The aroma of hotdogs and hamburgers is soon going to fill the air! Memorial Day is upon us! Most know this holiday as one filled with family cookouts and time spent at the beach. Wilmington natives avoid traffic, as they know this city is a premier destination for those all over the state. For tourist’s driving to the local area, it is advised to leave home early in order to help avoid traffic that occurs on the highways. This year, the NCDOT is halting construction projects on major highways in an effort to help its citizens reach their holiday destinations safely and without strife. According to the NCDOT website, NCDOT will put on hold most construction projects along interstate, N.C. and U.S. routes from 4 p.m. on Friday, May 22, until 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26, with these exceptions:

• U.S. 158 (Elizabeth Street) in Elizabeth City is reduced to one lane in each direction from Road Street to the Pasquotank River Bridge for resurfacing and construction of a new bridge;
• U.S. 264 in Dare County will be reduced to one of two lanes controlled by temporary traffic signals in three locations for the replacement of three bridges. Lane closures are located between Stumpy Point and the Hyde County line;
• Two bridges in Brunswick County on N.C. 211 over the Honey Island Swamp will have intermittent lane closures in order for crews to realign the roadway and replace both bridges and approaches;
• Third Street in New Hanover County is closed for a bridge replacement with a signed detour;
• I-85 southbound between the Virginia state line and the U.S. 1 interchange will have lane closures in place day and night as crews work to strengthen the shoulders and patch concrete; and
• I-73 in Guilford County is reduced to two lanes in each direction between Wendover Avenue and I-85.

Today, the NCDOT launched its “Click It or Ticket” campaign. This campaign reminds drivers and passengers alike that everyone in the vehicle must properly wear their seat belts at all times. Not wearing a seat belt is unsafe and costly; court costs for this infraction are typically around $160.00.

With most activities that occur during the holiday, adults will be drinking alcoholic beverages. Please remember to have a designated driver if you plan on drinking. According to MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), every two minutes, a person is injured in a drunk driving accident.

If you will be in the waterway’s this weekend, remember to wear proper life jackets. In 2013, the U.S. Coast Guard counted 4,062 accidents, 560 deaths, 2,620 injuries, and approximately $39 million dollars of property damage as a result of recreational boating accidents. Where cause of death was known, 77% of fatal boating accident victims drowned. Of those drowning victims, 84% were not wearing a life jacket.

May is also Motorcycle Awareness Month. Be sure to share the road and check all areas surrounding your vehicle before changing lanes.

If you or someone you know have been hurt in a boating or motorcycle accident, or is seeking representation in a criminal or traffic matter, please call the professionals at Collins Law Firm for a confidential consultation at 910-793-9000.

By: Brittany Bryant, Legal Assistant

Hurricane Earl is rapidly approaching coastal North Carolina, and many people in our area are likely to be affected by this storm.

Those in the affected areas may sustain damage to their property. If they have home owners insurance, some or all of the damages may be covered. However, in order to increase the chances of claims being paid accurately, you should document the damage. For example, if you live in a flood-prone area and are likely to incur flood damage, you should videotape the areas likely to be affected before the damage occurs to show the pre-damage state of your property. Likewise, if you are likely to sustain damage to the exterior of you dwelling, videotape or take pictures of the exterior to show what good shape it was in prior to the storm.

If you are in an area where there is a mandatory evacuation and you fail to evacuate, there may not be emergency services available to you for a period of  time. Therefore, if you are in an area with a mandatory evacuation you should heed the warnings and evacuate.

Collins Law Firm hopes that no one gets injured in this storm and that the property damage will only be slight or none at all.