Personal Injury
by admin@gotechark.com | January 23rd, 2012
January 23, 2012
A suspected drunk driver was in court twice today after being involved in a pedestrian accident last Thursday in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Reports from WAVY-TV 10 News indicate that the accident happened at around 7:40 AM at the corner of Chester Street and Paladin Drive.
The Virginia Beach police department indicate that a school bus was stopped at the corner with its lights on and stop sign out as children loaded on. The adult male victim was walking his niece, son, and daughter to the bus when a truck hopped the curb, drove across the driveway, and into the front lawn to avoid hitting the stopped bus. In the process, the driver hit the man and all three children.
All four victims were taken to an area hospital where the young boy remains in critical condition. The father and other children are still listed in stable condition.
The driver, who has a history of drug and alcohol related offenses, was taken into custody after failing a sobriety test and was held without bond over the weekend. The driver remains in jail after a bond hearing earlier this morning.
The Virginia auto accident attorneys with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley believe that a victim of an accident should not be responsible for medical bills that come from an injury caused by another person’s negligence. That is why they would encourage you to contact an attorney immediately if you have been injured in a drunk driving accident.
by admin@gotechark.com | January 16th, 2012
January 16, 2012
With the war in Iraq officially coming to an end just weeks ago, many soldiers returning home are suffering undiagnosed brain injuries. In an effort to combat the growing problem, WAVY-TV 10 News reports that First Lady Michelle Obama announced a partnership last Wednesday that will promote and cultivate better prevention and care of traumatic brain injuries for soldiers.
Among the most common mental injuries in soldiers is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a severe anxiety disorder that develops after experiencing a traumatic event.
Dr. Serina Neumann, a doctor at the Eastern Virginia School of Medicine, hopes that her study into better care for PTSD sufferers may benefit from the partnership. She says that PTSD is caused by off-balance circuits in the brain. This led her to conduct ground-breaking research and produce a device she hopes will become a standard in treatment of the disorder.
The device stimulates certain sections of the brain, thus balancing the off-balance circuits of a PTSD victim’s brain. If approved, her study will begin with 10 to 18 patients.
The Department of Veterans Affairs reports 10-18 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans may suffer from PTSD. However, claims from veterans for disability benefits due to the condition are often denied.
The Virginia Veteran’s Disability attorneys with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley understand that suffering from PTSD can be as debilitating as losing a leg or an arm. If you have been denied veterans disability benefits, contact them today for a free initial consultation.
by admin@gotechark.com | January 9th, 2012
January 9, 2012
A major mix-up at a Novartis pill manufacturing plant in Lincoln, Nebraska, has prompted the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the company to issue a recall for certain over-the-counter medications. According to an article by WAVY-TV 10 News, reports of manufacturing problems have resulted in the discovery of a packaging mix-up between dangerous–and potentially deadly–opioid painkillers and common over-the-counter painkillers.
Numerous complaints were filed against the company in response to broken and chipped pills found in medications being produced at the facility. These discoveries prompted further investigation that uncovered painkillers such as Percocet, Endocet, Opana and Zydone in bottles of Excedrin and Gas-X.
A subsequent shutdown of the plant followed, and regulators are now anticipating a shortage of medications that are produced by the plant.
The plant was cited for similar problems earlier this summer after it was discovered that the company did nothing to follow-up with consumer complaints that had built up for more than two years regarding similar problems. More than 223 complaints were never examined during that two-year time period.
The Virginia drug injury lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley urge you to examine any over-the counter medications in your home. Compare the picture on the bottle with the medication inside to ensure they are the same. If there are any discrepancies, consult your doctor and/or pharmacist immediately.
by admin@gotechark.com | January 2nd, 2012
January 2, 2012
The Virginia Beach police department increased patrols over the weekend in the hopes of deterring drunk drivers from getting on area roadways. According to a report on WAVY-TV 10 News today, those efforts were successful in netting six arrests on DUI charges in about an hour and a half.
Officers added that the checkpoints also allowed them to cite other dangerous drivers for minor infractions. It was estimated that 17 tickets were written at a single checkpoint Saturday night.
Numbers suggest that the increased patrols, in conjunction with the checkpoints, may be reducing alcohol related fatalities. Virginia Beach police department statistics show that DUI fatalities are down in the city by four percent over last year. In 2010, it was estimated that 17 fatal crashes in the area were alcohol-related. That same year, Virginia Beach police say that they arrested 2,429 people on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol.
The problem of drinking and driving is just as bad across the country. The US Department of Health and Human Services suggests that 37 percent of all fatal traffic accidents in the United States are in some way related to alcohol.
The Virginia auto accident attorneys with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley ask that we keep each other safe on Virginia highways by not getting behind the wheel of a vehicle after drinking. Instead, contact a friend or a cab company for a safe ride home from your location.
by admin@gotechark.com | December 29th, 2011
December 29. 2011
The New Year will bring changes to the ways drivers of commercial vehicles communicate while behind the wheel. According to WVEC 13 News, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has mandated a ban on commercial driver’s use of handheld cell phones that will begin January 3.
The new law will allow truckers to use hands free devices to talk, but even holding a phone behind a moving vehicle will now be enough for law enforcement to stop a commercial driver. Opponents of the ban say they aren’t necessarily declaring the ban a bad thing, they just believe it should be enforced against all drivers, not just truckers.
The ban comes nearly two years after a research team from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) found that truckers who text while driving were 23 times more likely to be involved in an accident than undistracted drivers. Their research showed that compared to other distractions that phones can produce through dialing, holding, and talking the device, texting was by far the most dangerous because of an average of around five seconds the drivers eyes are off the road to preform the task.
