The planning and design for the Cape Fear Crossing Project has been postponed indefinitely, as of August 13, 2019.

The Cape Fear Crossing would involve a 9.5 mile stretch of road and bridge that would help alleviate traffic congestion to and from the Port of Wilmington.  The cost of the bridge would be approximately $1 Billion, with 80% federal funding, and the other 20% coming from the State of North Carolina.  The Cape Fear Crossing would also impact neighborhoods on either side of the Cape Fear River, including Brunswick Forest and Mallory Creek.

The draft of the State Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) was released this month, which revealed that the Cape Fear Crossing did not score high enough on the plan to receive sufficient funds to continue moving forward with planning and design.

One deadline to pick a preferred roadway (out of six) set for June of this year was pushed back initially, because of the volume of input at a public hearing held in April of this year, where about 650 people attended at North Brunswick High School to voice their opinions on the new bridge.

To be reconsidered for funding in the future, the project will need to be submitted by the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.  The NCDOT will be releasing the next draft STIP in February 2022.  However, even if the project gets reentered by then, work would not actually begin until 2032 or even later.

When travelling back and forth between Brunswick and New Hanover Counties, be aware of other drivers, as well as construction hazards and emergency vehicles.  Pay attention, abide by the NC laws, and stay safe, especially as we head into this next school season.

However, should you or someone you know get injured in an accident, or receive a citation for a traffic violation in Southeastern North Carolina, in or around Wilmington, NC, in New Hanover County, Brunswick County, or Pender County, contact Collins Law Firm at 910-793-9000 for a confidential consultation.

By Karen M. Thompson, Paralegal

This holiday season AAA is expecting 103 million Americans to travel, which is nearly 1.5 million more people than last year. While many people choose to fly to their Christmas destinations, AAA is predicting that more people will be driving this year than previous years. It is very important that those driving, no matter the distance, are prepared for their travel. Make sure you’ve recently gotten an oil change, check your tires to make sure they have the right pressure, never let your gas tank get below ¼ of a tank while traveling, and secure all luggage in your car.

While traveling with a car load of family members, or even alone, traffic can make things very stressful. However, it is very important that you remember that patience is key in these situations to make sure everyone on the roads remains safe. If you need to be at your destination by a specific time, AAA suggests that you leave earlier than you normally would as you should expect delays during this holiday season.

Law enforcement will be on all North Carolina roads through the New Year enforcing their annual Booze It & Lose It campaign. The goal of this campaign is to keep the roads safe this holiday season and help save lives. It is very important that you do not get into a car after you have been drinking as it can have deadly consequences. Last December alone there were 431 fatalities due to car accidents involving a drunk driver. To try to avoid this, there will be an increased number of saturation patrols and checkpoints so that people know they will be stopped and charged if they are drinking and driving over the legal limit. There are several DWI Task Force teams funded by the N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program and these officers are responsible for working nightly to catch impaired drivers. These Task Force teams are located in many different counties, including, Brunswick County, NEw Hanover County, Pender County.

Please be safe, smart, and avoid distractions this holiday season! However, if you happen to find yourself in trouble, whether it be a traffic ticket, car accident, or a criminal charge such as an alcohol related offense, please call Collins Law Firm for a confidential consultation at 910-793-9000.

By Kimberlin Murray, Legal Assistant

North Carolina residents have been keeping a close eye on Hurricane Matthew this past week.  On Monday, Governor Pat McCrory issued a state of emergency for 66 North Carolina counties, including New Hanover County, Brunswick County, and Pender County.  This hurricane was supposed to directly hit the coast, but the latest forecast track shows that this powerful storm is expected to make a sharp turn to the east as it nears the North Carolina Coast. This sharp turn is caused by an upper level trough which will move towards the eastern United States and force the hurricane away from moving up the east coast. It will also likely weaken into a Category 1 hurricane by this point.

Evacuation orders remain in place because Hurricane Matthew is still expected to brush our coast and could still bring damaging winds and flooding. To ensure safety, The University of North Carolina Wilmington has even issued a mandatory campus evacuation for all students starting Thursday at 12 p.m.

Although things are looking better for North Carolina, areas such as Wilmington, Southport, and Oak Island may still encounter dangerous weather conditions, so it is best to continue to be over-prepared. Here are a handful of tips that the Red Cross suggests you do to be prepared for a hurricane:

• Bring in anything that can be picked up by the wind (lawn furniture, bicycles, etc.)
• Fill your car’s gas tank
• Talk with your family and create an evacuation plan so that you are always prepared
• Make sure you have at least a 3-day supply of water
• Make sure you have flashlights, batteries, and a first aid kit
• Drive only if necessary and avoid flooded roads

These dangerous weather conditions may cause more traffic accidents and traffic citations, so we encourage everyone to be safe and extra cautious on the roads this weekend.  However, if you or someone you know gets into an accident or receives a traffic ticket, please give us a call at 910-793-9000 for a confidential consultation.

