Posted on December 03, 2014 in Truck Accidents

The price of health care often seems to be going nowhere but up. Medical bills in general can be tremendously expensive, but the treatment costs after a truck accident can be downright staggering. A truck accident in Northern Virginia can cause any type of serious injury imaginable: broken bones, back injuries, lacerations from broken glass and even brain damage.

While those who survive a collision with a semi-truck are indeed fortunate to be alive, often their difficult journey is just beginning. The combined stress of physical injury plus emotional trauma can prove overwhelming. At the same time, the crash victim must also deal with the financial impact of a crash. If negligence on the part of a truck driver or truck company caused an accident, a Manassas truck accident attorney can help bridge the gap between medical bills and one's ability to pay them.

One of the first steps in confronting crash-related medical expenses is consulting with a truck accident lawyer. Experienced attorneys will listen to the facts of the case and then gather more information regarding the cause of the collision. Sometimes the victim may not know exactly what caused a wreck but knows the rules of the road were violated. In such cases, attorneys may be able to help a victim find answers via crash reconstruction or consultation with industry experts and law enforcement.

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 Posted on November 28, 2014 in Car Accidents

As a heavily populated region, Northern Virginia is home to countless different types of vehicles. Residents of Arlington and Fairfax may be used to seeing compact "smart cars" zip through the region's more urban corridors, while the interstates regularly feature huge semi-trucks, commercial vehicles, and many other types of vehicles. Some residents choose their vehicles based on car crash safety ratings; as a result, many individuals and families prefer SUVs and minivans. Often known for their relatively high safety ratings, minivans may not be as safe as some consumers assume.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, minivans in particular may not prove as safe as their reputation indicates. The institute, which is based out of Arlington, recently said that minivans may be at a disadvantage when it comes to a certain type of crash test. The test, known as the "small overlap" test, replicates an auto accident in which the front corner of a car collides with something at a speed of 40 miles per hour. The institute noted that several well-known minivans garnered the lowest rating on this type of test, with the Honda Odyssey being the lone exception.

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 Posted on November 20, 2014 in Drunk Driving Accidents

Over the years, anti-drunk driving organizations and policymakers have done much to stem the tide of drunk driving in Virginia. However, the presence of intoxicated drivers in the state is still a substantial concern. Last year alone, there were nearly 8,050 alcohol-related crashes throughout the state. Also in 2013, there were over 250 fatalities related to drunk driving accidents.

The good news is that the statistics regarding drunk driving in Virginia point to a decreasing trend. For instance, in the year 2000, there were 11,085 alcohol-related crashes. In 1990, there were over 17,000. Drunk driving fatalities have also been decreasing over the decades; back in the late 1980s there were over 500 deaths in a single year. Finally, DUI-related injuries have also fortunately been on a downward trend over the past 20 years. In 1990 there were 14,070 injuries caused by drunk driving, whereas last year there were 5,288.

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 Posted on November 13, 2014 in Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

If a Virginia pregnant woman is injured in a car accident in Northern Virginia, the results can be doubly damaging. Injuries to the mother can cause severe harm to the fetus. In some instances, a car accident will prove fatal to the mother, to the fetus or to both. Accordingly, Virginia law allows for potential wrongful death lawsuits against negligent or reckless parties, which cause the death of a fetus.

In Virginia, a person who willfully and with premeditation kills a fetus in an illegal manner may be charged with a Class 2 Felony. It thus makes sense that in a state with fetal homicide laws, there may also be cause for wrongful death if a fetus is killed accidentally via car accident. The state statute defines the potential negligent parties as either a person, corporation, vessel or ship. The statute also defines the fetal death as caused by "neglect," "default" or a "wrongful act."

In certain key ways, a wrongful death action in Virginia regarding a fetal death differs from other wrongful death lawsuits. First, the lawsuit cannot be against the natural mother of the fetus. For instance, if an expecting mother takes large health risks and has a miscarriage as a result, a wrongful death lawsuit cannot be brought against her. In a typical wrongful death lawsuit, a family member or other representative may bring suit. In wrongful fetal death lawsuits only the natural mother may bring suit.

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 Posted on November 06, 2014 in Commercial Vehicle Accidents

A Virginia parent's worst nightmare is to hear that a school bus crash has occurred in his or her city or town. A commercial vehicle accident involving any vehicles which carry multiple passengers has the potential to cause great harm, especially if it is caused by another's negligence. Fortunately, a recent accident involving a commercial truck and a school bus in Virginia Beach led to only relatively minor injuries.

The incident took place on the morning of October 22, near the intersection of Holland Road and Damascus Trail. Few details were available immediately after the collision, which involved a FedEx truck and a school bus carrying 16 students. The accident caused the driver of the bus, as well as one student, to be treated at a local hospital for injuries due to broken glass.

Several other commercial vehicle accidents took place throughout the state last month. In Sussex County, an Amtrak passenger train struck a farm truck; no one was seriously hurt, but the driver of the truck did suffer some minor injuries. At the time of the incident, there were over 150 passengers aboard the train. state police are still investigating the accident and have not yet decided whether to bring charges.

