Norfolk car accident lawyer

Drunk Driver Charged In Norfolk Car Accident That Left One Person Injured

by admin@gotechark.com | April 29th, 2013

April 29, 2013

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.

Norfolk Auto Accidents Being Blamed On Defective Roadways

by | April 1st, 2013

April 1, 2013

Defects in roadways, such as potholes or uneven areas of a highways surface, are responsible for numerous Norfolk Auto Accidents each year. Just this past January, a city police officer was seriously injured when he drove over an uneven patch of asphalt on Tidewater Drive, lost control of his motorcycle, and crashed. Another motorcyclist reported jarring his back after striking one of the bumps while riding.

Several other motorcyclists in the area are making their voices heard about their concern for safety along Tidewater Drive. According to WVEC 13 News, these individuals have called for city officials to examine the need for repairs and maintenance along the stretch of road. While city officials have sent an inspector to examine the need for such projects, they have also stated the roadway met standards established by law last time it was examined.

In the meantime, many motorists are concerned for safety. Experts say it is important to slow down when driving a car on an area plagued with uneven pavement. The risks associated with riding a motorcycle in these types of highway conditions can be even more dangerous. Some riders suggest driving a proposed biking route in a car prior to hitting the street on a bike. This way, a rider knows what areas to avoid before approaching them.

The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley hope more is done to better protect motorists from the dangers associated with defective highway designs.

Norfolk Car Accident Claims One Life and Leaves Two Others Injured

by | March 26th, 2013

March 25, 2013

Norfolk Car Accident claimed the life of a 25-year-old woman recently. Police believe speed may have been a contributing factor.

According to News Channel 3, the crash happened at approximately 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 13, along Chesapeake Boulevard in Norfolk, Virginia. Investigators say a car carrying three passengers was driving south on the road, when a van attempted to enter the highway from a secondary road. The van failed to recognize the oncoming vehicle and the two collided.

The impact of the crash left three vehicles seriously injured. They were each transported to a local trauma center for treatment, where the female later died. Doctors expect the other two victims to recover.

The Norfolk Police Department has stated they are continuing to look into the crash, but believe speed may have played a role. This comes as no surprise though as speed plays a part in a staggering number of accidents. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that speed is a contributing factor in roughly one-third of all fatal accidents.

The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley recognize how dangerous speeding can be. That is why the firm asks motorists to be aware of how fast they are traveling and to only go as fast as the posted speed limit allows. Doing so may just save a life!

Study May Give Answers On Why People Continue To Drink And Drive

by | February 11th, 2013

February 11, 2013

While numbers from the Virginia Department of Motor vehicles shows a slight decline in Virginia Car Accidents related to drunk driving, the number of motorists convicted on charges of driving under the influence remains steady. Studies show that roughly one-third of these convicted drunk drivers are repeat offenders. This leaves many people wondering what can be done to curb the problem of repeat drunk drivers.

While many believe harsher punishments are the answer to this conundrum, a new study conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse offers some new insight that contradicts this theory. According to EurekAlert!, researchers found that rats involved in a study examining alcohol consumption and associative punishment will go back to drinking alcohol once negative consequences for their drinking is removed. During the study, rats were given alcohol in a home environment. They were then offered alcohol again, but this time in an environment where punishment was administered for the behavior. This caused the rats to stop drinking, but only temporarily. Once reintroduced to alcohol in the home environment, they began drinking again.

Experts say the results can likely explain why a drunk driver will engage in the behavior after having already been punished numerous times.

The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley hope a better understanding of the psychological triggers that cause a person to drink will help to reduce the number of drunk drivers in the state of Virginia.

Virginia Law Enforcement to Get Tough On Drunk Drivers

by admin@gotechark.com | December 31st, 2012

December 31, 2012

A new study shows a high number of drunk drivers have been arrested in recent years across the Norfolk and Suffolk, Virginia, areas. The Eastern Daily Press reports 2,562 people have been arrested in the region on charges of drunk driving since December 2010.

The study went on to point out that a majority of the arrests occurred around midnight and far more men were arrested than women. Two of the most serious infractions involved drivers with blood-alcohol levels between three and five times above the legal limit.

To combat the problem, law enforcement across the regions has banded together in an effort to crackdown hard on motorists who participate in the behavior. They are doing so by conducting sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols throughout the holiday season. The chief inspector of roads, Chris Spinks, says law enforcement in the area will be pulling over vehicles for both faulty equipment and erratic behavior and most, including those involved in a Norfolk Car Accident, will be subjected to a breath test.

The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley recognize the dangers drunken drivers can pose not only to themselves but to everyone else who is on the road with them. That is why they firm asks that we each do our part to keep Virginia’s highways safe by not getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol.

Sailors In Norfolk Receive Message About The Dangers Of Impaired Driving

by admin@gotechark.com | December 10th, 2012

December 10, 2012

Impaired driving is the leading cause of fatal motor vehicle accidents in the United States, yet is completely preventable. George Burch relayed that message to roughly 3,000 sailors at a program that was part of Naval Station Norfolk’s Safety Standown campaign.

According to the Suffolk News Herald, Burch is a retired sailor and police officer that currently works as a prosecutor in Suffolk County. Mothers Against Drunk Driving, who sponsored the event, thought Burch’s past experience could make him a voice of reason in the importance of staying off the road if impaired. He also explained how impairment isn’t necessarily just from alcohol either, as illicit drugs and some over-the-counter medications can also affect one’s ability to make good judgments behind the wheel.

