Norfolk Personal Injury lawyer

Two Workers Suffer Burns In Norfolk Plant Flash Fire

by admin@gotechark.com | October 15th, 2012

October 15, 2012

Two food processing plant workers were seriously injured when they were burned in a work-related accident last week. According to the Journal-Star, the accident happened at around 1:20 p.m. Wednesday at the Henningsen Foods facility in Norfolk, Virginia.

Reports indicate a propane tank fire broke out at the facility but was quickly extinguished before firefighters could arrive. The workers were in the process of inspecting the plant’s propane system when gas spilled from a pressure release valve and was ignited by the pilot light of another machine, quickly spreading to other areas of the plant. A flash fire broke out, leaving the two workers with serious second-degree burns to their faces and arms. They were treated by local medics and released, but will likely have to file a Norfolk workers’ compensation claim to be reimbursed for their medical expenses.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics calls the manufacturing industry one of the most dangerous fields of work in the United States, accounting for 322 fatalities and 2.2 workers per 100,000 being injured last year alone.

The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley understand the hardships that can come with being out of work at no fault of your own due to an injury. We would like to wish the two men who were hurt a speedy recovery from the burns they suffered in this accident.

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.

 

Virginia Car Accident Victim Released From Hospital

by | October 1st, 2012

October 1, 2012

Almost two months after a tragic Norfolk car accident left a 45-year-old woman permanently injured, she was discharged from the hospital. According to the Tidewater News, the crash that left her and two others hurt occurred on August 11 on the Route 58 Bypass exit off of Armory Drive, near Courtland.

The woman was driving a PT Cruiser, with her husband, child, and cousin as passengers, when a 26-year-old alleged drunk driver from Gates, North Carolina, was traveling in the wrong direction in a 2006 GMC Envoy and collided head-on with the Cruiser. The woman’s 52-year-old cousin was killed in the accident. She and her husband, along with their child, were all rushed to a local hospital. The driver of the Envoy was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter.

The injured driver suffered a crushed left arm and leg, along with five broken ribs. Her husband was diagnosed with a broken neck and back, while their child developed internal bleeding. The female victim underwent two corrective surgeries and had rods inserted in her left arm, hip, and leg. Doctors believe the woman will never fully recover, but she may reach 75 percent of her previous mobility.

The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley understand the struggles that come with being injured in an accident and are here to help you get back on your feet if you have been hurt due to another person’s negligence.

Controversy Swirls Around New Virginia Wrongful Death Law

by | September 24th, 2012

September 24, 2012

A new law recently passed in Virginia now allows a woman to sue for the wrongful death of an unborn child if the baby dies as the result of the “wrongful act, neglect, or default of any person, ship, vessel, or corporation.” While most agree that the law better protects the rights of a mother and child, some experts believe that the new law will just create a plethora of litigation.

According to the Daily Press, the law was passed by the General Assembly in March and was officially signed into law by the governor in July. Since then, the law has resulted in dozens of lawsuits. Some believe that this is due to the vague wording of the law that allows for causation of death to be brought against someone in almost any situation.

Richmond General District Court Judge, Robert A. Pustilnik, argued that a lawsuit could be filed against a doctor is a child dies while in their care and even presented the scenario of a case being brought by a mother whose trip and fall in a friend’s home resulted in a wrongful death lawsuit.

The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley believe that the new law protects children and mothers from senseless and neglectful accidents that result in tragic outcomes, and we are here to help you if you have lost a loved one.

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.

Virginia Beach Woman Files $300,000 Lawsuit Over Dog Bite Injuries

by | September 10th, 2012

September 10, 2012

A 22-year-old Virginia Beach woman has filed a lawsuit against the owners of a dog that attacked and seriously injured her while she was employed at a veterinary hospital. According to The Virginian-Pilot, the woman is seeking $300,000 in damages for her injuries.

The Norfolk dog bite injury happened on March 25, 2011, at the Hickory Veterinary Hospital. The dog was undergoing an examination when he became agitated. Despite the owner holding the animal’s mouth and head, the dog broke loose and bit the young woman several times, leaving her with severe laceration and puncture wounds to her face.

The victim has since had to undergo several surgeries and numerous laser treatments to correct the scarring to her face and has lost some feeling in her lips.

The lawsuit was filed after it was discovered that the dog had bitten a person on two occasions prior to the attack and claims that the dog’s owners did not do enough to protect her from injury during the examination since they knew the dog had a history of biting.

The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley say that roughly 4.5 million Americans suffer dog bites each year and receiving compensation for those injuries can be difficult. That is why the firm suggests speaking with a knowledgeable attorney about your legal rights if you or a loved one has been hurt by a dog attack.

