Practice Areas

Fox News states that Toyota Motor Corporation will be halting production at six North-American plants due to the faulty gas pedals that can stick causing a car to accelerate without warning.

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1/27/2010
Brittany Lumpkin
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Toyota Knew Of Problem Before Recall

Just a few days after recalling more than 2.3 million vehicles due to a sticky gas pedal, Toyota Motors revealed it knew of the issue last year, but didn't think it covered enough vehicles to warrant a recall.

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12/7/2009
Brittany Lumpkin
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Seizure disorder caused by injuries from a head-on collision

Auto accidents can cause serious injuries and even death. Many issues that people develop result from injuries in the wreck.

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8/7/2009
Joe Young
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Your Auto Insurance Coverage

In these tough and uncertain economic times, the last thing most families want to do is to obligate themselves to pay larger monthly auto insurance premiums. What you may not realize is that the savings of ten or fifteen dollars a month in insurance premiums may cost you dearly if you are in a car accident. Take this scenario for example: middle aged family man gets home from work one afternoon. He decides to head out for a haircut. While driving through an intersection with a green light, his car is struck by another motorist who neglects to stop for the red light. The man driving to the haircut is seriously injured. It takes some time for him to recover from his injuries. The person who caused the wreck has a minimum limits Virginia liability auto insurance policy ($25,000.00). So does the injured man who turns out to be our client. For settlement purposes, the man’s personal injury case is worth in the neighborhood of $85,000.00. He will never be fully compensated because the most he can recover from insurance in this example is $25,000.00. Had the client raised his own insurance coverage to $100,000.00, he would have been able to recover the full settlement value of his claim by tapping into the underinsurance coverage available under in his own auto policy. The cost per month for this additional insurance coverage would only have been about the same as he would have paid for a decent haircut! This situation is not an isolated incident. We have had numerous clients at Rutter Mills who have been in the same or worse situations. You must plan ahead to protect yourself and your family from the risk of being the victim of someone’s carelessness. Look at your insurance policy. If you have minimum liability and underinsured motorist coverage ($25,000.00), speak with your insurance agent or insurance company. Get quotes for premiums which will give you higher policy limits. Then make a decision which will protect you and your loved ones from being a victim of the negligence of another.

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11/17/2008
Joe Young
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THE ACCIDENT SCENE: How what you say and what you do can ruin your case

You prepare for work. You prepare for school. You do not prepare for being in a car wreck. But you should. You must protect yourself because in most "minor" or non-major accidents what you do and say at the accident scene will have a significant impact on your personal injury case. Hopefully, any wreck you get into will be one involving only property damage to your car. In reality, whenever objects weighing thousand of pounds run into other objects of the same or greater or lesser weight, no matter what the speed of those objects, there is a transfer of energy or force sufficient enough to cause injury to the human body. Seldom will you ever be in a car accident and not experience some pain or discomfort.

At the scene of the accident what you say and do will stay with your case from that point all the way through a trial. For example, after everything stops you get out of your car and look around. The other driver who caused the wreck comes to you and says, "Are you okay?" You say either, yes or I think so. The other driver, from that point on will tell the insurance company, the defense attorney, the judge and the jury that nobody was hurt in the wreck because he asked that question at the scene and the driver said he or she was okay.

The same happens when the police or state trooper arrives at the scene of the crash. The person with the badge and the gun who has seen every kind of wreck imaginable comes over to you and says in a stern and unforgiving voice, "Do you need paramedics?" or "Are you injured?" You shutter to yourself and don’t want to complain. But you are upset. You have a headache. Your neck is a little stiff. Your lower back hurts. You don’t want to hold up the long line of traffic which has formed in the roadway. You just want to get away from this mess. So what do you do: you tell the police officer, "I am okay." Or, you say, "I think I am fine." The officer will record, "No injuries" in the official police report or make a similar notation somewhere in his field notes. That notation and your statement will stay with you for the rest of the case. The insurance adjuster for the person whose inattentiveness caused the crash will throw that "fact" up in your face. It will come up during settlement negotiations. If you end up in a trial, you will find that the defense attorney makes the statement you made at the scene a central issue in the trial.

