Cana, VA Teen Driver Charged After Speeding Leads To Serious Accident

By Emily Mapp Brannon, Virginia (VA) Accident Attorney

A teenager in Cana, Virginia has been charged with reckless driving after a crash this Monday morning caused four people to be transported to area hospitals. The Virginia State Police say that the accident took place Monday morning at 8:25 a.m. along U.S. Route 52 at the intersection Route 685 in Fancy Gap.

At the time of the crash, Imogene Dalton, 51, was driving a 1997 Ford Explorer south on Route 52 and was attempting to turn left when a 2003 Toyota driven by the 19-year-old driver approached from the rear and was not able to stop.

Virginia State Troopers say that the 19-year-old’s vehicle then collided into the left side of the Explorer, overturning the Toyota and ejecting the 19-year-old driver. Two other passengers in the Toyota were taken to the hospital with injuries, as was the driver of the Ford Explorer. Police say that the teen driver will be charged with reckless driving, as officers believe speeding was the cause of the car accident.

Our hearts go out to those injured in the accident, especially the unsuspecting driver of the Explorer who did nothing other than be in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s especially frustrating that the Virginia State Police say they believe speeding caused the wreck. Going too fast for the conditions is incredibly dangerous, as this accident perfectly illustrates. Being alert, avoiding unnecessary distractions and remembering the rules of the road will help keep everyone safer on Virginia highways.

If you were seriously injured in a Virginia car, motorcycle or truck wreck caused by a speeding or otherwise negligent driver, it’s critical that you reach out to an experienced attorney who has successfully handled similar cases. The attorneys at my firm recently recovered nearly $70,000 for one of our clients, a student at a university in Norfolk, VA, who suffered serious injuries after being hit by a distracted driver.

If you’ve been injured in a Virginia car crash, consider reading this article which covers many of the basic questions and concerns raised by those involved in auto accidents. Additionally, the following answers to common frequently asked questions can help provide some basic information about why it’s important to obtain legal counsel after suffering an unexpected accident.

Here’s a Google Map showing the location of the accident:

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Chrysler Recalls 300,000 Jeeps For Transmission And Airbag Trouble

By Emily Mapp Brannon, Virginia (VA) Injury Attorney

Chrysler has just announced that it will be recalling more than 300,00 vehicles from the Jeep brand after several problems with the gear shifting system were uncovered. The recall was announced by the national Highway Traffic Safety Administration and said that the issue revolved around an electrical failure in the car that could lead to unintentional shifts into neutral.

The problem with the cars shifting into neutral is that the vehicles could roll away if parked on an incline and also present a risk of accidents if the shift happened while the vehicle was in motion. The NHTSA says the recall will affect Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVS that were built between 2005 and 2010 as well as Jeep Commander SUVS built between 2006 and 2010. These two models make up more than 295,000 of the 301,000 vehicles included in the recall

Another 5,500 Jeep Wranglers built between 2008 and 2012 will be recalled for a different reason relating to airbags. Chrysler says that a problem with the airbag assembly systems could lead to broken airbag circuit boards. The problem is that if the malfunction occurs and the vehicles are involved in a crash, then the driver-side front airbag may not deploy.

Though it’s always good to see a company take the step of warning consumers about possible dangers associate with its products, the recall by Chrysler raises some serious questions about why the improperly assembled vehicles were allowed to be sold in the first place.

The problem Jeep is facing with its airbag is not a new one. As we wrote about recently, airbag troubles are frequent causes for automotive recalls. The issue is not whether airbags save lives, a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showed that in one year airbags typically save upwards of 2,700 lives. The problem, in the case of many of these recalls, just like with Jeep, is making sure the airbags will inflate when they’re supposed to and that they do not inflate when they aren’t.

Defective and dangerous products come in all shapes and sizes, from cars to cribs and everything in between. If you or a family member has been injured, sickened or killed by an unsafe product, you can begin to learn about your legal rights and options by reading this article. 

For those who have been injured by a dangerous or defective product, there are likely many questions that need to be answered. Our firm has a library of attorneys’ answers to frequently asked questions regarding recalled products which can help provide some much needed background information on what is a very complicated subject.

Here’s a video where one of our attorneys, Emily Mapp Brannon, discusses strategies for recovering the most money possible after a Virginia personal injury:

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Breakdown of the Effects of Blood Alcohol Levels on People

By Emily Mapp Brannon, Virginia (VA) Injury Attorney

Many people don’t realize how even a small amount of alcohol can affect their reflexes and responses, especially behind the wheel of a vehicle. To learn more, read here. . .

How do Specific Blood Alcohol Levels Effect People

About the Editors: Virginia personal injury lawyers with the Shapiro, Lewis, Appleton & Favaloro law firm only handle injury and accident law cases. We have experience handling car, truck, motorcycle, van and SUV accident claims, and our case results speak for themselves. Attorneys with our firm have been listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Attorneys with our personal injury law firm have also been named Virginia Super Lawyers since 2010, an honor fewer than 5 percent of practicing attorneys receive. Our primary office is in Virginia Beach, but we often represent clients in Portsmouth, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Suffolk, Richmond and throughout the Commonwealth.

CPSC Issues Recall for Dangerous Magnet Sets

By Randy Appleton, Virginia (VA) Injury Attorney

The CPSC have announced a recall of Buckyballs and Buckycubes magnet sets because of a substantial risk of injury and death from choking. Almost 500 children have received injuries from the sets. To learn more, read here. . . .

