Help for Spinal Cord Injury Patients and thier families

If you have suffered a spinal cord injury resulting in paraplegia or quadriplegia, no amount of financial compensation can make up for all you have lost. However, if you are fairly compensated, you will be able to afford adaptive transportation, home modifications, personal care attendants and other accommodations needed to restore dignity and self-sufficiency.

At the law firm of Powers McCartan in North Carolina, our lawyers will serve as zealous advocates to guide you through the complex legal, medical and financial issues you will face.

Lifetime Planning

While spinal cord damage is usually permanent, there are a number of things that can help you regain maximum independence despite your disability. A financial settlement should make it possible for you to pay for therapy, services and adaptive devices such as:

• Occupational therapy
• Job retraining
• Special vans
• Motorized wheelchairs
• Home modifications
• Personal assistants

Whenever an accident results in a spinal cord injury, our lawyers will create a personal injury team that includes lawyers, economists, financial planners and medical consultants. Only by assessing your lifetime needs can we demand enough compensation to provide you with as much financial security as possible.

Our lawyers also represent clients who suffer diminished earning capacity and disability due to a herniated disc, lower back injury or neck injury.

Competent and Compassionate Assistance

At Powers McCartan, we limit the number of personal injury cases we handle so that we can give clients with the most serious injuries the time and attention they deserve. If you have been paralyzed or have suffered a spinal cord injury that prevents you from working, we know that your financial needs will be immediate. Our lawyers will work hard to negotiate a settlement. However, we are never afraid to file suit and try your case in court to help you obtain a just verdict.

Free attorney consultation

We are eager to serve spinal cord injury victims and their families. We offer free attorney consultations on the phone, in the office, or in your home or the hospital if you are unable to travel. We are accessible 24 hours a day through our office phone at 704.342.4357 or (866) 638-3134. You can also schedule an appointment by completing our simple contact form. Se habla Español.

North Carolina DWI First Offense

For many people facing a DWI, this is their first criminal charge and they have no idea what to expect. If this is what you’re currently going through, you should contact an experienced DWI defense attorney to guide you through this stressful and confusing process. A DWI defense attorney can help alleviate the anxiety you’re feeling by answering your questions about the pending penalties you could face upon conviction. Plus, it just makes you feel better to know that there is someone out there who is on your side. 

What to Expect for a North Carolina DWI First Offense 

DWI is somewhat odd in North Carolina, as there is a special statute for sentencing impaired driving.  Many people think that DWI offenses are classified as a misdemeanor.  Frankly, impaired driving is not truly a misdemeanor or felony, except in the case of Habitual Impaired Driving. For simplicity sake, DWI cases are more similar to misdemeanors than felonies. Prior to sentencing, the judge will take into account whether or not you had any aggravated or grossly aggravating factors associated with your DWI charge. For example, the judge will look to see if your breath test was well above the legal limit or if you had a minor in your vehicle. You will be sentenced based on one of five levels, with Level One being the most serious. There is quite a difference in penalties based on your sentencing level. In certain circumstances it is also possible that your vehicle can be impounded and sold at auction; during which time you can be responsible for the impoundment fees. Depending on your case, you may also be required to complete community service and can even be put on probation. 

Under North Carolina law, a DWI first offense conviction results in a mandatory 12-month license suspension, depending on the judge’s decision. However, it may be possible for you to obtain a conditional license ten days after the 30-day pre-trial revocation. There are numerous conditions to obtain a Pre-Trial Limited Driving Privilege 

For more information, please contact North Carolina DWI defense attorney Bill Powers of the Law Offices of Powers McCartan today. 

Legal Help for Families of Wrongful Death Victims in North Carolina

Nothing in life is more painful than burying a family member who has died due to the wrongful or careless actions of another person. The aftermath of a fatal car accident, drowning or electrocution is emotionally devastating for the survivors who must deal with the emotional and financial reality of the loss. Having a lawyer who can manage legal and financial issues and explain your rights to compensation can be very helpful.

At the law firm of Powers McCartan in Charlotte, North Carolina, our lawyers are dedicated to offering compassionate assistance to families who have lost a loved one in a deadly accident. We handle the following types of wrongful death cases:

• Car accidents
• Drowning
• Truck accidents
• Electrocutions
• Boating accidents
• Other motor vehicle accidents

If you think the accident was caused by someone else’s negligence, immediate steps should be taken to investigate. Our lawyers will work with accident reconstructionists and investigators to collect and preserve physical evidence that can establish liability in court. That evidence may include skid marks, wrecked vehicles and witness statements.

There are many issues a family must deal with after a son, daughter, father or mother has died in an accident. You may need to set up an estate for your family member and name a personal representative. Our lawyers can assist you in this process. We will guide you through the complex legal and insurance issues your family will face. One of our lawyers can also serve as a spokesperson for the family if you are contacted by the media.

