Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers Blog

Swimming Safety Should Be A Priority In Virginia This Summer

by admin@gotechark.com | June 18th, 2012

June 18, 2012

With one man drowning over Father’s Day weekend while saving his grandson from rip currents and unsafe swimming conditions at local beaches, WVEC 13 News and a local pediatrician are offering summer swimming safety tips in an effort to better protect children from the dangers of water and prevent a Norfolk Wrongful Death.

Dr. Vickey Leff, from the Children’s’ Hospital of the King’s Daughters, says the first thing you should look at is the weather before swimming. If there are high surf advisories or rip currents, consider changing the plans if you have young children. It’s also important to get out of the water immediately if you see lightning. You should not return to the water until 30 minutes has passed without seeing or hearing lightning and thunder.

Dr. Leff also suggests making sure older children are excellent swimmers before letting them venture into deep water. If you do let your child go into deep water, make sure they have a swimming buddy and that there is also plenty of adult supervision.

When kids get out of the water, make sure they wear plenty of sunscreen and watch out for signs of dehydration or heat-related illness.

The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley say that your trip to the pool or beach will have a significantly decreased chance of someone being hurt if you follow these simple safety tips.

Virginia Cyclist Seriously Injured In Hit-And-Run Accident

by admin@gotechark.com | June 11th, 2012

June 11, 2012

A 43-year-old woman from James City County, Virginia is recuperating today after being seriously injured in a hit-and-run accident while cycling over the weekend. According to WVEC 13 News, the accident happened yesterday afternoon on a rural road.

Although the woman who was injured has no recollection of the incident, police believe that the driver of the vehicle involved hit the woman from behind and then sped away, leaving her bleeding on the road.

Luckily, another motorist who was passing by rendered aid and emergency help was summoned. The victim was taken to a local hospital to be treated for several broken bones in her legs. Doctors told her that they were shocked that she was not paralyzed by the accident.

While it may seem unthinkable not to help someone after striking them with a vehicle, Virginia sees a surprisingly high number of hit-and-run accidents each year. The law in the Commonwealth of Virginia states that committing such a crime is considered a felony if a death or injury results from the accident.

This is why the Virginia Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley say it is so important to stop immediately if you feel you have been involved in an accident. The firm also strongly suggests that cyclists protect themselves from injury in the event of a Virginia Auto Accident by always wearing a helmet as well as bright or reflective clothing to increase their visibility on the road.

Woman Faces Charges From DUI Accident That Injured Four

by admin@gotechark.com | June 4th, 2012

June 4, 2012

A 43-year-old woman suspected of hitting a family of four with a pickup truck while driving under the influence was in court today to face five different charges stemming from the incident. According to WAVY-TV 10 News, the suspect was charged with three counts of DUI maiming, DUI 2nd Offense, and reckless driving.

The incident occurred on January 19 around 7:40 a.m., in the yard of a residence near the corner of Chester Street and Paladin Drive. It was there that a man was waiting with three children for the school bus to pick them up. As the bus came to the corner and stopped it turned its lights on and put the stop sign out for children; however, the suspect apparently didn’t see the bus and failed to stop. To avoid a collision, she swerved around the bus and into the yard, where she hit the children.

One of those injured, a 7-year-old girl, suffered a broken femur and cracked eye socket that put her in a wheelchair for almost four months. The girl has also had to undergo numerous corrective surgeries.

If convicted, the woman could face up to 17 years in prison.

The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley ask that not only do motorists do their part to reduce Norfolk Auto Accidents by not drinking and driving, but to also hold other drivers accountable by reporting suspected drunk drivers to the proper authorities.

Gardasil Still Being Marketed Despite Thousands Of Problem Reports

by admin@gotechark.com | May 21st, 2012

May 21, 2012

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing statements that urge not only teenage girls to receive human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccines, but boys as well. According to statistics from the agency, more than half of all sexually active individuals will be infected with HPV at some point in their lives.

