Virginia Beach Personal Injury Lawyer - injury lawyer

Beach Attorney Recognized for DUI Prosecution Efforts

Rick Shapiro — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:20:00 GMT

Local prosecutor Charisse Black last week received a national award for keeping alcohol- and drug-addled divers off the streets of Virginia Beach.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving tapped Black as one of 15 recipients of its 2009 President's Criminal Justice Award for "her thorough gathering of facts, complete knowledge of current Virginia DUI laws and her ability to convict the majority of the cases she presents." Black's supervisor, Commonwealth's Attorney for Virginia Beach Harvey Bryant also praised Black for "seeing that those who drive drunk are convicted and punished without delay.' Bryant also said that "Charisse embodies the ‘get tough’ attitude that this office has toward drunk drivers."

I am happy to add my congratulations to Black and to express my appreciation for her work. Drunk and drugged drivers cause untold tragedy in our area and across the United States. While statistics on fatalities, injuries and monetary damages caused by drivers impaired by drugs and alcohol are kept, those numbers do not come close to telling the story of how DUIs can ruin and end lives.

Prosecuting drunk and drugged drivers is only part of the solution, of cpursse. Drivers need to take responsibility and stay out their cars if they have been drinking or doing drugs. Also, as we kickoff the holiday party season, hosts and guests need to watch their friends and head off potential drunk drivers by ensuring safe rides homes for those who need them.

Until people do assume their full responsibilities, however, it is good to know that prosecutors like Black are protecting us.

About the Editors: The Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm, whose attorneys work out of offices in Virginia (VA) and North Carolina (NC), edits the injury law blogs Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as pro bono services.

EJL

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Rick Shapiro

Early Evidence Shows Red-Light Cameras Are Making Virginia Beach Safer

Jim Lewis — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 10:37:30 GMT

"Virginia Beach police say red light violations have declined at intersections that have been monitored by cameras since March," begins an Oct. 31 Virginian-Pilot article. Some intersections at which cameras operate have seen a 69 percent reduction in cars speeding through stop signals.

Having written previously about the need to enforce traffic laws at busy intersections, I was pleased to learn that drivers in the Resort City have taken to heart the not-at-all subtle reminder--and threat of being ticketed--to always stop at red lights. At the same time, a fatal accident on General Booth Boulevard in mid-October in which the driver at fault appears to have run a red light sent an even greater message that no intersection can ever be completely safe when drivers do not follow traffic laws.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety created this profile of red-light runners: "younger, less likely to use safety belts, ... poorer driving records, and drove smaller and older vehicles." Demographic data portrays the "typical" Virginia Beach resident as a 33-year-old with an annual income of just under $30,000. Seat-belt wearing behavior and driving history must be left to speculation, but the typical Beach resident seems young and at least potentially likely to own an older car-- to speed through an intersection when he or she should stop.

This is not to say that most people who live in Virginia Beach ignore stop signals. The recent reductions in red-light running shows that city residents will follow traffic laws when prompted. And that is great to know.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a law firm which focuses on injury and accident law, and our attorneys have handled thousands of car and truck accident cases. Check out our case results to see for yourself. In addition, check out our FREE Best Guide to Car Accident injuries in Virginia and our special report on distracted driving. Our primary office is in Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA), but our lawyers also hold licenses in NC, SC, WV, KY and DC. We are ready to talk to you by phone right now, and we provide free initial confidential injury case consultations. Call us toll free at 1-800-752-0042. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube. Further, our lawyers proudly edit the Virginia Beach Injuryboard and Norfolk Injuryboard as pro bono public information services.

EJL

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jim Lewis

X-Ray Risks: Steps You Need To Take to Reduce Radiation Exposure

Rick Shapiro — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:59:00 GMT

X-rays, by in large, are a great medical tool which assist doctors in making diagnoses and provide an internal view of the human body without making surgical incisions. However, this technology is not 100 percent safe. There are inherent risks due to the fact that X-rays rely on radiation (as the name implies). As an injury lawyer who represents people adversely effected by radiation exposure, this issue is important to me.

The most disturbing risk is the development of cancer. High frequency and exposure to radiation has been shown to cause genetic damage which leads to cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Studies show that young people are at a higher risk due to the fact that they accumulate more radiation exposure over the years. Surprisingly, women are more susceptible to cancer development from X-ray exposure than men, even with the same level of exposure.

