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.

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.

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!

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.