Legal

The law affects every part of daily life. Our legal section offers clear, practical explanations of new laws, court rulings, and local and national legal developments. Whether you’re following a major lawsuit or seeking to understand how a new law impacts you, this section keeps readers informed about what’s happening in Virginia’s courts and legislature.

Reckless Driving Apps

In today’s society, everyone seems to be in a hurry. That is the most obvious when you are driving Virginia roads, especially during the morning and evening work commutes. It is not uncommon for many of these rushed commuters to drive too fast or take…

By Eric Washburn

/ 25 Jun 2019

Survival Claim vs. Wrongful Death Claim in Virginia – Important Info You Need to Know About Recoverable Damages

Losing a loved one in a preventable accident caused by the reckless or careless decisions of another individual can be a traumatic and infuriating event. The situation can be made even worse when your loved one is forced to endure days, weeks, or months of…

By Richard Shapiro

/ 5 Jun 2019

What Can You Do if You Get Injured While Riding an Electric Scooter?

Urban planners and transportation engineers describe them as “micro-mobility solutions.” Riders consider them convenient and fun. Emergency room physicians increasingly see them as a risk for major injuries. What your views on electric scooters, you need to understand that riding one of these motori

By Randy Appleton

/ 7 May 2019

Hit-and-Run Dangers for Pedestrians on the Rise

Hit-and-run drivers caused 2,049 deaths across the United States during 2016. That terrible toll rose 60 percent from the still-too-high one recorded for 2006. These numbers come from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, which also noted that 65 percent of the people who died…

By Seth D. Scott

/ 6 May 2019

E. Coli Outbreak Caused by Ground Beef

Since last month, 156 people have become ill with E. Coli food poisoning throughout 10 states. Two of those victims live right here in Virginia. Twenty of the victims needed to be hospitalized. Fortunately, there have been no deaths reported from this outbreak. The Centers…

By Seth D. Scott

/ 29 Apr 2019

Understand Your Legal Rights if You Are Injured by a Public Bus Driver

Getting hit and hurt by an HRT bus or a public school bus raises a host of legal difficulties that most traffic accident victims will not encounter. Receiving an injury or wrongful death settlement is still possible, but partnering with a dedicated and knowledgeable Virginia…

By Seth D. Scott

/ 6 Apr 2019

Virginia Accident Victims Must Know the Difference Between Contributory Negligence and Comparative Negligence

Virginia, along with North Carolina, is one of four states that still imposes the outdated and, frankly, unjust common law principle of contributory negligence. A widely cited lawbook definition of this rule states, “Under contributory negligence, a plaintiff was totally barred from recovery if they

By Randy Appleton

/ 1 Apr 2019

Is Your Bicycle Helmet a Counterfeit?

Many residents and visitors to Virginia enjoy cycling for both exercise and recreation. There are also a lot of cyclists who use their bikes for transportation. In order to protect from injury in the event of a bike accident, it is important for cyclists to…

By Seth D. Scott

/ 29 Mar 2019

A North Carolina Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Attorney Discusses Respondeat Superior

The online legal dictionary maintained by the Cornell Law School defines respondeat superior as “a legal doctrine, most commonly used in tort [i.e., civil lawsuits and insurance claims arising from personal injuries or wrongful death], that holds an employer or principal legally responsible for the…

By Eric Washburn

/ 22 Mar 2019

Virginia Drivers Must Stop Texting and Driving

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tells drivers all they should ever need to know when it states, “Distracted driving kills.” Few activities take a driver’s eyes and mind off the road more completely or for a greater length of time than sending and receiving…

By Seth D. Scott

/ 1 Mar 2019

Should I Use My Health Insurance if I Was Injured by a Negligent Driver?

In a word: Yes. In another word: Absolutely. Using your own health insurance to cover emergency room, hospital and follow-up care after a car crash will not affect your ability to file and collect on insurance claims against the at-fault driver. In fact, using your…

By Randy Appleton

/ 15 Feb 2019

How Claims for Lost Wages Are Presented in a Personal Injury Lawsuit

My North Carolina personal injury clients often tell me that the worst thing about falling victim to someone else’s negligence or recklessness is spending weeks or months out of work without getting paid. Most physical injuries heal well enough to let car crash, slip and…

By Eric Washburn

/ 14 Feb 2019