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 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 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 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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By Jim Lewis, Eastern Shore VA Injury Lawyer

A tractor-trailer traveling down Route 13 in Melfa, Virginia (VA) couldn’t stop in time to avoid traffic outside of the Shore Stop convenience store. The truck driver veered to the right to avoid the traffic and wound up slamming into the front of the convenience store. Two people in the store – a clerk and a delivery man – suffered injuries and are receiving treatment at Shore Memorial Hospital in Nassawadox on the Eastern Shore, according to wboc.com.

This tractor-trailer accident looks like it could have been avoided. If the truck driver had been more vigilant and applied his brakes as soon as he saw vehicles stopped in front of him on Route 13, maybe this awful wreck wouldn’t have happened. The at-fault driver was charged by police at the scene.

Let’s hope the two injured victims pull through. It has to be an extremely traumatic experience seeing a massive tractor trailer bust through a store and hurt you. These types of accidents don’t just affect the victim physically, but mentally as well.

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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By Jim Lewis, Eastern Shore Injury Lawyer

A 17-year-old high school student, just off from a hard day’s work at his job in Accomack County, was crossing the street at the intersection of Route 13 and Daughtery Road when his life came to abrupt end. A car hit and killed him at the intersection.

Reports indicate this intersection is very dangerous since it is part of a busy highway and poorly lit.

Robert Satchell, the father of the victim said, “I’m hoping there is some kind of way we can get a light at that corner, because there have been so many accidents at that intersection. Something should be done. I would not want that to happen to any other kid or any other person for that matter,” according to msnbc.com.

I sincerely hope some type of action is taken to improve the safety of this Eastern Shore intersection. This tragic crossing accident highlights just how dangerous some intersections can be when there is a lack of proper lighting and areas with a high volume of pedestrians converge with busy roads.

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. Though not every case meets our criteria, we offer free, initial consultations so give us a call at 1-800-752-0042. If you can’t get through due to high call volume, please leave a message and we will return your call promptly.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 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).

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By Jim Lewis, Eastern Shore Accident Lawyer

A mother was driving down U.S. Route 13 in Accomac, Virginia (VA) when she reportedly fell asleep at the wheel of her PT Cruiser, drifted to the other side of the road, overcorrected, and wound up flipping the car multiple times. Her 7-year-old child was in the back seat and wound up suffering fatal injuries, according to delmarvanow.com. The mother, and a passenger in the front seat, suffered serious injuries as well.  

This is a terrible accident. Losing anyone in a sudden accident is heartbreaking, but to lose someone so young makes the loss that much more gut wrenching.

Drowsy/sleepy driving is a major problem in this country. Roughly 60 percent of drivers admit they have driven a vehicle while feeling sleepy in the past year, and 37 percent admit to have fallen asleep while driving, according to a study by the National Sleep Foundation.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 100,000 car crashes every year are the direct result of a tired driver. This leads to an estimated 1,550 lives lost and 71,000 injuries, according to drowsydriving.org.

This may sound like common sense, but many people appear to ignore it – if you are feeling tired while driving, pull over and take a break.

You’d be amazed at how a 15-30 minute break from driving can re-energize your batteries. Maybe stop at a Sheetz or your local gas station and grab a cup of coffee. The worst thing you can do is continue to push yourself and potentially dose off while you’re driving.

As we saw from the Accomac accident, drowsy driving can have horrific consequences. Our firm has experience handling cases involving family members. For example, we represented a wife who was injured by her husband who got into a wreck while driving a rental car on the wrong side of the road. We advised her she could file a suit against her husband because this way the rental car company would be forced to apply its insurance to protect/defend her husband, the at-fault driver. We totally understand how awkward filing suit against a family member can be, but if it the best course to help compensate you and your family, a suit should be pursued.

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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By Emily Mapp Brannon, Eastern Shore VA Injury Lawyer

A truly impressive feat of engineering and a drive unequalled in beauty on clear, warm spring days like the one on which I’m posting this, the Chesapeake Bay-Bridge-Tunnel has carried more than 100 million cars and trucks between Northampton Boulevard in Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA), and Route 13 on Virginia’s Eastern Shore since opening to traffic in 1964.

Expanded from two lanes – one north and one south on the same road bed – to two lanes on separate spans in both directions in 1999, the CCBT cuts nearly 100 miles and more than two hours off the driving time between the Eastern Shore and Hampton Roads. The Bridge-Tunnel has been a boon to commercial traffic, commuters and tourists. It has also seen its share of accidents resulting in serious injuries and loss of life.

Tunnels and bridges present unique risks to drivers, from narrow lanes to extreme changes in visibility and lighting due to fog, mist and driving into and out of tunnel entrances and exits. Car and truck accidents are practically daily occurrences on the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel between Norfolk and Hampton, for instance. While rarer, accidents on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel have often been severe.

