Posted on April 16, 2020 in Car Accidents

While new automotive technologies are supposed to make vehicles safer, many have proven imperfect. Self-driving systems can give motorists the excuse to indulge in distractions behind the wheel. Back-up cameras offer a mere 80-degree view. Even lane assist contributes to inattention, since many drivers think of it as an accident avoidance system.

You may own a vehicle with lane assist and consider it harmless, if not helpful. It can be, so long as you follow these tips to use it properly.

How people abuse lane assist

The trouble with lane assist is that drivers use it as an excuse to take their eyes off the road. It creates a sense of false security, since 25% of motorists think it's safe to take part in other tasks behind the wheel when it's present. You may assume that your automobile will correct course for you if its lane assist sensors go off. But they only alert you to the dangers surrounding you and do not correct your course to prevent a collision.

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 Posted on April 15, 2020 in Car Accidents

Your child's safety is always on your mind. You want to ensure they stay away from danger and harm, and it becomes harder to do that as they get older, and especially when they have a driver's license. With the ability to go out onto the road alone, how can you keep them safe?

Car crashes cause the most fatalities among teenagers, according to a report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Teenagers alone made up 7% of deaths in motor vehicle accidents.

Consider the following ways you can protect your teenager when they're on the road:

• Practice with them – Even after your teenager has their license, the best way for your teen to grow more comfortable with driving is by spending more time on the road. Let them drive when you need a trip to the grocery store, so you can be there to help them and remind them of traffic laws.
• Teach them car maintenance – The more informed your children are, the better decisions they can make. If they understand what to do when the air pressure signal comes on or how to change a tire, your teenager will be more prepared when they're on the road alone.

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 Posted on March 22, 2020 in Car Accidents

Drivers on Virginia roads must ensure that they're paying attention to what's going on around their vehicle. Driving isn't a time when they should multitask or try to do anything other than just operate their car or truck. Unfortunately, some drivers think they can handle doing other things, which can lead to crashes that are sometimes fatal. Distracted driving crashes kill an average of nine people per day and injure more than 1,000 each day. Sadly, all of these are preventable deaths.

There are three forms of distractions of which drivers should be aware. While some actions only involve one type of distraction, others include all three. These three types of distractions behind the wheel are:

• Cognitive distractions, which take your mind off operating the vehicle
• Manual distractions, which require you to take your hand off the wheel
• Visual distractions, which force you to take your eyes off the road

Text messaging is an example of an activity that involves all three forms of distraction. You have to hold the phone, look at the message and think about what it means. Checking out a billboard on the side of the road requires you to take your eyes off the road and process what it's advertising. Eating sandwich requires you to hold it, which takes your hands off the wheel.

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 Posted on January 17, 2020 in Pedestrian Accidents

Populations are increasing across the Commonwealth of Virginia as more and more people move here to take advantage of the plentiful economic opportunities. This also means that there are more vehicles sharing roadways than ever before. For some, however, traveling by foot is the most practical way to get around. Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents will happen any time vehicles and pedestrians are in close proximity. Since pedestrians are totally exposed and minimally protected, these type of accidents often have serious or fatal outcomes.

Accidents in Arlington County have become more common due to the pedestrian friendly areas with many restaurants and stores. Likewise, we can expect more pedestrian accidents in the Tysons Corner section of Fairfax County as it becomes more pedestrian friendly, but still congested with cars.

A recent accident in Christiansburg resulted in a pedestrian suffering serious injuries and a driver being arrested for DUI. The accident happened during the evening hours. According to reports, the driver was traveling northbound in a sedan when he struck a man who was attempting to cross the street near a supermarket.

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 Posted on January 07, 2020 in Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

A man recently lost his life in a tragic motor vehicle collision in Virginia. Meanwhile, the person who reportedly caused his crash suffered injuries in the collision and will likely face charges in the fatal accident. Sometimes, these types of car accidents are the result of negligence, which is also grounds for civil litigation.

The recent accident occurred on a Monday at 11 p.m. along Route 605. According to authorities, a 20-year-old man was driving a car on the highway. However, he ended up losing control of it, which caused the car to leave the roadway and crash into a tree.

The driver suffered minor injuries in the crash and was taken to a medical hospital for treatment. However, his 19-year-old passenger passed away at the auto crash scene. Both men were wearing seatbelts. Police said that charges were pending against the driver due to his role in the fatal wreck.

