Posted on June 14, 2021 in Car Accidents

Many concussions occur when someone strikes their head on something, like the ground, or something makes contact with their head. Concussions can also occur when someone's head shakes back and forth violently, which can happen in a crash. Concussions are a common injury suffered by people who are involved in vehicle crashes.

For example, if someone strikes your car from behind, your head will likely move back and forth – even if an airbag protects it from hitting the steering wheel or dashboard.

What are the symptoms of a concussion?

Every concussion is different. Symptoms can include:

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Memory loss
• Blurred vision
• Sensitivity to light and/or noise
• Fatigue
• Insomnia

A concussion can also create mood changes like anxiety, irritability and difficulty concentrating.

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 Posted on June 11, 2021 in Truck Accidents

Collisions involving commercial trucks are often catastrophic. There is typically significant property damage as well as severe injuries.

However, it is not just the collisions between vehicles that put people in danger. Cargo spills can also threaten the safety and welfare of other road users.

Why cargo spills

Trucks haul a wide range of things people need, from retail products to industrial equipment and even livestock. No matter what a trucker is carrying, it is crucial that the cargo is secure and does not exceed weight limits.

If parties fail to load and secure cargo properly, it could spill in a crash. If a trucker loses control of a truck after drifting out of the lane and overcorrects, then the truck can roll or jackknife, causing cargo to come loose and spill out on the road.

It is also possible that cargo could also be the reason for an accident. This can happen when truckers overload their vehicle or do not comply with regulations for securing it. It may shift while the truck is traveling, causing the trucker to lose control when going around a turn or coming to a stop.

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 Posted on May 25, 2021 in Car Accidents

If you find yourself involved in a car crash, one of the things you should plan on is seeing your doctor as soon as possible. Plenty of people make the mistake of refusing an ambulance ride to the emergency room, and others avoid heading to the doctor on their own even when they have pain.

It's important for you to seek medical care as soon as possible. The reason for this is because you may have injuries that you don't yet recognize.

When you're involved in a crash, the adrenaline released by the incident impacts the way your body feels pain. Endorphins run through the body to help you protect yourself, placing you in a fight-or-flight mode. Your body's goal is to keep you awake and mobile, but that reaction masks pain and dysfunction you would otherwise notice.

Not every symptom appears right away

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 Posted on May 24, 2021 in Truck Accidents

We are all familiar with the devastating impact of a trucking accident. Most victims in these crashes rarely walk away without at least one severe or catastrophic injury. Often, victims suffer multiple injuries, each one with the capacity to be life-changing.

One thing Manassas, Virginia, truck accident victims share is an urgent need for financial compensation. They need this money to speed their recovery and replace lost wages and other out-of-pocket costs. Unfortunately, trucking companies and their insurers use many tactics to minimize the amount they must pay on a personal injury claim.

What can you do to help your accident case?

Knowing what to do in your case can have a significant effect on the compensation you receive. In our experience, truck accident victims should consider the following tips for action immediately following the wreck:

• Call the police. Always call 911 when you are involved in any vehicle accident. Having a police report detailing what happened can go a long way in improving your ability to acquire the maximum in compensation.

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 Posted on May 21, 2021 in Car Accidents

Everyone has a different skill level when it comes to driving. Most drivers are aware of the potential dangers that may result if they operate their vehicles in ways that are unsafe. They respect the rules of the road and engage in defensive driving behaviors.

Unfortunately, there are others who seem to take out all of their stress on their fellow motorists when the get behind the wheel. They become aggressive and put themselves and everyone around them at risk of an accident.

What are the signs of aggressive driving?

Aggressive driving is so common that more than a quarter of the nation's drivers admitted to the AAA Foundation that they'd indulged in bad behavior behind the wheel within the prior 30 days before being surveyed.

So, how do you spot a driver who has lost their cool? Here are the signs:

• A driver is tailgating you (or another vehicle), leaving no room to hit the brakes in an emergency

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 Posted on April 21, 2021 in Car Accidents

Most people run into times when they're driving and approach a malfunctioning traffic light. The light may stay red permanently with no sign of changing, start flashing or have one of the bulbs go out. These malfunctions can make driving through an intersection dangerous, which is why it's important to know how to proceed.