Here’s a video discussing the risks associated with X-rays:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWqfAjpr1iQ

There’s also a chance of developing cataracts and skin burns from X-rays. Once again, this usually occurs when you’re exposed to high levels of radiation and with fluoroscopy (i.e. continuous x-ray imaging) procedures, according to the FDA.

These risks do not mean you should avoid X-rays. Here are some simple steps you should follow when it comes to handling X-ray exposure:

Ask if you can use a lead apron or shield can be used
Don’t always ask for an X-ray
Ask your dentist if they use E or F speed film for X-rays since these films are much more efficient and reduce exposure
Remain aware of your X-ray history

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a law firm which focuses on injury and accident law and our attorneys have experience handling medical malpractice cases. Check out our case results to see for yourself. In addition, check out our FREE special reports on the Top 10 Tips from a Medical Malpractice Insider and the top 5 surgical errors you must know about. Our primary office in based in Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA) and we also have a North Carolina (NC) law office. Our lawyers hold licenses in NC, SC, WV, KY and DC. We are ready to talk to you by phone right now—we provide free initial confidential injury case consultations, so call us toll free at 1-800-752-0042. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube . Furthermore, our lawyers proudly edit the Virginia Beach Injuryboard and Norfolk Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Rick Shapiro

Virginia investigators studying boat collisions

Jim Lewis — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:11:17 GMT

Virginia authorities are crashing boats – on purpose.

The collisions are part of an effort to learn more about how recreational boat collisions happen and how to prevent them, the AP reported.

"It gives officers a chance to see it, because very few times do police officers have the opportunity to witness a traffic crash, let alone a boat collision," Jim Getz, a coordinator for the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, told the AP.

The controlled collisions happened in September on an isolated part of the James River near Richmond. The collisions were recorded and photographed, with materials to be disseminated across the country.

Recreational boat accidents are an ever-present danger in Hampton Roads, and I support any efforts to make boating safer. In May, my colleague David Hurt wrote about a boat capsizing near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, an incident that left one man dead and another injured.

And my colleague Emily Mapp Brannon wrote less than a month ago that boating accidents were steeply rising throughout Virginia.

In 2008, 709 people died in recreational boating accidents, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Of those 709, 60 were killed in collisions. Another 856 people were hurt in collisions.

In the latest project, 12 pairs of boats were crashed into each other. All were donated and were crashed by remote control.

"It is a complex, very dynamic event, and the only way to fully understand it is to study actual collisions, where you know what actually happened and can carefully examine the aftermath," accident investigator and consultant Miles Beam told the AP.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a law firm which focuses on injury and accident law and we have experience handling wrongful death cases. Check out our case results to see for yourself. Our primary office in based in Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA). Our attorneys have handled numerous wrongful death cases and we understand the difficult circumstances which accompany these types of cases. Our lawyers hold licenses in NC, SC, WV, KY and DC. We are ready to talk to you by phone right now—we provide free initial confidential injury case consultations, so call us toll free at 1-800-752-0042. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube . Furthermore, our lawyers proudly edit the Virginia Beach Injuryboard and Norfolk Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service.

(MM)

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jim Lewis

Virginia Homeowners Need Help Handling Toxic Chinese Drywall

John Cooper — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:34:00 GMT

Toxic Chinese drywall is affecting thousands of homeowners across the nation but especially in the south including Mississippi, Florida, New Orleans, and Virginia (VA). Some estimates indicate over 100,000 homes were built with the hazardous drywall, though no one really has an exact number. The problem just continues to grow.

Virginians in Hampton Roads are taking the brunt of the toxic Chinese drywall problem. For example, Elizabeth and Steve Heischober bought a house in Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA) back in 2006 and discovered the symptoms of toxic Chinese drywall – a rotten egg smell and the destruction of appliances due to chemicals. The Heischober’s would need to spend over $200,000 out of pocket to fully replace the drywall and effected appliances, according to WAVY.

As an injury lawyer who works for a firm that regularly represents people who’ve had their lives adversely affected by toxic substances, I find it outrageous that more hasn’t been done to help these homeowners. Most people don’t have $200,000 sitting around to spend on home repairs.

Most insurance companies are preparing to deny claims related to the toxic drywall because it’s considered a pollutant and, therefore, not covered by a general policy.

So what can be done? The government is making some effort. The Foreign Manufacturers Legal Accountability Act of 2009 is a bill floating around in the Senate that would require foreign companies doing business in the United States to agree to participate in litigation in U.S. courts. Unfortunately, this would not help those currently struggling with the drywall issue.

