While we all know that tax time can be a stressful time, a new study shows that it can also be a dangerous time on the roadways.  According to a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association the odds of getting into a fatal crash increase by 6% on tax filing day.  The study looked at the 6,783 people who died in car crashes in the United States over the last 30 years on April 15th, compared to the same day week before and week after.  The results show a 6% increase in the number of fatal auto accidents.

This is no surprise to Norfolk Auto Accident Attorney Brother Rutter.  "Stress leads to distraction, which ultimately leads to unfortunate accidents.  Whether it is taxes, or a cell phone a driver who is not focused is a dangerous driver."  Dr. Donald Redelmeier who wrote the study adds "One explanation is that stressful deadlines lead to driver distraction and worsen short-term human error."

Because we all share the roadways, this heightened risk does not just apply to late filers but to everyone on the road.   Stay focused on the roadways this tax season and be aware of the possibility of heightened danger in the cars around you.

Every year when major "drinking" holidays such as New Year's Eve come around there is a big emphasis on taking measures to prevent drunk driving.  These measures are great, and if they even prevent one person from drinking and driving they are a success.  That being said, drunk driving is more than just a holiday problem. and continues to be just as dangerous throughout the year.  

The National Transportation Safety Board conducted a safety alert in 2009, noting the dangerous nature of Drunk Drivers in the U.S.  Below are a few startling statistics to consider:

- One alcohol-impaired driving fatality occurs every 45 minues

- 10,839 people died in the U.S. from alcohol-impaired driving crashes in 2009

- Drivers with a B.A.C. of over .15 or people who were repeat offenders with a drunk driving arrest were involved in more than 70% of the fatal crashes.

These statistics are disheartening, and should serve as a reminder to all of us to be extra careful of other drivers on the roads, as it seems that some drunk drivers refuse to learn their lesson.  If you are the victim of a car accident because of the negligence of another driver, contact the personal care attorneys of Rutter Mills today for a free consultation of your legal rights.  

The number of teen drivers who have died in traffic accidents has dropped as Virginia lawmakers have tightened restrictions on teen drivers over the last few years.  Traffic fatalities among VA teen drivers fell 50 percent in 2009, and again by 43 percent in 2010.  In 2010, Virginia lost 35 teen drivers to traffic accidents, as opposed to 110 in 2008.  In the same period, traffic deaths fell only 10 percent statewide, indicating that strides to protect our youngest drivers from serious accidents have been paying serious dividends.  Virginia officials are attributing the decline to changes in state laws such as a ban on teen driver cell phone use, and requiring parents of teen drivers to attend mandatory meetings.  

We are thrilled to hear of this decrease in fatalities and injuries among our youngest drivers, but understand there is still plenty of room for improvement.  Distracted driving affects everyone on the roadways, and we see serious injuries routing from the negligence of distracted drivers almost every day.  Be safe on the roadways, stay alert and aware of your surroundings, and continue to educate your children of the importance of these principles.  Together we can make VA a safer place to drive for everyone.

The plaintiff was working on a traveling crew as a telecommunications lineman when he was rear ended in rush hour traffic by a defendant who had fallen asleep at the wheel.  The impact of the accident sent the plaintiff's vehicle airborne before it flipped over several times into a ditch.  The plaintiff, a former Marine suffered serious concussion symptoms and was unable to work after the injury.   The end result was a $1,750,000 settlement for the plaintiff in this brain injury case.

If you or someone you know has been injured in an auto accident, contact the personal care attorneys of Rutter Mills.  We deal with serious accidents every day, and know what it takes to get the settlement you deserve.

A couple that was seriously injured in an intersection collision with a tractor trailer was awarded a settlement of $1,085,647 last month.  The plaintiff was driving in Stafford County, VA with his wife as a passenger when the defendant ran a red light in his tractor-trailer and struck the plaintiff's car.  The couple both suffered significant physical injuries as a direct result of the accident.  

Tractor Trailer Accidents very often result in serious injury due to the nature and size of these accidents.  Understand that these cases can be very difficult and you can greatly benefit from having a lawyer with experience on your side.  If you or someone you know has been injured in a Tractor Trailer Accident, contact the Personal Care Attorneys of Rutter Mills today for a free accident consultation.

A $3,000,000 settlement was awarded to the estate of a man who was killed in an auto accident.  The accident, which took place in March of 2009 involved a man traveling with his son and daughter in law who were struck at an intersection by a negligent driver driving a truck owned by a local Service Center truck.

If you or someone you know is injured in an auto accident, contact the personal care attorneys of Rutter Mills today.  Our lawyers are available 24/7, waiting for your call.

