A new study conducted by the AAA Foundation shows a strong correlation between teen driver fatalities and the number of young passengers traveling in the video.  The study states specifically that there is a strong association between the number and age of passengers present in vehicle and the risk of a teen driver dying in a traffic crash.  The report shows that the likelihood of a 16 or 17 year old driver being killed in a crash, per mile driven, increases with each additional young passenger in the vehicle.  Compared to driving with no passengers, a 16 or 17 year old driver's fatality risk:

- Increases 44% when traveling with one passenger younger than 21

- Doubles when carrying two passengers younger than 21

- Quadruples when carrying three or more passengers younger than 21

- Drops 62% when carrying one passenger 35 years or older

The takeaway here is that there is a very real and serious risk that arrises with teens traveling together in cars that parents should be aware of.   If you are a parent of a teen driver, you can have a huge impact on the safety of your teen by simply talking to them about the risks that arise from distracted driving, and driving with other teenage friends.

May is national bike month, and I am very proud to say that our hometown Norfolk, VA is an active participant in the festivities.   The "Bike Norfolk" Council is doing everything they can to raise awareness about biking in Norfolk, as well as promoting a variety of safety measures to ensure the safety of the bikers, and the drivers with whom they share their roadways.  At Rutter Mills, we are huge advocates of safety in all of it's forms, and applaud the efforts being made by the Bike Norfolk Council.   It is also worth noting that the increased bike traffic on our roadways will require all of us drivers on the same roads to stay aware and alert of the increased traffic in the form of bicycles.  As many of you know, accidents involving cyclist can often be very serious and even fatal, so it is incredibly important to be careful on the roads and be aware of all of the additional travelers that come out in the springtime.

Below you will find a bike map the council put together to promote safety on the Norfolk roads.  While cyclists can use this map to gauge traffic on certain routes, drivers can also benefit from knowing where the majority of the bike traffic will be taking place.  So remember, as the weather gets warmer and there are more and more pedestrians and cyclists on the roads drive safe and stay focused!

This April marked the first official Distracted Driving Awareness Month, a new awareness program rolled out nationally with the full support of safety advocates, law enforcement agencies and the United States Department of Transportation.  Over the course of the month, state, local, and national government agencies joined to deliver the message "One Text or Call could wreck it all" with the intention of spreading awarenss of a growing problem in our country.  A recent study conducted by the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration stated that distracted driving claims nearly 6,000 lives anually.

While we fully support the efforts of our government to raise the profile of a growing problem, we want to do our best to make sure that the issue remains in the forefront.  As personal injury lawyers dealing with auto accident claims every day, we are seeing more and more serious, and even fatal accidents coming as a result of texting and driving.  With summer, a traditionally dangerous time for teen drivers right around the corner it is important for parents to talk with their teens about the very real dangers of distracted driving.  

If you or someone you know has been injured by the negligence of another driver contact the personal care attorneys of Rutter Mills today for a free, no obligation consultation of your legal rights.

it is almost May, and all across Virginia it is clear that Spring has sprung.  Along with the warm weather come an influx of additional traffic on our roadways in the way of bikers and pedestrians out looking to enjoy the weather.  Over the course of the winter months, drivers for the most part have had the roads to themselves and need to readjust to the new members of the roads.  As with most defensive driving, awareness is key to avoiding auto accidents with pedestrians and bikers.  Be aware of the increased presence of these travelers, and double check your blind spots and turn radiuses for what may seem like smaller objects in the form of pedestrians and bikers.

As auto accident attorneys in the state of Virginia, we see more than our fair share of accidents involving automobiles and pedestrians, and they are more often than not extremely serious.  So now that spring is in the air, be careful and mindful of those we share our roads with.  If you are the pedestrian or biker in this scenario, there here are a few recommendations to keep you safe as well.  As always, remember if you are hurt in an auto accident, contact the personal injury attorneys of Rutter Mills for a free, no obligation consultation of your legal rights.

We've all seen the "Work Zone, Reduce Speed" signs on the road, and experienced the perceived inconvenience of having to reduce our speed despite not always seeing the work at hand.  Many of us may at times question the validity and the purpose of such a sign and a restriction, but make no mistake speeding in work zones is a serious issue.

In 2010 there were a total of 576 fatalities occurring from accidents in the work zone.  Many of these accidents men and women working along our highways being struck by drivers who could not be inconvenienced to slow down and heed the warnings of the Work Zone signs.  Working along our highways is a dangerous job, but a necessary component of the maintenance needed to keep our roads in working order.  The least we can do as drivers is respect the warnings, and try to provide a safe working environment for the workers who are working to keep the very roads we drive on safe.

