Posted on October 02, 2020 in Firm News

There are many ways to help prevent drowsy driving, like by getting enough sleep or treating underlying illnesses that affect the sleep patterns of drivers, but one of the things that isn't as great is trying to stay awake with coffee.

Coffee and other caffeinated drinks can help promote short-term alertness, but if a driver is going to be on the road, it's not a failsafe. Drowsily driving can lead to serious collisions, which is something that caffeine won't be able to prevent completely.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, people who realize they're becoming drowsy behind the wheel should pull over. At that time, it is possible to drink a caffeinated beverage to wake up. Keep in mind that caffeine affects everyone differently. On average, it takes around 30 minutes for caffeine to enter into the bloodstream and for the effects to kick in.

Drinking caffeine alone likely isn't enough to keep you awake for long. However, if you can grab a short nap alongside a caffeinated beverage, you may be able to receive short-term benefits.

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 Posted on October 01, 2020 in Car Accidents

Quite a few people have a black-and-white approach to injuries after a car crash. They classify injuries either as horrific or negligible, with little room in between for nuance. However, injuries actually fall on a broad spectrum.

An spine injury for one person could mean the end of their career, while someone else might be able to recover from a spine injury with the right medical support. A person who works from home doing customer service telephone support can probably continue their job if they lose their leg, while a blue-collar worker with a similar injury may never be able to go back to work.

Those who work physical jobs need to really think about the impact of an injury on their future in the wake of a major car crash.

Will the injury impact your job?

One of the biggest costs associated with an injury in a car crash won't be the medical care you receive but rather the lost wages due to the injury. For example, if an injury is severe enough to prevent you from ever going back to your same job again, you may need different types of experts to evaluate your future lost wage claim.

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 Posted on September 30, 2020 in Drunk Driving Accidents

The Virginia State Police (VSP) are on a mission: They want to curb drunk driving and stop the rising tide of traffic fatalities in the state.

According to one Virginia State Police superintendent who addressed a new spate of fatal wrecks following Labor Day, "The 2020 traffic fatality statistics continue to trend in an unacceptable direction... with 116 additional crashes with injuries over the holiday weekend."

A large part of the problem is drunk driving. In 2019, almost one-third of all traffic fatalities in the state were related to drunk driving. A total of 18,648 drivers were convicted of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol in that year alone.

According to the newest research, the largest percentage of drunk drivers in Virginia are young men between the ages of 21 and 35. Even though 95% of people acknowledge the fact that it's better to have a plan when it comes to getting home safely and avoid driving drunk at all, about 57% of men in that age group will admit that that have gotten behind the wheel of a vehicle after drinking or let another person who had been drinking drive them somewhere.

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 Posted on September 28, 2020 in Car Accidents

When you suffer an injury due to someone else's actions, whether those actions are purposeful or merely negligent, it can upend your entire world. You may be facing an extended period where you're unable to work. Meanwhile, the household bills don't stop coming in and your medical costs may start to pile up. That can make a personal injury claim essential to your well-being.

But not all personal injury claims are the same. What sort of things can influence the outcome of your personal injury case? The top factors include:

The nature of your injuries

The type of injuries you've suffered can have a big impact on your case. The more obvious your injuries and the better you can tie them to a specific incident, the easier it is to prove damages. When your injuries are serious, an insurance company may push back harder on your claim to avoid a big payout - but a jury may feel those injuries are worth more compensation, particularly if you are left with permanent scars or other damage.

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 Posted on September 17, 2020 in Car Accidents

Any type of motor vehicle accident will lead you to file a claim with your car insurance company. And while the process itself sounds simple enough, there's something you need to remember: Your insurance company isn't on your side.

No matter what type of relationship you have with them, they're looking out for their own best interests. For that reason, you need to take the exact same approach.

Here are some steps you can take to protect your legal rights when filing a car insurance claim after an accident:

• Review your policy: Before you do anything, review the terms and conditions of your policy so that you understand the ins and outs of your coverage. If you neglect to do so, you're putting your insurance company in a position of power. Your policy is your contract, so your insurer is required to provide coverage as outlined within.

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 Posted on September 03, 2020 in Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrian accidents can happen for many reasons, all of which you should store in the back of your mind when you find yourself in close proximity to vehicular traffic. While there is no guarantee of your safety, there are steps you can take to protect yourself against a serious accident with a motor vehicle.

