Central Virginia has been blanketed with snow more often then not this winter and with that comes unsafe driving conditions. Please make sure you avoid driving unless necessary and be especially certain to buckle your seat belt in case you slip or slide into something while driving.
Personally I have had enough snow this winter and could stand to not see any more until next year. But unfortunately there is more snow in the forecast. Stay safe!
Crash! Boom! Bam! | www.chesterfieldobserver.com | Chesterfield Observer.
The statistics for 2009 car accidents in Chesterfield County were released last week and there is an analysis of some of the most dangerous intersections in the county.
I expect that there will be some adjustment to these intersections to try and lower the amount of traffic accidents there. Look for new traffic patterns and stop light timing to be adjusted.
In the meantime, be extra careful as you drive through these intersections and try not to add another wreck to the list.
In total, 23 fatal crashes occurred last year in which 24 people died. Four of these fatal wrecks involved alcohol. Three pedestrians died in crashes in 2009.
2009’s most dangerous intersections
- 1. Jefferson Davis Highway & West Hundred Road 61 crashes
- 2. Hull Street Road & Courthouse Road 42 crashes
- 3. Midlothian Turnpike & Woolridge Road 40 crashes
- 4. Midlothian Turnpike & Pinetta Drive 37 crashes
- 5. Midlothian Turnpike & Providence Road 37 crashes
- 6. Midlothian Turnpike & Courthouse Road 37 crashes
- 7. Hull Street Road & Brad McNeer Parkway 32 crashes
- 8. Hull Street Road & Woodlake Village Parkway 31 crashes
- 9. Hundred Road & Old Stage Road 31 crashes
- 10. Midlothian Turnpike & Johnston-Willis Drive 31 crashes
- 11. Midlothian Turnpike & Moorefield Park Drive 31 crashes
If you have been in an accident in Chesterfield or the great Richmond metro area, you need to read Accident In jury Book: Hidden Inside Secrets Big Insurance Companies Don’t Want You to Know About Your Injury Claim.
Toyota U.S. sales halt deals blow to image, earnings
Toyota, the worlds biggest auto maker has stopped US sales of some of its most popular models to fix a very serious design flaw that could cause many car accidents. The company has had problems with faulty gas pedals that stick and cause unintended acceleration.
Needless to say, that is very dangerous. Toyota has known about the problem for several years but apparently has been unable to fix it.
So Toyota decided to shut down six of its North American car factories and stop selling the following models:
Several months ago Toyota recalled 4.2 million cars because their gas pedals could become trapped under floor mats, causing sudden acceleration. That caused several crashes and deaths.
If you have been in a car accident in Richmond, Virginia you should read Accident Injury Book: Hidden Inside Secrets Big Insurance Companies Don’t Want You to Know About Your Injury Claim. It is free to Virginia Residents.
Also make sure to visit the best Richmond, VA car accident lawyer web site.
I just heard a story on NPR this morning about the growing number of uninsured drivers in America. I highly recommend that you examine your own insurance policy and make sure you have enough uninsured motorist coverage. It might keep you from going bankrupt if you get put in the hospital from an accident caused by somebody driving without insurance.
I increased my uninsured motorist coverage a few months ago and was surprised at how cheap it is. For around $9 a month I increased the coverage immensely. I now feel that if anyone in my family gets in a bad car accident or truck wreck there will be enough money to cover even the worst hospital bills.
Insurance companies don’t like you to have increased uninsured motorist coverage because it means more money they have to pay out and that cuts into their profit margin.
Another thing to remember is that your uninsured motorist coverage also covers you if the driver that hits you doesn’t have enough insurance to cover your hospital bills. In this case it is sometimes called underinsured motorist coverage.
You can read more about this and other topics in my Richmond Virginia car accident lawyer book.
Woman, Dog Hit by Car While Walking on W&OD Trail : Falls Church Times.
An interesting article regarding a pedestrian and her dog that was hurt when a car hit them in Northern Virginia. The pedestrian was walking the Washington & Old Dominion Trail and was hit while using the crosswalk to cross the street.
There are apparently some confusing and misleading signs along the trail that lead many drivers to think they have the right-of-way in the crosswalk. This is not true. According to Virginia law, pedestrians always have the right-of-way in a crosswalk unless there are pedestrian control signals that indicate otherwise. Meaning that a pedestrian doesn’t have the right-of-way if he has a “Don’t Walk” signal displayed.
The Virginia Laws Pertaining to Pedestrians are available at bikewalkvirginia.org
If you have been hit by a car while you have the right-of-way, you need a good Richmond, VA accident injury lawyer. Wayne O’Bryan’s book Accident Injury Book: Hidden Inside Secrets Big Insurance Companies Don’t Want You to Know About Your Injury Claim will help you know how to handle the insurance adjuster. The book is free for Virginia residents.