In 2006, doctors began recommending the vaccine to girls between the ages of 11 and 12-years-old receive the vaccine as the virus has been linked to certain types of cancers. After research results were released earlier this year that found that nearly 7 percent of American teens carry HPV and that men are three times more likely than women to be carriers, the CDC began recommending that boys receive the vaccination as well.

With an increase in the number of individuals being vaccinated, the number of patients suffering from adverse effects also increased. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that one drug in particular, Gardasil®, has been linked to more than 12,000 reports of individuals developing autoimmune diseases, blood clots, and even dying. Other serious problems associated with the drug include:

  • blindness,
  • paralysis,
  • heart attack or stroke,
  • rheumatoid arthritis,
  • and lupus.

Gardasil lawsuits are being filed to help those who were injured by a drug manufacturer’s negligence. If you have suffered medical complications after taking Gardasil®, the Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley may be able to help you.

Ford Minivans Recalled in Virginia

by admin@gotechark.com | May 18th, 2012

May 18, 2012

Ford Motor Co. has just tacked an additional 27,000 Windstar minivans onto a larger recall issued in August 2010. These vans are all sold or registered in Virginia, and are being recalled because the rear axles can crack and fail, reports Wavy.com.

Virginia Windstar owners will begin receiving letters about the recall in mid-June. It is up to the Windstar owners to take the vans in for repair, as—without warning—a completely fractured rear axle can lead to a loss of vehicle control.

Two summers ago, Ford recalled 600,000 Windstars in the U.S. and Canada that had been manufactured between 1998 and 2003. The company initially reported that vans were only being recalled from states where salt is used to de-ice roads because the salt erodes the axles.

But from October 2011 to March 2012, 11 people reported cracked axles in Virginia, though no crashes or injuries have been reported in the state. There were, however, eight crashes and three injuries in other states related to the Windstar’s axle problems. No one’s death has been linked definitively to the defective axles, but one Massachusetts man died in a crash that involved a Windstar with a fractured axle.

When a defective product causes harm, it doesn’t just affect the victim. It affects family members when victims can’t return to work, losing wages and financial support, and can emotionally and mentally cripple a household. This is where the knowledgeable Norfolk Defective Product Lawyers at Lowell Stanley can help.

Distracted Motorcyclist Involved In Fatal Single-Vehicle Crash

by admin@gotechark.com | May 7th, 2012

May 7, 2012

Distracted driving is at the heart of a fatal motorcycle accident that claimed the life of a 44-year-old Mechanicsville, Virginia, woman over the weekend. According to the Hampton Roads Dailey Press, the crash happened around 4:30 p.m. Saturday in the westbound lanes of I-64 just outside Williamsburg, Virginia.

A spokeswoman for the Virginia State Police, Sgt. Michelle Anaya, stated that witnesses told troopers they observed the woman riding her bike on the highway when she momentarily became distracted. The distraction caused the woman to drive the motorcycle off the shoulder of the road and into a ditch, where it then struck a tree.

Although the woman was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, she was declared dead at the scene by the medical examiner. Investigators say they will continue to look into alcohol as a possible contributing factor in the crash as well. They are awaiting toxicology reports to make that determination.

Studies by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration have found that alcohol is one of the leading causes of fatal traffic accidents in the United States today, and distractions are quickly becoming a close second.

That’s why the Norfolk Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley suggest always wearing a helmet, keeping your eyes on the road at all times, and never drinking and driving as the best way to prevent Norfolk Auto Accidents involving motorcycles.

Drowsy Driving Blamed For Fatal Virginia Car Crash

by admin@gotechark.com | April 30th, 2012

April 30, 2012

Research by the National Sleep Foundation has found that 60 percent of adult drivers–about 168 million people–say they have driven a vehicle while feeling drowsy in the past year, and more than one-third have actually fallen asleep at the wheel. These drivers were responsible for the more than 100,000 accidents that resulted in an estimated 1,550 deaths and 71,000 injuries.

Five people were injured and a teen died as a result of one of these crashes just over two weeks ago. According to WVEC 13 News, the accident happened around 6:15 a.m. on Route 58 in Suffolk County, Virginia. The family was heading home to Virginia Beach when the father fell asleep at the wheel and veered off the highway. The SUV than ran into a culvert and rolled onto its side. No one in the vehicle was wearing a seatbelt at the time.

