Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers Blog
by | June 29th, 2015
The number of collisions between bicycles and motor vehicles has steadily increased over the years. Data shows that last year, a total of 12 cyclists lost their lives as the result of a Virginia bicycle accident, which was a 50 percent increase from the previous year’s total.
To help reduce Virginia bicycle accident numbers, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is sponsoring several campaigns to help spread the message of bicycle safety across the commonwealth. One of those projects involves citizens sharing photos of themselves wearing bicycle helmets.
Wearing a helmet can reduce a cyclist’s chances of being seriously injured or killed in an accident by as much as 65 percent. So the DMV is asking area residents to post “selfies” to social media platforms using the tag #safetylooksgoodonyou as a heading. The DMV will then use the photos to promote helmet use and bicycle safety.
An article from NBC 29 News says children can get involved with spreading the message as well by printing off one of the DMV’s coloring pages. Kids should then ask their parents to mail in the finished coloring job, where it will then be displayed at the DMV’s Richmond Central Customer Service Center.
At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, we recognize the importance of staying safe while riding a bicycle. That’s why our Norfolk personal injury lawyers are encouraging you to do your part to help promote bicycle safety in our communities.
by | June 22nd, 2015
Statistics show that motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of accidental death among children under age 12 and are also a leading cause of accidental injury as well. One of the best ways to protect your child from death or injury in the event of a crash is to ensure they are always seated in a child safety or booster seat that’s been properly installed. While this may sound like a pretty simple solution, our Norfolk car accident lawyers at Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers explain that it’s important to ensure you have the right fit in a seat for your child.
One of the most common errors that can put a child in danger in a car seat is not properly installing the unit. It’s estimated that roughly 70 percent of all child safety and booster seats aren’t installed correctly. The best way to prevent such a mistake is to take your vehicle and the seat to your local fire, police, or emergency responder location to have the seat installed and inspected.
Another common mistake is putting a child in the wrong size seat. Booster and safety seats have a minimum and maximum height and weight limit. Check the specifications on your child’s seat to ensure it’s the proper size.
An article from ABC 13 News touches on another common problem, which is how children with special needs may require a specialized seat to give them the protection they need in a car.
At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, we’ve seen how valuable car safety seats can be in protecting a child’s life in an accident. Our Norfolk personal injury lawyers urge you to have your child’s safety or booster seat checked and inspected for safety.
by | June 15th, 2015
When we think of elder abuse in the United States, what may come to mind is an elderly person who has been physically or mentally harmed by another person’s actions. However, a new study shows that neglect may actually be the most common form of abuse the elderly suffer.
Our Norfolk nursing home abuse lawyers at Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers explain how researchers from the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services examined tens of thousands of reports stemming from incidents where elderly patients were harmed. They found that more than half of those cases were the result of neglect, including improper supervision.
According to an article from the Daily Press, a majority of these neglect cases occurred within the patient’s home. Roughly half of those victims were Caucasian women age 60 or older. Another 400 of those victims were over age 90.
The home isn’t the only place neglect can occur though. There were 286 cases of nursing home abuse reported in assisted living facilities and another 570 cases that occurred within a nursing home. Another 834 cases were reported in the home of someone other than the patient.
If you or a loved one have become the victim of neglect, it’s important to know that you aren’t alone and that help is out there. Our team of Norfolk personal injury lawyers from Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers are here to answer any questions you may have if you suspect you or your loved one aren’t receiving the appropriate care. We can be reached to discuss your situation by calling (757) 459-CASH.
by | June 8th, 2015
The construction industry is a vital component to the economy of Virginia, bringing millions of dollars to the region annually; however, construction sites and zones are also where a large portion of Virginia’s on-the-job injuries and fatalities occur as well. Our Norfolk workers’ compensation attorneys at Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers explain that unfortunately, some of these victims don’t receive the treatment and compensation they are legally entitled to.
One of the reasons injured workers aren’t getting the care they deserve is because some employers choose to misclassify their workers in order to lower costs. By claiming an employee is an independent subcontractor, an employer can reduce the number of workers they must claim. This not only reduces insurance payments and rates, but also prevents a misclassified worker from filing a claim if they’re injured.