By Kimberlin S. Murray, Legal Assistant at Collins LAw Firm

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

On Tuesday night, May 12, 2015, an Amtrak train traveling from Washington, DC to New York City derailed in the Port Richmond neighborhood of northeast Philadelphia, leaving at least seven people dead and more than 200 injured. At 9:30p.m, during this seemingly normal commute, Amtrak Northeast Regional Train 188 approached a bend, traveling at a speed of 106 MPH, more than twice the speed limit (of 50 MPH) in this area of the track.

Investigators are now trying to determine the cause of this terrifying accident; is the engineer to blame, did equipment fail, or was something even entirely different the cause of this tragedy?  Some believe that the real issue is the absence of available safety technology which could have prevented the derailment of Amtrak Train 188.  When using this safety technology called Positive Train Control (PTC), especially equipped trains receive reliable and functional information, preventing unsafe train movements and thereby preventing accidents from happening.  PTC Systems monitor the movement of trains and take control over a train in case of human error.

In 2008 Congress mandated the implementation of PTC technology across most of our nation’s railroads by the end of 2015.  While Amtrak has already installed the technology in parts of its Northeast Corridor, questions remain as to why the technology was not available on a critical stretch, the curve in the Port Richmond neighborhood, where Amtrak Northeast Regional Train 188 derailed this past Tuesday night.

For many involved in this tragic accident, questions rise on how to cope with their losses and how to move on.  Obviously, those who were killed in the accident cannot be brought back to life, injuries that were sustained cannot be undone.  However, damages which can be recovered are compensation for the pain and suffering of the injured or deceased, expenses for medical care as a result of the injury, and so on.  Further investigation of the accident will reveal if punitive damages can also be recovered.

Amtrak’s liability however is capped at $200 million per accident.  While $200 million appears to be a large amount, in an accident as large as this one, the funds can become depleted quite quickly.

If you or someone you know have been hurt in a train accident, please call the professionals at Collins Law Firm for a free confidential in depth consultation at 910-793-9000.

By Jana H. Collins

”Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow” is the chant all the New Hanover County kids are chanting this morning as they await their winter wonderland. In anticipation of inclement weather New Hanover, Pender, Brunswick, Columbus, Bladen, and other surrounding counties have all cancelled school today and will probably do the same for tomorrow. In addition to schools being cancelled, many courts are closed as well.

While hopes are to get the fun and exciting snow, for now it seems that it is just a lot of sleet and ice. This can cause for slick and dangerous roads, especially for those who are not familiar with driving in these types of conditions. A good rule of thumb is to just stay off the roads, however if you must go out driving here are a few tips for safe driving:

1. Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop

2. When braking, brake gently to avoid skidding and if your wheels start to lock up then ease off the break.

3. Turn your lights on to increase your visibility to other motorists.

4. Keep your lights and windshield clean.

5. Use lower gears to keep traction, especially on hills.

6. Don’t use cruise control or overdrive

7. Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.

Be careful on the roads and avoid any unnecessary trips out of the house, yet if you or someone you know finds yourself in an accident or with a citation during this arctic takeover, then please contact us at Collins Law Firm at 910-793-9000910-793-9000 for a confidential consultation.

By Rachel Reynolds, Paralegal at Collins Law Firm

Year after year during the Thanksgiving holiday period we experience one of the most travel heavy times of the year.  This year a large storm threatens our Thanksgiving holiday travel and may require a lot of patience while on the roads.

This year, the North Carolina Highway Patrol along with numerous state police agencies will be patrolling along the I-40 corridor in an attempt to ensure a safe and uneventful driving environment through constant visibility.

In addition to the presence of law enforcement, motorists are urged to inform the State Highway Patrol at *Hp or at *47 of any careless or reckless driving they may observe.

Also, law enforcement all over North Carolina launched the Thanksgiving “Click it or Ticket” campaign, which will last through Sunday, December 1, 2013 in order to crack down on drivers who do not wear their seat belts.

While during last year’s Thanksgiving holiday, 11 fatal crashes and 432 injury collisions occurred, our law enforcement is hopeful to save lives and prevent injuries.

Spend this Thanksgiving holiday with your friends and or family, enjoy your turkey and pumpkin pie, and have a few drinks if you wish, but please, be patient in this holiday traffic and if you drink, do not drive – take a cab or have a designated driver.

Remember, should you receive a traffic ticket, get into a fender bender, serious accident, or receive a DUI/DWI this Thanksgiving holiday, call us at (910) 793-9000(910) 793-9000 .

