It’s unfortunate when someone who has dedicated their life to help protect people dies in the line of duty.
Today we pay homage to State Trooper Adam M. Bowen, 28, of Warsaw, Virginia, who was killed on June 24, 2011 in a two-vehicle traffic crash.
At the time Trooper Bowen was called to assist another police officer when his patrol car crashed with a Hyundai Elantra. Bowen’s car struck a light pole and split in half. The front end of the car hit three parked cars in a nearby parking lot and Bowen passed away on the scene. The driver and passenger in the Elantra both walked away with minor injuries.
The circumstances surrounding this accident are currently being investigated by police.
Not only did Trooper Bowen serve on the police force, but he also served in the United States Air Force where he was involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
Thank you to all of our police and military servicemen. So many of us take for granted the people who work so hard to make sure that we are safe and protected. Men like Trooper Bowen did double duty during his lifetime, which is very admirable.
Our thoughts are with the family of Trooper Bowen. We hope that they are able to heal in peace knowing that he did so much and his passing was not in vain.
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TV review: On HBO’s ‘Hot Coffee,’ a persuasive finding for the plaintiffs – The Washington Post.
There is a new documentary about the famous McDonald’s hot coffee lawsuit.
The story, in case you haven’t heard, is that 79-year-old woman spills a cup of 180 degree coffee in her lap and suffers second and third degree burns that are so bad that doctors feared she would not live.
The victim sued to cover her medical costs and the jury awarded her $2.86 million, an amount that was reduced by the judge.
The documentary will be showing on HBO this summer. Check your local listings for times.
Spending time with your grandmother can be fun, especially if your grandmother is your best friend. Imagine waking up excited to go spend the day with your best friend. You had just graduated from high school on Sunday and now you’re looking forward to some time off before heading off to Virginia Commonwealth University for college.
For Shekinah Parker it was probably one of those days. Summer vacation just started and she was out and about with her grandmother enjoying the day. Shekinah and her grandmother, Pennie Hampton, were on I-64 when Pennie slowed down to avoid another car. Suddenly, Shekinah and Pennie were struck from behind by two other vehicles.
Neither one survived the event and the drivers of the two vehicles have been charged with reckless driving.
It’s tragic how lives can change in an instant. Shekinah Parker, who was only 17, had so much to look forward to. Her life as an independent adult was just starting. Pennie Hampton was 71 and is survived by her four children.
If only the other drivers had been more careful. If only…
Our prayers go out to the families of Shekinah Parker and Pennie Hampton. At least they will be together in peace now.
So think about this story as you’re out and about enjoying your summer vacation. Think about how you can be more careful driving on the highways. There’s no rush to get where you need to go.
It’s important to consult with a Richmond auto accident injury lawyer if you or a loved one is a victim of a tragic accident. A good lawyer can handle all the details so you can recuperate during this time.
Source: Daily Press
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Earlier this month we talked about the fatal bus crash involving Sky Express Inc., a charter bus company that was transporting passengers from Greensboro N.C. to New York City. The crash occurred on I-95 in Virginia. Since the accident, the driver of the bus, Kin Yiu Cheung, of Flushing, NY has been charged with four charges of involuntary manslaughter and can face up to 10 years of in prison for each charge.
Despite the government’s attempt to shut down Sky Express for safety violations, the company continues to operate under a new name with newly painted buses. The company had a poor record in “fatigued driving” over the past two years, with a total of 46 violations of federal regulations.
Because of all the recent bus accidents, the New York state senate recently passed legislation requiring all bus drivers to submit to a criminal history check. Drivers will have to go through a 90 day conditional period while the background check is being undertaken.
This Sky Express bus accident in particular has raised concern about the low fare bus industry and their lack of concern about safety. If you are someone who travels by bus frequently, it may be in your best interest to do some research on the bus companies you travel with. If anything, paying the extra fare on a Greyhound or Amtrak train could be better for the sake of safety.
At O’Bryan Law Firm we help victims of bus accidents, truck accidents, or car wrecks. As a Richmond personal injury lawyer, I am dedicated to protecting your rights and making sure that you are justly compensated because of a negligent driver.
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I was in a car accident in Virginia, but I do not have car insurance. I am not at fault, though. Can I still get money for my injury and damages to my car?
Although you do not carry insurance, it is not considered a “fault” in the state of Virginia. You can still file an injury or damage claim with the other party’s insurance company. At the time of the accident you should have collected the other driver’s personal information including their insurance information. You can contact the insurance company on your own or hire an experienced Virginia car accident lawyer.
If you go ahead and file the claim yourself, but the other driver’s car insurance company refuses to pay, do not give up. Car insurance companies will often do this. Dealing with them can be a hassle and very time-consuming. We recommend reading our free accident injury book to help you with your case, “Hidden Inside Secrets Big Insurance Companies Don’t Want You to Know About Your Injury Claim“.
We understand that due to financial reasons you may not be able to purchase liability insurance, but you are putting yourself at an even greater financial risk by not carrying insurance. If you are in an auto accident in Virginia and you were at fault, you would have to pay out of pocket for any injury or damages to other parties.
FYI: The state of Virginia requires the following minimum car insurance coverage:
- Bodily injury/death of one person $25,000
- Bodily injury/death of two or more persons $50,000
- Property damage $20,000
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Interstate 64 has seen its fair share of car wrecks over the years, especially collisions involving tractor trailer trucks. It is one of the most dangerous highways in the state of Virginia. Just recently an accident took place on I-64 involving a tractor trailer and a car which shut down the highway for several hours.
