Personal Injury

November 26, 2024

Can You Sue for Food Poisoning? The Rules & Rights in SC

Our client Jane (name changed for privacy) went out to dinner with her husband at a popular barbecue restaurant. What should have been a pleasant evening quickly turned into a nightmare when Jane found herself in the emergency room hours after eating a specific dish. Jane’s case is far from unique. Recent months have exposed a disturbing trend of foodborne illness outbreaks across the U.S., with national headlines reporting incidents like the recent McDonald’s E. coli outbreak that has sickened at least 73 people across 15 states and tragically claimed one life. For those impacted, understanding their legal rights is the first step toward securing compensation and preventing similar incidents from occurring.   Understanding Food Poisoning from Medical and Legal Perspectives Food poisoning, or foodborne illness, occurs when someone consumes food or beverages contaminated with harmful bacteria, viruses, or toxins. Common contaminants include E. coli, salmonella, norovirus, and listeria, each […]
October 9, 2024

Hit by A Carolina Squat Truck? The New Law is Now in Effect

South Carolina’s roads can be quite deadly. According to USA Today, South Carolina was ranked the state with the second-highest rate of fatal car accidents in 2022, with 24 deadly crashes per 100,000 vehicles. In response to these alarming statistics, the government has stepped up efforts to improve road safety. One significant measure is the legislation of the South Carolina Squat Ban. Although the law was officially passed in November 2023, authorities provided a 180-day “grace period” for owners to bring their squat trucks into compliance. Now, as this period has ended, driving a Carolina Squat truck is officially illegal, and doing so will bear consequences.    The Background to the South Carolina Squat Ban The legislative push for the Carolina Squat law gained urgency following a tragic incident in 2021, where a “squatted” pickup truck struck and killed a pedestrian in Myrtle Beach. Indeed, the dangers of these vehicles […]
February 22, 2024

Report Your Vaccine Injury in the National VAERS Database

Overall, vaccines benefit human society. They help eradicate diseases, curb the spread of infectious illnesses, and prevent death. Most vaccine administrations don’t trigger significant complications, allowing individuals and society to function smoothly. And although rare, adverse reactions do occur, sparking debates and opposition regarding vaccine safety. Those voices don’t go unheard. The government provides various platforms for the public to report post-vaccination health issues, contributing to ongoing analyses and investigations to refine vaccines. The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is one such vaccine safety monitoring system.  In this post, we explain what vaccine injuries and the VAERS are, and what your next steps should be. 
March 8, 2023

Safety, Batteries, and You: Reminders About High-Capacity Battery Safety

Every device used to read this article contains a battery. Batteries are essential to our lives. They help us connect with friends and even make video calls during power outages. As devices have become more powerful, the batteries inside have become denser, with higher outputs and quicker charge times. This growth has resulted in less expensive batteries capable of powering even high-performance sports cars. But there is a human cost to these batteries’ increased power and capacity because the energy stored inside a battery can be hazardous—and sometimes fatal. News reports about the dangers of batteries are nothing new but are becoming increasingly common. While we must follow certain limitations when using batteries, such as during air travel, when mailing items, and throwing them away, there are many hidden dangers. Just in January, a multi-family home was burned down in Brockton, NY, after a lithium-ion battery caught fire as a […]
March 2, 2023

Allison Sullivan named to SC Lawyers Weekly’s Personal Injury Law Power List

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Allison Sullivan, a partner with Bluestein Attorneys, has been named to South Carolina Lawyers Weekly’s Personal Injury Law Power List, which has been published in the magazine’s February edition. The Power List “recognizes attorneys doing important work in their respective disciplines, and in the community,” according to Jason Thomas, executive editor at SC Biz News. Designation to the Power List is the result of peer nomination, which recognizes top lawyers in South Carolina, who are then selected by the editorial board of South Carolina Lawyers Weekly. Allison has dedicated her career to leveling the playing field for those who have been injured across the state of South Carolina. Whether hurt at work or injured by the negligence of others, Allison fights for those who have sustained serious and catastrophic personal injury to receive justice and rebuild their lives. She is also a fierce advocate for veterans, and […]
April 13, 2021

Distracted Driving Part 2

Last week, we took a look at what to do if you’re pulled over for texting and driving in South Carolina — this week, we’ll be discussing what you may be entitled to if you are involved in a car wreck where the at-fault driver was texting when the accident occurred. While there are increasing numbers of high-profile campaigns to discourage distracted driving, the truth is that more people are texting behind the wheel in 2016 than ever before. This has led to an increasing number of car wrecks in which texting was a significant factor in the cause of the collision — and the rate of injuries is increasing, too. If you’ve been the victim of a vehicular collision in which the person at fault was texting while driving, you may be entitled to compensation to help cover your medical bills, car repairs, and other problems that occur as a […]
December 29, 2020

Traumatic Brain Injury: Get the Facts

While traumatic brain injuries may make the national news headlines when it involves beloved NFL players, what’s often lost in these news articles is the reality that traumatic brain injuries are shockingly common and have many different causes. These injuries can leave the injured and their loved ones wondering what they can do if they’ve suffered a traumatic brain injury in their own lives. Today, we’re going to take a few minutes to walk you through TBI, its possible effects, and steps you may be able to take to help your injured family member or loved one in their fight to protect their rights.
June 11, 2020

Boater Safety in South Carolina

Summertime is a boater’s favorite season. With all of the good times that come with spending summer days on a boat, however, there is also a fair amount of potential risk that comes with the territory. Whether you own a boat or you know someone who does, simply being on board makes you responsible for knowing and following proper safety precautions. Too many injuries happen on South Carolina’s lakes and beaches every year. Don’t let your boating story be one of them.