To further complicate matters, after the wreck, when you have told the other driver and the police officer that you are okay, you might be tempted to crawl under the rear of your car to check for damage. You might want to pull the crushed fender away from the tire so you can drive away. Don’t do it. Let the police officer or a tow truck driver do it. If you do it, the other driver or the cop will take note of that. It will haunt you throughout the rest of your case.

The solution: tell the other driver and the police the truth. If you are hurting, no matter how slight your injury is, tell someone. If you want to be checked by paramedics, ask the police officer to call for them. If you feel you need to be seen by a doctor, ask to be taken to a hospital emergency room. Do not be embarrassed or shy about your health and well being. Speak up. Be prepared!

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Personal Injury

1/6/2010
Brother
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2009 Traffic Fatalities Went Down

The Virginia Highway Safety Office reported that traffic fatalities were down 13 percent in 2009 from 2008 in Virginia. There were 98 fewer deaths in 2009 than 2008.

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Social Security Disabilty

3/2/2010
Robert Gillikin
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Social Security Adds to its List of Compassionate Allowances

The Social Security Administration is adding 38 more conditions to its list of Compassionate Allowances. This is the first additions to the list since October 2008. The new conditions range from adult brain disorders to rare diseases that primarily affect children.

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12/15/2009
Robert Gillikin
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Social Security Disability and Neurological Conditions

If you feel that your neurological condition is preventing you from working and you are seeking Social Security Disability and/or SSI benefits, please call Rutter Mills for a free consultation.

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10/16/2009
Robert Gillikin
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Social Security Disability and Skin Disorders

Although skin disorders are often controllable with medication, they can cause people to be unable to work. Depending on the extent of severity, skin conditions such as Ichthyosis, Bullous Disease, Dermatitis, Hidradenitis Suppurativa, genetic photosensitivity disorders, burns, and other chronic skin infections can be disabling.

While skin disorders may be presumptively disabling depending on their severity and nature, they may also render you disabled or unemployable if they cause you to be absent from work too often or taking too many unscheduled breaks. It is important that you seek treatment for your conditions, whether it be with your primary care physician or a dermatologist.

If you feel that your skin disorder is preventing you from working and you are seeking Social Security Disability and/or SSI benefits, please call RutterMills for a free consultation. The Social Security Disability attorneys at Rutter Mills may be able to help you.

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8/21/2009
Robert Gillikin
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Social Security Disability and Seizures

Although epilepsy or other seizure disorders are often controllable with medication, they can cause people to be unable to work. Disability may be established depending upon the frequency and nature of grand mal seizures (generalized tonic clonic), petit mal seizures (absence attacks), or atonic seizures (drop attacks). Other limiting impairments may include simple or complex partial seizures, cluster headaches, or other neurological conditions.

While seizures may be presumptively disabling depending on their frequency and nature, they may also render you disabled or unemployable if they cause you to be absent from work too often or taking too many unscheduled breaks. It is important that you seek treatment for your conditions, whether it be with your primary care physician, neurologist, or other seizure specialist.

If you feel that your seizure disorder is preventing you from working and you are seeking Social Security Disability and/or SSI benefits, please call RutterMills for a free consultation. We may be able to help you.

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6/15/2009
Robert Gillikin
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Heart Conditions and SSD

Although heart conditions are often controllable with treatment and medication, they can cause people to be unable to work. Disabling heart conditions may include congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, syncope, congenital heart defects, and irregular heartbeats. Uncontrollable hypertension may also cause serious limitations. These may in some cases leas to heart attacks and other serious cardiac events. It is important that you seek treatment for your conditions, whether it be with your primary care physician or cardiologist.

