Posted on March 03, 2022 in Car Accidents

If you are sitting waiting at a traffic light and someone crashes into you, then the crash is clearly the other driver's fault.

When you are both moving, who is to blame may be less certain. You may both have contributed in some way. One of the most common ways a mainly blameless driver can contribute to a crash is not having their entire attention on the road at the time.

How can you stay alert?

Modern life can be hectic and make it hard to focus on one thing at a time. Yet there are few times when it is more crucial to give a task your full attention than driving.

1. Set up your vehicle before moving off: Adjusting the seat and mirrors is much easier in modern cars, often requiring the flick of a button rather than physically moving them yourself. Yet you should still do this while stationary.
2. Know where you are going: Looking at a map, entering addresses into a sat nav or peering out the window at the name of every street takes your eyes off the road. If you use a GPS, program it before you leave. If you use manual means, work your route out before you depart.

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 Posted on March 01, 2022 in Car Accidents

You may feel fortunate to have experienced a major car crash and avoided severe injuries. Some people experience life-altering medical consequences after a crash they didn't even cause. Walking away with only minor scrapes and bruises could make you feel most fortunate indeed.

However, the damage to your vehicle can cause hardship and stress. The insurance company may declare your vehicle a total loss if there is damage to the frame or the axles. Such a determination means that you cannot legally drive your vehicle or insure it.

You will have to replace it. The cost to buy even a used vehicle could be tens of thousands of dollars, possibly even more depending on your needs. What happens if the driver who totals your vehicle does not have car insurance?

Many drivers break insurance laws in Virginia

As you know because you pay for your own motor vehicle coverage, state law mandates that you carry liability coverage on your vehicle. Although you may have bought a policy when you had your first vehicle and have potentially even increased your coverage as your income has increased, not every driver makes such responsible choices.

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 Posted on February 16, 2022 in Car Accidents

Sometimes, liability for car crash injuries is reasonably straightforward. One party is clearly at fault for the injury, and their insurance company pays for the medical bills, property damage and other expenses of the other driver. But what if one of the drivers had a passenger in the car, and that passenger suffered injuries as well? What options do they have for seeking compensation for their medical expenses?

Insurance coverage for injured passengers

Fortunately, the Commonwealth of Virginia recently increased the statutory minimum insurance coverage for bodily injury. Prior to January 1, 2022 the statutory minimum for an insurance policy was $25,000 for any individual with a limit of $50,000 for the injury or death of two or more individuals in any one accident.

The minimum limits have now been increased to $30,000 for any individual with a limit of $60,000 for the injury or death of two or more individuals in any one accident. This will increase again on January 1, 2025 to $50,000 for any one individual with a limit of $100,000 for the injury or death of two or more individuals in any once accident.

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 Posted on February 15, 2022 in Dog Bites

Any breed of dog can potentially attack and seriously hurt someone. But some breeds have a more notorious reputation in Manassas. Perhaps no dog breed has a worse public reputation than pit bulls.

Are pit bulls really the most dangerous dogs out there? The New York Post seems to think so.

The three breeds that bite the most

An article in the Post cites data from the New York Department of Health that suggests pit bulls were responsible for about 30 percent of dog bite incidents in the city from 2015-17. This figure made pit bulls the most common dog cited in attacks, though they are believed to be the sixth-most popular breed for dog owners in New York City. Interestingly, the data shows that the second- and third-most likely breeds to bite were Shih Tzus and Chihuahuas — two small breeds that, while less likely to harm even a child seriously, could still leave visible scars.

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 Posted on February 11, 2022 in Car Accidents

If you were to list the most important factors in driver safety, visibility would be at the top of that list. Simply put, you need to be able to see where you are going and other road users must be able to see you.

While some collisions are simply unavoidable, optimal visibility could offer the chance to prevent those borderline cases. Your headlights, signals and brake lights are crucial to visibility, particularly at nighttime. You can check all of these before setting off, and here's how;

Testing your brake lights

Your brake lights let other drivers know when you are slowing down or coming to a stop. Without them, it is next to impossible to gauge how fast you are traveling. You can check these regularly at home and it is certainly worth doing if you're planning a journey that involves driving in the dark.

Ask someone in your household to come outside while you operate the brake pedal. If this isn't possible, you can test them yourself. Garage doors are usually reflective but if you don't have one, the wall of your house will do.

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 Posted on February 03, 2022 in Pedestrian Accidents

Cycling is one of America's favorite pastimes. Not only is this one of the cleanest forms of transportation, but it is also quite affordable and comes with a ton of health benefits. However, cycling also comes with its share of risks. Due to their nature, accidents involving cyclists and motorists tend to result in devastating injuries and property damage to the cyclist.

