Virginia Injury Law Blog

According to a recent report, Hampton Roads (which is comprised of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Hampton, Newport News, Williamsburg, Suffolk, and the Eastern Shore) had the highest number of car accidents that resulted in injury or death in Virginia from 2006 to 2008. On average, there was a traffic accident in the Tidewater region every 19 minutes, and every 2.5 days someone died from one of those auto wrecks. Nearly 8 percent of all crashes in Hampton Roads involved alcohol, with 41 percent of fatal crashes involving alcohol. The leading causes of non-fatal accidents were following too closely, distracted driving and failure to yield; while the leading causes of fatal accidents were distracted driving and speeding. Nationally, Hampton Roads ranked 17th among 26 similar-sized U.S. metropolitan areas in traffic fatality rates.

Tragic accidents are an unfortunate part of life. If you or a loved one has been involved in a serious auto or truck accident we can help. The attorneys at Pierce & Thornton have experience and expertise in representing families of those seriously injured or killed by the negligence of car or truck drivers. We can put together a team of qualified investigators and gather the information and data necessary to reconstruct the accident and determine who was at fault. We will consult with all of your health care providers so that we have a complete understanding of the nature and extent of your injuries and how the accident has impacted your life. Call today for an immediate consultation with one of our auto or truck accident attorneys.

Posted by Anthony Gantous | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Brain Injury , Drunk Driving Accident , Personal Injury , Trucking Accident , Wrongful Death

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A recent auto accident on Interstate 95 in northern Virginia is suspected to have been caused by an intoxicated driver. Even with stiffer drunk driving penalties and less leniency on drunk drivers by the courts, drunk driving remains a deadly problem for Virginians. In 2006, approximately 29,595 Virginia drivers were convicted for driving under the influence of alcohol. Intoxicated drivers were cited as the cause of approximately 374 highway fatalities and 7,543 injuries in the Commonwealth in 2006.

If you, a family member or loved one has been injured by a drunk driver, you should contact the attorneys at Pierce & Thornton as soon as possible. We have successfully settled and tried cases against drunk drivers. Call us so we can investigate the facts, preserve the evidence in your case and obtain all money damages allowed under Virginia law.

Under Virginia law, a drunk driver who causes personal injury can be required to not only compensate his victim for the injuries caused, but also will be required to pay punitive damages for his reckless conduct if the driver’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was .15 or above at the time of the crash. This is called the “statutory presumption” for punitive damages.

If the drunk driver’s BAC was not measured or measured below .15, then the drunk driver can still be forced to pay punitive damages if it is proven that when he began drinking alcohol or while drinking alcohol he knew (or should have known) that his ability to operate a motor vehicle would be impaired, or if he knew that his ability to operate a motor vehicle was, in fact, impaired.

Posted by Jonathan L. Thornton | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Drunk Driving Accident

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