Posted on October 11, 2013 in Drunk Driving Accidents

Early on a weekend morning is not a particularly unusual time for car accidents. It's not uncommon for alcohol-related accidents to occur in this time period in northern Virginia, as a recent drunk driving accident indicates.

The fatal incident occurred less than an hour after midnight on a Sunday morning in Loudoun County. A BMW collided with a motorcycle, severely injuring both the motorcycle's driver as well as its passenger. Both parties succumbed to their injuries afterwards at a local hospital. The driver of the BMW, a 52-year-old from Ashburn, was not hurt in the accident. He was, however, charged with driving under the influence and was held without bond.

A drunk driver has the potential to cause any number of injuries, many of them fatal. A drunk driver in congested Northern Virginia has even more capability to cause damage. In this case, the crash investigation is ongoing and will be under review by the Commonwealth's Attorney.

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 Posted on October 02, 2013 in Truck Accidents

When a truck collides with any sort of passenger vehicle, there will almost certainly be serious injuries involved. But when a large truck strikes a relatively small vehicle, it's shocking if anyone makes it out alive. On September 27, a cattle truck hit a Chevy Cavalier in Augusta County, and the accident claimed the lives of two men from that county.

The truck accident occurred when a cattle truck went over the center lane on Route 254. A 2002 Chevy Cavalier was struck as a result, and its two occupants died away at the scene. A head-on collision is often the worst type of truck crash, causing either fatalities or serious injury, and this incident was no exception. While the Chevy's driver and passenger were killed, the driver of the cattle truck received injuries described as life-threatening. The driver of the Chevy was 52-years-old and his passenger was 70-years-old.

In accidents where one car veers over the center lane or unexpectedly crosses any lane, investigations may discover negligence. A sleepy driver, for instance, can nod off behind the wheel while their vehicle sways across the road. A distracted driver can be focusing on so many other things that proper steering takes a backseat to actions such as texting, talking or eating. Being fatigued or distracted are not crimes in general; however, when someone is operating a motor vehicle that person must behave reasonably and responsibly.

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 Posted on September 25, 2013 in Commercial Vehicle Accidents

Sometimes after a car accident that involves several vehicles and multiple injured or deceased parties police will appeal to the public for help in their investigation. That's what happened after a recent tractor-trailer accident in Suffolk, Virginia, earlier this month.

In local media, police have appealed to the general public for assistance. Specifically, they are asking any witnesses to come forward regarding the multi-vehicle crash that closed traffic on Route 460 for much of the day on September 18. The accident apparently occurred in the morning hours, as the call came in to authorities shortly after 7:00 a.m.

The incident involved six cars and two tractor-trailers, although details are scant on the exact nature of the wreck. However, authorities do know that at least one person has died and six people suffered injuries. Of the six people injured, half of them were in critical condition after the accident.

In any sort of commercial vehicle accident, any and all details of the accident can prove crucial later on. This is because accident victims or their family members can obtain much-needed compensation for their losses if the losses were the fault of a negligent truck driver or negligent commercial truck company. In order to make that determination, though, it is essential that facts are gathered and witnesses are interviewed in a timely fashion.

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 Posted on September 18, 2013 in Car Accidents

Charges of reckless driving have resulted from an accident that occurred earlier this month in Culpeper County, Virginia. A 22-year-old woman had to be flown to the University of Virginia hospital after her car, a Toyota Celica, was struck by an SUV. The incident began when an SUV traveling south on U.S. 29 pulled in front of the Toyota. The cars collided and both vehicles overturned. The car crash has culminated in charges against the 39-year-old who was behind the wheel of the SUV.

It is not yet known if the injuries suffered by the Toyota driver will threaten her life. When a vehicle overturns it can be incredibly dangerous, as the driver or passengers may become trapped or crushed. Even if the occupants of a car are wearing seatbelts, as both drivers were in this case, the results of a flipped car can potentially be deadly.

Even if the injuries that stem from an accident like this are not catastrophic, the medical costs can be. When someone suffers any sort of injury from an auto crash there are usually immediate medical expenses. There may also be more long-term expenses relating to recovery or rehabilitation. In today's ever-changing healthcare environment, costs can be much higher than expected and can vary greatly from provider to provider.

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 Posted on September 12, 2013 in Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Distracted driving can involve a variety of actions on the part of a driver. Whether it's putting on makeup, eating or blaring loud music, distracting oneself behind the wheel always has the potential for disaster. Talking on a cell phone while driving also can result in distracted driving and texting while driving is likely one of the biggest risks of all. After a recent deadly accident in northern Virginia, the police investigation now is focusing on the driver's behavior prior to the crash.

The accident happened earlier this month in Woodbridge, near Spriggs Road. A 17-year-old driver struck a 66-year-old bicyclist after her vehicle traveled up onto a curb and then the sidewalk. Tragically, the man riding his bike was not only hit, but also dragged until the car came to a halt. Authorities pronounced the bicyclist dead at the scene. The area of the road where the accident happened was closed while investigators examined the scene. Officials believe the driver of the car may have been texting when the collision occurred.

