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.

Motorcycle safety is an important issue, which is why each year May is recognized as National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. At the beginning of this month, we wanted to point out a few statistics.

National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration Stats

- In 2009 there were 4,595 fatal motorcycle crashes in the United States. Additionally, 84,000 were injured.

- The use of Department of Transportation approved motorcycles decreased to 54% in 2010 - a 13% drop from 2009.

- DOT approved motorcycle helmets are estimated to be 37% effective in preventing fatal injuries to motorcyclists.

- Helmet use save the lives of 1500 motorcyclists in 2009 according to the NHTSA.

- More than one-third of fatal bike crashes in 2009 involved alcohol.

At our law firm, we have seen the tragic effects of motorcycle accidents time and time again. While you can never completely eliminate your risk on a motorcycle, you can greatly reduce your risk by practicing motorcycle safety and being aware on the roadways. If you or someone you know is injured in a motorcycle accident, be sure to contact the Personal Injury Lawyers of Rutter Mills.

Today the Ford Motor Company announced the recall of over 1 million of it's popular F-150 pickup trucks due to defective air bags. An electrical short is the reported problem, causing air bags to deploy unexpectedly and injuring some drivers.

Earlier this year, Ford acknowledged the problem, but only in 150,000 F150s, resisting the government's request to recall all 1.2 Million with he problem.  A growing number of incidents and injuries has convinced Ford to make the full recall.

If you have one of the latest model Ford F150s, call your local ford dealer to determine if your vehicle is affected in the latest recall.  Airbags are one of the most important safety features in a vehicle, and a properly functioning airbag can save your life in a serious auto accident.  If your vehicle is affected - don't hesitate to comply with the recall.

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.

It's springtime, and as temperatures increase more and more motorcyclists are hitting the road.  While motorists should always be aware of motorcycles on the road, spring is a particularly dangerous time for motorcycle related accidents as drivers aren't as used to seeing them on the road.

While motorcycles make up only about 3% of the total motor vehicles on the road, motorcycle fatalities account for 11% of all highway fatalities each year.  Another troubling statistic is that while only 20% of auto accidents result in injury or death, over 80% of motorcycle accidents do.

While there are numerous safety tips that motorcyclists should follow, regular drivers should also be more aware of motorcycles on the roads and highways.  A few tips for drivers to consider when driving to beware of motorcycles on the roads:

- Always search the traffic around you and be aware of the vehicles and motorcycles surrounding you.

- Check your blind spots before changing lanes or merging

- Double-check traffic at intersections before turning or pulling out

- Be aware that motorcycles can easily be hidden in traffic.  Look for a helmet above, tires below, or a shadow next to a vehicle you can't see around.

- Allow a 3 second cushion of driving space when following a motorcycle

- Watch out when turning left.  Most crashes between cars and motorcycles involve turning left at an intersection.  Because of their relative size, it is harder to see motorcycles and to judge their approach speed.

Being aware of your surroundings on the road can go a long way in avoiding accidents.  Now that spring has sprung, be sure to be on the look out for motorcycles on the roads.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued complete new guidelines on car seats for children from birth to 12 Months.  Below is a summary of the study's findings.

Birth - 12 Months - Children under the age of 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat.

1-3 Years - Keep your 1 to 3 year old children in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible, as it is the best way to keep them safe.  They should remain in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat's manufacturer.

4-7 Years - Keep your 4 to 7 year old children in their forward-facing car seat with a harness until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat's manufacturer.

8 - 12 Years - Keep your 8 to 12 year old children in a booster seat until they are big enough to fit in a seat belt properly.  For a seat belt to fit properly the lap belt must tie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach.  The shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck of face.

For complete details on this study, including instructional videos - click here to check out the NHTSA web site.

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.

An accident by definition is something that happens when something occurs unexpectedly or unintentionally. Because we as drivers have to make conscious decisions on the road, auto accidents do not always fall under this definition. We choose whether or not to drive the speed limit or to obey traffic rules and regulations. Choosing not to obey these laws is an intentional act with expected outcomes.

The selfish act of driving carelessly causes lives to be changed through death or injury on a daily basis. According to the National Car Accident Statistics, excessive speed is the second most common cause of deadly auto accidents, which accounts for about 30% of all fatal accidents in the U.S.

Accidents caused by speeding aren’t really accidents at all. They are potentially devastating events that could have been prevented if the driver stayed within the limits of the law. Watch your speed out there folks, it really isn’t worth it.

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.

One of the most dangerous problems on America's roads today is the act of distracted driving.  In 2009 5,474 people were killed and 450,000 were injured because of a distracted driver on the road.  That's 16% of all fatal crashes and 20% of all injury crashes for the year.  One in five of those deaths involved reports of the driver using a cell phone.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has developed an official government website to serve as a campaign against distracted driving, http://www.distraction.gov There is a great deal of information and statistics on the subject, hopefully they can make a real difference.

At Rutter Mills, we see the devastating effects of distracted driving on an almost daily basis.  We have seen countless numbers of our clients injured in an auto accident by another driver who was using a cell phone when they are supposed to be focused on the road.  If you or someone you know has been injured in an auto accident at the fault of someone else, call the personal care attorneys of Rutter Mills.

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.

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.