We know that financial compensation can never make up for the death of a loved one. However, our lawyers will work hard to protect the interests of the surviving family members and to seek to hold those who caused the injury accountable.

Free attorney consultation

We are eager to serve family members of wrongful death victims. We offer free attorney consultations on the phone, in the office, or in your home or the hospital if you are unable to travel. We are accessible 24 hours a day through our office phone at 704.342.4357 or (866) 638-3134. You can also schedule an appointment by completing our simple contact form. Se habla español.

North Carolina:Person License Suspension issues

When you’re arrested for DWI, the first thing that probably comes to mind is the penalties you’ll be facing in court.Unfortunately, the court penalties are not the only ones you face in the state of North Carolina. After being charged with DWI, the Clerk of the Court in the county where you were charged may notify the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The DMV may then seek to suspend your driver’s license. 

In cases where there is a reading of .08 or higher, or where you are accused of “willfully refusing” the blood and/or breath test, the charging officer may automatically seize your license. Thereafter, the Clerk of Court will forward a Notice of Suspension/Revocation to the Department of Transportation/Division of Motor Vehicles. This is an extraordinarily complex area of law. In that each case or set of charges may be different, it makes sense to seek out experienced legal counsel. Keep in mind that this license suspension occurs before you have even entered a court room. DWI defense attorney Bill Powers of the Law Offices of Powers McCartan can help you not only in criminal court but also with any proceeding allowed by the DMV. 

The administrative license suspension applies to drivers who were arrested for having a blood alcohol content (BAC) at or above the state’s legal limit of .08%. 

From filing the necessary paperwork on time to ensuring that your interests are zealously represented, DWI defense attorney Bill Powers is there to help you.

Person Standing On One leg Test in North Carolina

Have you recently been charged with DWI in North Carolina? Did a police officer ask you to perform a known as the one-leg stand? If so, you should contact DWI defense attorney Bill Powers right away. Bill Powers of the Law Offices of Powers McCartan focuses his practice on and can scrutinize the evidence of your one-leg stand test results. While this test is standardized by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, there are many things that can go wrong during the test. 

For example, did you know that police have certain protocols that they must follow when administering a field sobriety test? Prior to asking you to take the test, the officer must weigh certain factors such as: are you more than 50 pounds overweight, over 65 years old or physically handicapped? If so, you should not take this test. Also if you are wearing heels more than 2” high, you should be allowed to take them off before the test. 

The officer must also make sure that you can perform the test in a safe environment, away from traffic. You cannot be expected to pass this test if you’re standing on a slippery surface, if you’re on a hill or if it’s windy. If it’s determined that you are a candidate that could be expected to reasonably perform this test, the officer must first explain and then demonstrate how to complete the test. 

When you begin the test, the officer will first ask you to raise one of your legs (you have the right to choose which leg) six inches off the ground. You must keep your arms at your sides and cannot use them to help you balance. As you do this, the officer will ask you to count out loud to 30 by thousands:  one thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three, and so forth all the way to thirty.  

During the test, the officer will observe you to see if you use your arms to balance, hop, put your foot down more than twice, or sway while balancing. The officer will likely say that you failed to satisfactorily perform the test if he or she observed you exhibiting two of these clues or cues during the one-leg stand test. 


One Leg Stand
• Instruction Stage – Stand with feet together and arms at side, don’t move from this position until told to do so.
• Do you understand?
• Approximately 6 inches off the ground keeping foot point
• Keep both legs straight, look at your elevated foot, count out loud One thousand and one, one thousand and two, and so on until told to stop
• Officer must time for 30 seconds
• Maximum of 4 clues for test

NHTSA certain individuals over 65 years of age, back, leg or inner ear problems, or people who are overweight by 50 or more pounds had difficulty performing this test.
Individuals wearing heels more than 2” high should be given the opportunity to remove their shoes

One Leg Stand “Clues” or “Cues”

1.  Sway
2.  Arms to balance
3.  Hops
4.  Puts foot down

America:North Carolina Opening Container Laws

If you were recently arrested for an open container vehicle violation in the state of North Carolina, it is important to contact an experienced DWI defense attorney like Bill Powers of the Law Offices of Powers McCartan. Just like an open container violation is considered a serious crime and can affect you for years down the road. 

Open container laws are regulated by the states and the federal government. Many states have decided to mandate some open container laws because the federal government has created incentives for doing so. 

For instance, the federal government created the TEA-21 (Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century). The TEA-21 has an overview of guidelines concerning having open containers of alcohol in motor vehicles. While the TEA-21 is meant to be “voluntary,” states are finding it very beneficial to follow the guidelines of this act. If a state follows the guidelines as outlined in the act, they will continue to receive for their highways. If the state chooses not to follow the guidelines, a portion of their roadway funds will instead be diverted to go to alcohol education programs. 