The driver of the car, Jessica Aguero, 22, of Langley Virginia was flown to the hospital by helicopter while the driver of the tractor-trailer, Douglas Hartwill, of Richmond, Virginia was transported to a local hospital for minor injuries. Virginia State Police has cited Hartwill with following too closely.
Aguero currently has charges pending against her. Allegedly she had slammed on her brakes to avoid traffic. Her car skidded and ended up in a perpendicular angle to the traffic. Hartwill then slammed into Aguero’s car.
Tractor trailers are very common on Virginia highways. Unfortunately because of their size, many accidents involving tractor trailers are fatal. Make sure you are aware of the dangers of driving around large tractor trailers trucks.
At O’Bryan Law we represent people who have been involved in an accident with one of these trucks. It’s important to seek the help of a good Richmond tractor trailer accident lawyer who specializes in these types of accidents because there are many variables involved. An experienced lawyer is well aware of the specific laws associated with tractor trailers in the state of Virginia and can do a thorough investigation.
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Medical malpractice and tort reform continues to be a hot topic amongst the medical community and legislature. Although all this debate doesn’t directly affect regular patients, it does affect people who may decide to file a malpractice lawsuit for negligence by a medical professional.
There is good news, however. A bill called HB 1459 recently became law this past April, which increases the maximum award in the state of Virginia from $2M to $3M by the year 2031. If it were up to us, there would be no caps at all on medical malpractice lawsuits in Virginia.
Consider a recent case in Norfolk, Virginia in which a jury awarded 5 million dollars to a man who filed a malpractice suit against an anesthesiologist and the Norfolk Children’s Specialty Group. That 5 million was reduced to $1.85M because of the current cap imposed on medical malpractice lawsuits by Virginia law.
The man had gone in for surgery for a sunken breastbone and the procedure allegedly caused permanent damage to the man’s spinal cord. He could not move his legs and feet because of paralysis. Although he regained his ability to walk, the man still suffered pain and difficulty with other bodily functions.
At O’Bryan Law Firm we help people in Virginia who have suffered from the negligence of a health care professional. It is a serious issue and you should not go through it alone. Consider hiring an experienced Virginia medical malpractice lawyer. We work hard to ensure that fair compensation is awarded for the pain that you or a loved one has endured.
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On May 31st Richmond fire fighters were dispatched to a school bus accident on Commerce Road. The bus driver swerved to avoid hitting a man on a moped. The bus then hit a power pole and a truck parked in a parking lot. Fortunately, a police officer witnessed the accident and was able to catch the man on the moped.
Fire fighters worked to remove the two injured people from the bus, but one person had to be transported to the hospital.
Fire fighters across the nation risk their lives everyday to fight fires and respond to emergencies, including vehicle accidents. The reason why a fire unit will go to a scene of an accident is because rescue trucks are equipped with extrication tools and other special rescue equipment in case the vehicle catches on fire. If there is a life or death scenario, you want all the equipment available immediately.
Fortunately the bus accident was not extremely serious, but regardless of how serious any accident is, it’s highly recommended to consult with a Richmond accident attorney – especially if you are injured.
We’d like to recognize and pay tribute to all the fire fighters in Richmond who work selflessly so that people can be safe, especially the seven Virginia fire fighters who died in the line of duty this past year. They were honored at the 14th annual Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service in Richmond.
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Whenever people ride on a bus – whether it’s the regular city bus system, a school bus, or a tour bus – they put their trust in the driver. That driver has a responsibility to get everyone on that bus to their destinations safe and sound. In light of a recent deadly accident 30 miles north of Richmond, people are becoming more aware of crashes involving buses and are pushing for more regulation.
The bus accident occurred on Tuesday, May 31st in which 4 people died and 54 people were injured. The bus driver, Kin Yiu Cheung, 37, has been charged with reckless driving. Police say that Cheung may have been experiencing driver fatigue at the time of the crash.
It’s even more disturbing that the bus company, Sky Express Inc., had been given an “unsatisfactory” rating by The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Instead of being shut down, Sky Express had been given a 10-day extension.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2008 there were 307 fatalities involving buses in the state of Virginia and 24,000 more people were injured.
Let’s hope that changes to bus regulations will take place sooner than later. Some changes that have been proposed include stronger roofs, emergency exits, higher standards for passenger seating compartments, and seat belt requirements.
At O’Bryan Law Firm we represent people who have been involved in all types of vehicle accidents in the Richmond, Virginia area. You are entitled to compensation for damages and injuries suffered because of another person’s negligence. Get more information about auto accidents in Virginia.
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Summer is just around the corner, and that means people will be spending more time outdoors with their dogs. It’s been awhile since we’ve come across any news about dog bites in the Richmond, Virginia area, which is a good thing!
National Dog Bite Prevention Week was a couple weeks ago, but nonetheless, it’s important any time of the year to raise awareness about dog bite injuries. Proper education and training for dog owners along with advice and tips on how people can avoid being bitten will hopefully help decrease instances of dog bites. There were nearly 33,000 reconstructive procedures on dog bite victims in the United States in 2010, an 8 percent increase from 2009, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
If you are the owner of the dog, you may want to consider a homeowners insurance policy that provides coverage for dog bites. Make sure to review your policy carefully to ensure that you are protected and avoid any policy that does not include it. If your dog has a history of aggression and has been put in quarantine by Animal Control, they may require you to provide proof of insurance showing $100,000 in liability coverage.
In past blog posts, we’ve provided tips for preventing dog bites and offered advice on what to do if you’ve been bitten by a dog. Also, here is more information about dog bite laws in Virginia .
If you are a victim of a dog attack, make sure to contact a Richmond , VA dog bite attorney .
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