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 Posted on October 29, 2014 in Commercial Vehicle Accidents

A simple collision between two passenger cars can result in minor injuries or more severe afflictions. The same type of collision between a car and a semi-truck, on the other hand, is nearly guaranteed to result in more serious injuries. Victims of commercial vehicle accidents who suffer catastrophic injuries can benefit greatly from an experienced attorney's review of their accident.

When a commercial vehicle accident takes place in Arlington, Fairfax or the surrounding areas, there is usually a police report filed regarding the crash. Without an attorney to handle one's case, important elements of the police report may be overlooked if one later suspects that another's negligence caused the wreck. Additionally, many accidents are not thoroughly investigated by authorities, who are often in a rush and have other pressing situations on their plates.

A law firm with the right resources can conduct a complete accident investigation. This may involve reconstructing the accident, questioning experts or reviewing the practices of the truck driver's employer. A skilled truck accident lawyer also can inquire into the state of the commercial vehicle itself - was the truck properly maintained? Did an issue such as defective brakes lead to a crash? Was there anything about the vehicle that caused more severe injuries than should have resulted from that type of accident? Truck accident lawyers know the right questions to ask following an incident that resulted in serious injuries.

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 Posted on October 23, 2014 in Car Accidents

Motor vehicle accidents in the Manassas area can lead to countless types of injuries, but perhaps one of the most well-known injuries linked to crashes is whiplash. Whiplash is an injury that affects the neck and can damage both the bone as well as soft tissue. Frequently, it is caused by a rapid combination of acceleration force and consequent deceleration. This movement forces a person's head to move back and forth very quickly and is most commonly encountered in an auto accident.

A rear-end collision is a particularly common precursor to whiplash, since this type of impact has all the classic elements of sudden forward and backward motion that can cause whiplash. Interestingly, the word "whiplash" was first commonly used in the 1920s; prior to 1928, the label of "railway spine" was applied to those who suffered similar neck injuries from train accidents.

While any injury to the neck or back area is cause for concern, whiplash is usually not threatening to the life of the victim. Still, the condition can be quite painful and can even partially disable someone. In addition, there are whiplash-related disorders which can be both chronic and debilitating. After a car crash, a driver or passenger may not notice signs or symptoms of whiplash immediately. However, once painful symptoms arrive they can linger for years after an incident.

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 Posted on October 15, 2014 in Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Traffic safety has improved significantly over the years, and with many reliable cars on the market most Virginians are able to get where they need to go safely and securely. Still, car crashes and fatal motor vehicle accidents are unfortunately a threat no matter how safety-oriented the state's laws and cars become.

Compared to 2012, some of Virginia's vehicle accident data for 2013 is encouraging. Last year, 741 people were killed in fatal car accidents throughout the state. That figure is down over 4 percent from the previous year. However, of the 2013 fatalities, 253 were related to alcohol — an increase of over 10 percent from the previous year. In addition, another troubling increase is found in the number of people killed in crashes where speed was found to be a factor. Last year saw 339 people lose their lives to speed-related wrecks; that figure is higher than the prior year's total by over 8 percent.

The highest number of fatal crashes took place in March of last year, while the largest number of overall fatalities happened in October. October was also the month in which the highest number of overall crashes took place on Virginia's roads.

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 Posted on October 08, 2014 in Truck Accidents

What causes a semi-truck accident? The answer can vary widely, whether it's a particular incident or a larger trend, there are many different voices eager to share their views on the subject. One set of voices that is increasingly being heard is that of accident victims themselves. In the wake of several recent high-profile truck accidents, such as the one that severely injured actor Tracy Morgan and another that killed four college softball players last month, accident victims are fighting back against dangerous trucking practices. However, trucking trade associations, such as the Arlington, Virginia-based American Trucking Association, often have different views as to the causes of a crash.

One mother who lost two teenage daughters in a tractor trailer accident in 2013 has been active in urging increased trucking safety. She created a social media campaign, set up a website and has even sent over 10,000 petitions to influential figures, including the U.S. Transportation Secretary. She noted that she wants to do anything she can to make trucks less dangerous to others on the road. Each year, semi-truck accidents kill nearly 4,000 individuals.

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 Posted on October 01, 2014 in Drunk Driving Accidents

Any car accident in Northern Virginia can lead to a host of medical and financial issues, but a drunk driving accident can prove particularly wrenching. The car accident victim must cope not only with their own medical trauma but also with the desire to see justice served. In drunk driving accidents, the criminal justice system will usually become involved and the drunk driver will receive criminal charges. In the criminal courts, victims and their families can help investigators and prosecutors see that justice is done.

The civil courts are another arena in which accountability can be sought. After being involved in an alcohol-related accident, the injured victim needs not only justice but to be made whole again. This is where a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit can play a vital role. In a civil suit, the victim can be awarded monetary compensation for their loss. This can include money for medical expenses stemming from the crash. In cases of severe injury recovery can mean extended periods of physical therapy and possibly even long-term care.

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