For years, statistics have shown the benefits of wearing your seat belt. Despite these numbers, data from Virginia’s Smart, Safe & Sober program shows a little less than 25 percent of Virginians chose not to buckle up last year.
With Thanksgiving and the influx of traffic the holiday can bring just around the corner, knowing the causes of car accidents and the importance of wearing your seat belt can help you stay safe on the road. One of the methods to raise awareness is the “Click It or Ticket Mobilization” campaign.
The program launched on Nov. 20 and will continue through Nov. 26. During that time, officers, deputies, and troopers will not only focus their efforts on enforcing Virginia’s seat belt laws, while also making an effort to provide the public with information about how seat belts can save lives.
Officials say they hope the campaign can help contribute to boosting Virginia’s seat belt compliance from around 77 percent this year to 82 percent in 2016.
The National Safety Council has announced that if everyone wore seat belts, it could an estimated 164 lives this Thanksgiving holiday. Programs like this could have a significant impact on achieving these numbers. That’s why the Virginia Beach car accident lawyersat Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers are happy that efforts are being made to protect motorists from accidents by providing them with information to help make safe choices.
Motorcycles are a popular mode of transportation in the Norfolk area. Our area also accounts for a majority of the commonwealth’s motorcycle accidents as well. The Department of Motor Vehicles reports Norfolk had the third highest motorcycle accident fatality total in Virginia in 2014, accounting for 80 deaths. The city had the fourth highest motorcycle crash total and third highest motorcycle accident injury total.
Our Norfolk motorcycle accident lawyers at Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers explains that one of the most commonly reported causes of motorcycle accidents in our area is a motorist’s failure to recognize and yield the right of way to an oncoming motorcycle. In fact, this was the cause of a recent collision that left two riders with injuries.
According to the Norfolk Daily News, the crash happened on Friday, July 31, at approximately 9:45 p.m. along Highway 275. Reports indicate that the 17-year-old driver of a Chrysler Sebring sedan was pulling out of an access road when she failed to see an oncoming westbound motorcycle.
The 20-year-old operator of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle didn’t have time to stop and collided with the Sebring.
The impact of the collision left the young motorcyclist and his 18-year-old passenger seriously injured.
Accidents like this are why it’s so important for motorists to be aware of motorcycles on the road. Our team of Norfolk personal injury attorneys at Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers says this means looking twice in both directions for motorcycles and other obstacles before pulling into or maneuvering in traffic.
Eastern Virginia sees some of the highest motorcycle collision rates in the commonwealth. In fact, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles reports that last year alone there were 105 Norfolk motorcycle accidents and another 153 collisions involving bikes in Virginia Beach.
Numbers like this leave many riders wondering what they can do to stay safe on the road, and there seem to be several options.
Wear Safety Equipment– All bikers are required by law to wear a helmet and eye protection in Virginia. It is also wise to wear heavy boots, gloves, and a sturdy leather jacket when riding.
Obey the Law– This means yielding to all traffic signals and lights, as well as refraining from drinking and driving or speeding.
Be Visible– Using a headlight at all times is one of the best ways to help ensure other motorists are able to see you when you’re on a bike.
Drive Defensively– A majority of motorcycle accidents occur because a motorist fails to see a biker or fails to yield to a motorcyclist. That’s why Consumer Reports suggests keeping a safe distance from other vehicles.
Get Trained– Taking a motorcycle safety course could provide you with knowledge and skills that could save your life one day.
At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, our team of Norfolk personal injury attorneys has seen the devastation a motorcycle accident can cause. That’s why we’re hopeful these tips help to keep you safe next time you ride.
Employers in the commonwealth of Virginia have a responsibility—by law—to protect the health and safety of workers they hire. Failure to do so has resulted in costly penalties and the potential of facing civil litigation in the past, but now the laws have been changed to make the punishment for not providing Virginia workers’ compensation coverage even greater.
Under previous Virginia state law, an employer not carrying a workers’ compensation insurance package to cover the costs associated with a workplace accident could result in a fine of anywhere between $500 and $5,000. According to an article from The News Virginian, the penalties were raised on July 1 to anywhere between $250 per day, per noncompliance, or a total of up to $50,000 in penalties plus collection costs.
These are the first changes to the penalties for failing to carry workers’ compensation coverage in about 20-years and were made in an effort to curb the number of employers who found it cheaper to face penalties in the event of an accident than to carry insurance.
Other changes to Virginia workers’ compensation law that went into effect this month include stiffer penalties for employers who misclassify employees in order to avoid coverage or reduce rates.
The key to these reforms being effective will be holding companies responsible. That means employees who are hurt on the job should report the incident to the proper authorities immediately. The Norfolk personal injury lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley also encourage accident victims to discuss their potential rights to compensation with an attorney prior to settling with a workers’ compensation insurer.
When an accident happens, victims are often unsure of where to turn for help. Many choose to hire an attorney to assist them with collecting compensation for damages. This raises the question of how accident victims choose their attorneys, and the answer for many is advertising.
The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley recently got a nod for their advertising style in a recent podcast. In fact, the hosts of the series declared some of the firm’s ads worth of placement in the legal advertising record books.
99% Invisible’s host, Roman Mars, talked about Stanley’s use of flaming cars and explosions in his ads as a practice once prohibited by the American Bar Association. That restriction was lifted by a Supreme Court ruling stating that lawyers have the same rights to free speech as anyone else.
Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley and his team of attorneys are proud to take their place in legal advertising history books, and they encourage the public to stay aware of our media appearances by checking our Legal & Firm News.
Each year, thousands of workers suffer on-the-job injuries that leave them unable to work and in need of an insurance claim for benefits to cover expenses, such as lost wages and medical bills. One of the most common causes of such accidents is a employee coming into contact with objects or equipment on the jobsite. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics stated that last year alone, such accidents where workers are struck by objects or equipment were responsible for approximately 15 percent of all workplace fatalities.
The Virginia Workers Compensation Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley explain a worker was fatally injured at a feedlot in Stanton County, Virginia, last week as the result of such an accident. Reports indicate the incident occurred at approximately 3 p.m. Monday, October 21, at the facility located just east of the city of Norfolk, Virginia.
According to an article from the Norfolk Daily News, the 53-year-old victim was performing his job duties when grains were suddenly released from a silo above and came avalanching down on top of him. The victim was buried and died as a result of injuries sustained in the incident. Another 60-year-old worker was seriously injured as a result of the accident.
Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley’s Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers recognize how difficult recovering from a work-related injury can be, both physically and financially. That is why the firm suggests discussing your case with an attorney if you’ve been injured in an on-the-job accident.
The Norfolk Car Accident Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley explain that while many drivers are aware of the risks posed by driving under the influence of alcohol, there are some motorists who do not learn the lesson even after being caught. Data from the non-profit organization, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), shows an estimated 30 percent of motorists arrested for drunk driving are previous offenders. These numbers have led to stiffer penalties for violators of the law.
One such case was recently brought to court in Attleboro, Virginia, after a man was found to be under the influence at a local pizza shop. According to an article from The Sun Chronicle, employees at Domino’s Pizza at County Square called police regarding an intoxicated man at the business. Officers arrived and placed the man under arrest. It was later discovered it was the man’s fourth arrest for driving drunk.
While prosecutors asked during arraignment that the man be held in jail, the judge ordered instead that he be released on $1,000 bond and be placed under house arrest with an alcohol monitoring device. This will prevent the man from drinking or driving until the case is settled.
The law firm’s team of Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers is aware of how dangerous the behavior of drinking and driving can be. That is why the firm applauds the efforts being made to crack down on the behavior and asks that motorists refrain from getting behind the wheel after consuming any amount of alcohol.
A 39-year-old man has been charged in connection to a single-vehicle Norfolk Car Accident that left a passenger in the car seriously injured. Reports indicate the man was under the influence of alcohol when he crashed.
An article from the Norfolk Daily News stated the crash happened at around 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 16, along South Second Street. Police say they observed a vehicle traveling east along West Michigan Avenue at a high rate of speed. The driver then ran a stop sign before veering onto Second and crashing in the front yard of a residence. The driver then fled the scene on foot before officers could arrive.
A passenger in the vehicle was seriously injured and identified the driver to police before being rushed to a local hospital for treatment. Investigators were then able to track the driver to a nearby residence, where he was placed under arrest on several charges.
The accident has left many citizens wondering who is responsible for covering the costs associated with injuries sustained by passengers in a single-vehicle crash. The Norfolk Personal Injury Attorneys with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley explain that if the driver’s negligence was to blame, the driver may be able to be held liable for the costs associated with a crash. Proving such negligence can be a complex process though. That’s why the firm suggests an individual discuss their legal rights with an attorney if they have been hurt in an accident that wasn’t their fault.
It was announced Tuesday by the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) that employers may notice a change in the premium rates they pay for insurance covering Virginia Workers’ Compensation benefits. The Insurance Journal looked at how some rates would see dramatic increases, while others dropped.
The National Council on Compensation Insurance suggested the changes be made after examining injury trends among different industries in the state in recent years, which the SCC approved a short time later. The changes will cause the premiums in the surface coal mining industry to increase, while underground coal mining will see a decrease in premium levels.
Experts say the surface coal mining industry will see a 4.9 percent rise in voluntary market loss costs and assigned risk rates will skyrocket by as much as 19 percent. Meanwhile, underground coal mining will receive a drop in voluntary market loss costs of around 14.5 percent and will also get a 3.9 percent decrease in assigned risk rates.
The industrial and federal class will also see dramatic changes in rates. The changes are said to go into effect on April 1 of this year.
The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley acknowledge how complex the process of filing for workers’ compensation benefits can be an may be able to help if you have a claim you are preparing to file or have a claim that was denied in the past.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission recently announced a recall on approximately 6,300 units of the Game Winner® crossbow cocking ropes. According to a press release from the agency, the ropes put users at serious risk of an injury.
The Game Winner® crossbow cocking ropes are used with a crossbow to help a shooter get a more firm grip on the crossbow string. They also help archers pull the string back to cock the bow for firing. The Norfolk Defective Product consists of a 50-inch long piece of black cord with two black plastic hooks and two handles attached to it. The units were sold at Academy Sports stores for a price of around $10 between June and Oct. 2012.
The string has been known to snap when pulled on, which has led to several individuals sustaining injuries. The CPSC has received four reports of the hooks on the rope breaking with three of those incidents resulting in a user sustaining some sort of laceration.
Anyone in possession of the affected ropes has been instructed to stop using them immediately and return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.
The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley know the dangers posed by defective products, and they would encourage anyone who has been injured by a defective product to speak with an attorney about their legal options.
