By Randy Appleton, Eastern Shore Wrongful Death Attorney

Failing to stop at a red light always creates dangers for the red light runner and everyone else in and around the intersection. This truth was tragically proven once again on Virginia’s Eastern Shore on October 9, 2011, when the driver of a minivan made an illegal left turn through a red light and struck and killed the driver of an Infiniti G20.

According to the Virginian-Pilot, the fatal crash occurred at the intersection of Route 13 and VA 691, just north of Mappsville.  The 72-year-old man who lost his life succumbed to injuries suffered in the wreck despite being transported to Peninsula Regional Medical Center for emergency treatment.

Police have charged the at-fault driver of the Dodge Caravan minivan with failure to obey a traffic signal and are considering other charges.

While illustrating the risks posed by red light runners, this accident also should remind everyone that making a left-hand turn needs to be done with care and caution. Turning drivers must always give right of way to vehicles traveling straight through an intersection. Even if the minivan’s driver was not paying attention to traffic lights, the person should have waited for the other car to pass before turning.

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About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys handle Eastern Shore, Virginia (VA), injury lawsuits. Our lawyers have provided legal advice and representation for thousands of victims of car and truck accidents, including many on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. We are familiar with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and with the towns along Route 13, including people from Accomack, Onancock, Chincoteauge, Wachapreague, Cape Charles, Bloxom, Eastville, Exmore, Greenbackville, Machipongo, Mappsville, Melfa, Nassawadox, Onley, Tangier, Temperanceville, Wachapreague and Wallops Island. Check out our case results to see for yourself. Rick Shapiro and James Lewis were included in the 2011 issue of Best Lawyers in America. They, along with fellow attorney John M. Cooper, were also named 2011 Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law, an honor which fewer than 5 percent of outstanding lawyers receive. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube. Rick Shapiro and James Lewis were included in the 2011 issue of Best Lawyers in America. They, along with fellow attorney John M. Cooper, were also named 2011 Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law, an honor which fewer than 5 percent of outstanding lawyers receive. Though not every case meets our criteria, we offer free, confidential initial consultations. Give us a call at (800) 752-0042. If you can’t get through due to high call volume, please leave a message and we will return your call.

By Jim Lewis, VA Car Accident Lawyer

My colleague John Cooper reported recently on our firm’s website devoted to Virginia
Car & Motorcycle Accidents that a man was killed when his Plymouth Roadrunner ran off the left side of a road and ended up submerged in a pond on Winterville Road. John mentioned car crashes may result from drinking before driving.

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About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys handle Eastern Shore, Virginia (VA), injury lawsuits. Our lawyers have provided legal advice and representation for thousands of victims of car and truck accidents, including many on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. We are familiar with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and with the towns along Route 13, including people from Accomack, Onancock, Chincoteauge, Wachapreague, Cape Charles, Bloxom, Eastville, Exmore, Greenbackville, Machipongo, Mappsville, Melfa, Nassawadox, Onley, Tangier, Temperanceville, Wachapreague and Wallops Island. Check out our case results to see for yourself. Rick Shapiro and James Lewis were included in the 2011 issue of Best Lawyers in America. They, along with fellow attorney John M. Cooper, were also named 2011 Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law, an honor which fewer than 5 percent of outstanding lawyers receive. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube. Rick Shapiro and James Lewis were included in the 2011 issue of Best Lawyers in America. They, along with fellow attorney John M. Cooper, were also named 2011 Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law, an honor which fewer than 5 percent of outstanding lawyers receive. Though not every case meets our criteria, we offer free, confidential initial consultations. Give us a call at (800) 752-0042. If you can’t get through due to high call volume, please leave a message and we will return your call.

By Emily Mapp Brannon, Eastern Shore Car Accident Injury Lawyer

Police believe that alcohol played a role in a single-car crash in Pungoteague on the Eastern Shore of Virginia that killed two people and sent two other people to a hospital with injuries. All four people were in a Buick Century riding down VA Route 178 when the car went off the road, hit a tree stump and flipped over. The individuals killed had lived in Craddockville, VA.

It is so frustrating to read time and again about people who have been drinking large quantities of alcohol who throw caution to the wind and get behind the wheel of a car. This is irresponsible and reckless behavior that can, as seen in this Eastern Shore car wreck, have devastating consequences. As upsetting as it is, my Virginia Beach-based law firm has represented victims in many cases involving drunk drivers. Usually, those cases involve the most serious types of injuries. Jurors and other responsible drivers are incensed by the poor choices of drunk drivers.  Too many innocent people have lost their lives due to such recklessness.

