Posted on August 23, 2013 in Firm News

Any bad event can have a negative ripple effect, including car accidents that happen on major interstates. On Aug. 11 in central Virginia, a two-car auto accident quickly spiraled into a horrendous multi-vehicle accident that wound up causing several injuries. The car crash occurred on Interstate 81 near Lexington, on a mid-August weekend that featured heavy rains.

According to police, the initial accident involved a car resting in the median, blocking part of one lane. Another car partially blocked another lane in the same direction amidst a strong downpour. Other cars were attempting to drive between the two vehicles, which were blocking sections of lanes, but the poor visibility made it a tenuous task. A state police sergeant noted that conditions fused together at just the right time for an auto crash.

A total of six tractor-trailer trucks became a part of the pileup. Some of these large vehicles were still overturned by the road the next Monday morning. Some truck drivers apparently made the decision to veer off the road instead of hitting other vehicles. Police say those decisions may have made the pileup less catastrophic than it was. Still, despite the fortunate absence of fatalities, ten people were injured, and two individuals required airlift to the hospital.

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 Posted on August 15, 2013 in Commercial Vehicle Accidents

Almost all industries in the United States are permeated with various rules and regulations, most of them focusing on safety. When research emerges that points to increased safety, most fields will adopt new ways to make these higher safety standards a reality. Occasionally, though, industries will resist new changes in order to save money or amplify profits and efficiency.

New hours of service rules for the trucking industry kicked into effect last month, limiting the amount of time a truck driver can spend on the road without rest. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has now capped the average workweek for drivers at 70 hours. Previously, this amount was set at 82 hours per week. In a state like Virginia, where interstates link regions north and south, these new regulations could affect countless drivers.

According to the FMCSA, the effects will likely prove positive, perhaps even lifesaving, for others on the road. The agency estimates that the new rules could save around 19 lives annually and prevent about 560 injuries. Overall, the FMCSA believes the recent regulations could thwart approximately 1,400 truck accidents. Given how devastating a semi-truck accident can be, one would assume these rules would be welcomed with open arms.

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 Posted on August 09, 2013 in Drunk Driving Accidents

With many Northern Virginians residing close to the nation's capital, residents are generally familiar with efforts to legislate personal responsibility. Seat belt laws, for instance, or regulations on cell phone usage are helpful reminders that safety should be everyone's priority when on the road. Of course, not all drivers behave conscientiously all the time, which is one reason why Virginia enacted a tougher law regarding drunk driving last year.

Over the past year, the amount of drunk drivers forced to install an ignition interlock device on their car has risen a whopping 75 percent. This substantial increase comes as a result of Virginia's tough stance against those who are apt to cause a drunk driving accident. According to data released by the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program, over 8,000 drivers who had been previously convicted of a DUI were enrolled in the state's ignition interlock program in the 11 months since the new law took effect.

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 Posted on July 31, 2013 in Car Accidents

As with so many things in life, experience is key when it comes to safe driving. When teenagers are behind the wheel, lack of experience, poor judgment, or both can lead to an auto crash. This month in Botetourt County, Virginia, a teen driving a Honda SUV became involved in a car accident that wound up temporarily closing both lanes of Virginia 11 while crews reviewed the scene.

The incident occurred in the early evening, when the 17-year-old driver of the Honda apparently attempted to turn onto Virginia 11 from Overpass Road. A Chrysler PT Cruiser was heading south at that moment, and struck the Honda. The 56-year-old driver of the PT Cruiser had to be taken to a Roanoke hospital for treatment. The young Honda driver also was taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital, as were the two female passengers riding with her.

Fortunately, all four people involved in the auto accident were wearing their seat belts. Still, even when all proper precautions are taken, one simply cannot control or predict the behavior of others on the road. Even a simple left or right turn on a route driven every day, can result in disaster if one driver errs. Moreover, tempting handheld technology and the large size differential between SUVs and more fuel-efficient rides can make today's trip tomorrow's hospitalization.

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 Posted on July 26, 2013 in Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

An investigation is ongoing into a fatal wreck that recently took place in Stafford County, one which claimed the life of a Virginia woman. The accident, which took place on July 14 on Route 17, involved a total of six vehicles, one fatality, and two people left injured. These types of numbers often add up to tragedy for the surviving victims of fatal car accidents, and this case was no exception.

According to the Virginia State Police, a pickup truck heading north sideswiped multiple vehicles before running into a tree near Hemp Road. The Ford F-150 first hit a Honda sedan before also swiping a Honda minivan. Both cars had been traveling in the right lanes of Route 17 when they were hit. The next vehicle in the wayward truck's path was a Volvo station wagon in the left lane, also heading north. The impact sent the Volvo off the side of the roadway with devastating consequences.

After the pickup truck hit the Volvo, the truck ran into a tree. The Volvo, however, was sent through the median and into the opposite lanes. The 50-year-old driver of the Volvo was ejected from her car and was struck by another pickup truck heading south. The Summerdale woman passed away at the scene, while her 8-year-old passenger had to be taken to Mary Washington Hospital for medical attention.