Va. Beach woman charged in pedestrian’s death.
Black Friday was truly horrific for the family 23-year-old Hunter Richardson of Suffolk, VA as he was struck and killed by an SUV in the Town Center shopping center in Virginia Beach.
Another pedestrian was also injured in the accident. The SUV was driven by 29-year-old Natasha Herzog, who was charged with a second offense of drunken driving, refusal to take a breath test, manslaughter and maiming.
Hunter Richardson was a much loved figure in the community and a memorial service is to be held tomorrow at 11am in Centenary United Methodist Church in Portsmouth, VA.
It sounds like Hunter’s family could file a wrongful death lawsuit against Ms. Herzog and she would likely have to pay punitive damages to the family.
There are more and more pedestrians getting hurt and killed by cars lately. I suspect this may be due to the lack of safe places for people to walk in our cities due to a focus on the needs and rights of car drivers for the past century that has made the roads unsafe for pedestrian travel.
If you have been hurt in a pedestrian accident, you should read my FREE book, Accident Injury Book: Hidden Inside Secrets Big Insurance Companies Don’t Want You to Know About Your Injury Claim.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. This is one of the busiest car travel times of the year so I hope you are all safe out there. Remember to slow down and pay attention to the road. Make sure you get plenty of rest and if you start to fall asleep at the wheel then get off the road ASAP.
I’m looking forward to having Thanksgiving with my family and grandkids on the Chesapeake Bay, one of my favorite spots. It will definitely be different going down there this time of year, but it will be nice to have the beach to ourselves.
Happy Holidays from O’Bryan Law! As a special gift to my readers from Virginia, I am offering a free copy of my book. Contact me and I will send you one.
The Associated Press: Va. student mistaken for deer, shot to death.
Jessica Goode was a 23-year-old student at Ferrum College out collecting frogs for biology class when she was accidentally shot and killed by a deer hunter. Another student, 20-year-old Regis Boudinot, was shot in the hand.
The students were on a trail about a mile west of campus.
The shooter was 31-year-old Jason David Coultier, of Ferrum, VA. Coultier was charged with manslaughter, reckless handling of a firearm and trespassing.
Jessica was apparently an outdoor lover and could often be found doing outside activities. She was a senior at Ferrum and an environmental science major. She is described as bubbly and upbeat.
This death was a real tragedy and should not have happened. The first rule of hunting is to always make sure that you are shooting at an animal and not a person. Also I am surprised that Coultier was hunting so close to a college campus.
I am truly saddened that this amazing-sounding girl was taken away from those who loved her before her life could be fully lived.
My condolences to the family.
Richmond, VA Attorney Wayne O’Bryan
1-800-372-4099
Forklift accident victim to be buried today.
Matt Megginson, 27, was killed on the job last Friday while operating a forklift. As he worked at Burris Logistics in Lynchburg, VA, his machine turned over, pinned and killed him.
He got married just last May to his wife Lindsey.
It is especially sad when somebody as young and well-liked as Matt gets killed. The accident is under investigation by the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry.
A study from the National Association on Occupational Safety and Health says that 22% of the over 1000 forklift-related deaths that have happened in the last 14 years have been because of overturned machinery. I would imagine that a forklift is one of the more dangerous machines that workers use on a regular basis.
I am also wondering if Matt’s death is a result of product liability.
Call Wayne O’Bryan at 804-643-4343 if you have any questions regarding wrongful death or product liability. We offer a free confidential consultation.
Family of teen killed in crash gets $5.25M | Waynesboro News Virginian.
A jury in Albemarle County awarded $5.25 million to the family of a 16-year-old who was killed in a car wreck in 2008.
On May 9, 2008, Kenneth Barbour was driving a tractor-trailer when he ran a red light and hit Sydney Aichs driving a 1999 Chevy Cavalier. Barbour pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and reckless driving and was sentenced to a 2 year prison sentence.
Aichs’ family sued Don B. Swisher Trucking Corporation, McCann Delivery Service and Kenneth Barbour, saying Barbour’s employers didn’t give him enough training and supervision and that his truck was defective. The suit also accused Barbour of not slowing down when he approached the intersection of US 29 and Ashwood Boulevard.
I know the verdict seems like a lot of money, but I know that they would all give it back without thinking if it meant they could bring back their daughter and sister. There is little worse than a parent losing a child and it is something they will probably never get over for the rest of their life.
If you are fighting an insurance company because your loved one was killed you should get a FREE copy of my book Accident Injury Book: Hidden Inside Secrets Big Insurance Companies Don’t Want You to Know About Your Injury Claim. Call 804-355-0691 for our free copy today. Wayne O’Bryan is a good Richmond, VA based wrongful death lawyer and author.
