Despite this law, however, there have been reports that drivers are being fined for failing to provide proof of insurance. Apparently, police officers and members of the courts have been misinterpreting Virginia code § 46.2-707. In actuality, in order to be charged under this law, a driver must admit that the car is uninsured and that the $500 DMV fee had not been paid. The consequences include a Class 3 misdemeanor, license suspension, plus a $500 fine.

Before making any statements to any insurance adjuster, we recommend reading our free accident injury book that will provide some insider information regarding car accident claims. If you have further questions about car accidents with uninsured drivers in Virginia, don’t hesitate to contact us.

There are millions of car accidents in the U.S. each year, and we can probably assume that many of them are due to road rage and aggressive driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 66 percent of all annual traffic fatalities are caused by aggressive driving actions. What people don’t know is that just like guns, cars can be used as weapons as well, causing harm and death to other people.

The best thing you can do to avoid getting into an accident with a “road rager” is to not feed into the other person’s anger. Don’t react to their honking, finger flipping, or aggressive driving. Just back off and calm down. In the end, it’s just not worth it. You don’t want the same thing that happened to Christopher Lee Fisher to happen to you. If you really feel the need to do something, you can visit sites like RoadRagers.com and file a report.

If you have been a victim of a road rage accident in Virginia, make sure to hire an experienced Virginia car accident attorney.

Distracted driving and getting into an accident when you’re driving a regular car is bad enough, but imagine driving a huge tractor trailer and causing a car wreck because you were busy talking on the phone or looking down at your phone while texting. Trucks carrying heavy cargo can cause severe damage.

The recommendation of this ban on cell phone use stems from a case in Kentucky where 11 people were killed in a crash involving a tractor-trailer. Investigators concluded that the truck driver was using his phone at the time of the crash based on the phone log. There were no signs of mechanical issues with the truck or driver health problems.

Whether you’re a truck driver or not, it’s important to be mindful of the road at all times. If you absolutely must make or take that phone call, pull off to the side of the road in a safe area. For truckers who drive alone, we understand that it can get boring driving all day by yourself, but really think about how you are causing danger not only to yourself, but to others who share the road with you.

To find out about cell phone use and texting while driving laws in your state, visit the Governors Highway Safety Association.

If you’ve been involved in an accident with a truck driver, make sure to contact an experienced tractor-trailer accident attorney in Virginia.

So, what is a fair amount? Well, it depends on a variety of factors including:

• Damage to your vehicle
• How much your medical bills are
• How much more you may have to spend for ongoing medical care if you were severely injured
• Any loss of wages because of hospitalization and bed rest
• Any loss of wages your spouse or loved one may face in order to take care of you
• Physical therapy costs
• Emotional pain and suffering. Don’t just think about the pain and suffering now. Also consider what you may experience in the future if the injury is severe.

Negotiating with the insurance company can be a hassle, but be firm in your counter offer. However, if all of this seems too much to handle, it may be in your best interest to contact a Richmond Virginia car accident lawyer who specializes in these types of cases. You don’t have to hire a lawyer to settle your case, but if you don’t feel comfortable negotiating with the insurance adjusters, then it might be better to have someone act on your behalf who has the confidence and experience.

Robert Asbury said that the dog was not on a leash, but it was not acting aggressively towards the officer. Asbury allegedly called out to the 1-year-old dog to “Stop”, but claims that the dog could not hear him because the officer was yelling and being aggressive. That’s when the officer shot and wounded the pit bull in the jaw and is now recovering at a veterinary in Richmond.

Asbury says that the officer could have used a taser or mace to ward off the dog. There is an escalation-of-force policy that deals with aggressive people in which pepper spray or tasers can be used, but for animals there is no policy other than a “general use of force”.

Pit bulls are widely known to be an aggressive breed of dog with a “hold and shake” bite style. It’s been said that a pit bull’s aggression is unpredictable and that it may not growl, bare its teeth or offer a direct stare before it strikes. DogsBite.org, a group dedicated to reducing dog attacks, analyzed data from 88 dog bite fatalities between 2006-2008. They reported that 19 dog breeds were involved in these dog bite deaths and pit bulls accounted for 59% of the incidents.

If you have been attacked by a pit bull or an aggressive dog, don’t hesitate to consult with a Richmond dog bite attorney to help you with your case.

Call 804-643-4343 for a FREE copy of our book Hidden Inside Secrets Insurance Companies Don’t Want You to Know!

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“Premises liability” is a term that describes the responsibility that a property owner has for accidents or injuries that occur on the property, including slip, trip, or fall accidents. There have been cases in which the property owner was aware that a danger or hazardous condition existed, but failed to fix it; or the property owner should have known about the problem since a reasonable person would have discovered it and taken action to prevent an accident.

Business owners or any property owner have a responsibility to ensure that their properties are safe for visitors or guests. A few examples of conditions that may lead to liability include:

• Hazardous stairways
• Objects on the ground
• Slippery floors
• Uneven ground (cracked or broken sidewalks)

Keep in mind that these types of cases require a great deal of investigation due to the nature of the accident. You must prove that the owner of the property was well aware of the hazard prior to the incident and that this hazard did indeed cause injury to you.

Have you been involved in a slip and fall accident or have any questions about a personal injury case? At O’Bryan Law we help people who have suffered an injury due to negligence. Call us at (804) 643-4343 for a free consultation.

As you can imagine, Virginia state troopers were called to duty during this time, responding to a myriad of car crashes. A news release from Virginia police says that troopers fielded more than 1,677 calls the Saturday Irene hit between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. They also responded to 237 traffic crashes with the majority of them involving property damage.

We encourage you to avoid driving as much as possible while the streets and highways are being cleared of debris and fallen trees. Light poles have been damaged, so visibility is poor at night.

If you do have to drive, here are a few tips to keep yourself safe:

• Check weather and news reports about current road conditions before heading out.
• Avoid driving through flooded streets and standing water. Standing water can make your car stall and cause damage.
• Don’t drive over fallen power lines.
• Avoid driving behind or beside large semi-trucks and tractor trailers. Gusty winds can cause big vehicles to sway from side to side.

The most important things to remember when driving during bad weather is to always be alert and don’t be in a rush to get anywhere. It’s better to get to your destination late than to not get there at all!

In 2006 Virginia had 11,736 alcohol and drug-related traffic crashes, but has steadily declined since then. In 2010, the number of crashes was 8,221.

Virginia has cracked down on underage drunk driving in addition to implementing frequent sobriety checkpoints. The state also offers various education campaigns such as the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program. There is still more that can be done, but getting funding for extra enforcement and additional education has been a challenge for the state.

We believe that education –especially for young adults– is paramount in preventing car crashes due to impaired driving. Education can start with the parents, which doesn’t cost a dime. For everyone else, continuing to spread the word about the dangers of drunk driving through online forums, social media, and various sites can make a difference. Every little action does count. With your help, we can continue to reduce the number of impaired driving accidents.

Have you been a victim in a car accident with an impaired driver? Richmond personal injury lawyer O’Bryan Law specializes in helping you recover damages to your car, medical bills, and pain and suffering caused by the accident.