Auto Accident
by | July 3rd, 2012
July 2, 2012
Last year in Virginia, 245 lives were lost as a result of DUI accidents, according to the non-profit organization, Mother Against Drunk Driving. The group added that a majority of those accidents were caused by repeat offenders, many of whom were well above the legal blood alcohol limit of .08 percent.
In response to the problem of drunk drivers—repeat offenders in particular—Virginia recently passed a law that will make it a requirement for anyone convicted of DUI to have an ignition interlock system installed in their vehicle.
According to WVEC 13 News, the ignition interlock is a device designed to have a driver blow into a piece of equipment in order to start their vehicle. If the person has any amount of alcohol on their breath, the vehicle will not start.
Beginning this week, anyone convicted of DUI will have to have the device installed on their vehicle for no less than six months at their own expense, which could cost several thousand dollars. Past laws only required an ignition interlock be imposed upon a second-time or subsequent offender, or when the offender’s BAC is 0.15 percent or above.
With the Fourth of July holiday fast approaching, the Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley would like to encourage motorists to use a designated driver or call a cab if you’ve been drinking to help avoid causing a preventable Norfolk car accident.
by admin@gotechark.com | June 11th, 2012
June 11, 2012
A 43-year-old woman from James City County, Virginia is recuperating today after being seriously injured in a hit-and-run accident while cycling over the weekend. According to WVEC 13 News, the accident happened yesterday afternoon on a rural road.
Although the woman who was injured has no recollection of the incident, police believe that the driver of the vehicle involved hit the woman from behind and then sped away, leaving her bleeding on the road.
Luckily, another motorist who was passing by rendered aid and emergency help was summoned. The victim was taken to a local hospital to be treated for several broken bones in her legs. Doctors told her that they were shocked that she was not paralyzed by the accident.
While it may seem unthinkable not to help someone after striking them with a vehicle, Virginia sees a surprisingly high number of hit-and-run accidents each year. The law in the Commonwealth of Virginia states that committing such a crime is considered a felony if a death or injury results from the accident.
This is why the Virginia Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley say it is so important to stop immediately if you feel you have been involved in an accident. The firm also strongly suggests that cyclists protect themselves from injury in the event of a Virginia Auto Accident by always wearing a helmet as well as bright or reflective clothing to increase their visibility on the road.
by admin@gotechark.com | June 4th, 2012
June 4, 2012
A 43-year-old woman suspected of hitting a family of four with a pickup truck while driving under the influence was in court today to face five different charges stemming from the incident. According to WAVY-TV 10 News, the suspect was charged with three counts of DUI maiming, DUI 2nd Offense, and reckless driving.
The incident occurred on January 19 around 7:40 a.m., in the yard of a residence near the corner of Chester Street and Paladin Drive. It was there that a man was waiting with three children for the school bus to pick them up. As the bus came to the corner and stopped it turned its lights on and put the stop sign out for children; however, the suspect apparently didn’t see the bus and failed to stop. To avoid a collision, she swerved around the bus and into the yard, where she hit the children.
One of those injured, a 7-year-old girl, suffered a broken femur and cracked eye socket that put her in a wheelchair for almost four months. The girl has also had to undergo numerous corrective surgeries.
If convicted, the woman could face up to 17 years in prison.
The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley ask that not only do motorists do their part to reduce Norfolk Auto Accidents by not drinking and driving, but to also hold other drivers accountable by reporting suspected drunk drivers to the proper authorities.
by admin@gotechark.com | May 7th, 2012
May 7, 2012
Distracted driving is at the heart of a fatal motorcycle accident that claimed the life of a 44-year-old Mechanicsville, Virginia, woman over the weekend. According to the Hampton Roads Dailey Press, the crash happened around 4:30 p.m. Saturday in the westbound lanes of I-64 just outside Williamsburg, Virginia.
A spokeswoman for the Virginia State Police, Sgt. Michelle Anaya, stated that witnesses told troopers they observed the woman riding her bike on the highway when she momentarily became distracted. The distraction caused the woman to drive the motorcycle off the shoulder of the road and into a ditch, where it then struck a tree.
Although the woman was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, she was declared dead at the scene by the medical examiner. Investigators say they will continue to look into alcohol as a possible contributing factor in the crash as well. They are awaiting toxicology reports to make that determination.
Studies by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration have found that alcohol is one of the leading causes of fatal traffic accidents in the United States today, and distractions are quickly becoming a close second.
That’s why the Norfolk Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley suggest always wearing a helmet, keeping your eyes on the road at all times, and never drinking and driving as the best way to prevent Norfolk Auto Accidents involving motorcycles.
by admin@gotechark.com | April 30th, 2012
April 30, 2012
Research by the National Sleep Foundation has found that 60 percent of adult drivers–about 168 million people–say they have driven a vehicle while feeling drowsy in the past year, and more than one-third have actually fallen asleep at the wheel. These drivers were responsible for the more than 100,000 accidents that resulted in an estimated 1,550 deaths and 71,000 injuries.
Five people were injured and a teen died as a result of one of these crashes just over two weeks ago. According to WVEC 13 News, the accident happened around 6:15 a.m. on Route 58 in Suffolk County, Virginia. The family was heading home to Virginia Beach when the father fell asleep at the wheel and veered off the highway. The SUV than ran into a culvert and rolled onto its side. No one in the vehicle was wearing a seatbelt at the time.
The mother and her 3-year-old daughter were ejected from the vehicle, while the father was able to crawl out of the wreckage. Two of the children were trapped inside the SUV, while their 16-year-old brother perished in the crash. The surviving five members of the family were taken to local hospitals to receive treatment.
Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley, the Norfolk Auto Accident Lawyer, says that it’s important that motorists never drive when drowsy or sleep-deprived. He adds that if you do become tired while driving, pull over immediately and rest.
by admin@gotechark.com | April 23rd, 2012
April 23, 2012
As motorists, we do everything in our power to keep ourselves and others safe on the road. All too often though, it’s another person’s negligent behavior that causes crashes resulting in injury or death.
Take, for instance, the recent case of man who injured two others after driving erratically and being chased by police in Norfolk, Virginia. According to WAVY-TV 10 News, Norfolk police officers pulled over a Green Lexus sedan at Chesapeake Boulevard and Johnston Road after observing the driver make several unsafe maneuvers. As officers approached the vehicle, the driver slammed on the gas and sped away because he was driving without a valid license at the time. In the process, he hit and injured one of the officers.
The driver then hit a curb and collided with a Toyota stopped at a red light. The driver of the Lexus was not properly restrained at the time of the collision and was thrown approximately 30 feet after being ejected from the vehicle. He was taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital where he remains in stable condition. He could face charges in connection with the incident pending the outcome of a full investigation.
Accidents such as these is why they Norfolk Auto Accident Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley encourage drivers to stay safe on Virginia’s highways by buckling up, obeying the posted speed limit of the road, and always driving defensively.
by admin@gotechark.com | April 9th, 2012
April 9. 2012
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently announced that it would begin utilizing smaller dummies during crash tests. According to ABC News, the decision came after it was determined that women and children are more likely to be injured in car accidents.
A spokesman for General Motors, Jack Jensen, stated that the company now utilizes approximately 200 dummies to test the safety of their vehicles—35 of which are modeled after females. The reason for the different size dummies is because individuals with smaller bone density, such as women and children, are more likely to suffer injuries in a crash.
Initial tests reveal that women run a greater risk of being injured in frontal and side accidents. The tests also revealed that unlike male passengers, if an air bag goes off and strikes a female driver or passenger, it doesn’t always deflate—instead, it may give her whiplash.
Another addition to the crew of dummies is based on a 10-year-old child. The NHTSA stated that they added these dummies to the group to examine the affects a crash will have if a child over 65 pounds is restrained in a booster seat.
The Norfolk Auto Accident Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley Injury Lawyers hope that the new dummies will help the industry create better ways to keep automobile consumers safe from the dangers of a crash.
by admin@gotechark.com | April 3rd, 2012
April 2, 2012
According to the University of Virginia Center for Applied Biomechanics, women are more likely to be injured in car accidents than men. The study, reported by The Birmingham News, found that female drivers were 47 percent more likely to suffer serious injuries than men in collisions.
The findings were attributed to physical differences in men and women as well as the way vehicles are designed.
The discovery was made when researchers examined the crash test dummies used by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA). They found that the dummies used since 1978 didn’t match up with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention standard for the average size of an American. Since 2003, different sized test dummies have been utilized to determine the effects crashes have on different sized bodies. Researchers concluded that the smaller the body, the less force it could withstand in an accident.
With the NHTSA recognizing that women account for more than one quarter of all drivers killed in car accidents, they will now be utilizing new dummies closer to the average size of a woman.
The Norfolk Auto Accident Lawyers with Lowell “ The Hammer” Stanley say that the best way to stay safe in the car is to buckle up, slow down, and drive defensively. Following these simple tips will increase your chances of survival and reduce your chances of injury if you’re involved in a crash.
by admin@gotechark.com | March 27th, 2012
March 26, 2012
Slick roads and low visibility may have played a part in a single-vehicle accident that left one woman injured Sunday night. According to WVEC 13 News, the crash happened around 7:40 p.m. at the intersection of Route 58, better known as Holland Road, and Chappell Drive.
Troopers with the Virginia State Police who responded to the scene say that it was raining when the woman lost control of her vehicle and crashed. The woman was trapped inside the vehicle for several hours before rescue crews were able to cut her free using the Jaws of Life. She was taken to a local hospital to receive treatment for serious injuries she sustained in the crash. She remains there in stable condition.
Investigators say they will continue to look into the cause of the accident.
Slick road conditions contribute to thousands of wrecks on America’s highways each year. The best way to ensure you do not become a statistic in one of these accidents is to monitor the tread on your tires carefully and rotate them on a regular basis. You also should always buckle up and follow the posted speed limits.
The Norfolk Auto Accident Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley understand just how dangerous driving during inclement weather conditions can be. That is why they ask that all motorists do their part to keep the highways safe by driving carefully and patiently at all times.
by admin@gotechark.com | March 5th, 2012
March 5, 2012
A motorcyclist was severely injured after being involved in a two-vehicle crash in South Richmond, Virginia, Thursday evening. According to reports from The Richmond Times-Dispatch, the accident happened at 10:02 p.m. at the intersection of Patsy Ann Drive and Broad Rock Boulevard.
A spokesman for the Richmond Police Department, Captain Paul Kiniry, stated that the vehicle was pulling out onto Broad Rock Boulevard when the driver failed to give right of way to a passing motorcycle, causing the motorcyclist to fall off the bike and slide across the asphalt.
The driver and a female passenger on the bike were taken to VC Medical Center where the driver underwent immediate surgery. The driver of the motorcycle lost a leg as a result of the crash. The passenger was treated for several minor contusions and lacerations and was later released. The driver of the other vehicle that was involved did not require hospitalization.
Kiniry added that the motorcyclists’ lives may have very well been saved by the fact that they were wearing helmets at the time the accident occurred. Virginia law requires that all riders wear a helmet and other protective gear.
The Virginia Motorcycle Accident Attorneys with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley cannot reiterate enough how important it is to wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle. Not only could it save your life, but it could also affect the outcome of a personal injury lawsuit if you are injured.