If you feel that your heart problems are preventing you from working and you are seeking Social Security Disability and/or SSI benefits, please call Rutter Mills for a free consultation. We may be able to help you.

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5/26/2009
Robert Gillikin
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Mental Health Impairments

Although mental health problems are often manageable with counseling or medication, they can cause people to be unable to work. Serious mental health conditions include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizohrenia, personality disorder, intermittent explosive disorder, and other serious conditions. The conditions may seriously impair your mood, appetite, energy level, self-esteem, sleep, weight, and concentration. They may cause you to be irritable, angry, paranoid, have crying spells, have difficulty dealing with other people, cause feelings of guilt or worthlessness, or cause you to lose interest in hobbies or activites. It is important that you seek treatment for your conditions whether it be a psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist, or other mental health or medical professional.

If you feel that your mental health conditions are preventing you from working and you are seeking Social Security Disability and/or SSI benefits, please call us for a free consultation. We may be able to help you.

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5/11/2009
Robert Gillikin
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Unable to Work Due to Diabetes?

Although Diabetes is often controllable and non-disabling, it can cause people to be unable to work. Diabetes can cause potentially disabling impairments, including neuropathy, nephropathy, retinopathy, vascular problems, hypoglycemic attacks, fatigue, and other severe physical ailments. Diabetes can be disabling whether you are Type I Diabetic, Type II Diabetic, insulin-dependent, or taking pills. It is important that you seek medical treatment for these problems, whether it be with your primary physician or an endocrinologist.

If you are diabetic and seeking Social Security Disability and/or SSI benefits, please call Rutter Mills for a free consultation. We may be able to help you.

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4/15/2009
Robert Gillikin
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Listen to and Be Honest with Your Doctors

Winning or losing your Social Security Disability and/or SSI claim largely depends on the medical records and information provided by your doctors. Therefore, it is very important for you to see a doctor and follow any prescribed medical treatments and advice about your condition.

If you stop taking prescribed medications because of side effects without talking to your doctor, or stop your prescribed treatments without talking to your doctor, you may run the risk of decreasing your chances of winning Social Security Disability and/or SSI benefits.

Therefore, if you are seeking Social Security Disability and/or SSI benefits, please keep in mind the following when seeing your doctor:

Be Honest
Dishonesty will not help you. Do not exaggerate our symptoms or problems. However, do not downplay or underestimate your problems. The more open and honest you are with you doctors the more they may be able to help you, and the more we may be able to help you.

Follow Your Doctor's Advice
If your doctors get honest and accurate information from you, they can treat you better and give better advice.

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Truck Accident and Tractor Trailer Injuries

1/13/2010
Brother
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Fatal Tractor Trailer Accident Due to Icy Conditions

you or a loved one have been injured in a trucking accident in Virginia, contact the experienced tractor trailer accident lawyers from Rutter Mills to discuss your case.

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11/19/2009
Brittany Lumpkin
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Truck Owners in Fatal Crash Can Sue

The owner of the trucking company is serving a six year prison term for manslaughter and other charges connected to the crash. It occurred when one of his company's dump trucks lost control down a mountain and slammed into a line of cars.

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Veterans Disability

6/17/2009
Robert Gillikin
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Critical Veteran Information

Veterans Affairs medical facilities in several locations have allegedly caused many veterans to contract HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. It appears that veterans who have had colonoscopies performed at these VA medical facilities since 2003 may be at risk. Congressional hearings are being scheduled to address this potentially disasterous situation. It is being reported that at least 10,000 veterans throughout the United States may now be at risk.

If you or someone you know may be affected, we will give you a free consultation.

