of George Bishop of George B. Bishop, Jr. PA on Thursday, August 9, 2018.

Without a doubt, working in the construction injury puts you in harm's way. Just about everywhere you turn, you face the risk of injury. Between you and your employer, you may be able to find a way to minimize the hazards you face.

You probably use the proper safety equipment, receive the proper training and receive the opportunity to tell your employer if you need additional safety measures in order to avoid injury. Even when everyone does everything right and in accordance with the requirements set forth by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, you could still end up injured.

What is the ignition interlock device program?

On behalf of George Bishop of George B. Bishop, Jr. PA posted in dui/dwi on Wednesday, August 1, 2018.

There are many different penalties that the state of South Carolina may impose if you are caught drinking and driving. One of those is requiring you to put an ignition interlock device on your vehicle. The South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services explains that the ignition interlock device program was first established in 2007 with updates to the program in 2014 and 2015.

The program must be completed when ordered by the court. It is monitored by the SCDPPPS. If you are convicted of a DUI the first time and your blood alcohol content was .15 or more, then you will have to complete the program. You cannot drive without the IID. If you do, you face stiff penalties. It is also illegal to tamper with the device or try to alter the results in any way.

How to make motorcycles more noticeable on the road

On behalf of George Bishop of George B. Bishop, Jr. PA posted in personal injury on Wednesday, July 18, 2018.

The major dilemma for motorcycles as they share a South Carolina road with other vehicles is how to remain noticed in the eyes of nearby motorists. Due to the small size of motorcycles, many drivers may not be aware of them as they approach. While all drivers should be vigilant for vehicles around them to avoid potential auto accidents, motorcyclists can improve their visibility in several ways.

The color of the motorcycle is a good place to start. According to Ride Apart, dark colored bikes, especially at night, can be harder to notice. Bikes painted in brighter colors, on the other hand, are much easier to spot. Even if a brightly colored bike only buys you a few more seconds of visibility, those extra seconds could give a nearby motorist time to swerve out of the way and prevent a possibly fatal collision.

Do you take steps to avoid common types of car accidents?

On behalf of George Bishop of George B. Bishop, Jr. PA on Friday, July 13, 2018.

Most people hope to avoid car accidents, but the majority of individuals end up in some type of vehicle crash at some point in their lives. Hopefully, the incident does not have serious outcomes, but you may suffer injuries if another driver collides with your car. Remaining aware can help with your safety, but awareness cannot prevent all accidents.

While not completely preventative, understanding different accidents and how they happen can still allow you to do your best to avoid causing a crash. In the event that someone else causes an accident, you may then need to understand your legal options.