Virginia Beach Congressman Glenn Nye (D) is planning to submit legislation which would expedite financial support to Virginia (VA) homeowners. Nevertheless, the U.S. government is not responsible for this quagmire. The Chinese government needs to take responsibility since nearly 16 companies who supplied the toxic drywall were apparently owned by the government.

Here's a video of Congressman Nye meeting with the Heischober's about their troubles with toxic Chinese drywall...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZphmKlww44

Thousands of lawsuits are being filed in connection to the contaminated Chinese drywall and it’s clear this issue is gaining national attention. Justice needs to be served. Far too many people are having their lives ruined because of this noxious drywall.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a law firm which focuses on injury and accident law and we have experience handling toxic substance cases. Check out our case results to see for yourself. Our primary office in based in Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA). Our lawyers hold licenses in NC, SC, WV, KY and DC. We are ready to talk to you by phone right now—we provide free initial confidential injury case consultations, so call us toll free at 1-800-752-0042. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube . Furthermore, our lawyers proudly edit the Virginia Beach Injuryboard and Norfolk Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by John Cooper

Feds Get Serious About Cutting Texting While Driving

Randy Appleton — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 09:52:46 GMT

I’m not used to hearing a federal official describe much of anything as a “menace” these days. But that is exactly the word U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood choose to describe texting while driving. LaHood also called distracted driving in general an epidemic in the days leading up to, and throughout, a two-day Distracted Driving Summit in Washington, D.C., this week.

The candor was refreshing regarding a problem that led to a significant proportion of the 515,000 car cashes in which people got injured during 2008. Nearly 6,000 of those accidents involved at least one distracted driver and one fatality.

Just in case there is any doubt that texting while driving constitutes a—to agree with Secretary LaHood—menace, I’ll point to a recently published study from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. The researchers found that texting commercial truck drivers were 23.2 times more likely to have an accident than nontexting truck drivers. People driving cars were 2.8 times more likely to crash while dialing their cell phones.

LaHood, backed by President Barack Obama, has decided to act on his understanding of the seriousness of the texting and driving problem. By Executive Order, no military personnel or federal employees can text while driving a government vehicle or conducting official business. Federal laws prohibiting bus, tractor trailer and train operators from texting while driving are promised.

Virginia was somewhat out in front on curbing texting while driving. I would like to see federal laws banning the practice move quickly to bolster and extend the protections the Virginia law gives drivers.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm is based in Virginia (VA), near the Northeast North Carolina (NC) border. Lawyers with the firm practice primarily in the southeastern U.S. and handle injury law cases, including car, truck and railroad accidents, medical negligence cases and more. The firm’s website is hsinjurylaw.com. Lawyers with Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton also edit the injury law blogs Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard and host a YouTube injury law video library with more than 50 videos covering many FAQs on personal injury subjects. The firm’s lawyers are licensed in VA, NC, SC, WV, DC and KY.

EJL

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Randy Appleton

Couple Tragically Killed in Car Accident

John Cooper — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 22:26:00 GMT

Bob and Reggie Wade, two active citizens in their 80s, were killed in a car accident. They were driving home to Valley Forge when their Cadillac was struck by a Dodge Durango, according to philly.com. The driver and passengers in the Durango were not seriously injured.

The Wade’s were a couple that enjoyed life to the fullest and spent Fourth of July weekend in Virginia (VA). They were surrogate parents to nine nieces and nephews with a passion for enjoying the company of friends and family.

Working for an injury law firm which represents clients hurt in car accidents, I’m always saddened to hear about good people dying in these terrible crashes.

Nearly 70,000 people were injured in car accidents last year in the state of Virginia (VA) and over 800 were killed, according to the DMV.

Here are some general safety tips to follow when driving. These may seem rudimentary, but it’s always good to keep them in mind…

1. Wear your seatbelt
2. Follow the speed limit
3. Don’t drive while impaired
4. Exercise caution at intersections, red lights, and stop signs
5. Always signal your intentions

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm is based in Virginia (VA), near the NE North Carolina (NC) border and handles car,truck,railroad, and medical negligence cases and more. Our lawyers proudly edit the Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service. Lawyers licensed in: VA, NC, SC, WV, DC, KY.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by John Cooper

Deaths from Motorcycle Crashes on the Rise in South Hampton Roads Area of Virginia

Emily Mapp Brannon — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:10:00 GMT

In 2009, more than twice as many people have died in motorcycle crashes in South Hampton Roads than in all of 2008, according to The Virginian-Pilot. There have been 13 fatal motorcycle crashes this year as opposed to six in 2008, and we still have four months remaining in 2009.

