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.

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

Shocking Smartphone Use and Driving Statistics

Smartphones have become such an integral part of our lives, but do we rely on them too much? Watch people sitting in restaurants, or as they are walking down the street, or in countless other situations and you will likely see them head bent down…

By Seth D. Scott

/ 4 Feb 2019

Shocking Smartphone Use and Driving Statistics

Head-On Crashes and Vehicle Safety Ratings

Vehicles come in all shapes and sizes, from big monster pickup trucks to the mini Coopers many people zip around town in. When a person is shopping around for a new vehicle, there are many factors they may consider, including the age of the vehicle,…

By Eric Washburn

/ 3 Feb 2019

Head-On Crashes and Vehicle Safety Ratings

Who Pays for Injuries Caused by the Driver of a Stolen Vehicle?

Google any combination of the phrase “Virginia stolen car crash,” and you will find dozens of news stories from all over the state. For just this month. You may not think too much about these incidents beyond considering them action movie scenes come to life.…

By Eric Washburn

/ 31 Jan 2019

Understand Your Rights When an Uber Driver Hits and Injures You

Virginia requires drivers who work for what state laws call transportation network companies (TNC) to carry full auto insurance liability and collision coverage. Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft require this of their drivers, as well, and the companies also offer separate liability insurance.

By Randy Appleton

/ 18 Jan 2019

Who Is Responsible for Injuries in a Pedicab Accident?

There’s a different mode of transportation that many people who live or visit Virginia and other states around the country are trying – pedicabs. Pedicabs are tricycle shuttle services. They are essentially bicycle rickshaws because they are like the early Japanese rickshaws that were developed…

By Eric Washburn

/ 12 Jan 2019

Who Is Responsible for Injuries in a Pedicab Accident?

It’s Past Time to Remove Virginia’s Cap on Punitive Damages

A federal appeals court decision in a case out of Tennessee could invalidate unjust statutory caps on punitive damages in many other states, including Virginia. My Virginia Beach-based personal injury and wrongful death attorneys would welcome that result. LEARN MORE When Can a Virginia…

By Richard Shapiro

/ 9 Jan 2019

Does Disability Insurance Coverage Affect the Amount I Can Receive From a Personal Injury Case?

Negotiating an insurance settlement is almost always complicated. One consideration is whether injured person has sources of income and financial support other than what he or she may receive through the at-fault party’s insurance policy. So, yes, receiving disability insurance benefits while pursin

By Randy Appleton

/ 4 Jan 2019

What Animal Attack Victims Should Know About Dog Bite Laws in Virginia

According to one recent estimate, 1 in every 69 Americans suffers a dog bite or an attack by a canine each year. The overwhelming majority of these incidents result in no serious injury, but hospitalizations and deaths do occur. One particularly shocking dog attack occurred…

By Eric Washburn

/ 20 Dec 2018