If the surviving passengers’ injuries force them to miss time from work, rack up large medical bills, experience a decline in their quality of life, they should consult an Eastern Shore injury attorney. They are innocent people who had their lives turned upside down in an accident that might have been prevented if the driver was more cautious.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys handle Eastern Shore, Virginia (VA) injury lawsuits. Our lawyers have provided legal advice and representation for thousands of victims of car and truck accidents, including many on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. We are familiar with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and with the towns along Route 13, including people from Accomack, Onancock, Chincoteauge, Wachapreague, Cape Charles, Bloxom, Eastville, Exmore, Greenbackville, Machipongo, Mappsville, Melfa, Nassawadox, Onley, Tangier, Temperanceville, Wachapreague and Wallops Island. Check out our case results to see for yourself. Rick Shapiro and James Lewis were included in the 2011 issue of Best Lawyers in America. They, along with fellow attorney John M. Cooper, were also named 2011 Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law, an honor which fewer than 5 percent of outstanding lawyers receive. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube. Rick Shapiro and James Lewis were included in the 2011 issue of Best Lawyers in America. They, along with fellow attorney John M. Cooper, were also named 2011 Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law, an honor which fewer than 5 percent of outstanding lawyers receive. Though not every case meets our criteria, we offer free, confidential initial consultations. Give us a call at (800) 752-0042. If you can’t get through due to high call volume, please leave a message and we will return your call.

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By John Cooper, Virginia Beach Car Accident Lawyer

My colleague Rick Shapiro has posted a blog about an 18-year-old who has been charged with DUI after a teenage cheerleader was seriously injured in a crash in Virginia Beach, VA. The 18-year-old driver has also been charged with illegal possession of alcohol, following the June 16, 2011, accident in which his car hit a tree in the Salem Woods community.

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About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys handle Eastern Shore, Virginia (VA) injury lawsuits. Our lawyers have provided legal advice and representation for thousands of victims of car and truck accidents, including many on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. We are familiar with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and with the towns along Route 13, including people from Accomack, Onancock, Chincoteauge, Wachapreague, Cape Charles, Bloxom, Eastville, Exmore, Greenbackville, Machipongo, Mappsville, Melfa, Nassawadox, Onley, Tangier, Temperanceville, Wachapreague and Wallops Island. Check out our case results to see for yourself. Rick Shapiro and James Lewis were included in the 2011 issue of Best Lawyers in America. They, along with fellow attorney John M. Cooper, were also named 2011 Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law, an honor which fewer than 5 percent of outstanding lawyers receive. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube. Rick Shapiro and James Lewis were included in the 2011 issue of Best Lawyers in America. They, along with fellow attorney John M. Cooper, were also named 2011 Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law, an honor which fewer than 5 percent of outstanding lawyers receive. Though not every case meets our criteria, we offer free, confidential initial consultations. Give us a call at (800) 752-0042. If you can’t get through due to high call volume, please leave a message and we will return your call.

By Emily Mapp Brannon, Eastern Shore Car Accident Injury Attorney

The Department of Motor Vehicles reported in 2005 that the car accident death rate in and around the Eastern Shore of Virginia (VA) was 0.67 per 1000 licensed drivers. That may not sound like a lot, but when compared to the statewide average car crash death rate of 0.22 per 1000 licensed drivers reported that year, it is a disturbingly high number — actually three times higher than the statewide average.

You might be asking yourself, “Is there a particular reason so many serious car wrecks occur on Eastern Shore highways like U.S. 13?” To be honest, no one has been able to pinpoint a singular reason why the Eastern Shore is more prone to car wrecks resulting in serious injury or loss of life.

Maybe it’s due to the Eastern Shore being a vacation destination and there are more people prone to drinking and driving while headed to the beach. It could also be due to commuters going back and forth from the Eastern Shore to other parts of Virginia like Hampton Roads or Northern Virginia. During long commutes, some drivers may be inclined to engage in texting while driving, which causes them to be distracted and much more likely to be involved in a major car crash.

If you or a loved one was involved in an Eastern Shore car accident that was caused by another driver’s carelessness and you had to miss time from work or racked up large medical bills due to your injury, consult with an attorney to discuss your legal options. Keep in mind that if you are from another state like Maryland or North Carolina, you can still file an injury claim against an at-fault Virginia driver, and vice versa for VA residents.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys handle Eastern Shore, Virginia (VA) injury lawsuits. Our lawyers have provided legal advice and representation for thousands of victims of car and truck accidents, including many on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. We are familiar with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and with the towns along Route 13, including people from Accomack, Onancock, Chincoteauge, Wachapreague, Cape Charles, Bloxom, Eastville, Exmore, Greenbackville, Machipongo, Mappsville, Melfa, Nassawadox, Onley, Tangier, Temperanceville, Wachapreague and Wallops Island. Check out our case results to see for yourself. Rick Shapiro and James Lewis were included in the 2011 issue of Best Lawyers in America. They, along with fellow attorney John M. Cooper, were also named 2011 Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law, an honor which fewer than 5 percent of outstanding lawyers receive. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube. Rick Shapiro and James Lewis were included in the 2011 issue of Best Lawyers in America. They, along with fellow attorney John M. Cooper, were also named 2011 Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law, an honor which fewer than 5 percent of outstanding lawyers receive. Though not every case meets our criteria, we offer free, confidential initial consultations. Give us a call at (800) 752-0042. If you can’t get through due to high call volume, please leave a message and we will return your call.

