Posted on May 06, 2019 in Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Even after the sun sets in Virginia, thousands of cars, trucks and motorcycles fill the roads. Whether people are coming home from work or heading out for a night on the town, they are still using the roadways to get where they need to go. According to the National Safety Council, people are three times more likely to get into a fatal car accident when driving at night than they are during daylight hours. So, what causes this increased accident rate and what can people do to avoid becoming involved in a catastrophic collision?

A lack of natural light can make driving more difficult. Although the streets may be illuminated with street lights and headlights, the eyes do not operate as well under these conditions. When making a turn out into traffic, it is harder to judge the distance and speed of an oncoming vehicle when it is dark. The lack of light also affects drivers' peripheral vision. It is best to wait until no cars are coming before turning out into traffic.

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 Posted on April 26, 2019 in Car Accidents

Rear-end collisions happen every day. Drivers may not be focused on the road ahead of them, could fall asleep behind the wheel, might look away at an outside distraction or may be focused on texts. No matter what they were doing, failing to focus can easily lead to a rear-end crash.

A rear-end collision is not impossible to avoid. While you can't control the actions of other drivers, you can look for signs that they're not being safe so that you can get out of the way.

1. Look for texting

The first thing you might notice when you're driving alongside someone or when they're behind you is that they're looking away from the road. Check your rearview mirror. If the other driver isn't looking up, they're not going to see what you're doing.

To avoid a crash, slow down over a longer period of time than normal. If they aren't looking up, move to another lane or to the shoulder before making a turn, because it's better to be safe than to have them hit you without ever looking up.

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 Posted on April 23, 2019 in Pedestrian Accidents

For some reason, "walking down the street" has been identified as an innocuous scenario. For example, many in Manassas may use it when justifying certain activities, saying that you can just as easily be injured "walking down the street." This phrase affords little appreciation to just how dangerous walking down the street can be, particularly in those scenarios where you (as a pedestrian) may be forced to share the road with vehicles.

When walking, the sidewalk is typically your domain. Vehicles do not drive on it, and you (in turn) avoid walking in the road. Yet there may be times when walking along the roadway is required, such as when no sidewalks are available or those that are may be inaccessible (either due to damage or construction work). The question then becomes how can you safely walk on the road while not interfering with traffic.

According to Section 46.2-928 of the Code of Virginia, if you are forced to walk on the main traveled portion of the highway, you are to remain entirely within the shoulder of the road where the shoulder has sufficient enough space to permit. If there is no shoulder, then you must remain to the extreme left (up to the edge) of the roadway so as to allow vehicles to pass unencumbered.

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 Posted on April 10, 2019 in Commercial Vehicle Accidents

As a Virginia motorist, you may be used to sharing the road with tractor trailers on a daily basis. These massive vehicles can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and may have as many as three trailers filled with cargo. It is not surprising that an accident with one of these trucks can be catastrophic. From distracted drunk and drowsy truck drivers to reckless motorists who do not know how to drive safely around trucks, commercial truck accidents are not uncommon. It may help you to be familiar with the common causes of large truck accidents so that you may minimize your chances of becoming a victim of a truck accident.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has regulations in place involving commercial truck maintenance. Truck drivers, as well as commercial truck carriers, are responsible for ensuring their tractor trailers are property maintained. Wear and tear occurs on the trucks as they traverse long distances. An accident can occur from worn brake pads, bad lights or failure in one of the truck's key systems. If a tire blows on the freeway, it can spell disaster for the truckers as well as other motorists on the road.

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 Posted on March 20, 2019 in Personal Injury

Some traumatic brain injuries (TBI) have lasting effects on accident victims. Along with physical issues that result from brain trauma, a person may also experience emotional and cognitive impairments. This makes for a difficult recovery, especially when injuries are severe. The Mayo Clinic explains the effects of TBI and the different treatment options that are currently available.

While monitoring is recommended for mild injuries, most people don't require extensive medical care. However, emergency medical care is required for moderate to severe injuries. Along with treating the primary brain injury, medical care will also be needed to address secondary effects. This can include problems getting oxygen to the brain, bleeding, and swelling within the skull. Cranial swelling puts pressure on the brain, which can result in lasting effects.