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 Posted on December 26, 2019 in Truck Accidents

A woman's life has been tragically cut short as a result of a crash involving five cars in Virginia. Now, her family members are left to grieve and wonder how such fatal car accidents can happen. The box truck driver who is said to have caused the crash is now facing a criminal charge in connection with it.

The fatal collision took place on a recent Monday at about 5:30 p.m. According to police, a man was driving a box truck along a tunnel. However, the truck reportedly ended up striking the back of a car and then a pickup truck.

The pickup truck apparently left the roadway after being hit by the box truck. Police said the pickup then crashed into a wall before flipping and landing atop a fourth motor vehicle. The impact of this crash reportedly caused the third motor vehicle to crash into a fifth car. The woman driving the pickup truck, age 57, suffered injuries in the wreck and passed away at the crash scene. Now, the box truck driver faces a charge of reckless driving.

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 Posted on December 12, 2019 in Drunk Driving Accidents

Six people were injured in a recent multi-vehicle crash that took place in Virginia. The motor vehicle collision was allegedly the result of a drunk driver. Fortunately, when injury-causing car accidents are the result of drunk driving, it is within the rights of the injured parties to seek to hold the drunk drivers accountable for their injuries in civil court.

The recent car accident took place at around 3 a.m. According to authorities, the drunk driver was driving a car in the wrong direction along Interstate 495. Just a few seconds later, the driver reportedly hit a sport utility vehicle head-on.

The car then allegedly hit two other motor vehicles. Six people in all were injured as a result of the crash, with two of them being struck by another motor vehicle after they got out of their car, following the crash. These two individuals ended up suffering injuries deemed to be life-threatening, as a result. The alleged drunk driver now faces a DUI charge in connection with the accident.

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 Posted on November 27, 2019 in Car Accidents

Winter is a time when more people drive rather than walk in Virginia, but that doesn't mean that there won't be pedestrians on or around the roadways. In fact, when cold temperatures and poor weather conditions arrive, pedestrians may take additional risks to cross roads quickly and avoid staying out in the cold.

For this reason, it's important that drivers pay attention and recognize that there are still people who may be crossing at crosswalks or other areas of the road. For pedestrians, it's necessary to remember to follow the laws and cross only when it's safe to do so, no matter how poor the conditions are.

Winter weather safety tips for pedestrians

Pedestrians can take a few steps to stay safer in winter weather. Some things you can do to avoid a collision as a pedestrian include:

• Wearing warm clothing, so you can take your time when attempting to cross. You should not rush to get across a busy street due to your attire.

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 Posted on November 26, 2019 in Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

A woman in Virginia recently lost her life in a tragic car accident. Meanwhile, four other individuals suffered injuries in the accident. Sometimes, these types of car accidents happen as a result of a driver's carelessness, in which case the driver may be held liable for any injuries or deaths resulting from the accident.

The recent fatal crash occurred on a Friday at around 6:05 p.m. According to police, the 29-year-old woman who passed away in the crash was riding in the front passenger seat when the collision occurred. She apparently passed away at the crash scene.

Of the four people who suffered injuries in the crash, three of them were children. Police said the injured adult, 23, was the individual who was driving the car when the crash took place. All four of these individuals were transported to medical centers for the treatment of their injuries. Police said they had not yet filed charges in the accident.

If police discover that the fatal accident was a result of the driver's negligence — such as texting and driving — the deceased passenger's family members may choose to file a wrongful death claim against the driver. In the same manner, the driver may face personal injury claims filed on behalf of the other injury victims. If the plaintiffs can establish liability in civil court, a judge or jury will adjudicate their claims for financial damages. A claim that is fought successfully might result in monetary damages that may help to cover burial costs, hospital bills and other losses associated with these kinds of car accidents in Virginia.

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 Posted on November 13, 2019 in Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

A teenager recently passed away in a tragic motor vehicle crash in Virginia. In addition, four other teenagers suffered injuries in the collision. These types of car accidents can easily take place as a result of a driver's carelessness, which is grounds for litigation.

The recent accident took place on a Sunday at about 6:30 p.m. Authorities said that a car carrying five teenagers was headed east along a road. All of a sudden, the car reportedly left the roadway and hit a tree on the road's right side.

All five teenagers suffered injuries and were transported to the hospital. However, one of the teenagers was pronounced deceased at the medical center. The person driving the car was said to have suffered injuries deemed to be life threatening, whereas the other injured parties reportedly suffered non-life-threatening injuries. According to authorities, alcohol and drugs did not appear to be causal factors in the crash. However, they were investigating if speeding led to the wreck.

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