That’s why, according to Safety +Health magazine, the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health program is working to reduce incidents of worker misclassification.
The agency has adopted new policies that will allow officials to request contractors and subcontractors provide proof of licensing from the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation if inspectors suspect a worker has been misclassified. The new rules will go into effect beginning July 1.
At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, we recognize the struggles that can accompany an on-the-job accident and our Norfolk personal injury lawyers are here to help. If you’ve been hurt while working, give us a call at (757) 459-CASH and let us assist you along the road to recovery.
by | June 1st, 2015
Medical professionals have a responsibility to properly diagnose and treat their patients’ conditions. Any error in care or any act of negligence could lead to the patient who was harmed taking legal action through civil litigation.
Our Norfolk medical malpractice lawyers at Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers say the case of an 11-year-old girl successfully suing the federal government over her negligent medical care serves as an example of such litigation.
Reports indicate the tip of the girl’s thumb was cut when it was accidentally closed in a car door in 2011. She was taken to Sewells Point Branch Medical Clinic—which is operated by the U.S. Navy—in Norfolk to have the injury stitched. Staff applied a pressure wrap to the injury to control the bleeding, but the pressure was too much and shut off circulation to the injury. This resulted in necrosis and the loss of the appendage.
An article from WAVY 10 News says the girl and her family filed suit and a settlement in the sum of $125,000 was recently reached. The money will go into a trust and the child will receive payments from the settlement when she turns 18, 21, and 25 years old.
At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, we believe in holding those in the medical industry accountable for their actions and our Norfolk personal injury lawyers are hopeful the settlement that has been reached in this particular case brings closure to the incident for the victim and her family.
by | May 18th, 2015
Did you know that in the United States, dogs bite more than 4.5 million people each year? That’s a scary thought! Our Norfolk dog bite injury attorneys at Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers point out that an even scarier thought is the fact that more than half of those victims are children.
To help reduce the number of dog bite injuries and fatalities that occur each year, May 17-23 has been declared National Dog Bite Prevention Week. As part of the campaign, several organizations are making efforts to raise awareness about the risks dog bite injuries can pose, as well as educate the public about what they can do to reduce the chances of becoming a dog bite victim.
The American Veterinary Medical Association is doing its part to teach children about the proper way to approach a dog by releasing a series of videos on their YouTube channel. Each of the videos features Jimmy the Dog covering different topics of dog safety, such as the importance of not teasing or scaring a dog, as well as how to recognize an aggressive canine. It’s important to check back to the AVMA’s channel regularly as well, as a new video will be released each day this week.
At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, we understand the impact a dog bite injury can have and our Norfolk personal injury lawyers are hopeful you can utilize these tools to help reduce you and your loved ones’ chances of becoming dog bite injury victims.
by | May 12th, 2015
Studies show taking the drug Actos® to treat Diabetes can increase a patient’s chances of developing bladder cancer. Unfortunately, these findings were not released until after the medication was released to consumers. The discovery of these results prompted thousands of patients who were harmed by taking Actos to file lawsuits against the manufacturer of the drug, Takeda Pharmaceuticals. Now, our Actos® drug injury lawyers at Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers explain a settlement has been offered by Takeda to those who have filed the lawsuits.
Takeda has offered $2.4 billion to settle roughly 9,000 pending lawsuits filed by patients who developed bladder cancer after taking Actos. According to an article from The Wall Street Journal, each claimant would receive around $267,000 if the terms that have been outlined are agreed to by 95 percent of the plaintiffs.
The deadline for plaintiffs to submit the documentation of their claim for approval as part of the settlement is in July and payments are expected to be made within a year of the settlement becoming finalized. This means there’s still time to get the compensation you deserve if you developed bladder cancer as a result of taking Actos.
