By Jim Lewis, VA Personal Injury Attorney

My colleague Richard Shapiro has reported on our firm’s Virginia personal injury website that three individuals suffered injuries when an accidental fire occurred in a Virginia Beach home.  He also share tips on how to prevent fires.

LC

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, Personal Injury Attorney

With all the new construction going up on the Eastern Shore in Virginia (VA) you are sure to see a few borrow pits.  These borrow pits sometimes are made into man-made lakes.  Although they might look pretty from afar they actually can be quite dangerous to children and pets alike.  With the cold temperatures this winter they may freeze over and children may attempt to walk on the ice which can lead to serious injury or even death, Find out more.

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).

By Emily Mapp Brannon, Personal Injury Attorney

A Norfolk police recruit is killed during a car accident while training at the academy.  The car that struck him was driven by another recruit.  Car accidents caused by negligence of a third party are a basis for civil personal injury actions even when a person in on the job or working, however, a question arises about accidental injuries during job training caused by a co-worker. Typically on the job injuries are governed by workers compensation, so it is unclear whether this tragic accident would be a “covered” injury but typically such an injury would be considered on the job.  Find out more.

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).  

By Emily Mapp Brannon, Personal Injury Attorney

Driving while under the influence of alcohal isn’t the only way a driver’s judgement can be impaired.  Many drugs can also affect a driver’s judgment and reaction time but researchers are still trying to determine the level of drug use that can impair a driver’s ability to drive safely. A blood alcohol level of 0.08 is the legal limit for all 50 states but a similar level of impairment is uncertain for many drugs.  A startling new study names driving while drugged a major factor in fatal car accidents.  Find out more.

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).  

By James Lewis, Personal Injury Attorney.

How many times has some jerk pulled in front of you only to slam on the breaks? How many times have you slammed on your breaks to avoid hitting a car who just cut across three lanes of traffic? Find out how you can avoid being in accidents.

Google recently named our personal injury law firm one of the most popular local Virginia Beach  businesses to visit on “Google Places,” an online Google platform featuring small businesses in a local area. Less than 1 percent of all U.S. businesses received this distinction. To learn more, check out this article…

Our VA-Carolina Personal Injury Law Firm Specially Recognized By Google Local

If your car or truck was stolen, there are a  myriad of inconveniences and hassles including filing an insurance claim, getting a rental car or replacement car, and filling out a police report. The last thing on your mind would be defending yourself from spurious accusations from your own insurance company. But that’s exactly what happened to a Virginia Beach man who had his truck stolen. State Farm, his insurance company, accused him of intentionally stealing and burning his truck. To learn more, check out this article:

Insurance Company Accuses Own Customer of Stealing and Burning Their Truck

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.

EJL