This isn’t the first time motorcycle crashes have fluctuated in Virginia (VA). In 2006, there were a total of seven fatal motorcycle accidents while in 2007, that number increased to 10 fatalities.

Two motorcyclists were recently killed in separate crashes in Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA). My colleague Jim Lewis wrote about these two tragic accidents and I am greatly concerned with the increase in fatal motorcycle accidents in Virginia (VA). Our firm has represented people hurt in motorcycle accidents, so I understand the ramifications these accidents can have on the victims and their families.

We need to take a step back and examine the situation to see what can be done to reduce these accident statistics.

Here’s a video discussing important motorcycle safety tips…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prR20YZtPGU

“Riding the bike isn’t the hard part,” said Adam Bernstein, a spokesman for the Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA) police department and a motorcyclist. “The hard part is watching what everybody else is doing. Your reaction time slows down, and reaction time is paramount on a motorcycle.”

Bernstein attributes the increase in motorcycle accidents to the warm weather. When it’s nice outside, more people take their bikes out to enjoy a ride.

If you’re one of the individuals who doesn’t ride every day but wants to enjoy the beautiful summer weather with a motorcycle ride, remember of always wear your helmet, wear bright clothing, brake early, and always be cognizant of the other motorcyclists and cars on the road.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Emily Mapp Brannon

Chesapeake Man Becomes Latest Bicyclist in Area to Die After Being Struck by Car

Randy Appleton — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 09:27:38 GMT

A little after 10 p.m. last night, an as-yet unidentified man was struck and killed by an Oldsmobile while riding his bicycle along Johnstown Road in central Chesapeake. Police have not released the name of the driver involved in the accident.

The Chesapeake man became at least the third fatality from an accident involving a bike and car in Tidewater this year. Official statistics from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles indicate that just three people in Chesapeake died as a result of bike accidents between 2001 and 2007, while seven bicyclist died from accidents in Virginia Beach during that period. Six bicyclists died in Norfolk, and another three died in Portsmouth over the seven years for which reports are available.

So, as noted, 2009 is turning out to be another deadly year for area bicyclists. In April a lifelong bicyclist was killed while riding down Shore Drive in Virginia Beach. Another Virginia Beach resident riding along Witchduck Road was killed this winter.

The Virginia Bicycling Federation has a broad-ranging set of initiatives designed to improve bike safety and promote road-sharing between bicyclists and drivers. My colleagues and I recognize the importance of all people on the road doing all they can to keep themselves and others safe.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm (VA-NC law offices ) edits the injury law blogs Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as a pro bono service to consumers. Lawyers with Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton are licensed in VA, NC, SC, WV, DC and KY. They handle car, truck, railroad, medical negligence cases and more.

EJL

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Randy Appleton

Two Virginia Beach Motorcyclists Killed in Separate Crashes on the Same Day

Jim Lewis — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:40:00 GMT

Two tragic motorcycle accidents occurred in Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA) on the same day with two people dead and two injured.

The first crash included a man and a female passenger riding in the 700 block of Daimler Drive in Virginia Beach when the motorcyclist went straight on a curve hitting a mailbox and a power pole, according to The Virginian-Pilot.

The second motorcycle crash also included a man and a female passenger who were riding on Witchduck Road at Alfriends Trail, close to Sentara Bayside Hospital. The motorcycle collided with a vehicle coming from Alfriends Trail onto Witchduck Road.

As an injury lawyer who’s represented clients hurt in motorcycle accidents, I’m always concerned about the safety of our motorists and motorcyclists. These two tragic accidents are terrible and my deepest condolences go out to the friends and families who lost loved ones in these accidents.

We can learn from these accidents and hopefully motorcyclists will be cognizant of proper safety measures while enjoying a ride on the road.

Here’s a video discussing motorcycle safety…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81MAPkXEIFo

Some essential safety tips, courtesy of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, include:

Be visible by wearing bright clothing
Flash your brake lights when you’re slowing down or stopping
Wear a helmet and proper eye protection
Avoid weaving between lanes
Signal your next move in advance and give time to motorists to respond

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jim Lewis