A tractor-trailer drove off the CCBT in March 2005 and died when his rig hit and sank in the Bay. An SUV driver lost his life the same way on New Year’s Eve in 2006, and another tractor-trailer driver required hospital treatment for a knee injury he suffered when he clipped a parked maintenance truck on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

One way bridge operators prevent car and truck accidents is closing the Bridge-Tunnel to certain vehicles when high winds, heavy rains or snow hit the Bay. The CCBT also shuts down and receives a thorough structural inspection when ships or barges – inevitably – strike one of the bridge supports. Bridge employees are even available to drive people’s cars and trucks across the CCBT “whenever a customer has a phobia of heights, bridges, tunnels, etc.”

No policies or practices can take the place of safe driving, though. Be careful the next time you make the tip from Virginia Beach to Kiptopeke and points north in Accomack and Northampton and Accomack counties.

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 people who drive Route 13, including those 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” for 2010, and they and their fellow attorney John M. Cooper were named 2010 Virginia “Super Lawyers” for Personal Injury Law. Fewer than 5 percent of outstanding lawyers receive this distinction. Our firm also 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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By Richard Shapiro, Eastern Virginia Injury Attorney

The pony swim began in 1924. Children’s author Marguerite Henry made the annual event famous when she published Misty of Chincoteague in 1947. For the past several years, an estimated 40,000 adults and children of all ages have crowded the western shore of Chincoteague Island to watch the wild ponies swim the few hundred feet from Assateague Island. The year-round population of Chincoteague is just over 4,000.

With a majority of Chincoteague residents employed in the tourism and food service industries, the pony swim is essential to the island’s economy and, no doubt, the economies of the nearby Accomack County communities of Atlantic, Horntown, Sinnickson, Wattsville and Wallops Island. An influx of tourists that increases Chincoteague’s population tenfold also strains the resources of the entire Eastern Shore, particularly Route 13 and Route 175.

Fortunately, traffic appears to become merely snarled at pony swim time. A detailed breakdown of fatal car and truck accidents on Chincoteague Island since 1979 shows that no drivers or passengers lost their lives on the island’s roads during the last week of July. Ironically, however, Paul Beebe, who’s real-life childhood adventures are chronicled in Misty, died in an automobile accident in 1957.

Our injury law firm’s main office is in Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA), only about 4 miles from the Chesapeake Bay-Bridge Tunnel southern entrance. So we know firsthand how tourism and tourists impact communities. We also know how crowded, and sometimes dangerous, roads leading to and providing access to top attractions can become for city residents, visitors and pedestrians of all types.

The ponies are set to swim again July 28, 2010, and a full six weeks of events, celebrations and auctions are scheduled leading up to and following the event. I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable time.

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. We are familiar with people who drive Route 13, including those 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” for 2010, and they and their fellow attorney John M. Cooper were named 2010 Virginia “Super Lawyers” for Personal Injury Law. Fewer than 5 percent of outstanding lawyers receive this distinction. Our firm also 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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By Richard Shapiro, Eastern Shore Injury Lawyer

Counties in the Eastern Shore including Accomack and Northampton do not boast large populations, but their accident statistics are incredibly high. In face, both counties feature a fatality rate per 100,000 individuals that is higher than the national average, according to the National Highway Safety Administration. The primary reason is one stretch of road: Route 13.

The lack of adequate medians and increased truck traffic make Route 13 a very dangerous highway. This is a volatile situation considering a large number of  Virginia (VA) Eastern Shore cities and towns are located along Route 13. 

Jim McGowan, the Accomack County planning director stressed the importance of median reform. He said many medians don’t have any turn lanes or the lane is too short to handle more than one vehicle when a turn is made, according to Delmarvanow.com. In addition, the medians are usually too narrow, so it allows vehicles to cross through the median and into the other lane of traffic along with many median crossovers being too close together.

The Route 13/Wallops Island Access Management Study recommended expanding median widths to at least 50 feet while closing roughly 70 median crossovers, adding rumble strips to road shoulders and reducing access points to Route 13 (there are currently 1,300).

Unfortunately, these suggestions have largely been ignored by county officials. The reason being money. The cost of implementing all the proposed reforms would cost over $100 million. It’s really disappointing to hear that budget concerns are superceding the safety of drivers and Eastern Shore residents. Many stretches of highway are dangerous, but few have actual studies highlighting the inherent dangers.

The representatives of both counties need to ask themselves, “What’s worse - spending money to renovate a dangerous highway and potentially decreasing the number or car wrecks or having this same highway featured on the news and in studies as a potentially deadly stretch of road?”

“People complain about it,” said McGowan. “There are a lot of accidents, a lot of [fatalities] on Route 13.” The evidence is clear and the transportation officials in Accomack and Northampton counties need to take action.

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.