I was sitting in bumper to bumper traffic last night when I decided to count the number of cars in the HOV lane with only one passenger. I counted 15 cars before I was too disgusted to count more. I could not believe that there are so many people that totally ignore the HOV laws. Not only are "those people" breaking a law, they are being incredibly rude.

I was trying very hard to be patient and hoping for the "light at the end of the tunnel" soon, but I too had somewhere to be and I was going to be late. I had a fleeting fantasy of jumping into the HOV lane, but every part of me screamed "No, that’s not fair!" Why do so many people tempt fate and the State Police by succumbing to the desires of flying by the pathetic masses of people waiting in the freeway parking lot?

Personally, I would just feel so mean taking advantage of the fact that others will not break the law – others who have faith in the laws that created the HOV lane and believe in the system. So today, I had my father-in-law drop my son off at the office and I pulled proudly into the HOV lane on my way home. Unfortunately, I had to follow behind one car after another with only one passenger! So much for my shallow victory.

Not following the rules of the road can lead to serious accidents and serious injuries. If you or someone you know has been injured due to another's negligent acts while driving contact a personal injury attorney.

As Labor Day approaches, most of us think of Labor Day as a sign that summer is ending and school is starting. The origins of Labor Day date back to the late 1800s when all types of workers began to organize and demand better pay, better hours and better protection at work. The first Labor Day parade occurred in New York City in 1882 when 20,000 workers walked through the streets of the city making their demands known. The parade was followed by a picnic and fireworks. Labor Day celebrations quickly spread throughout the country and continue today. So on this Labor Day, take a minute to pause and reflect on those earlier workers who took to the streets to fight for the rights that we have today. Here at Rutter Mills, we always help people fight for their rights when they are injured at work.

A friend called me earlier this summer, upset because her teenage son had hit a bicyclist with her car and she was wondering if she needed an accident attorney. Apparently, her son was approaching a shopping center entrance and a boy pulled out in front of him, following his friends across the busy street. There was no traffic light or stop sign. The boy was not wearing his helmet. She was not sure of the extent of his injuries. My friend and her son were really shook up.

The teenage boy was not charged in the auto accident but that didn’t make him feel any better. His mother didn’t know whether she should call the boy’s parents to apologize.

I know the boy that got hit because he goes to school with my children. He is 10 years old. I have to wonder why he was riding with his friends across a busy street, especially without a helmet. It is a requirement in Virginia for children under 14 to wear a helmet when riding a bicycle.

As summer is ending and school will be starting soon, I hope that parents realize how important it is to remind children to safely cross the street and to never leave home on a bicycle without wearing a helmet. It might not be a bad idea if the parents also wore helmets, as I do, to reinforce the issue and set a good example.

It turns out the boy that was hit only suffered minor injuries; however, the emotional scars endured by the teenage boy may never heal.

Have you ever noticed that accidents often come in 2's? I can only imagine that the driver that caused accident 2 was not paying attention to the change in the flow of traffic after accident 1. I would surmise that the driver was either talking on the phone, playing with the radio dial or, the latest trend in driving, texting. How often do you see other drivers texting on the freeway? I’ve tried it once (okay – who hasn’t been tempted), and it is impossible! Virginia Beach and Norfolk!...You have to hang up the phone and drive to prevent accidents. This reminds me of a billboard I saw this weekend as I was driving on the Eastern Shore. It said, "Honk if you love Jesus. Text while driving if you want to meet him."

Recent studies have shown a decline in workers’ compensation claims in Virginia and other states in the past two years.  Our optimistic side would like to think that workplaces are becoming safer, however, it is more likely that the reporting of work-related injuries have decreased.  In today’s economy, most people are concerned about losing their jobs and some fear that reporting a work-related injury will put their job in jeopardy.  We can understand that fear but also know that it is very important to report all work-related injuries.  By delaying the reporting of a work related injury (or not reporting it at all), an injured worker jeopardizes any benefits that they may be entitled to.  If you have questions or concerns about reporting a work-related injury, most workers’ compensation attorneys (including Rutter Mills) offer free initial consultations at which all your questions can be answered. 

Since 1935, Social Security has touched the lives of almost every American and provided an economic lifeline for millions of people.

To help Social Security Administration celebrate, it is asking you to share your Social Security story. How has Social Security made a difference in your life and the lives of your family and friends?

To read more about Social Security visit the Social Security Form Page where you and write your own stories.

A veteran who returned to the states for foot surgery developed complications. The veteran went to the Veterans Affairs Hospital to repair a foot and ankle injury he had sustained during training. A blood vessel was severed during the surgery which caused extreme pain after the surgery. The Veteran was later diagnosed with compartment syndrome after blood began to seep through the staples in his leg. The Veterans case settled for $300,000, with no admission of liability by the Veterans Affairs hospital.

As a veteran for our country it is important you get the compensation you deserve. If you are denied veterans disability benefits, its important to know there are deadlines to filing you appeal. Therefore, do not hesitate to call or email us for a free consultation with one of our veterans disability attorneys.