The Norfolk auto accident attorneys with Lowell “ The Hammer” Stanley handle cases for accident victims who have been injured because of a commercial driver’s neglect to pay attention to the road. If you have been injured at no fault of your own in an accident with a commercial vehicle, contact us today to discuss your case.
by admin@gotechark.com | December 19th, 2011
December 19, 2011 Two house fires in the area have left one person dead and several others injured. According to WVEC 13 News, the first fire broke out at around 4:30 Thursday afternoon in the kitchen of an apartment building on Garden Drive. Newport News firefighters stated that a plume of smoke was rising from the building when they arrived. They added that they were quickly able to rescue two adults and three children who were trapped in the home at the time. One of the adults was transported to a nearby hospital to be treated for minor burns and smoke inhalation. The second fire took place less than 24 hours later in Chesapeake, Virginia.
Reports show that the fire was called in at 2:30 in the afternoon on Friday. Firefighters said that the home on West Bugle Road was fully engulfed with flames upon their arrival. After firefighters got the blaze under control, they found the body of a victim inside the home. A police officer who arrived at the home before fire crews and attempted to break out a window to help also was injured by the fire. He suffered from smoke inhalation and was treated at a nearby hospital.
The Virginia Fire Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley know that the best way to keep you and your family safe from a similar accident is to install smoke detectors throughout your home. One device should be located within 10 feet of every bedroom door. If you can’t afford the detectors, they are often available for discount or for free through your local fire department.
by admin@gotechark.com | December 12th, 2011
December 12, 2011
For many people, homemade cookies are as much a part of the holidays as wrapping presents or hanging decorations on a tree. We have all been guilty of sneaking a bite of the dough before the cookies are baked. This year though, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a warning to consumers to not eat raw cookie dough, as it could make you sick.
According to Channel 10 News, a report in the Journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases found a strong link between illness and those who eat raw cookie dough. Researchers claim that the root of the problem may not be eggs, but instead flour. The study claims to have uncovered low levels of salmonella growth in some flour prior to the mixing process. The findings have caused the agency, in conjunction with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to issue warnings to several cookie dough manufacturers to begin using heat-treated flour in their process.
The research was done to learn more following an E. Coli outbreak in Nestle Toll House cookie packages two years ago.
The Virginia Defective Product Attorneys with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley urge anyone who has become ill after eating food to first seek medical advice. If it is determined that the food you ate was contaminated, they suggest contacting an experienced attorney.
by admin@gotechark.com | December 5th, 2011
December 5, 2011
Drunk driving in the Virginia area this past week has cost one college student their life and a high ranking government official their job. According to ABC 13 News, both incidents occurred on Sunday over the past weekend.
It was reported that a freshman at Christopher Newport University was killed early Sunday morning after the car in which she was riding in crashed after colliding head-on with another vehicle. All other occupants in the car and the driver of the other vehicle suffered numerous other injuries and all were taken to local hospitals to receive treatment. Virginia State Police say alcohol was a factor in the crash and charges are pending.
ABC 13 News reported Monday that the head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was taking a leave of absence from his position following being arrested for suspicion of DUI a day before. The Fairifax City Police Department reported that an officer had pulled over Randy Babbitt at about 10:30 PM after observing him driving on the wrong side of the street. He was arrested that night and had sent a letter asking for a leave of absence from his position as Administrator the following day.
The Virginia Auto Accident Attorneys with Lowell “ The Hammer” Stanley hope that these stories will serve as a message that drunk driving can affect everyone. Young to old, rich to poor, drunk to sober, the consequences of drunk driving can hurt us all.
by admin@gotechark.com | November 21st, 2011
November 21, 2011
Firefighters in Virginia Beach, Virginia, were called to a construction site last week to rescue a worker who fell into a trench after being hit by a pipe. According to Channel 13 News, the accident happened at around 4:00 in the afternoon, at the corner of Crimson Holley Lane and Lynnhaven Parkway.
Spokesman for the Virginia Beach Fire Department, Chief Ken Pravetz, stated the worker fell 12-14 feet into the trench after being struck by a large piece of piping that was to be installed in the trench. The Fire Department’s Technical Rescue Team, which trains for complex rescue situations, responded, hoisting the man out with a wire basket and haul system. The rescue took about 30 minutes according to Pravetz.
Medics transported the worker to Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital for treatment for head and leg injuries. Medics said the worker was conscious and not seriously hurt.
According to a report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction workers accounted for more fatal work injuries than any other industry in 2010. 530 workers form the construction industry died in on-the-job accidents in 2010.
The Virginia Workers’ Compensation Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley know the dangers construction workers face on the job every day and have years of experience fighting for their rights when they are hurt. If you have been injured in an on-the-job accident, contact us today by filling out a free initial consultation form.
by admin@gotechark.com | November 14th, 2011
November 14, 2011
A crash along Interstate 85 near Petersburg, Virginia, involving a tractor-trailer, a pickup truck, and a passenger bus has claimed the lives of three people. According to reports from News Channel 12, the accident occurred at about 11:30 AM.
Virginia State Police investigators say the crashes happened in a chain reaction after the pickup truck plowed into the rear of the tractor-trailer. The collision caused logs the tractor-trailer was hauling to spill down on top of the pickup–crushing the four individuals inside. Moments later, a bus carrying 49 students from North Carolina A&T State University smashed into the rear of the pickup.
Three of the four passengers in the pickup truck died, while one survived and was airlifted to a local hospital. The driver of the bus also sustained injuries that were treated at the hospital. Luckily, the students and the truck driver walked away from the crash unscathed. Officials with the state police say that they will continue to investigate the cause of the crash.
The Virginia Auto Accident Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley encourage drivers to to prevent accidents like this by simply following the two-second rule: Watch the car in front of you pass a landmark near the road, such as a sign. After they pass, it should take your vehicle two seconds or longer to reach the same landmark.
