Transportation

Our transportation coverage examines how traffic laws, infrastructure, and driver behavior affect accident rates in the region. We report on car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, and pedestrian accidents, highlighting prevention, accountability, and legal recourse for victims. From distracted driving laws to highway safety initiatives, our goal is to make local roads safer for all who travel them.

Strong Fairfax, Virginia (VA) Verdict for Connective Tissue Injury

According to published reports, a Virginia (VA) jury recently gave a surprisingly strong award for a “soft tissue” auto injury case. While driving, a 39 year old flight attendant was rear ended. The next day she saw a chiropractor and, after six months of chiropractic therapy for soft tissue injurie

By Richard Shapiro

/ 10 Jul 2007

Virginia (VA) Boy Hit by Car Dies

Saturday, at Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia VA), Omon Graham, a nine year old boy, died suffering head injuries. While on Airline Boulevard in Chesapeake, Virginia (VA) he and his friends attempted to cross the congested street. Omon stepped out onto the street and

By Richard Shapiro

/ 5 Jul 2007

Portsmouth Injury Lawyer Discusses Passenger Cases

Authored by: Randall AppletonAs an attorney living in Portsmouth, Virginia, I have noticed in our local papers that serious motor vehicle wrecks occur on a regular basis in all the Tidewater cities: Portsmouth, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Suffolk and Chesapeake. An important point for passengers in veh

By Richard Shapiro

/ 6 Jun 2007

New Virginia law makes auto accident lawsuits quicker.

The Virginia legislature passed various new laws affecting civil litigation which go into effect on July 1, 2007. One of the most important changes was getting rid of an old procedure called removal which allowed insurance companies in automobile accidents to take a case out of the faster Virginia (

By Richard Shapiro

/ 30 May 2007

Intoxicated Driver Kills Passenger in Norfolk, Virginia (VA)

According to published reports in the Virginian Pilot newspaper on May 18, 2007 a Marine is being charged with drunken driving associated with a car crash that killed a Navy woman. The wreck happened in Norfolk, Virginia (VA) around 2:00 A.M. The 26 year old driver was charged with driving under the

By Richard Shapiro

/ 29 May 2007

Virginia's Eastern Shore Highway Death Rates Remain High

By Randy Appleton, HSCLA AttorneyIndividuals who have suffered severe personal injuries and wrongful death on Virginia’s Eastern Shore (as well as their family members) often travel on Route 13 over the 17 mile Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel spanning the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, south to the “main

By Richard Shapiro

/ 22 May 2007

Recent DUI Wreck In Virginia Beach Sets Off National Immigration Firestorm-Fox News Stirs Controversy

There has been outrage in the local communities of Virginia Beach, Norfolk and other surrounding Virginia and North Carolina communities over the alleged drunk driving of an illegal immigrant who killed two innocent teenagers who were sitting at a red light in Virginia Beach on the night of March 30

By Richard Shapiro

/ 11 Apr 2007

Truck Accident Leaves One Dead

A Swift Transportation Company truck and a Philip Sims Trucking truck collided in an accident that caused a multi car pile up on Interstate 80 west of North Platte, Nebraska. The accident occured on Monday February 12th. Slick roads and poor visibility led to hazardous road conditions and at least t

By The Legal Examiner

/ 21 Feb 2007

Are Damages Recovered In A Personal Injury Case Taxable When Paid?

We are often asked by our clients if the proceeds or damages from a personal injury case settlement are taxable. The general answer is that personal injury settlement proceeds are not taxable on their receipt by the taxpayer/client. There are some important exceptions.It is fair to say that a genera

By Richard Shapiro

/ 20 Sep 2006

New Rules On Black Boxes In Cars Enacted

Car manufacturers will be required to tell new car buyers when their car is equipped with a black box or “event data recorder” under new regulations issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The formal description for the black box is “event data recorder” -which is any electroni

By Richard Shapiro

/ 19 Sep 2006

Motorcycle Safety Update: Some New Motorcycles May Include Airbags

Honda Motor Company recently announced that it is going to offer an airbag on one of its expensive Honda Gold Wing motorcycles for the next model year. Likewise, Yamaha Motor Corporation is developing an airbag system and is using a scooter with the airbags to research and develop the potential prod

By Richard Shapiro

/ 19 Sep 2006

Optional "Medical Expense" Auto Insurance-Why Its Good Coverage To Get

Many states, including Virginia, allow insurance agents to offer optional “medical expense benefits” along with a standard auto insurance policy. This coverage (“med pay” for short) provides for payment of 100% of any medical bills (up to the coverage amount, usually 1,000 to 10,000 dollars per cove

By Richard Shapiro

/ 9 Sep 2006