Manassas Virginia Motor Vehicle Accidents Law Blog

When you're involved in an accident, it's important to document it well. Documenting an accident gives you the information you need for the insurance company and allows you to keep records to refresh your memory later on.

After an accident, lots of things will happen, and it's easy to begin forgetting the finer details that you need to remember to make the best claim. Fortunately, there are some good tips you can follow to help yourself remember the details you need and to keep good documentation.

You may have heard the statistics related to the fact that most car accidents occur close to home, but do you know why? Part of the reason is because people relax when they know and drive in an area frequently, and may not pay as much attention to their surroundings. Another reason is because neighborhoods have people backing out of driveways, kids playing in the streets and narrow roadways due to cars parking on the street.

While collisions close to home are common, there are actually two other places where the risks of being involved in a crash are also high: parking lots and on your daily commute.

Pedestrian accidents occur in many different situations, whether someone is very familiar with a particular route and they are injured while walking to work or a pedestrian is struck while performing their job duties. In other instances, a pedestrian may be less familiar with the roads, such as those who are on vacation, and this can be especially dangerous. Sadly, many pedestrian lives have been lost due to unfamiliarity with the roads, which can be especially concerning when they encounter reckless drivers (such as drunk or speeding drivers).

If you are planning a vacation, it is important to be mindful of any traffic-related hazards if you plan on driving or even walking. Many people walk while they are traveling, whether they want to experience a new area, or they do not have access to a vehicle. Sadly, they may not have any familiarity with various risk factors that are present in certain locations, and the risk of a pedestrian accident may be much higher. Some of these accidents have proven fatal, while others have shattered trips and resulted in massive injuries.

When walking in Manassas, you might think it easy to avoid danger: just stay off the road. The area does indeed have several miles of sidewalks on which you can walk. However, pedestrians must also be aware of bicyclists.   A collision with a bicyclist can be almost as devastating as one with a car. There can be dangers to both pedestrians and bicyclists when they are not aware of each other.

According to the Virginia Department of Transportation, bicycles can be ridden on the sidewalk in the Commonwealth unless prohibited by local ordinance. No such laws or policies exist in Manassas or Prince William County. Thus, a bicyclist has as much right to be on the sidewalk as you do as a pedestrian.