Once a patient has been treated for urgent medical matters, he or she also must undergo rehabilitation to restore function. In some cases, damage to the brain can be so severe that function will never be fully recovered. Therapy is still helpful in this case, as it can provide partial recovery or teach new methods of performing common tasks.

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 Posted on March 13, 2019 in Car Accidents

Imagine driving across Manassas from your house to your office. Traffic is light and you are running ahead of schedule, which means there is no need to rush. Unfortunately, not everyone is off to such a good start.

As you enter an intersection on a green light, another car suddenly hits you on the passenger side of your vehicle. Now, not only are you going to miss work, but your car has sustained substantial damages and you're beginning to experience pain in various places.

After the police come and things settle down, it will be time to deal with the insurance companies. You will have to file a claim with your own insurance company and with the at-fault driver's. The other driver's insurer is going to do everything it can to find a legitimate reason to deny your claim. This is why the first few moments after a car wreck are crucial. Here are a few things you should do immediately after a motor vehicle collision.

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 Posted on March 06, 2019 in Commercial Vehicle Accidents

When you work for a commercial motor carrier in Northern Virginia, you know that the pressure of pleasing your customers is ever-present. This is especially true when you transport passengers. While you want to ensure that you get passengers to their destination on time, every time, their safety must come first. Many come to us here at Locklin & Coleman, PLLC wondering at what point safety concerns override the desire to get customers to their destination on time. Some might say that is a judgment call, yet federal law refutes that.

Section 392.14 of the Code of Federal Regulations mandates that extreme caution should be used when operating commercial vehicles in hazardous conditions that can impede either traction or visibility. Specific hazards cited by the Federal Regulations include:

• Snow
• Rain
• Sleet
• Fog or mist
• Dust
• Smoke

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 Posted on February 20, 2019 in Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

As a Virginia motorist, it is important that you drive cautiously and remain on the lookout for aggressive drivers. At any given time of the day, you may come into contact with motorists who have road rage, as they are rushing to get to an appointment or have just had a bad day. In fact, aggressive driving is involved in at least 56 percent of fatal accidents in the United States, according to AAA. Furthermore, at least 80 percent of American motorists admit to driving in an aggressive manner. It is critical that you are able to recognize these aggressive driving behaviors so that you may avoid becoming involved in a catastrophic accident.

Virginia law enforcement officers report that congested driving patterns can contribute to road rage. These behaviors include the following:

• Yelling at other drivers
• Horn honking or using profane hand gestures

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 Posted on February 12, 2019 in Firm News

As we start 2019, the staff and attorneys of Locklin & Coleman, PLLC would like to take this time to congratulate our senior partner, Kevin L. Locklin, for being recognized in 2018:

1. Best Lawyers in America - Personal Injury
2. SuperLawyers - Virginia - Personal Injury
3. 10 Best Attorneys - High Verdict and Settlement Winner - Virginia - American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys
4. Top 100 Lawyers in America - Lifetime Achievement Award - Personal Injury
5. Northern Virginia Magazine Top Lawyers - Personal Injury
6. 2018 Attorney of the Year in Manassas - Top 100 Registry Business Leaders & Professionals

Kevin has been practicing for over 35 years, helping countless people turn around some of the worst times in their lives. We are proud to see him recognized by our peers. Learn more about Kevin's work at his profile. We look forward to bringing you more excellent legal representation in the future.

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 Posted on February 06, 2019 in Truck Accidents

When truck accidents occur in Manassas, the first question that many may ask is who should be held liable: the truck driver or the truck company that employs? On the surface, it may seem that since the truck driver's actions directly contributed to a truck accident, they are the only one that can be held responsible. At the same time, an argument may be made that without the need to fulfill the obligations of their job, the trucker would never have been in a position to cause the accident in the first place.

The legal principle of respondeat superior holds employers liable for the actions of their employees. For this principle to apply, however, it must be shown that the employee was acting within the scope of their employment when the accident occurred. Whether or not that was the case in a recent accident that occurred in Chatham, Virginia was not reported. The truck driver involved was charged after his tractor-trailer left the road, struck several parked cars in a church parking lot, and finally ran into the church itself. Thankfully, only the driver was injured in the collision (and his injuries were reported to be minor). Yet major damage was done to the church. The company whose truck was involved in the accident has reportedly reached out to the church offering its assistance.

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