Virginia Nursing Home Accused of Resident Abuse

by | August 27th, 2012

August 27, 2012

A study conducted by the Special Investigations Division of the House Government Reform Committee found that 30 percent of nursing homes in the United States—5,283 facilities—were cited for almost 9,000 instances of abuse over a recent two-year period.

One such case of Norfolk nursing home abuse has come out of a facility in Staunton after allegations of sexual assault on a resident surfaced. According to the News Leader, the allegations came after an inspection by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) found numerous cases of safety violations and staff negligence.

Documents show that 47-year-old staff member sexually assaulted a 53-year old patient when he inappropriately touched her in May. Since then, a 43-year-old female patient has also come forward saying the same staff member assaulted her.

The man has been fired and charged in connection with the incident, along with a hospital administrator who failed to report the abuse. Another staff member could also be charged in connection to the incidents.

The findings came after the VDH cited negligence on the part of staff for such violations as medication errors and infection risks to patients.

The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley say that there is no excuse for elderly folks living in these types of facilities to be treated without the upmost respect and care and are here to help you if your loved one has been injured by another person’s neglect.

 

 

Two Virginia Teens Killed In Car Accident

by | August 20th, 2012

August 20, 2012

Two Virginia teens were killed as the result of a motor vehicle accident they were involved in yesterday morning. According to ABC 13 News, the crash happened just after 8:00 a.m. at the intersection of Route 633 and Pine Log Road in Greensville County.

Reports state that the 18-year-old driver veered off the road and collided with a tree, leaving herself and her 18-year-old passenger severely injured, as neither was wearing a seat belt at the time of the Norfolk car accident. Rescue crews were able to free the girls and transport them to a local hospital, but they both died shortly after arrival as a result of their injuries. Investigators are also examining whether or not alcohol may have played a part in causing the crash.

Limits being set on the number of passengers a teen driver can carry in the vehicle is a step in the right direction, considering that the AAA Foundation recently culminated data showing that a young driver with a passenger younger than 21-years-old in the vehicle with them is 44 percent more likely to be involved in a crash.

The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley say the best way to keep young drivers safe is for parents to set reasonable rules and limits for their children. The firm says it is also important for parents to explain why following these rules is so important to their safety.

Two Virginia Construction Workers Injured In Roofing Collapse

by | August 13th, 2012

August 13, 2012

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are roughly 150,000 accidents involving workers at construction sites each year. These accidents, many of which result in Norfolk workers’ compensation claims, make the construction industry one of the most dangerous jobs a person can hold.

That seems to be the case in an accident that injured two construction workers in Leesburg, Virginia, earlier today. According to CBSDC News, the incident occurred around 12:30 p.m. at Evergreen Methodist Church. Reports say that the men were part of a crew erecting the church and were working nearly 40-feet off the ground when the support beams beneath them gave way. The men plummeted to the ground and were then covered by falling debris.

Rescue crews were able to free both men so that they could be transported to a local hospital where they will remain until they recover. Investigators say that the Occupational Health and Safety Administration will likely look into the incident to ensure that all safety rules are followed. If negligence is found, the company responsible for the project could be found to be negligent.

The Norfolk personal injury lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley say that employers have a responsibility to provide their workers with a safe environment in which to do their jobs and would suggest exploring your legal rights if you have been injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence.

 

Suffolk Law Enforcement Cracks Down On Dangerous Intersection

by | August 6th, 2012

August 6, 2012

Law enforcement in the Suffolk, Virginia, area will be conducting a special traffic enforcement campaign to reduce the number of accidents at the intersection of Whaleyville Boulevard and Copeland Road. According to WVEC 13 News, the intersection has been the site of several serious crashes.

Most recently, two vehicles were involved in a Norfolk car accident in the intersection this past Thursday afternoon. The victim stated that she was attempting to make a left hand turn at the intersection when a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction attempted to illegally pass a vehicle in front of it and struck her car. “When I turned around and came back I threw my signal on. Next thing I know, I’m turning and boom!” she said.

In response to the growing number of accidents at the location, the Suffolk Police Department stated that they would be performing saturation patrols along roads in the area that will focus on catching those who speed, run red lights, and commit other traffic infractions. Officials have also asked the city’s Department of Public Works to look into what could be done to reduce the number of crashes occurring at the intersection and create a safer roadway.

The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley are glad that local officials have recognized the problem and are hopeful that the campaign will be successful in reducing the number of collisions occurring in the area.