Posted on March 05, 2015 in Commercial Vehicle Accidents

Cell phones have become an integral part of everyday life in Manassas and across the country. While mobile devices have undoubtedly made life easier in countless ways, they pose a threat when used in the wrong types of situations. Using a handheld cell phone, while driving, is illegal in Virginia. A police officer may even pull over a driver using such a device, even if they have not committed any other offense.

Virginia takes distracted driving seriously, which is why it is so important to commercial vehicle drivers to also obey all cell phone restrictions because cell phone distractions can cause a commercial vehicle accident. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, there are a myriad of restrictions regarding truck drivers' ability to use a cell phone while behind the wheel. Texting while driving is completely prohibited, while talking on a cell phone is only allowed if the driver is using a hands-free device. Commercial motor vehicle drivers are also prohibited from reaching for a mobile device or pushing more than one button to make a call.

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 Posted on February 26, 2015 in Drunk Driving Accidents

Getting involved in any type of Virginia car accident can be traumatic, but being hit by a drunk driver adds another dimension to the complex effects of a wreck. No one has to drink and drive. Thus, drunk driving accidents are completely preventable. These types of accidents still plague Northern Virginia's streets, though, and residents of Manassas and surrounding areas may find themselves an accident victim at some point. After being struck by an intoxicated driver, it can be extremely helpful to seek professional legal guidance.

What some accident victims may not realize is that, while the criminal justice system will likely penalize a drunk driver, that system does not provide tangible relief to a victim. After an alcohol-related accident, the victim may suffer physical injury, physical and emotional pain and suffering, missed work and subsequent lost wages, and a potentially long road to recovery. Many times the victim's car is also severely damaged. Often one's auto insurance does not cover everything, and health insurance deficiencies are commonplace nowadays. With staggering medical bills and looming rehabilitation costs, what can a drunk driving accident victim do?

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 Posted on February 19, 2015 in Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

The various types of Virginia car crashes are familiar to most drivers, even if they are lucky enough to have never been involved in one. Most Virginia drivers, for instance, know what a rear-end collision is, that a fender-bender is usually not serious and that a head-on collision is to be avoided at all costs. Among the various types of dangerous incidents, the "rollover" is one that is often an element in fatal car accidents.

Simply put, a rollover is when one's vehicle is flipped-over and turns upside down. This type of accident can be caused by various contributing factors, such as a negligent driver speeding and steering too severely or a negligent tire company whose products malfunction when a car is operating at a fast pace. Certain types of vehicles, such as sport utility vehicles and large trucks, are more prone to rollovers. When a car is higher off the ground and has a relatively narrow width, it is more likely to experience a rollover. Rollovers, in fact, are the primary cause of deaths in SUVs, whereas the main cause of death related to passenger cars are frontal collisions.

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 Posted on February 11, 2015 in Commercial Vehicle Accidents

One of the worst things any parent can hear is that their child has been involved in a school bus accident. Likewise, one of the most tragic calls a family can receive is that their loved one has been killed in a commercial vehicle accident. Recently, in Virginia, two school bus accidents left one man dead and several children with injuries, leading some to wonder if negligence played a role in either wreck.

The fatal accident took place earlier this month in Chesterfield. A 26-year-old father of two is now dead after his Toyota was struck by a school bus carrying gifted students. The bus was traveling on a stretch of road where the speed limit had recently been increased to 45 miles per hour; an investigation into such an incident may look into speeding as a cause of the crash. While none of the children on the bus were seriously injured, the Toyota driver passed away despite attempts by the bus driver and a nearby nurse to help him. The bus was equipped with both a GPS and a camera; these tools may aid in an accident investigation.

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 Posted on February 06, 2015 in Commercial Vehicle Accidents

Semi-truck accidents can happen anywhere in Virginia and at any time. Whether on the interstates, highways, country roads or suburban streets, a commercial vehicle accident can cause significant damage. However, many times these types of accidents are avoidable, and there are many simple steps both truck drivers and others on the road can take to stay safe.

Here in Manassas and surrounding areas, local roads tend to be fairly crowded. As a result, it can be difficult to maneuver around a large commercial vehicle, such as a semi-truck, especially if that truck is making a turn at a busy intersection. However, truck drivers who follow the rules of the road, as well as the safety tips for their own profession, can help keep local suburban roads accident-free.

One of the most notable elements of a semi-truck is its sheer size. The length of a large commercial vehicle is much longer than a passenger car. As a result, trucks have to turn differently than cars. The long length of a semi gives it a wide turning radius, which means it often can't simply stay in the far-right lane to make a right turn the way cars do. Instead, a large truck may have to initially go in a lane further to the left to make a right turn and vice-versa if making a left turn.