Next time you see a "Work Zone, Reduce Speed" sign, please think about the hundreds of lives lost due to others not heeding this warning, and be aware of your surroundings at all times.  Drivers that speed in work zones are in clear violation of a very serious law.  If you have been injured due to the negligence of another driver, contact the Auto Accident Attorneys of Rutter Mills today for a free, no obligation consultation of your legal rights.

If you have been denied your Social Security Disability benefits, you always have the right to an appeal.  In fact, it is said that upwards of 85% of all applicants for Social Security Disability are initially denied.  If you are denied, it is extremely important to remember the 90 day window for an appeal.  After receiving your denial you have 90 days to file an appeal, otherwise you go back to square one and have to reapply from the beginning.  If you receive this denial letter, it is a great time to ccontact a Social Security Disability attorney to help you with the appeals process.

The Social Security Disability attorneys of Rutter Mills have helped thousands of people receive their Social Security Disability benefits after being initially denied, and are here to help you with your claim.  If you or someone you know needs help with their Social Security Disability benefits, call the Personal Care Attorneys of Rutter Mills today for a free, no obligation consultation of your legal rights.

As many of us know, distracted driving is becoming more and more of a problem on our roadways.  The National Safety Council has an urgent request for all drivers: Make April the month you ditch the cell phone behind the wheel.  

Thousands of fatal crashes each year involve drivers using cell phones, and the number is growing every year.

While most people understand that distracted driving is a major danger, they continue to use their cell phones when they drive, thinking they are an exception to the rule.  The idea behind distracted driving awareness month is to put this issue center stage and encourage people to think and talk about it, and ultimately understand that distracted driving affects all of us - even those of us who refrain from using the phone on the roadway.  The truth of the matter is that we all share our roadways, and distracted driving is a very real danger for all of us.

As auto accident lawyers in the state of Virginia, we see our fair share of tragedy caused by distracted driving.  Not a week goes by without a new case involving one of our clients being hit by a driver distracted by a cell phone.  If you or someone you know has been injured by the negligence of others, contact the auto accident attorneys of Rutter Mills today for a free, no obligation consultation of your legal rights.

As Auto Accident lawyers, we see our fair share of accidents caused by distracted drivers.  The majority of these distracted situation come as a result of cell phone usage and texting, but a recent accident in the news takes this to another level.  A recent auto accident that resulted in a woman hitting and ultimately killing a 70-year-old man is said to have been caused by a driver updating her Facebook status from her cell phone.  

Though the cause of this accident will still need to be played out in court, it serves as a warning to the perils of distractive driving as a result of in car technology.  Things happen fast, and no one ever expects this to happen to them but distracted driving is a very real problem.  No status update is worth taking a life.  

If you or someone you know has been in an auto accident caused by a distracted driver, contact the personal care attorneys of Rutter Mills today for a free, no obligation consutlation of your legal rights.

As personal injury lawyers and auto accident attorneys we see our fair share of tragic accidents caused by the senseless activity of texting while driving.  While many states have already passed laws outlawing texting while driving, Virginia has yet to act on the subject; until now.  This week, a bill from Sen. George Barker has been advancing in the State Senate that would make texting while driving a primary offense, meaning authorities could stop and cite drivers for that reason alone. 

This "extremely dangerous" activity of texting while driving has been shown in studies to create a crash risk 23 times the normal driving rate.  While in a perfect world we would not need a law to stop this dangerous act and keep our roadways safe, anything to help prevent texting while driving is a good thing.  

If you or someone you know has been injured in an auto accident at the hands of another careless driver, contact the Personal Care Attorneys of Rutter Mills today for a free, no obligation consultaiton of your legal rights.

A new report by the VIrginia State police finds the first month of 2012 to be off to a very bad start in terms of teen driver safety.  In the first 3 weeks of the new year alone, our state has lost 11 teen drivers in traffic accidents.  To put this in perspective, only 3 teens died in auto accidents in the entire month of January 2011.

These fatal auto accidents were said to be caused by the usual suspects; speeding, distracted driving, and not wearing a seatbelt.   Teen driver safety is something that we are very passionate about at Rutter Mills.  As auto accident attorneys in Hampton Roads, we see these sad cases on a regular basis.  One of the saddest parts about these tragedies is that they can often times be prevented.

If you are the parent of a teen driver, talk to your child about the importance of safe driving and the gravity of the situation.  Most teens don't consider the situation at large, and never think that it could be them affected by a tragic accident.  A few simple things can make a world of difference:  Always buckle up, don't speed, and never let things like texting and cell phone use distract you from focusing on the road.

