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.

5 Reasons to Speak With a Virginia Personal Injury Attorney Before You Accept an Insurance Company’s Settlement Offer

Do not be surprised if the first phone call you receive after getting home from the hospital comes from a claims adjuster for the at-fault party’s insurance company. Insurers act quickly to settle claims they cannot find an excuse to deny outright. Agreeing to accept…

By Eric Washburn

/ 8 Aug 2019

Avoiding Virginia Beach Boating Accidents

Virginia Beach has some of the most beautiful waterways in the country. This is one of the reasons that recreational boating is so popular in the area, for both residents and visitors. But that popularity can also mean a high risk of boating accidents and…

By Eric Washburn

/ 5 Aug 2019

Avoiding Virginia Beach Boating Accidents

Which Objects Have Surgeons Left Inside Patients’ Bodies?

Health care researchers keep detailed records on what they call “retained surgical objects.” This makes sense because leaving a foreign object inside a patient’s body often causes a severe infection, intense pain, internal injuries and uncontrolled bleeding. Multiple follow-up surgeries are then typ

By Randy Appleton

/ 22 Jul 2019

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