As you probably guessed, many states want to receive this funding so they tend to comply with this act. Up until relatively recently, passengers could drink beer and non-fortified wine in the passenger area of the vehicle as long as the driver had not consumed any amount of alcohol. North Carolina joined other states around the country to make ANY open container an offense. The penalty for a passenger open container is less than if the driver of a vehicle is drinking and driving.   

Because the State of North Carolina complies with the TEA-21 act, driving with an open alcohol container is a serious crime with possible long term effects and penalties, especially for the driver of a motor vehicle. Don’t let the state convict you without first arming yourself with an experienced DWI defense attorney – contact Bill Powers today. 

What Renters Insurance Covers?

Do you live in a rental apartment, duplex, condo, townhouse, dorm, or other leased property? While your landlord’s insurance coverage protects the building you live in, it is up to you to protect your personal property. For a very affordable price, renters insurance coverage protects your personal property, and renters insurance will even reimburse you for reasonable living expenses if you are displaced as a result of a covered event – like a fire. Plus, if someone has an injury while at your home and consequently sues you, renters insurance coverage can help protect your assets.
Protect your personal property
With renters insurance coverage, your personal property can be insured for losses due to a variety of reasons, including:

Break In
Fire
Smoke
Vandalism
Windstorm
Lightning
Earthquake (optional and available in California only)
What renters insurance coverage protects
Renters insurance coverage protects items that are found in an "average" home, such as your TV, stereo, computer, or clothing. Depending on the insurance policy, renters insurance can also provide:
Personal property replacement, which pays for the cost to repair or replace most covered items without deduction for depreciation (up to the policy limits)
Insurance coverage up to $100,000 for personal liability claims made against you for bodily injury or property damage to which coverage applies
Insurance coverage for guest medical benefits, additional emergency living expenses, and credit card protection (within policy limits)
Insurance coverage of the personal property in your car, garage, or storage unit. For example, if your computer is stolen from your car, the loss would likely be covered by your renters insurance.
More about renters insurance coverage.
Need more information? Read our frequently asked questions.
Renters Quote Online

Ross University School of Medicine and Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine to Recognize More than 1,000 students

New graduates of Ross University School of medicine (RUSM) and Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) will converge for a joint commencement ceremony on June 8 at the IZOD Center in the Meadowlands Complex in East Rutherford, N.J. William Karesh, DVM, a pioneer in the One Health movement, will deliver the keynote address.

The One Health initiative encourages collaboration between physicians, veterinarians, and other health care professionals to attain optimal health for people, animals, and the environment.

"The health of people, animals, and the planet are inextricably linked," said Karesh, executive vice president for health and policy at Eco Health Alliance, a One Health-focused organization. "I'm honored to address this year's graduates of Ross University School of Medicine and Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. These are the only two schools I am aware of that are putting the concept of One Health directly into its commencement ceremony, recognizing that physicians and veterinarians are equally integral to the future of health worldwide."

RUSM will confer Doctor of Medicine degrees on nearly 900 graduates, while RUSVM will award about 300 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees. The commencement ceremony marks the end of an eventful year for both schools. RUSM graduates, under the leadership of dean and chancellor Joseph Flaherty, MD, landed a record number of residency positions. At RUSVM, newly appointed dean Elaine Watson, PhD has undertaken a strategic plan to develop the school's research agenda and postgraduate.

Andrew Jeon, MD, MBA, president of DeVry medical International (DMI), will also address the graduates. This will be Jeon's first Ross graduation since joining DMI in October 2011. "RUSM and RUSVM have a wonderful tradition of educatinghealthcare professionals to serve society. I have been both impressed and inspired by the energy, enthusiasm, and dedication of our students. It is a privilege to share this occasion with our 2012 graduates," said Jeon.

About Ross University School of Medicine

Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) was founded in 1978 and is a provider of medical education offering a Doctor ofMedicine degree program. Students begin their foundational studies in Dominica, West Indies, and complete their clinical training in teaching hospitals throughout the United States. RUSM graduates obtain more US residencies than graduates of any other medical school in the world. For more information about RUSM, visit http://www.rossu.edu/medical-school/.

About Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine

Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM), founded in 1982, is committed to educating highly-trained veterinarians to serve society's needs. RUSVM students complete their academic program on a technologically-advanced campus in St. Kitts, West Indies, before completing the final clinical year of the program in one of the over 20 AVMA-accredited U.S. veterinary schools affiliated with RUSVM. RUSVM is accredited by the St. Christopher & Nevis Accreditation Board (www.gov.kn) and the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education (www.avma.org) to offer the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree program. The RUSVM Veterinary Teaching Hospital is the only facility outside the U.S. and Canada accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association. For more information about RUSVM, visit http://www.rossu.edu/veterinary-school/.

RUSM and RUSVM are members of the DeVry Medical International (DMI) family. DMI is part of DeVry Inc. (NYSE: DV, member S&P 500 Index).

DeVry Medical International
Nicole Pride, 732-509-4600
npride@devrymedical.org