Although immune system disorders are often controllable with medication, they can cause people to be unable to work. However, such disorders, including lupus, connective tissue diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome, HIV/AIDS, and other auto-immune disorders can have debilitating symptoms causing people to be unable to work.

Our law firm's disability attorney, Robert Gillikin, has experience representing individuals with each of these medical conditions.

It is important that you seek treatment for these conditions, whether it be with your primary care physician, rheumatologist, infectious disease specialist, or other specialist.

If you feel that your immune system 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.

Yes its true. There will be no Cost Of Living Increase (COLA) for 2010. COLA increases are tied to inflation and because the country is in a deep recession there has been little to no inflation.

Nothing has been said yet by the Congressional Budget Office whether there will be a COLA increase in 2011. There is a possibility it won't increase but if the job growth and GDP continues to rise there is a chance.

Unfortunately co-pays for Medicare go up every year because the cost of health care goes up every year. As a result, Medicare premiums rise 4% a year by law.

Unfortunately many people who receive Social Security Benefits will not see a COLA increase this year, but because of the poor economy and the lack of inflation, hopefully these individuals and their families will not be drastically affected. I wanted to clear the air and let people know what is going on. If you have a disability it is still valuable to file for Social Security Disability. If you or a family member has any questions regarding social security please feel free to contact me.

A Georgia state court jury has held an alleged drunk driver responsible for $15 million in damages to a girl injured in a car accident. The jury wanted to attribute some portion of the liability to Chrysler, because the seat belt the injured girl was wearing broke during the accident.

The case began Jan. 1, 2007, when a Honda Accord driven by the alleged drunk driver ran a red light in and hit the right side of a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee carrying the plaintiffs. The girl was in the rear left-hand seat and wearing her seatbelt, according to the pretrial order. The impact caused a hinge pin at the base of her seat to pop out and she was pitched backward into the cargo compartment.

If you are injured in a car accident contact an auto accident attorney to get you and your family the compensation they deserve.

A 83-year-old woman will be paid $3 million in the settlement of her suit against a trucking company and one of its drivers over a March 2007 accident in which she suffered traumatic brain injury and numerous broken bones. Prior to the trial, the U.S. District Judge refused to dismiss claims for punitive damages against the trucking company. The judge ruled that if the jury found the truck driver had 'entered the intersection without even braking for an obvious red light, it could then go on to reasonably decide that the defendant was recklessly indifferent to a very real danger to others in the area.

Often truck drivers are tired from long hours on the job. Truck and auto accidents happen when truck drivers fall asleep at the wheel or are just not paying attention. If you are the victim of a tractor-trailer accident, contact a truck accident specialist. The tractor-trailer wreck attorneys at Rutter Mills have experience working with truck accident victims. Injuries caused by these accidents can be fatal or life changing. If you have been injuried in a truck accident call the tractor-trailer accident attorneys at Rutter Mills.

A 64 year old woman was struck and killed while in her wheelchair last Friday Constance Road near the Plaza West Shopping Center. She was struck by a Chevrolet SUV, who's driver was charged with driving on a suspended license.

This auto accident could have been avoided however resulted in a fatality. Accidents happen every day and it is important that people are aware of their surroundings. If you or a loved one is injured while crossing the street, on a bike, or in a vehicle you need to contact a personal injury attorney. Personal injury lawyers know the law and will help you get the compensation you deserve.

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. For a complete list of the new Compassionate Allowances, click here.

The Social Security Administration hopes that with these additions to the list tens of thousands of Americans with devastating disabilities will now get approved for benefits in a matter of days rather than months and years.

If you are effected by a disease or just need help filing social security, contact the social security attorneys at Rutter Mills. The social security lawyers help individuals get social security in Virginia and North Carolina. 

The Court of Appeals decided that a restaurant employee who dislocated his shoulder and needed surgery when he threw up his arm to block ice being thrown at him by a co-worker could not collect workers' compensation. They came to this decision because his injury did not result from his emloyment however from horseplay that was not a part of his job resposiblities.

The Charleston Gazette reported that two people were killed in a tractor trailer accident near West Virginia on Interstate 79. The uncommonly cold and icy weather of late was blamed for the truck accident. to read more on the article visit tractor trailer accident.

If 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.  We handle 18 wheeler accidents as well as smaller automobile ijnuries throughout Virginia and the Hampton Roads area. To talk to a Norfolk, Virginia truck accident lawyer about your case, call us at 757.622.5000.  All consultations are free to discuss a case if you or a loved one is an injury victim of a tractor trailer accident.

Congratulations to Virginia drivers. 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. This number coincides with the highest number of seat-belt use reported.

As a personal injury law firm, Rutter Mills is concerned with the safety of our clients. Involvment in a auto accident of any kind is very stressful on the individual and family. Auto Accidents can be very costly financially and emotionally. It is exciting to see that people are following safety regulations by wearing their seat-belts preventing fewer fatalities during car accidents. If you or someone you know has been involved in an automobile accident in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, and the surrounding Hampton Roads areas, contact the personal injury attorneys of Rutter Mills. The injury lawyers at Rutter Mills will work hard to get you the compensation you deserve.