Here are some of the top causes of pedestrian accidents:

• Failure to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk
• Crossing the street when the "no crossing" sign is on
• Crossing the street in any area that's not designated as a crosswalk
• Distracted driving
• Drowsy driving
• Driving under the influence of alcohol
• Darting into traffic

As you can see, negligence by both drivers and pedestrians can ultimately lead to an accident. If you're a pedestrian, take every step you can to maintain your safety and avoid trouble. Use sidewalks and crosswalks, obey traffic signals, stay alert and don't take unnecessary risks. Most of all, keep your eyes peeled for drivers who don't seem to be paying attention.

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 Posted on September 02, 2020 in Drunk Driving Accidents

Labor Day is a great time to visit your family and enjoy the holiday, but it can also be a dangerous time on the roads. Labor Day festivities often come with drinking, and with drinking comes the risk of DUIs. Additionally, there may be distracted or drowsy drivers on the roads because people may be in unfamiliar areas or driving overnight.

AAA is expecting for road trips to continue being important over this Labor Day Weekend, which is why it's important for drivers to think about their actions before they take them. Labor Day weekend is one of the deadliest weekends of the year for drivers, so the Virginia State Police has started Operation CARE. The VSP asks that drivers stay alert, sober and put on their seat belts. They hope that drivers will remember to put down their devices, too, so that they can drive without distractions.

In 2019, the Labor Day weekend traffic resulted in 17 people's deaths. In 2018, 14 people were killed. In 2017, only five people were killed. With this kind of increase over the years, it is more important than ever to take driving seriously when you're behind the wheel.

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 Posted on August 25, 2020 in Car Accidents

Many newspaper and TV accounts of auto accidents in Prince William County and Manassas end with the statement that the accident is "still under investigation." What, exactly, is meant by that vague phrase? Usually, it means that one or more forensic engineers are trying to understand the exact sequence of events that led to the accident. The forensic investigation has two basic purposes: identifying any mechanical or human element that may have caused the crash, and, if necessary, establishing legal liability for the accident.

Accident reconstruction

Another term for "forensic engineering" in this context is "accident reconstruction." In plain English, reconstructing an accident means the use of standard rules of physics and chemistry to identify each event in the chain of events that comprised the accident. Forensic engineers usually begin their investigation by making a careful record of the accident scene. Many photographs and videos are taken to record the position of the various vehicles after the accident. Once these records collected, the investigators gather up the physical evidence from the crash scene. Such items may include pieces of the involved vehicles, tires, personal effects from occupants of the vehicles such as cell phones and containers for alcoholic beverages, and anything else the investigators think may be pertinent.

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 Posted on August 24, 2020 in Firm News

Many vehicles made in the past decade are equipped with sensors that detect oncoming collisions, such as backing into a wall, running into an oncoming vehicle, or striking an oncoming pedestrian. These sensors are designed to alert the driver to the obstacle or person so they can brake before the collision.

Unfortunately, this technology is largely only available in higher priced vehicles, making it inaccessible to some. With that sort of limitation, its effectiveness is diminished, since only a certain percentage of vehicles are equipped with it.

Cutting the numbers in half

Meanwhile, over 36,500 people were killed in car wrecks in 2018. This lifesaving technology clearly doesn't have a far enough reach.

Some advocates say that automobile manufacturers should include this technology uniformly across production. According to Consumer Reports, a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that if all vehicles were outfitted with sensors and automatic braking, the number of people involved in fatal accidents would be cut in half.

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 Posted on August 20, 2020 in Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Every summer, tourists pack Virginia's scenic roads. Between the gorgeous beaches and rich history, Virginia makes a popular vacation spot for U.S. residents. With more tourists comes more traffic and, when combined with teens out of school and not working, makes for dangerous roadways.

Known as the "100 Deadliest Days," the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day sees a significant increase in traffic fatalities, especially among teens. So, what can a parent do to help keep their kids safe?

Protect teenage drivers during the summer

The American Automobile Association (AAA) reports that during the 100 Deadliest Days over ten years, over 8,300 people lost their lives in car accidents with teen drivers. In 2016, American roadways claimed the lives of nearly ten people every day.

With the onset of the pandemic and high unemployment rates, some experts believe Virginia's roadways may become more dangerous in 2020. The Executive Director of AAA's Foundation for Traffic Safety, Dr. David Yang, says, "[F]or every mile driven, new teen drivers...are three times more likely to be involved in a deadly crash compared to adults." When surveyed, 70% of teen drivers admitted to the following high-risk behaviors:

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