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 Posted on January 30, 2015 in Truck Accidents

Any sort of car accident can land a Virginia resident in a hospital. However, accidents involving commercial vehicles have a great potential to cause serious injury, life-threatening ailments and even death in some cases. Now that the brunt of the winter season has arrived, commercial vehicles such as snowplows are a frequent presence on area roads, while tractor-trailers and semi-trucks still must travel despite the perils of ice and snow. These types of large, heavy vehicles are a notoriously bad match for winter weather and often cause catastrophic injuries to accident victims.

When someone becomes the victim of a truck accident, he or she may very well find themselves spending at least one night in a hospital. High medical bills are, unfortunately, a reality for countless Americans, but for the victims of truck accidents the medical expenses can be staggering.

Adding to the costs is the confusion over hospital billing, hidden charges and errors in billing. Medical Billing Advocates of America notes that only about 20 percent of hospital bills are error-free. In addition, many people who have never spent the night in a hospital don't realize that even a single night in a facility can produce many extra costs. These include lost wages, transportation to and from the medical center, child care costs and more.

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 Posted on January 24, 2015 in Car Accidents

Following a car accident, most drivers understand they need to exchange insurance information with the other party. Of course, if there are injuries or even fatalities, seeking help and cooperating with rescue personnel is the first priority. In car accidents where injuries are not severe or life-threatening, it is still generally helpful to notify police so that an official police report of the accident can be prepared.

In some situations, though, the police may not be able to arrive on the scene of an auto accident. This happened earlier this month in Northern Virginia when winter weather pounded the region. On January 6, snow fell across the area and by 7:00 a.m. police had already gone to the scenes of 21 wrecks throughout Northern Virginia. Many of these were on I-495. Less than two hours later, police in Fairfax County initiated a policy which is sometimes implemented in times of severe weather.

The police department's "Accident Policy" encourages drivers to exchange insurance information with the other party as usual when an accident does not involve injuries. Police will still respond to accidents involving death, injury or hit-and-run situations, but simple fender-benders are pushed to the bottom of their priority list when the policy is in effect.

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 Posted on January 14, 2015 in Drunk Driving Accidents

When a driver, passenger or pedestrian is hit by a drunk driver in Virginia, the legal processes that follow often go in two different directions, sometimes simultaneously. The drunk driver is likely to be prosecuted by the criminal justice system, and the accident victim may also pursue a personal injury case in the state's civil court system. There are many key differences between the two systems, but one of the most relevant is the extent to which the case must be proven in court.

It's well-known that in the criminal justice system the prosecution's case must be made "beyond a reasonable doubt." However, the civil justice system, where personal injury and wrongful death cases are handled, does not require the plaintiff's case to be proven to this extent. Rather, a civil case involves a different standard, known as "preponderance of the evidence."

Essentially, in a civil case the burden of proof demands that at least half of the evidence - 50 percent or more - points toward the truth of the plaintiff's claim. After a damaging alcohol-related accident, the central claim is usually that the defendant's negligence caused the accident and the plaintiff's injury. It's important to know that this is a lower burden of proof than the type found in criminal cases. However, this doesn't mean that civil cases are necessarily easier for a plaintiff who has been injured by a drunk driver. Defense tactics can range from questioning a defendant's blood alcohol content to implying the accident victim played some sort of role in causing the accident.

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 Posted on January 07, 2015 in Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Following a fatal car, truck or motorcycle accident, surviving family members generally experience two major types of hardship: emotional and financial. While there are other types of hardships encountered following a traumatic incident, these two broad categories are, unfortunately, shared by nearly everyone who has lost a loved one in a wreck. If a loved one's death was due to a negligent driver, the grief may be combined with anger, frustration and the desire to hold the negligent party accountable.

In Virginia, family members who pursue a wrongful death lawsuit are often entitled to damages that can help cover both financial and emotional harm caused by the accident. Obtaining such damages, though, is no simple feat and often requires extensive legal preparation. In particular, awards for mental pain and suffering are frequently the result of an assertive legal offensive, which focuses on the plaintiff's unique circumstances and the defendant's responsibility for the accident. A resident of Manassas or the surrounding area may find it extremely beneficial to bring his or her case to an experienced wrongful death attorney, especially if pain and suffering become overwhelming.

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 Posted on December 30, 2014 in Commercial Vehicle Accidents

A trucking accident can be caused by countless different things, from a truck driver's texting behind the wheel to an icy highway to an unsafe vehicle. While weather conditions are out of all drivers' control, driver behavior and vehicle conditions are crucial and controllable factors when it comes to avoiding a commercial vehicle accident. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles has outlined the steps that commercial drivers must take in order to demonstrate knowledge of a thorough vehicle safety inspection.

First, an applicant for a Commercial Driver's License, or CDL, in Virginia must begin his or her inspection by reviewing the most recent inspection report available for the vehicle. Then, he or she must make a thorough check of the engine compartment, including fluid levels, the condition of electrical wiring, the presence of any leaks and belt conditions. Next, the CDL applicant should enter the vehicle, start the engine, listen for any strange noises and observe the truck's anti-lock braking system lights.

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