Almost 500 Injuries Reported from Recalled Magnet Sets

About the Editors: Virginia personal injury lawyers with the Shapiro, Lewis, Appleton & Favaloro law firm only handle injury and accident law cases. We have experience handling car, truck, motorcycle, van and SUV accident claims, and our case results speak for themselves. Attorneys with our firm have been listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Attorneys with our personal injury law firm have also been named Virginia Super Lawyers since 2010, an honor fewer than 5 percent of practicing attorneys receive. Our primary office is in Virginia Beach, but we often represent clients in Portsmouth, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Suffolk, Richmond and throughout the Commonwealth.

Virginia Study Estimates Fatigue Responsible For 20 Percent Of All Car Accidents

By Emily Mapp Brannon, Virginia (VA) Injury Attorney

What Happened:

A recent study conducted in Virginia discovered just how big of a problem driver fatigue can be and how it could lead to many more accidents than initially suspected. Though attention has long been focused on distracted driving issues such as texting or cellphone usage, researchers found that tired driving may be just as dangerous.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration worked with researchers at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and found that fatigued driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents. The study focused on 100 vehicles moving through the Northern Virginia area. Each vehicle was outfitted with sensors that would provide specific tracking and movement information to researchers. The sensors also monitored the drivers and would measure instances of yawning as well as closing eyes or nodding off.

The study concluded that sleepy drivers are responsible for about 20 percent of all car accidents. This surprised researchers who said that previous studies have estimated driver fatigue to be only a minor cause of car accidents, responsible for only between two and three percent of crashes.

The study further specified that drivers between 18 and 20 were the most likely to be involved in accidents where fatigue played a role. Study authors said this is likely because teens and those in their early 20s are often sleep deprived, staying up late but then having to get up early for school. This sleep deprivation combines dangerously with their lack of driving experience to create a recipe for deadly accidents.

The study found that overall tired drivers, even those only moderately fatigued, are four times more likely to be involved in car accident than those who are properly rested.

The Virginia Injury Attorney’s Perspective:

In order to avoid drowsy/sleepy driving, take frequent breaks on your trip. Don’t try to make a long drive in one sitting without stopping. It’s also important to be sure to get a good night’s rest prior to trip so you are fully energized. Driving requires an active and engaged mind so being rested and taking necessary precautions throughout your journey is crucial to avoid joining the statistics of drowsy driving accidents.

Potentially Helpful Legal Information: 

My firm has written about the dangers of drowsy driving and how your risk of serious injury increases exponentially when you are exhausted and decide to drive long distances. If you are feeling at all sleepy, it’s essential to take a break; the worst thing you can do is continue to push yourself and wind up getting into a potentially deadly wreck because you dosed off.

If you or a member of your family has been injured in a Virginia (VA) car crash involving or caused by a tired driver, you can begin to learn about your legal rights and options to file claims for compensation by downloading this free report.

Have Questions? Check Out Our FAQs

If you’ve been injured in a Virginia car, truck or motorcycle accident, whether the driver was sleeping at the time of the crash or not, you likely are wondering what you should do to move the case forward. If so, consider checking out my firm’s library of attorneys’ answers to frequently asked questions regarding Virginia car accidents.

Here’s a video where Virginia attorney Emily Mapp Brannon discusses the importance of driving safely and without distraction:

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About the Editors: Virginia personal injury lawyers with the Shapiro, Lewis, Appleton & Favaloro law firm only handle injury and accident law cases. We have experience handling car, truck, motorcycle, van and SUV accident claims, and our case results speak for themselves. Attorneys with our firm have been listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Attorneys with our personal injury law firm have also been named Virginia Super Lawyers since 2010, an honor fewer than 5 percent of practicing attorneys receive. Our primary office is in Virginia Beach, but we often represent clients in Portsmouth, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Suffolk, Richmond and throughout the Commonwealth.

Dangers Of Magnetic Toys Raised By Recent Recall

By Kevin Duffan, Virginia (VA) Injury Attorney

After Toys “R” Us recently announced the recall of a magnetic toy line, the CPSC took the occasion to remind parents about the dangers swallowing such high-powered magnets can pose to young children. To learn more, read the full story here…

“CPSC Warns About Dangers Of Magnetic Children’s Toys“

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About the Editors: Virginia personal injury lawyers with the Shapiro, Lewis, Appleton & Favaloro law firm only handle injury and accident law cases. We have experience handling car, truck, motorcycle, van and SUV accident claims, and our case results speak for themselves. Attorneys with our firm have been listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Attorneys with our personal injury law firm have also been named Virginia Super Lawyers since 2010, an honor fewer than 5 percent of practicing attorneys receive. Our primary office is in Virginia Beach, but we often represent clients in Portsmouth, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Suffolk, Richmond and throughout the Commonwealth.

West Virginia Crash Leaves Two Injured

by Shapiro, Lewis, Appleton & Favaloro.

A car accident on Route 9 in West Virginia sent two drivers to the hospital after their cars collided at an intersection. One of the drivers was airlifted to a nearby hospital after her vehicle’s door had to be removed; the other was taken by ambulance.  

To read the full story, follow this link: West Virginia Crash Leaves Two Injured.

About the Editors: North Carolina personal Injury Lawyers with the Shapiro, Lewis, Appleton & Favaloro law firm practice only injury and accident law. We have experience handling car, truck, motorcycle, van and SUV accident claims. Take a moment to view our case results. Attorneys with our firm have been listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. In addition, our firm possess the “AV” Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell. We have an office in Elizabeth City, North Carolina (NC), but we often represent clients in Rocky Mount, Charlotte and Greenville, on the Outer Banks, and in other North Carolina cities.