Distracted driving killed nearly 5,500 people last year and injured 500,000 more.  While these disturbing statistics alone should help people think twice about picking up a cell phone on the road, the stories behind the statistics are much more moving.  Distraction.gov, the official U.S. Government website for distracted driving has an ongoing video series called "Faces of Distracted Driving", that is quite moving.  Below are a few of the latest stories.  These stories may seem far off, but they are very real.  They, just like the rest of us, didn't think they were going to be involved in an auto accident.  Please think twice before using a cell phone on the road, and try to be as aware as possible of the drivers around you.

The US Department of Transportation releases it's 2010 crash statistics this week,  showing the lowest level of traffic fatalities since 1949.  The number of traffic fatalities dropped 3% from 33,808 in 2009 to 32,788 last year despite the fact that Americans drove over 20 billion miles more.  The number works out to 1.09 traffic accident deaths for every 100 million miles traveled.  This number is significantly lower than when the number of traffic deaths peaked at 54,589 in 1972 - which had 4.33 deaths for the same number of miles traveled.

Safety experts attribute the drop to public awareness campaigns, safer road design, and improved vehicle safety.  Improvements like rumble strips median barriers and pavement markings have helped create safer roads, while airbags and stability control have created safer automobiles.  Roy Luck, director of research at Northwestern University's Center for Public Safety adds that "The philosophy of safe driving is beginning to become more and more ingrained in society"

As lawyers in the Personal Injury field, we see the devastating effects of serious auto accidents almost every single day.  While statistics like this are very encouraging, there is still a long road ahead.  With distracted driving on the rise, we need to continue to work towards keeping our roadways safe for our drivers.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently released a study on airbag deployment showing the increased risk of fatality in accidents that do not include airbags.  According to the study, out of the 2.5 million vehicles totaled and issued salvage titles by the insurance company, 40% are rebuilt and put back on the road for resale.  Many of these "salvage" titled cars are put back on the road without air bags, or with an improper airbag that may not function correctly.

 Since only a few states have laws regulating airbag system replacement, a buyer of a used vehicle may never know if they can expect their airbag to function properly in an accident.  Below are a few tips to help used car buyers ensure they get an airbag they can count on.

 - When you turn on the ignition, look for the airbag light to momentarily light.  If the light stays on or flashes, there may be a problem with the airbag.  If the light never comes on at all, this indicates that the bulb has been removed, and that there is most likely no airbag present.

- Have a mechanic you trust take a look at the used vehicle prior to purchase to make sure the airbag is working.

- Ask for a Carfax report on the vehicle, which will indicate any airbag deployments in the vehicle's history.  You only need a car's VIN number to attain a report.

A recent report from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) shows that for the past three years, more than 1/3 of all complaints made by consumers to state insurance regulators have been about auto insurance.  The most frequent resons for complaints according to the report were delays, denials and unsatisfactory settlement sizes. 

At Rutter Mills we see these complaints in action on a daily basis.  We deal with insurance companies everyday, fighting for the rights of our clients.  If you are having a hard time dealing with the insurance company to recieve the settlement you deserve for your auto accident injuries, call the personal care attorneys of Rutter Mills today.

For more information on the NAIC study, including their best rated auto insurance companies - click here. 

My philosophy on life has always been “get where you’re going but enjoy the ride.”  And if you’re like me, you feel spring in the air and you want to roll the windows down, find a south-bound road, and just drive.  Good music and my Mazda3 have always done wonders for my mood.  I think there is a part of the soul of the American driver that has always connected with the Sunday drive – not needing to be anywhere in particular except for THIS tree-lined road dappled by a mid-afternoon sun.  Maybe, in such a time, you share my reluctance with having to share the road with anyone else.  Maybe you’re guilty, like I sometimes am, of taking that turn just a little more quickly, or of rushing to find the left lane and the empty space ahead of you with a smile and the radio turned up.
After becoming part of the Rutter Mills family I was more than a little surprised to discover how quickly my defensive driving increased. My day revolves around the stories of perfectly responsible people injured because someone else failed to exercise reasonable care.  After a while you begin to see that failure everywhere.
But this story is not all doom and gloom – I choose to see it as a reaffirmation of a simpler motto.  Be practical!  It’s easier to avoid irresponsible people if you’re doing the speed limit.  Put your iPod on shuffle and don’t mess with it; you won’t take your eyes off the road and you’ll find yourself singing along to songs you forgot you owned.  Put down your phone and stop being so instantly accessible to everyone.  You’ll be a safer driver and you might just learn to enjoy some solitude.
You may be the safest driver on the road but remember this – Twitter now has 200 million subscribers averaging 1,600 posts every second.  With the smart phone industry wrecking havoc on our driving records, eyes on the road please!  Get where you’re going, but enjoy the ride.

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.