By John Cooper, Eastern Shore, VA Accident Injury Attorney

An accident involving a pickup truck and tractor-trailer on Highway 460 in Pounding Mill, Virginia (VA), led to the death of a young man named Christopher Crigger. He lost control of his 2003 Dodge pickup truck and went off the roadway. He was only 21 years old.

Crigger reportedly overcorrected, and the truck overturned when he attempted to reenter the highway from the median, according to swvatoday.com. After going through the median and overturning, Crigger’s truck slid across the eastbound lane and was hit by a tractor-trailer.

The exact details of what caused Crigger to lose control of his truck remain unknown. Was there a mechanical issue with his truck? Did the tractor-trailer driver not have time to stop when the truck slid across the highway? We will have to wait and see what the accident report reveals.

This truck accident highlights the damage that can occur when a vehicle is hit by a tractor-trailer. Usually, if a sedan or pickup truck is hit by a tractor-trailer, the smaller vehicle takes the brunt of the impact and considerable damage results.

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About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys handle Eastern Shore, Virginia (VA) injury lawsuits. Our lawyers have provided legal advice and representation for thousands of victims of car and truck accidents, including many on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. We are familiar with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and with the towns along Route 13, including people from Accomack, Onancock, Chincoteauge, Wachapreague, Cape Charles, Bloxom, Eastville, Exmore, Greenbackville, Machipongo, Mappsville, Melfa, Nassawadox, Onley, Tangier, Temperanceville, Wachapreague and Wallops Island. Check out our case results to see for yourself. Rick Shapiro and James Lewis were included in the 2011 issue of Best Lawyers in America. They, along with fellow attorney John M. Cooper, were also named 2011 Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law, an honor which fewer than 5 percent of outstanding lawyers receive. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube. Rick Shapiro and James Lewis were included in the 2011 issue of Best Lawyers in America. They, along with fellow attorney John M. Cooper, were also named 2011 Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law, an honor which fewer than 5 percent of outstanding lawyers receive. Though not every case meets our criteria, we offer free, confidential initial consultations. Give us a call at (800) 752-0042. If you can’t get through due to high call volume, please leave a message and we will return your call.

Car Accident

By Kevin Duffan, Virginia/Carolina Car Accident Attorney

Police have the duty to help the injured drivers after a car or truck accident. Recently, two of Virginia’s finest were seriously injured in an auto accident. Find out more.

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About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys handle Eastern Shore, Virginia (VA) injury lawsuits. Our lawyers have provided legal advice and representation for thousands of victims of car and truck accidents, including many on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. We are familiar with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and with the towns along Route 13, including people from Accomack, Onancock, Chincoteauge, Wachapreague, Cape Charles, Bloxom, Eastville, Exmore, Greenbackville, Machipongo, Mappsville, Melfa, Nassawadox, Onley, Tangier, Temperanceville, Wachapreague and Wallops Island. Check out our case results to see for yourself. Rick Shapiro and James Lewis were included in the 2011 issue of Best Lawyers in America. They, along with fellow attorney John M. Cooper, were also named 2011 Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law, an honor which fewer than 5 percent of outstanding lawyers receive. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube. Rick Shapiro and James Lewis were included in the 2011 issue of Best Lawyers in America. They, along with fellow attorney John M. Cooper, were also named 2011 Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law, an honor which fewer than 5 percent of outstanding lawyers receive. Though not every case meets our criteria, we offer free, confidential initial consultations. Give us a call at (800) 752-0042. If you can’t get through due to high call volume, please leave a message and we will return your call.

By Kevin Duffan, Eastern Shore Car Accident Injury Attorney

When a Volvo traveling west on the Chincoteague Causeway on Va. 175 swerved out of its lane and into the path of an approaching Ford Taurus just after 5 pm on April 4, 2011, the resulting head-on collision claimed the life of a driver and passenger and sent the other accident victims to a hospital with severe injuries.

This head-on collision on the Va. 175 Chincoteague Causeway on Virginia's Eastern killed two and injured two.

