By Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton, Eastern Shore Car Crash Victim’s Attorney

Normally safe and quiet Chincoteague Road through the town of Wattsvile on the Eastern Shore of Virginia (VA) was the scene of two major traffic accidents on May 15, 2012. In the afternoon, a car rear-ended a Head Start school bus that had already let off all the students it had been transporting. That crash sent both the at-fault driver and the school bus operator to the hospital with injuries.

Earlier, a fatal head-on collision occurred near where Chincoteague Road intersects with Lankford Highway/Route 13. police reported that a woman behind the wheel of a Geo Prizm crossed the center line and ran into the path of a Toyota SUV. The driver of the Geo died in the hospital from injuries suffered in the accident, and the woman driving the SUV sustained major, but not life-threatening, injuries.

View a larger map of where a Geo Prizm collided with a Toyota SUV near Route 13 on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

Police continue investigating both wrecks, and it is unclear why either occurred. What is obvious, though, is that each illustrates how dangers exist on every road. Any time a driver speeds, becomes distracted, ignores stop signals or loses control of his or her vehicle, others can suffer injuries or even lose their lives.

As personal injury attorneys based in Virginia Beach, we have helped many victims of Eastern Shore crashes. If you or a loved one has been hurt through the negligence or  inattention of someone else, read this free report to learn about your options for receiving compensation for accident-related medical costs, lost wages and other damages.

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About the Editors: Lawyers with Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton have provided legal advice and representation for thousands of car, truck, motorcycle, and ATV accident victims, including many on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. We are familiar with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and with the towns along Route 13, including Accomack, Onancock, Chincoteague, 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 have been listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. They, along with fellow attorney Randy Appleton, have also been named Virginia Super Lawyers since 2010, an honor fewer than 5 percent of outstanding attorneys receive.

By Richard N. Shapiro, Virginia Motorcycle Injury Attorney

The Eastern Shore of Virginia is a great place to ride a motorcycle, but it is also heavily traveled by tractor-trailers. Find out what happened to motorcyclists when they where forced off the road by a careless trucker.

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About the Editors: Lawyers with Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton have provided legal advice and representation for thousands of car, truck, motorcycle, and ATV accident victims, including many on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. We are familiar with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and with the towns along Route 13, including Accomack, Onancock, Chincoteague, 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 have been listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. They, along with fellow attorney Randy Appleton, have also been named Virginia Super Lawyers since 2010, an honor fewer than 5 percent of outstanding attorneys receive.

By Randy Appleton, Eastern Shore Truck Wreck Injury Attorney

A collision between a tractor-trailer and box truck on Route 13 on Virginia’s Eastern Shore sent the at-fault driver to the Shore Memorial Hospital with serious but no life-threatening injuries. According to WVEC ABC-13, the driver of the semi has been charged with failure to maintain the lane of travel because he reportedly lost control of his big rig and jackknifed when rounding a corner near the  intersection with Stone Road.

News of this truck wreck on the Eastern Shore came on the same day that media in the western part of Virginia focused on a fatal chain-reaction tractor-trailer accident on I-81 near Salem. That three-truck crash began when a trucker hit a guardrail and flipped his semi.

Both the wrecks on February 2, 2012, highlight the dangers truck drivers create when they allow their big rigs to go out of control. Police were continuing to investigate the crashes as I wrote this blog post. With both accidents occurring between 2 am and 4 am on rain-slicked highways, I’m sure bad weather conditions and driver fatigue will be looked at as contributing factors. Regardless of the findings, the victims of the accidents should contact a Virginia truck crash attorney to discuss their legal options.

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About the Editors: Lawyers with Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton have provided legal advice and representation for thousands of car, truck, motorcycle, and ATV accident victims, including many on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. We are familiar with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and with the towns along Route 13, including Accomack, Onancock, Chincoteague, 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 have been listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. They have also been named Virginia Super Lawyers since 2010, an honor fewer than 5 percent of outstanding attorneys receive.

By Jim Lewis, Eastern Shore Personal Injury Attorney

In her latest post to our Virginia personal injury lawyers’ website, my colleague Emily Mapp Brannon reports that a dog attack in Hampton, VA, during the 2011 Thanksgiving weekend injured two young children, sending one to the hospital for medical treatment. Emily highlighted the detail of the story that the dog had not been vaccinated against rabies, which could put the kids’ lives at risk if precautionary injections are not given immediately, To read more, click over to “Hampton, VA Children Attacked, Injured by Dog.”

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About the Editors: Lawyers with Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton have provided legal advice and representation for thousands of car, truck, motorcycle, and ATV accident victims, including many on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. We are familiar with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and with the towns along Route 13, including Accomack, Onancock, Chincoteague, 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 have been listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. They have also been named Virginia Super Lawyers since 2010, an honor fewer than 5 percent of outstanding attorneys receive.

By John Cooper, Eastern Shore Personal Injury Attorney

Deploying portable speed enforcement cameras in school zones has reduced speeding in several Maryland (MD) counties, according to an independent analysis of the program required by state law. Using Optotraffic speed cameras on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Washington, DC suburbs and other areas resulted in drivers obeying posted speed limits by as much as 900 percent, with the effect being greatest in marked school zones. The number of accidents at intersections where the cameras were positioned also fell dramatically.

These finding come close on the heels of a number of studies of red light cameras that similarly showed drivers were more likely to follow traffic laws and drive more responsibly when they knew their infractions could be caught on video and earn them a ticket. In Virginia Beach, VA, for instance, crashes fell 24 percent when cameras began operating throughout the city.

Red light cameras also currently operate in Chesapeake and Newport News, and the Norfolk City Council has approved a plan to install the devices in 2012. Speed enforcement cameras have not yet been proposed for any cities in Hampton Roads, nor for Accocmack or Northampton counties. In light of the findings in Maryland, though, I think speed cameras might be a valuable safety addition, especially on rural, heavily traveled roads with school zones such as Route 13 outside Onley and Great Bridge Boulevard in Chesapeake.

As personal injury lawyers based in Virginia Beach, my colleagues and I regularly represent victims of car, truck and motorcycle accidents caused by negligent drivers who were speeding or had run a red light. If cameras can prevent such wrecks, then the devices should be used more widely.

EJL

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 Injury Lawyer

My colleague Emily Mapp Brannon has written about the vast number of serious side effects associated with the smoking cessation medication Chantix (varenicline from Pfizer). People are suffering heart problems, experiencing severe headaches and developing suicidal tendencies. To learn more, take a look at “Watch Out for Chantix Side Effects.”

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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 Randy Appleton, VA Car and Truck Accident Injury Lawyer

My Virginia personal injury and wrongful death attorney colleague Rick Shapiro has reviewed the statistics on the numbers of injuries and deaths caused by drunk and drugged drivers and come to the conclusion that he is glad to be a member of a team of Virginia attorneys who sue DUI/DWI drivers for monetary and punitive damages. Visit our main website to learn what we may be able to do for you if you have been hurt or lost a loved one because of the negligence of a drunk and drugged driver.

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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.