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 Posted on July 19, 2013 in Truck Accidents

As a region nestled within the busy corridors of the mid-Atlantic, northern Virginia has long served as a hub for transportation. Commuters in the Manassas area are used to driving alongside large semi trucks as they go about their daily business. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, though, the presence of these massive vehicles on the roads can sometimes prove highly dangerous. The DOT reports that over 3,000 people lose their lives each year as a result of either a truck accident or a bus crash. The DOT also reports that 13 percent of those fatalities were a result of truck driver fatigue.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is hoping to lower these figures via new rules for truck drivers. Those who make a living driving big rigs, tractor trailers and other commercial vehicles must already obey several layers of regulations, of course, such as earning and maintaining a commercial driver's license. However, given the alarming levels of truck accidents and related deaths, it is little surprise that the industry is hoping to improve safety.

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 Posted on July 10, 2013 in Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

A 48-year-old Virginia woman is dead following an accident that clogged-up traffic for several hours in Caroline County last month. On June 26, a little after 1:00 a.m., a woman driving a BMW X-5 somehow started traveling the wrong way, with her large SUV heading south in the northbound lanes. The 51-year-old Maryland woman's car swiped a Nissan Sentra heading north, leaving one woman dead and four others injured.

The plague of fatal motor vehicle accidents has long affected I-95, especially during the late night and early morning hours. Fender-benders are an almost daily occurrence for the stretch near Arlington and DC, but fatal car accidents are not unusual, either. Most of the time, one or both drivers is at fault in any type of car accident, but in wrecks that result in the loss of a loved one, legal remedies can be found in both the criminal and civil arenas.

After the June 26 tragedy, the driver of the BMW was charged with several felonies, including one count of involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence of drugs. She also faces four counts of maiming while driving under the influence of drugs. When the driver is released from a local hospital, she will head to a jail in Hanover County.

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 Posted on July 03, 2013 in Drunk Driving Accidents

The start of July will herald more than just the usual summertime activities throughout Virginia this year. Starting on July 1, the state will crack down on repeat drunk driving offenders. Lawmakers have designated some repeat DUI offenses as felonies, and those convicted will have to serve a mandatory sentence in jail.

Choosing to be a drunk driver in Virginia can lead to unimaginable tragedy. At best, a drunk driving accident can involve a major hassle for the accident victim. At worst, an accident caused by an intoxicated motorist can instantly produce serious injuries or even death. In a state filled with bustling metros and winding rural roads, as well as all four seasons, the conditions are unfortunately ripe for accidents to occur if a resident drinks and drives.

Currently in Virginia, some repeat offenders can face only misdemeanor charges following some alcohol-related infractions that occur after a previous offense. Even more surprisingly, the prior offense can involve injury or death. Essentially, under certain conditions, someone convicted of a felony DUI could drop back down to the misdemeanor level after committing another related offense. Lawmakers want to change that leniency and have struck a clause that set a 10-year time period for repeat offenses.

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 Posted on June 28, 2013 in Car Accidents

It is generally common knowledge that the less sleep people get, the less likely they are to be able to operate a motor vehicle safely. The drowsier people are, of course, the more likely they are to cause a car accident. While it seems that most parents and educators would agree with this, top school officials in Fairfax County appear reluctant to make changes on the issue. Throughout the Northern Virginia region, Fairfax schools have the earliest start times, making the roadways a potentially perilous place to be before classes start.

All drivers need adequate rest, but teen drivers in particular need around nine hours of sleep per night. With inadequate sleep affecting memory, performance and learning, it's no surprise that it can also greatly impair driving skills. Teens who have essentially woken-up before their natural sleep cycle has ended can cause a variety of hazards, from running a stop sign to rollovers to sparking a chain reaction that ends in a multi-vehicle accident.

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 Posted on June 20, 2013 in Drunk Driving Accidents

On June 8 in Virginia Beach, an 84-year-old man lost his life in an accident that left his passenger and other driver injured. Police say that a 40-year-old Norfolk man caused the drunk driving accident; the driver has since been charged with involuntary manslaughter and maiming. Due to the presence of a juvenile with him in his vehicle at the time of the crash, he also faces the charge of DUI - child present.

The incident occurred when the Norfolk man's pickup truck drifted off to the side of Princess Anne Road in Virginia Beach. The driver tried to recover but over-corrected, a common error when motorists are drowsy, intoxicated or otherwise not paying attention. The over-correction led to the man's truck crossing lanes into traffic headed the opposite direction. The truck hit a Ford Taurus, causing the smaller car to spin and finally come to a stop in an intersection.

The 84-year-old driver of the Taurus did not survive the crash, and his passenger was taken to a hospital with injuries. The truck was later hit by a Volkswagen Beetle, whose driver - and the crash's third accident victim - also required medical attention for injuries. The driver of the truck, on the other hand, was not injured despite being part of a fatal collision.

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