Thursday July 5 a North Carolina truck driver, Clifton Paul Ellis, was charged with a misdemeanor death by vehicle after killing a 49-year-old bicycle rider on the road. Steve Laverne Jordan was a director of mental health in NC and was hit by the large unloaded truck who failed to reduce speed when attempting to pass the bicyclist on the road.
Ellis claims that he was attempting to pass Jordan on the road however, he wasn’t able to get the tractor-trailer on the back of his truck under control in time. According to § 20-141.4, a misdemeanor death is a charge in which the casualty occurs unintentionally by a vehicle and the driver is in some form of violation of State law or traffic regulation. Ellis’ failure to reduce speed was his traffic violation, and the death considered a misdemeanor because he was planning on passing the bike, not hitting it.
It is misfortune that events like these do happen on the roads. Hearing tragic stories like this should encourage those on the road, both bike riders and vehicle drivers alike, to be more aware of their surroundings in hope to avoid these dangerous consequences. When these events do happen, it is very important to have an attorney on your side that has a thorough understanding of the law and the rights for individuals that are involved.
Whether it is for the person charged of the crime, or the victim of the accident, proper representation is vital in order to accurately portray the accident and receive the just and fair treatment that is deserved by law. At Lanier Law Group, P.A., we have experience in these types of legal cases and are more than willing to help clients fight for their rights and receive the compensation that is deserved if injured in an accident like this.