If your bike accident was caused by another party's negligent or unlawful acts, you may be entitled to compensation to cover your losses.

Here are the damages you can sue for in a bicycle accident lawsuit:

Medical expenses

If the injuries you have sustained following the accident require medical attention or a visit to the emergency room, you can claim those medical expenses. You can also claim prescription costs, the cost of medical equipment and long-term care needs.

Lost income

If your bike accident results in hospitalization, chances are you will miss work while receiving treatment. If this is the case, then you can seek compensation that equals what you would have earned if you would be at work. If your injuries are so severe that you're unable to work, you may ask for lost future income.

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 Posted on January 24, 2022 in Pedestrian Accidents

Depending on the severity of the impact, an accident that involves a pedestrian and a motorist can be devastating. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) findings, nearly 76,000 pedestrians are involved in auto accidents each year. Out of these, 6,000 victims lose their lives. Most of these accidents occur in busy cities like Manassas, VA.

Understanding why these accidents happen is key to preventing and reducing the number of pedestrian-related accidents on American roads. Here are some of the common causes of pedestrian accidents:

Unmarked or invisible crosswalks

Clearly marked and visible crosswalks afford pedestrians maximum visibility while crossing the street. Clear road stripping, working traffic signals and other road signs are designed to draw road users' attention to the designated road crossing points. Obviously, an unmarked crosswalk does not have the features that alert drivers of the pedestrians' right to cross. This could potentially increase the chances that a driver may fail to yield the right away to pedestrians.

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 Posted on January 18, 2022 in Car Accidents

Stop sign violations are a major reason for serious car accidents. Some studies have put it as high as 70%. Drivers make mistakes at stop signs all the time.

There are a few reasons that stop signs are so dangerous, and it's important to consider them while trying to think about how you can stay safe on the road.

Traffic lanes have to cross

First and foremost, traffic lanes must cross at any intersection that is controlled by stop signs. There is no way to proceed without moving through lanes that are going perpendicular to your own. The stop signs are supposed to help you do this in a safe manner, but there is always an inherent danger when two cars are on a potential collision course.

Stop signs may be a judgment call

In a lot of situations, drivers have to make a judgment call at a stop sign. For instance, they may have to look and see if they have enough space at a two-way stop. If there isn't enough room for cross traffic to get through but they think there is, they can pull right out in front of that car.

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 Posted on January 14, 2022 in Drunk Driving Accidents

In the midst of the holiday season, there are no doubt many drunk drivers in Manassas and the rest of Prince William County right now. And the more drunk drivers that are out there, the greater the risk that responsible, sober drivers will get hit and suffer major, life-threatening injuries.

What if cars, trucks and SUVs would not start until the person behind the wheel proves they are sober? The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles has partnered with a private company to create an invention it says will do just that. It's called the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety Program, or DADSS.

Before turning the key, blow into this

It sounds like DADSS works similarly to the ignition interlock device that a driver convicted of DUI may have to install in their vehicle. The driver blows into the device, which contains sensors that detect if there is alcohol within the breath. If DADSS detects alcohol above the legal limit, a red light turns on, and the device won't let you start the engine. Therefore, an intoxicated person would not be able to cause an accident.

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 Posted on January 05, 2022 in Car Accidents

We've almost all used a ride-sharing service at some point. Whether needing a ride when visiting a new city or simply needing to get home after a long night, these services, such as Uber or Lyft, help make things much more convenient.

Despite this convenience, it is important to note that accidents can still happen when using these services. Drivers still face the same challenges that other Virginia motorists do when behind the wheel. We wanted to discuss some of the common reasons for ride-sharing accidents below.

Drivers in unfamiliar neighborhoods: Often, ride-share drivers will have to go to places that they have not been before. The lack of familiarity with the surroundings can make it challenging for them to know where to go, where the potentially dangerous places might be, as well as lead to last-second turns or lane changes that can result in unexpected crashes.

Apps that take a driver's eyes off the road: Every ride-share driver will use an app to tell him or her the most direct route to take to a destination. These apps factor in traffic, construction and other obstacles that might potentially make a trip take longer. While this can save time and money, it also can divert some of the driver's attention. They will need to keep an eye on the app, especially if they are not 100 percent sure where they are headed. Distracted driving is a major factor in car accidents, and just because someone is using an app for their job does not take away the risk that this behavior causes.

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