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. 

With the summer coming to a close, and school about to be back in session it is a good time to talk about teen driver safety.  Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention.  Drivers at the highest risk level are males, teens driving with passengers, and teen drivers who have had their drivers license for less than one year.  

As teen drivers go back to high school, there is generally a lot on their mind - and safe driving can tend to get lost in the mix.  I will never forget in the first weeks of my senior year of high school, a student was killed by the reckless driving of another student and it was one of the saddest things I have ever seen.  If you are the parent of a teen driver, please take a moment to express the gravity of the situation and put emphasis on safe driving.  Below are a few serious risk factors that should be addressed:
Wear Your Seat Belt - Teen drivers have the worst rates of buckling up of all drivers.  Seat Belts save lives every day, make sure your teen always wears their safety belt.
Avoid Risky Behavior - Speeding, Distracted Driving, Following too closely, and aggressive driving are high on the list of mistakes made by teen drivers.  Make sure your teen avoids this risky behavior at all costs.
Do not Drink and Drive - 33% of teen drivers in fatal auto accidents in 2009 tested positive for alcohol. 
Distracted Driving - Texting and Driving is a huge problem, and teen drivers are some of the biggest culprits.  
Talk to your teen and stress the importance of safety on the roadways this back to school season, you won't regret it! 

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.

As Distracted Driving Awareness Month comes to a close, I wanted to leave our readers with a post about the dangers of distracted driving. Inattention on the roadways is a proven killer - the good news is that it can be avoided by staying focused on the roadways.  

80% of all crashes recently studied by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute involved driver inattention within 3 seconds of the crash.  Below are a few statistics about driver behaviors that increase risk of accident:

Texting - Increases Risk 23 Times
Reaching for a moving object -Increases Risk 9 Times

Driving Drowsy - Increases Risk 4 Times

Reading - Increases Risk 3.4 Times

Applying Makeup - Increases Risk 3 Times

Talking on Cell Phone - Increases Risk 4 Times 

In 2009, 756 people died on Virginia Roads.  There were more than 116,744 crashes resulting in 62,796 injuries during the same period.  Driver inattention was the leading factor in these crashes.  The very nature of an accident is that it is unexpected.  Be prepared and aware on the roadways and you can drastically reduce your risk of being in an auto accident.  

Almost immediately after a motor vehicle collision, an insurance company will contact an injured person and ask them to provide what is commonly known as a recorded statement. The adjuster will sometimes take the statement in the initial conversation, but it is usually soon after the first phone conversation. The adjuster will usually ask the caller’s permission to begin recording the statement. Then the adjuster will ask a number of questions about how the accident occurred, conversations, and a person’s injuries.

If you have your statement recorded by an insurance carrier, you have the right to a transcribed copy. Virginia Code Section 8.01-417 requires the insurance carrier to send you a copy of any written statement relating to your injury "forthwith" or a verified typed transcription of the audio recording within 30 days after the statement or recording when the statement is transcribed or in all cases when requested by the injured person. But you have to request it to get it.The insurance carriers often base their decision of whether to accept or deny a claim based on the recorded statements. They begin investigating a claim almost immediately after it is reported and gather information, including statements, on which to base their decision. So remember when you make the claim you are going on the record, their record!

"Watch Your Speed", "Mind Your Surroundings", "Be Careful on the Roads".  Everyone has heard the cautionary tales about the dangers of the road, and the calls for safe driving that come along with them. Yesterday around 4:00 PM, a 12 year old girl was killed after being hit by a car when crossing over Cedar Road in Chesapeake.  

While the details of the crash haven't been made public, this horrible tragedy is yet another reminder of the aforementioned dangers, and should serve as a reminder to all drivers that something horrible like this can happen when you least expect it.  

Events like this are what the calls for safe driving are all about.  Please understand the dangers of the roadways, and stay aware and alert at all times when driving.  Our thoughts go out to the friends and family of this little girl.

The state of Virginia has just announced a new program aimed at providing motorcyclists prompt and proper care after an accident.  The program includes new "Rider Alert Cards" that will be placed inside the riders' helmet that contains medical information, emergency contacts and other pertinent information.  The goal is that first responders will have quicker access to this life saving information at the scene of the crash.  A sticker on the outer shell of the cyclists helmet will indicate that the biker has the alert card, which will be placed inside the helmet. The cards are not required as of yet, but could be at some point in the future.

While this might not be the end all be all for motorcycle safety, we applaud the state for taking strides to increase safety for cyclists.  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.

If you are a motorcyclist, consider this program, and as always try to be safe and aware on the road.  Now that it is springtime there will be more motorcycles on the roads, and other drivers should try to be aware of cyclists as they are not the most visible vehicles on the road.