By Jana Collins

In just a few weeks a new law will be going into effect in North Carolina called “The Hassani N. Wesley Students’ School Bus Safety Act.” This act was passed earlier this year, but is scheduled to come into effect on December 1^st, 2013. This bill will ultimately create harsher penalties for North Carolina drivers who illegally pass school buses.

The name of the bill originated from the unfortunate death of 11-year old, Hassani N. Wesley, who tragically died in December 2012 in Forsyth County, as he was struck by a vehicle which made an illegal pass of a stopped school bus. Unfortunately Hassani Wesley has not been the only fatality this calendar year – on October 17^th, 2013 MaKinzy Smith, a Rowan County teen was killed after he was hit by a car while crossing a two-lane road northeast of Salisbury to board his bus. Makinzy Smith’s death marked the 5^th fatality from school bus-related collisions this year and the 13^th student killed since 1998 in North Carolina after motorists illegally passed or did not heed a bus’s stop sign arm.

It goes without saying that everyone, state educators, politicians, and transportation authorities are welcoming the new law in hopes that the stricter punishments will change this growing statistic.

Pursuant to the current state law it is illegal to pass a stopped school bus  when a school bus’ mechanical stop arm is out or flashing red lights are on. Passing a stopped school bus is categorized as a misdemeanor, and if convicted, the driver will receive 5 points on their license and up to a $200 fine. However, if a driver strikes an individual it is categorized as a Class I felony and if the accident results in death it is then a Class H felony.

On December 1^st, 2013, under the Hassani N. Weslet Students’ School Bus Safety Act, a driver who passes a stopped school bus will be charged with a Class I misdemeanor and receive a minimum fine of $500 – a substantial increase from the previous $200 maximum.  In case of a second conviction under this new law within a three-year period one will have their driver’s license revoked for one year. If one is charges with a violation of this new law, they are not eligible for a prayer for judgment (P.J.C.) continued under any circumstances.

If you or anyone you know is charged with passing a stopped school bus, before or after December 1^st, 2013 then please contact Collins Law Firm at 910-793-9000910-793-9000 for a confidential consultation.

By Rachel Reynolds, Paralegal at Collins Law Firm

While the Easter holiday is traditionally not a heavy traffic weekend, this spring’s decrease in gas prices and predictions of pleasant weather for this Easter weekend may impact travel.  In addition, many North Carolina schools are on spring break contributing to traffic congestion.

However, do not try to make up for time lost by speeding—according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, speeding is one of the main causes of crashes and fatalities on North Carolina reads and was a factor in nearly 400 deaths last year.

Due to the increased amount of traffic it is especially critical to pay a little more attention to the speed limits and your driving habits during this holiday travel time.

Also, the Governor’s Highway Safety Program has teamed up with law enforcement across the state to step up enforcement as part of its “No Need 2 Speed” campaign in order to get motorists to obey the speed limit and slow down.

The focus of the officers’ effort will be noticeable on all roads, including interstates, major highways, rural two-lane roads and city streets across the state.

This week-long campaign was kicked off on Sunday, March 24, 2013 and will last through March 31, 2013.

However, should you or someone you know receive a traffic ticket, get into a fender bender, serious accident, or receive a DUI/DWI, call us at (910) 793-9000(910) 793-9000.

By Jana H. Collins, Office Manager

This weekend, on March 17, we will be celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day which is a cultural and religious holiday.  Saint Patrick (AD 385–461), after whom this holiday is named, is the most commonly recognized of the patron saints of Ireland.

Saint Patrick’s Day commemorates the arrival of Christianity in Ireland and was made an official feast day in the early 17th century.  This holiday is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Lutheran Church.  Nowadays, Saint Patrick’s Day has also become a celebration of Irishness and Irish Culture in general.

Celebrations of Saint Patrick’s Day involve public parades and festivities, and the wearing of green attire and shamrocks.  Prohibitions of the Lenten season against the consumption of meat and drinking alcohol are waived for the day.

Last year, unfortunately, more than 200 fatal collisions occurred due to drunk drivers who decided to get behind the wheel after Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations.

In an effort to deter those who have been drinking from getting behind the wheel, thousands of law enforcement officers across the state will be on patrol and DWI checkpoints.

If you find yourself questioning weather you had too many stouts, lagers, cream ales, ales, or else, do not risk getting arrested or worse, endangering your life or the lives of others. Play it safe and call a cab or have a sober friend take you home.

However, should you or someone you know receive a traffic ticket, get into a fender bender, serious accident, or receive a DUI/DWI, call us at (910) 793-9000(910) 793-9000 .

Stay safe, Wilmington!

By Jana H. Collins, Office Manager