Mr. Burch’s speech included anecdotes about the roughly 20 fatalities and more than 300 arrests he has been involved in that were the result of drunk driving and was quick to point out that such arrests potentially save thousands of lives each year.

Burch added that if one sailor remembers and abides to what he said, he has made a significant impact.

The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley understand the dangers of drinking and driving. That is why the firm’s team of Norfolk Car Accident Lawyers encourage citizens to establish a designated driver before attending an event where any alcohol is consumed.

Lawsuits Filed In Connection To Fatal Virginia Drunk Driving Accident

by admin@gotechark.com | December 3rd, 2012

December 3, 2012

Two Virginia Wrongful Death lawsuits have been filed on behalf of two victims of a head-on collision caused by a driver going the wrong way down the interstate. The Daily Press said each family is seeking $5 million in damages for their loss.

Reports show the accident happened a year ago today at around 2:50 a.m. on I-64, near the exit for Harpersville Road in Hampton, Virginia. The 34-year-old driver of a Chevrolet Tahoe SUV was driving down the highway in the wrong direction when his vehicle collided with a Ford Taurus carrying the 17 and 19-year-old victims along with three of their friends, who were seriously injured in the crash.

Police determined the driver of the SUV was under the influence of alcohol. He was then placed under arrest for two counts of involuntary manslaughter, three counts of maiming by DUI, and having two DUIs within five years.

Two others in the Taurus who were injured have also filed personal injury lawsuits against the drunk driver, claiming their injuries were caused by his negligence. Those lawsuits are seeking a combined total of around $1.7 million.

The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley believe too many people are killed and injured at the hands of drunk drivers each year and hope a decision in these cases will help bring closure to the victims of this tragedy, as well as their friends and families.

Three People Seriously Injured In Virginia Truck Accident

by admin@gotechark.com | November 19th, 2012

November 19, 2012

A truck accident sent three people to the hospital with injuries last week. WAVY 10 News stated the crash occurred around 10:30 a.m. Saturday along the eastbound lanes of Interstate-64, in Newport News, Virginia.

Reports from Virginia State Police indicate the cab of a tractor-trailer rig was traveling along the highway when it suddenly blew a tire. The loss of air pressure caused the driver of the truck to lose control, at which time he swerved and collided with a Chevy Cobalt. The truck then veered off the road, where it ran into a patch of trees in the median of the highway and came to a halt.

The driver of the truck sustained serious injuries as a result of the Virginia Car Accident and was rushed to a local hospital for treatment. A passenger in the vehicle also sustained critical injuries and was also taken to the facility for treatment. The driver of the Colbalt was also injured and taken to a Virginia hospital in order to receive treatment.

Regulations for truck drivers state their equipment, including tires, must be inspected on a regular basis. Failure to do so could be considered negligence in the event of an accident.

That is why the Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley would urge you to talk to an attorney about your rights immediately if you have been hurt in an accident involving a commercial truck.

Virginia State Trooper Killed In Accident While Directing Traffic

by | October 8th, 2012

October 8, 2012

The importance of motorists slowing down and paying attention when they see emergency lights flashing was highlighted last week when a  27-year-old trooper with the Virginia State Police was killed after being hit by a car while directing traffic. According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the accident happened around 10:00 p.m. Saturday at the intersection of Route 30 and Theme Park Way.

Reports say the trooper was directing traffic outside the state fair when a 1992 Jeep Cherokee SUV struck him. The vehicle came to rest on top of the victim, requiring witnesses and other Troopers to lift the SUV off the man and pull him to safety. They soon began CPR on the victim until rescue crews could arrive to rush him to the hospital, but they were unable to save him.

Investigators have just began to look into the incident and say charges may be filed against the driver at the conclusion of their examination into the events that led to the Virginia Car Accident.

Accidents like this sparked the creation of Virginia’s “Move Over” law, which requires motorists to move over a lane when approaching a stopped emergency vehicle to allow more room for crews to work.

The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley understand the feelings that come with suddenly losing a loved one in an accident and would like to send their deepest sympathies to the family of the victim.

 

VDOT Worker Seriously Injured in Norfolk Car Accident

by | September 17th, 2012

Sept. 17, 2012

A 19-year-old Virginia Department of Transportation construction worker was seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident late last week. WAVY-TV 10 News reports that the collision occurred Friday at around 3 a.m. near the Broad Creek Bridge.

A spokesperson for the Virginia State Police, Sgt. Michelle Anaya, stated the worker was retrieving cones from a construction zone along the highway and placing them into the rear of a pickup truck, when the 32-year-old driver of a 2006 Dodge Charger suddenly drifted into the lane where work was taking place and struck the young man, pinning him beneath the truck.

Rescue crews were forced to amputate the worker’s leg at the scene in order to free him from the wreckage. The victim was then rushed to a local hospital where he remains in serious but stable condition. Two other workers suffered less severe injuries as a result of the Norfolk car accident as well.

Investigators charged the driver of the Charger with reckless driving and driving on a suspended license. They say that alcohol may have also been a factor in the crash and additional charges against the man are pending toxicology results.

The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley say motorists have a responsibility when driving through construction zones to protect the safety of workers in the area by being vigilant about speed limits and staying sober behind the wheel at all times.