According to the Virginian-Pilot, the men killed in the Taurus were brothers Robert Cherrix and Laurence Gordon Cherrix, who lived on the Eastern Shore of Virginia (VA). The Volvo was being driven by California (CA) resident Ivan Klychnik, and Chincoteague woman Christina Gallagher was his passenger. Gallagher was not wearing a seat belt and got ejected from the car after impact.

A rash of bridge and tunnel accidents have struck eastern Virginia in the past few weeks. Drivers need to use caution on those passages, as their lanes tend to be narrower than on the rest of the roadway. This leaves little room for quickly correcting steering errors or recovering from distractions.

I offer my condolences to the friends and family members of the Cherrix brothers.

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About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys handle Eastern Shore VA injury lawsuits. Our lawyers have provided legal advice and representation for thousands of victims of car and truck accidents, including many on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. We are familiar with Route 13, including people from Accomack, Onancock, Chincoteauge, Wachapreague, and Cape Charles, Bloxom, Eastville, Exmore, Greenbackville, Machipongo, Mappsville, Melfa, Nassawadox, Onley, Tangier, Temperanceville, Wachapreague, and Wallops Island. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube. Rick Shapiro and James Lewis were included in the 2011 issue of Best Lawyers in America. They, along with fellow attorney John M. Cooper, were also named 2010 Virginia “Super Lawyers” for Personal Injury Law; fewer than 5 percent of outstanding lawyers receive this designation. Check out our case results to see for yourself. Though not every case meets our criteria, we offer free, initial consultations. Give us a call at (800) 752-0042. If you can’t get through due to high call volume, please leave a message and we will return your call.

By Kevin Duffan, Eastern Shore Car Accident Injury Lawyer

A car has plunged off the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel in Virginia (VA), the first time such a crash has occurred on the structure in five years.

After a full day of looking by air, by boat and under water, searchers found the vehicle that plunged into the bay and recovered the body of its driver inside the vehicle, the Virginian-Pilot reported. It’s unclear what caused the driver, Jean Calcagno, 51, to drive her Toyota Avalon off the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, police said. The victim was from Virginia Beach. Read more here.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys handle Eastern Shore VA injury lawsuits. Our lawyers have provided legal advice and representation for thousands of victims of car and truck accidents, including many on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. We are familiar with Route 13, including people from Accomack, Onancock, Chincoteauge, Wachapreague, and Cape Charles, Bloxom, Eastville, Exmore, Greenbackville, Machipongo, Mappsville, Melfa, Nassawadox, Onley, Tangier, Temperanceville, Wachapreague, and Wallops Island. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube. Rick Shapiro and James Lewis were included in the 2011 issue of Best Lawyers in America. They, along with fellow attorney John M. Cooper, were also named 2010 Virginia “Super Lawyers” for Personal Injury Law; fewer than 5 percent of outstanding lawyers receive this designation. Check out our case results to see for yourself. Though not every case meets our criteria, we offer free, initial consultations. Give us a call at (800) 752-0042. If you can’t get through due to high call volume, please leave a message and we will return your call

By John Cooper, Eastern Shore Injury Lawyer

A Freightliner tractor-trailer was traveling down Route 13 in Mefla, Virginia (VA), when the truck ran off the road, hit two telephone polls, slammed into two cars, and finally hit a building. The truck driver, a Mappsville, VA, resident, suffered injuries and was transported to the hospital for treatment, according to WAVY.com.

What exactly caused the truck accident remains a mystery. Was the trucker distracted in some way? Was there a mechanical problem with the tractor trailer? The investigation is still ongoing.

One lane of Route 13 was shut down for several hours as crews repaired what was damaged. Reports estimate thousands of dollars’ worth of property damage resulted from the accident. Fortunately, no one was killed in the truck crash.

This wreck illustrates the immense damage that can be done when a truck is involved. That is why it is so important for truck companies to make sure their tractor-trailers and 18-wheelers are operating at an optimum level and truckers do not drive their trucks recklessly.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm handling Eastern Shore VA injury accident law and we have handled thousands of car and truck accident cases, including many on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Check out our case results to see for yourself. We are familiar with Route 13, including people from Accomack, Onancock, Chincoteauge, Wachapreague, and Cape Charles, Bloxom, Eastville, Exmore, Greenbackville, Machipongo, Mappsville, Melfa, Nassawadox, Onley, Tangier, Temperanceville, Wachapreague, and Wallops Island. We provide free injury case consultations, so call us toll free at 1-800-752-0042. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube. Rick Shapiro and James Lewis were included among the “Best Lawyers in America” 2010 Edition. These two, along with fellow attorney John M. Cooper were named 2010 Virginia “Super Lawyers” For Personal Injury Law (less than 5% of outstanding lawyers are chosen), and our firm includes attorneys selected by the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum. In addition, we were the first injury law firm in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical, respected law firms. We provide this blog as a pro bono public service.

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