The mother and her 3-year-old daughter were ejected from the vehicle, while the father was able to crawl out of the wreckage. Two of the children were trapped inside the SUV, while their 16-year-old brother perished in the crash. The surviving five members of the family were taken to local hospitals to receive treatment.

Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley, the Norfolk Auto Accident Lawyer, says that it’s important that motorists never drive when drowsy or sleep-deprived. He adds that if you do become tired while driving, pull over immediately and rest.

Three Injured After Crashes Stemming From Police Chase In Norfolk

by admin@gotechark.com | April 23rd, 2012

April 23, 2012

As motorists, we do everything in our power to keep ourselves and others safe on the road. All too often though, it’s another person’s negligent behavior that causes crashes resulting in injury or death.

Take, for instance, the recent case of man who injured two others after driving erratically and being chased by police in Norfolk, Virginia. According to WAVY-TV 10 News, Norfolk police officers pulled over a Green Lexus sedan at Chesapeake Boulevard and Johnston Road after observing the driver make several unsafe maneuvers. As officers approached the vehicle, the driver slammed on the gas and sped away because he was driving without a valid license at the time. In the process, he hit and injured one of the officers.

The driver then hit a curb and collided with a Toyota stopped at a red light. The driver of the Lexus was not properly restrained at the time of the collision and was thrown approximately 30 feet after being ejected from the vehicle. He was taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital where he remains in stable condition. He could face charges in connection with the incident pending the outcome of a full investigation.

Accidents such as these is why they Norfolk Auto Accident Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley encourage drivers to stay safe on Virginia’s highways by buckling up, obeying the posted speed limit of the road, and always driving defensively.

Norfolk Motorcycle Crash Claims The Life Of Rider

by admin@gotechark.com | April 17th, 2012

April 16, 2012

A Norfolk, Virginia, man died Saturday from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. According to WAVY-TV 10 News, the crash happened at 6:33 p.m. at the intersection of East Little Creek and Thompson Roads.

A spokeswoman for the Norfolk Police Department, Karen Parker-Chesson, stated that the motorcyclist was traveling east along East Little Creek Road when a vehicle pulling out from Thompson Road cut him off. The man didn’t have time to maneuver around the car and hit the front side of the vehicle, ejecting him from the bike. Paramedics rushed the victim to the local hospital, but he died a short time after arrival.

While the driver in the case has not been placed under arrest, detectives say that charges may be filed at the conclusion of a full investigation.

Low visibility is one of the top causes of motorcycle accidents today. A report from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration found that in a multi-vehicle crash, the other vehicle violates the motorcycle’s right of way in 30 to 50 percent of accidents, with the most common violation being a car making a left turn in front of an oncoming motorcycle. The report concluded that a lack of motorcycle visibility was a major cause of crashes.

The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley, The Injury Lawyer would like to send their condolences to the family of the man who lost his life.

Child And Female Crash Test Dummies Now Being Utilized In Testing

by admin@gotechark.com | April 9th, 2012

April 9. 2012

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently announced that it would begin utilizing smaller dummies during crash tests. According to ABC News, the decision came after it was determined that women and children are more likely to be injured in car accidents.

A spokesman for General Motors, Jack Jensen, stated that the company now utilizes approximately 200 dummies to test the safety of their vehicles—35 of which are modeled after females. The reason for the different size dummies is because individuals with smaller bone density, such as women and children, are more likely to suffer injuries in a crash.

Initial tests reveal that women run a greater risk of being injured in frontal and side accidents. The tests also revealed that unlike male passengers, if an air bag goes off and strikes a female driver or passenger, it doesn’t always deflate—instead, it may give her whiplash.

Another addition to the crew of dummies is based on a 10-year-old child. The NHTSA stated that they added these dummies to the group to examine the affects a crash will have if a child over 65 pounds is restrained in a booster seat.

The Norfolk Auto Accident Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley Injury Lawyers hope that the new dummies will help the industry create better ways to keep automobile consumers safe from the dangers of a crash.