At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, our legal staff understands the hardships one can face as a result of being harmed by a prescribed medication. That’s why our Norfolk drug injury lawyers are hopeful this settlement can bring peace and closure to each of the victims who were harmed as a result of using Actos.
by | May 4th, 2015
As the weather continues to warm across Virginia, more and more bikers are beginning to take their motorcycles out on the road. Unfortunately, Norfolk and surrounding areas tend to see a spike in the number of crashes involving motorcycles during this time of year. Studies have shown motorcycle accident numbers are highest during the months of March and April, then steadily decline throughout the remainder of the year.
These risks are why the Norfolk motorcycle accident lawyers with Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers encourage bikers to always wear a helmet—doing so could save your life in the event of a crash. One Virginia man recently told his story about how wearing this piece of safety equipment prevented his death during a crash.
The man told reporters with WAVY 10 News that he was riding his bike along I-664 at approximately 60 MPH when traffic in front of him came to a halt. He did not have time to stop and collided with the rear end of a van in front of him. The impact of the collision caused the motorcyclist to be thrown over the handlebars of the bike and through the rear windshield of the van.
The man walked away with only cuts and bruises, attributing his safety to the use of a helmet and safety goggles.
At Lowell Stanley Injury lawyers, we know the risks motorcyclists take each time they ride, which is why our Norfolk personal injury attorneys would like to remind motorcyclists the law requires all riders to wear a helmet each and every time they operate a motorcycle.
by | April 27th, 2015
When a car accident occurs due to another person’s negligence, the responsible party or their insurer is typically expected to cover the expenses and damages; however, the Norfolk car accident attorneys with Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers point out that determining liability for a crash isn’t always a cut and dry matter.
Take the case of a local woman who says her car was totaled in a collision that occurred last October at the corner of Granby Street and Little Creek Road in Ward’s Corner. According to an article from WAVY 10 News, the woman says a police officer directing traffic along Granby in a construction zone waived her vehicle through the crossing; however, another officer directing traffic on Little Creek Road instructed a vehicle to pass through the intersection at the same time, causing the two vehicles to collide.
The woman states the car was totaled and she filed an insurance claim. Her insurer wouldn’t cover the full cost of the loan—only the value of the vehicle— leaving the victim to foot the bill for $3,000. She then contacted the District Attorney, claiming the city was responsible for the cost; however, the DA denied the city’s liability, saying the officers were off-duty at the time of the crash and were employed by a company working at the site.
Now, the woman is battling with the paving company who employed the officers in an effort to have the expenses covered.
Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers and our staff understand how difficult dealing with car insurance companies can be and urge you not to fight the battle alone. Give us a call anytime at (757) 459-CASH to speak with a member of our legal team about a crash you have had or any questions you may have regarding your legal rights to compensation.
by | April 20th, 2015
Distracted driving has become a major issue on the roadways of Virginia in recent years. A study conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute shows that 80 percent of all crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes are the result of a driver’s inattention within three seconds of the accident occurring.
Officials and many organizations in the state are working to keep inattentive drivers off the road through several different campaigns and events. The Norfolk car accident attorneys at Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers points out that one of those programs uses roadside “monsters” to persuade motorists to put the phone down.
The massive creatures were constructed using traffic barrels, cones, and other equipment typically found at a roadside construction site. The “monsters” are then placed next to the road as a reminder to drivers not to talk on the phone or text while traveling.
The Commonwealth of Virginia has also declared April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month. As part of the campaign, the organization Drive Smart Virginia is asking motorists to sign a pledge promising not to drive distracted.
The Norfolk personal injury lawyers with Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers remind Virginians there are other ways you can prevent yourself from becoming a distracted driver, including:
- Make a Plan– Create a schedule that allows you enough time to get where you’re going without needing to multitask behind the wheel. Also, know the route you plan to travel to your destination before the vehicle moves.
- Concentrate– Eliminate the most obvious distractions—like cellphones, food, drink, or music—before driving. Once the car is in motion, be sure to focus on the road rather than your surroundings.
- Pull Over– If you must take a phone call, email, or text, be sure to pull over at the next safe location before doing so.
We hope these tips help to keep you and your loved ones safe.