Unfortunately, you can't always control the situation around you and we are forced to share the road with other irresponsible drivers.  If you or someone that you know is a victim of someone else's negligence call the personal injury lawyers of Rutter Mills today.  Our Auto Accident Attorneys will stop at nothing to see that you get the compensation that you deserve for your injuries.

While every case is different, there are a few constants in every auto injury case.  The first such constant is that as soon as the accident occurs, the insurance company is immediately on the defensive - becoming your opponent very quickly.  The insurance company is a very well educated, and well funded operation with an army of employees who go to work to make sure that you receive as little of a settlement as they can get away with you accepting.  One quick way to change the balance of power is to hire an injury law firm for your accident.

Rutter Mills has been helping injured people for over fifty years, and we know the tricks that the insurance company employs and the games that they play.  In fact, the second you hire an auto accident lawyer to represent your case the game changes immediately.   We will stand up to the well funded defense of the insurance company and fight for every dime that you deserve.  Our goal is to focus on dealing with the insurance company while you focus on your health and your injuries.

If you have been injured in an auto accident, call the personal care attorneys at Rutter Mills today for a free, no obligation consultation of your legal rights.

As auto accident lawyers in the state of Virginia, we see first hand the damage and injuries that come along with texting while driving.  Distracted driving seems to be causing more and more auto accidents as the proliferation of smart phones grows, and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is looking to do something about it.  He is urging Congress to enact a national law against texting and driving.  "We have to be able to get people to understand that this is very, very dangerous behavior," Lahood says.  
The National Highway Traffic Safety Authority reported 3,092 distraction-affected crash deaths in 2010.  Making the decision not to text while you drive is an important one, and not something to be taken lightly or followed when convenient.  The road can be a dangerous place when it is covered with distracted drivers.  Please do your part to stay focused on the road, and help keep the highways safe for everyone.
If you or someone you know is injured by a distracted driver, don't hesitate to call the Virginia auto accident attorneys of Rutter Mills for a free, no obligation consultation.

As we have seen over the last few days, the weather can change drastically from day to day.  Winter is right around the corner, and with the changing of the seasons come very different road conditions.  Winter weather can create a big challenge for drivers.  Before the season changes, take some time to prepare for the changing conditions and stay safe on the roadways.  Below are a few safe driving tips for the winter season:

- Always be alert to icy road conditions including snow, ice, slush, or black ice when the temperatures near freezing.  These conditions drastically impact braking distance and reaction time.
- Due to road conditions that come along with cold weather, you should decrease your speed and always leave plenty of room to brake

- When you brake, do so gently to avoid skidding or hydroplaning
- Avoid using cruise control on icy roads
- Remember that bridges freeze sooner than roads, and use extra caution

Using extra caution this winter can help you and your family avoid an auto accident.  As auto accident lawyers in Hampton Roads and Roanoke, VA we see the devastating effects of auto accidents every day.  Please be safe on the roads this winter.  As much as you can try to protect yourself, there is sometimes nothing that you can do to deter another reckless driver from hitting and injuring you and your family.  If you suffer injuries as a result of someone else's negligence, call the personal care attorneys of Rutter Mills today for a free, no obligation consultation of your legal rights. 

Every year, the North Carolina Governor's Highway Safety program embarks on it's "Booze It and Lose It" campaign, aimed at raising the awareness of the serious consequences of driving while intoxicated.  During this campaign the state police also step up law enforcement targeting impaired drivers in an effort to reduce accidents over the holiday season.  Last year, the campaign resulted in 3,800 DWI citations.  
One such awareness/enforcement measure comes in the form of what law enforcement calls the BAT mobile - a mobile blood alcohol testing field laboratory branded with the campaign's "Booze It and Lose It" slogan printed prominently on the side of the vehicle.   Last week, eight people including several officers and two suspects were inside of the BAT mobile when an NC resident hit the bus at 35-40 MPH.  It comes as no surprise that the at fault driver had been drinking and was charged with DWI.

This is just a dramatic example of the "Booze It and Lose It"  slogan in action.  As Virginia auto accident attorneys, we see the devastating effects of drunk driving almost every day.  As we represent the rights of the injured victims, we can't help but think about the avoidable nature of these senseless tragedies.  If you are drinking do not drive, it is that simple.  Make the decision before you start drinking, and don't leave it to chance.