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 Posted on September 05, 2013 in Commercial Vehicle Accidents

An investigation into a late-August car accident in neighboring Maryland has resulted in identification of the victims of the deadly crash. All three who perished, including two children, hailed from Virginia. The commercial vehicle accident took place in Anne Arundel County on August 27, on Route 3 near Route 32. A commercial delivery truck struck a Toyota Camry during rush hour, ultimately involving several vehicles and claiming three lives.

According to police, the 36-year-old driver of the delivery truck had been driving at a speed of around 50 miles per hour, which was actually within the posted limit of that area. However, police think the truck driver failed to slow that speed as he approached a traffic backup. As commuters in the Northern Virginia area know, unexpected obstacles, such as construction or traffic jams, can cause cruising traffic to come to a grinding halt very quickly. If a driver fails to adjust their speed accordingly, negligence on their part may cause an accident.

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 Posted on August 29, 2013 in Truck Accidents

When Manassas, Virginia residents find themselves in the unfortunate situation of a car accident, they generally expect that local authorities will take charge of the scene. While this is very often the case, sometimes the victim of a car accident or truck accident may have to pursue other avenues for help after an incident, as a recent accident demonstrated.

A motorist was driving on I-295 through Mechanicsville recently when he received a terrifying surprise: a tree limb crashing through his front windshield. The driver just missed being impaled on the large branch, which collided with the front driver's side of his vehicle, and which he believed originated from a semi truck.

Fortunately, an eyewitness came forward after a local news team requested help from anyone who may have viewed the frightening scene. The witness dialed 911 as the accident happened. However, the witness expressed surprise that help from the state police did not arrive sooner. The witness gave the license plate number of the truck to authorities, and even flagged down the truck's driver to let him know debris was spewing off his truck. It wasn't until an appeal was made to the local media, though, that police showed efforts towards a thorough investigation.

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 Posted on August 23, 2013 in Firm News

Any bad event can have a negative ripple effect, including car accidents that happen on major interstates. On Aug. 11 in central Virginia, a two-car auto accident quickly spiraled into a horrendous multi-vehicle accident that wound up causing several injuries. The car crash occurred on Interstate 81 near Lexington, on a mid-August weekend that featured heavy rains.

According to police, the initial accident involved a car resting in the median, blocking part of one lane. Another car partially blocked another lane in the same direction amidst a strong downpour. Other cars were attempting to drive between the two vehicles, which were blocking sections of lanes, but the poor visibility made it a tenuous task. A state police sergeant noted that conditions fused together at just the right time for an auto crash.

A total of six tractor-trailer trucks became a part of the pileup. Some of these large vehicles were still overturned by the road the next Monday morning. Some truck drivers apparently made the decision to veer off the road instead of hitting other vehicles. Police say those decisions may have made the pileup less catastrophic than it was. Still, despite the fortunate absence of fatalities, ten people were injured, and two individuals required airlift to the hospital.

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 Posted on August 15, 2013 in Commercial Vehicle Accidents

Almost all industries in the United States are permeated with various rules and regulations, most of them focusing on safety. When research emerges that points to increased safety, most fields will adopt new ways to make these higher safety standards a reality. Occasionally, though, industries will resist new changes in order to save money or amplify profits and efficiency.

New hours of service rules for the trucking industry kicked into effect last month, limiting the amount of time a truck driver can spend on the road without rest. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has now capped the average workweek for drivers at 70 hours. Previously, this amount was set at 82 hours per week. In a state like Virginia, where interstates link regions north and south, these new regulations could affect countless drivers.

According to the FMCSA, the effects will likely prove positive, perhaps even lifesaving, for others on the road. The agency estimates that the new rules could save around 19 lives annually and prevent about 560 injuries. Overall, the FMCSA believes the recent regulations could thwart approximately 1,400 truck accidents. Given how devastating a semi-truck accident can be, one would assume these rules would be welcomed with open arms.

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 Posted on August 09, 2013 in Drunk Driving Accidents

With many Northern Virginians residing close to the nation's capital, residents are generally familiar with efforts to legislate personal responsibility. Seat belt laws, for instance, or regulations on cell phone usage are helpful reminders that safety should be everyone's priority when on the road. Of course, not all drivers behave conscientiously all the time, which is one reason why Virginia enacted a tougher law regarding drunk driving last year.

Over the past year, the amount of drunk drivers forced to install an ignition interlock device on their car has risen a whopping 75 percent. This substantial increase comes as a result of Virginia's tough stance against those who are apt to cause a drunk driving accident. According to data released by the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program, over 8,000 drivers who had been previously convicted of a DUI were enrolled in the state's ignition interlock program in the 11 months since the new law took effect.

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