A quick refresher on how to handle these infrequent occurrences can help you stay safer out there on the roads.

What should you do if you approach a malfunctioning traffic light?

If you approach a malfunctioning traffic light, slow down and take careful stock of the situation. Then proceed accordingly:

1. If the light is solid red, come to a complete stop. If you're sure the light is broken and won't change, wait until there is no traffic approaching before proceeding through the light. If more than one vehicle is at the light, you proceed the same way you would at a four-way stop (meaning that the vehicles should proceed according to the order of their arrival).

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 Posted on April 14, 2021 in Motorcycle Accidents

You're not the new kid on the block when it comes to riding a motorcycle, by any means. In fact, you probably feel like your age and experience gives you an edge on safety over the younger, less-skilled riders.

In fact, the opposite may be true. Below are some factors that you need to consider.

Age alone can be a predictor when it comes to severe injuries and death

While studies have produced mixed results, at least one indicates that riders over 40 years of age are 25% more likely to die from motorcycle injuries than younger riders. Plus, another study indicates that the largest group of fatalities occurs among riders 55 years of age and older.

When looking deeper into the data, researchers discovered some factors that may explain why there are different mortality rates for different age groups. The two most common types of serious injuries suffered by motorcyclists in a wreck are chest and head injuries.

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 Posted on April 05, 2021 in Car Accidents

Learning how to drive and getting a license is probably the most dangerous rite of passage for modern teenagers. Thousands of teens get hurt in car crashes every year, and some of them die. As a parent, you want to give your child every opportunity to thrive while also protecting them from the most significant risks and dangers that they face.

Setting rules and boundaries is one of the most important parts of teaching your young adult how to navigate the world. There are four rules for new drivers that might help keep your teen safe on the road.

1. Institute a zero-tolerance policy requiring safety restraints

It can be hard for teenagers to make safe decisions in part because the portion of the brain that allows us to consider consequences is still in the process of growing. Wearing seat belts may seem ridiculous because the chance of getting into a crash is minuscule. Strict enforcement of a seat belt requirement will make sure that your teen prioritizes safety when they get in the car.

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 Posted on April 01, 2021 in Car Accidents

Everything from your health and behavior to the weather influences your likelihood of getting into a crash. You probably already take steps to keep yourself safe by minimizing your driving risks.

You know that texting at the wheel leads to crashes, so you turn off your ringer when you get in the car. You know that you can't safely drive after consuming alcohol, so you limit what you ingest or have someone else drive you home. Unfortunately, some of the risks on the road are issues that you simply cannot avoid by changing your driving habits.

For example, no matter how much you may want to stay safe, you likely can't avoid driving on the streets that are closest to your home. Is it really true that most crashes occur within two miles of someone's home?

Being close to home really is a known risk factor for major crashes

Location plays a big role in crash risk. The data that researchers have found is hard to ignore. Almost a quarter of all crashes, 23%, occur within just a single mile of someone's residence. Crashes that happen 50 miles from home or more represent just 1% of the collisions reviewed. More than half of all crashes happen somewhere less than five miles from your home, with another 29% happening somewhere between two and five miles from a person's residence.

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 Posted on March 22, 2021 in Pedestrian Accidents

As of March 1, 2021, pedestrians who are caught jaywalking in Virginia will no longer be slapped with a ticket. The legislature passed the new rule decriminalizing jaywalking so that law enforcement authorities would have more time to attend to other, more serious offenses.

Does that mean you can now throw caution to the wind and walk where you please? Absolutely not. Pedestrians still need to be careful how they handle themselves because there's no way to guarantee that drivers are watching for them.

Important safety tips for pedestrians

As the weather continues to improve, more people will be walking around the city streets, strolling through their neighborhoods and walking their dogs. If you plan to be among them, remember these rules:

• Stick to sidewalks whenever possible. You're far safer on a sidewalk than the curb of the road. If you must use the road, make sure that you walk facing traffic and as far to the side as possible.

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