While every accident is certainly different, there are a few truths that apply across the board, and should be considered by anyone injured in an auto accident.  First, it is free to talk to a personal injury attorney. Sitting down and discussing your case costs you nothing, and can help you gain an understanding of your rights in the case.  Second, early investigation can make a big difference in your auto case.  Make no mistake about it, the insurance company is sending their highly trained team of investigators to find evidence and get witnesses to reinforce their side of the story.  An injury attorney like Rutter Mills has a talented team of investigators that can help level the playing field.  
The personal injury attorneys of Rutter Mills are here to help people injured in car accidents - we do it ever day.  We understand the process, and can help answer almost any question you have about your auto accident injury claim.  If you have been injured in an auto accident, call us today for a free consultation.  Remember when it comes to protecting you and your family's rights after an auto accident injury, an early consultation with a personal injury attorney can make a big difference. 

A new study from the researchers at the Texas Transportation institute has determined that a driver's reaction time is doubled when distracted by reading or sending a text message.  This study, which was conducted in an actual driving environment shows that the impairment from texting and driving may be even worse than originally believed.
As anyone who has been in an auto accident knows, every millisecond is important when trying to avoid the crash.  Having your reaction time doubled is something that drivers can ill afford.  
Please drive safe on the roads, and leave your text messages until you safely arrive at your destination. 

While most of us may think of Halloween primarily as a children's holiday full of costumes and trick or treating, it is worth noting that there can be another nastier side of the holiday.  In fact, Halloween is considered one of the big "Drinking Days" , and is traditionally one of the busiest times of the year for local bars.
As with any time people are headed out to drink, it is worth reminding everyone about the consequences of drunk driving.  If you plan on leaving the home and drinking this Halloween, please make plans in advance to arrange a sober ride home.  Making the decision in advance takes the chance out of the situation, and can ensure that you don't make a bad decision.
As personal injury lawyers working primarily on Auto Accident cases, we see our fare share of devastation caused by drunk drivers.  This holiday, please do your part to keep the road a safer place for everyone.
Happy Halloween!

You may think of your morning commute as a lot of things; tedious, stressful, annoying amongst other words that I won't say - but you probably don't consider that it is most likely the most dangerous time of your day.  Every morning in Hampton Roads, the highways are jammed with thousands of drivers of which many are drowsy, distracted, aggressive and in a rush.  If you as a driver are aware of these dangers, and try your best to be alert and focused you can drastically decrease your odds of being involved in a serious accident - making the roadways a safer place for you and your fellow drivers.

As auto accident lawyers in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Newport News and all of Hampton Roads we see the devastating effects auto accidents can have on our clients on an almost daily basis.  Before you get on the road for your next commute, take a second to recognize the dangers and pitfalls that lie in front of you and do your part to make the roadways a safer place.

As I sat in Virginia Beach Circuit Court today, assisting one of our attorneys with an in-court presentation the gravity of the situation began to sit in.  Working for a law firm in an administrative capacity, I have the tendency to think of a law suit in more general terms, and not think about the actual courtroom.  When I was sitting in the courtroom, looking at the judge and the jury and taking in the whole situation one thing became very clear.  If I was involved in a lawsuit, I would want the lawyer sitting next to me to be someone that gave off a good impression to the judge, the jury, and everyone else in the courtroom.

As I watched one of our attorneys handle his clients case, I saw a passionate, knowledgable attorney standing up for a client who he truly believed was being wronged by the insurance company.  This positive impression affected me, and I truly believe it affected the jury members as well.  

At Rutter Mills, I see each of our attorneys working hard every day, fighting for the rights of our clients.  If push came to shove, and I was the victim of a serious accident, I know who I would want sitting next to me in the courtroom.  If you or someone you know is the victim of a serious injury, call Rutter Mills today for a free consultation of your legal rights.

To parents of teenagers it should come as no surprise that today's youth are doing a great deal of texting. As these teens get older and get their drivers license, this can become a huge and extremely dangerous problem if it is not addressed.
The FCC provides a few guidelines for dealing with teen drivers that can help parents communicate the gravity of distracted driving.
What You Can Do:
Give Clear Instructions - Give teen drivers simple, clear instructions not to use their phones wihile driving.  According to Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, the easiest way to say it is: "On the road, off the phone."  Before new drivers get their licenses, discuss the fact that taking their eyes off the road - even for a few seconds - could cost someone injury or death.
Lead by Example - Children learn from their paren't behavior.  No one should text and drive.  Be an example for your children and if you need to text or talk on the phone, pull over to a safe place.
The sooner we can express the seriousness of distracted driving to your teens, the safer the roadways will be for all of us.