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4/27/2009
Robert Gillikin
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Agent Orange Exposure

If you are a veteran of the Vietnam War you may have been exposed to Agent Orange. The Veterans Administration admits that if you had "boots to ground" in Vietnam, in other words you spent active-duty service time in Vietnam during the war, it is presumed you were exposed to Agent Orange. Agent Orange has been proven to cause numerous ailments, many of which are compensable. These include:

Lung Cancer
Type II Diabetes
Prostate Cancer
Larynx Cancer
Bronchus Cancer
Trachea Cancer
Skin Cancers
Multiple Myeloma
Hodgkin's Disease
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Spina Bifida (in children of veterans)

Therefore, if you are a Vietnam War veteran and you have one of these conditions, you may have the rights to veteran's disability benefits due to Agent Orange exposure. Please give us a call for a free consultation. We may be able to help you.

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Workers’ Compensation

3/12/2010
Robert Walsh
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Filing an accident report with the employer or insurer is not sufficient

Virginia workers' compensation lawyer Robert Walsh is often asked: "If the Workers Compensation Insurance Company is paying my medical bills and wage loss, I'm all set, right ?" The short answer is, "NO." Compensation insurance companies may voluntarily pay for medical care or lost wages, and it seems as though they do so for commendable reasons.

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2/3/2010
Blythe Scott
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Don't be Confused about Workers' Compensation and Third Party Workers' Compensation

Workers' Compensation is a program implemented by every state in the U.S. to cover medical treatment, lost wages and other compensation for workers who are injured or become sick while on the job.

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1/20/2010
Blythe Scott
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No Worker Penalty for 'Creative Compensation' Settlement

injured union member whose attorney resolved he workers' compensation claim with a 'creative compensation' settlement

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10/26/2009
Robert Walsh
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FREE ADVICE SEMINAR

Questions or Concerns About Workers' Compensation?
Come to our Free Questions & Answer Day
Wednesday November 18th 2009
6am - 4pm

Attorney Bob Walsh will be at the Rutter Mills
Newport News location answering questions.

4702 Washington Ave. Newport news 23607
accross from the Northrup Grumman entrance
conveniently located between 46th St. and 50th St. Gates

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10/1/2009
Blythe Scott
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Virginia Demands User Data However Facebook Refuses

Good news for Facebook users! Virginia has stopped its attempts to make Facebook show the complete contents of a user's account in order to settle workers' compensation disputes. The Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission will no longer ask for a $200-a-day fine on Facebook for refusing to share user information. Arguments developed when a personal injury firm in New York noted that an accident victim claiming to be severly injured was shown playing in soccer games from photos posted on Facebook. Facebook's response was that "users...rely on Facebook to protect their data and vigorously enforce the privacy decisions they make on Facebook."

Always be careful what you post on the Internet because it could present issues for your case.

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9/14/2009
Blythe Scott
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Guidlines on Looking for Light Duty Work

The Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission has come up with a few simple guidelines on looking for light duty work that I felt were important to share with my clients.

Good Faith Search for Work - It is important to continue seeking light duty work in order to receive disability benefits.

Factors the Commission Considers - Factors that show the disabled employee has made a reasonble effort to find light duty emplyment.

Evidence of Reasonable Effort - Are you registered with the Virginia Employment Commission?

Keep a Job Search Record

Pre-Injury Skills and Experience

Method of Contacting Employers

Attempt to Maximize Earnings

For more information regarding the guidlines visit the Workers Compensation Commission.

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4/21/2009
Robert Walsh
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The Purpose of Workers' Compensation

Many people come to me with questions about workers' compensation and the most frequently asked question is "Why can't I sue my employeer for my injuries?" Workers' Compensation was created for two reasons.

First being to provide replacement income and medical care to employees who are hurt on the job, who have lasting job-related disabilities, and those made ill by the conditions at their place of work.

Second is to reduce litigation against employeers. This protects the employeer from being sued in a civil case however it provides the employee workers' comp benefits.

Workers' Compensation is a trade-off of sorts, thus if you are injured while working for your employeer you can file a workers' compensation claim with your state's workers' compensation system. It is always helpful to consult a workers compensation lawyer in your quest to obtain workers' compensation benefits because these rules and regualtions are best understood by a workers' comp attorney.

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