Posted on May 15, 2015 in Personal Injury

Those who have been victimized by negligent or reckless motorists may suffer physically, emotionally and financially. After a car crash in which another was at fault, a victim may consider filing a personal injury suit against the other driver. While each case is unique, there are some common steps to a personal injury lawsuit that a Virginia attorney can expand upon.

The first step, once one's immediate medical needs are met, is usually to meet with a personal injury attorney. The lawyer will likely ask numerous questions, such as what happened, what are the nature and extent of injuries, did the victim speak with anyone else about the incident and so on. The injured party is likely to have countless questions themselves, and the initial consultation is a starting point for securing solid answers. Next is likely to be the actual filing of court documents to initiate the civil suit.

Before an actual trial takes place, what is known as the "discovery" phase of a personal injury suit commences. During this step, both sides disclose relevant information and facts to the other side so as to minimize surprises during trial. Also pre-trial, various motions or requests by attorneys for rulings on specific issues may take place. Some motions, known as dispositive motions, have the ability to end litigation before it proceeds to trial. Finally, a settlement may also take place before a trial even begins.

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 Posted on May 07, 2015 in Commercial Vehicle Accidents

Many Northern Virginia residents work for the federal government or have worked for it in the past. As a result, many local drivers are probably aware that federal regulations usually exist to improve certain things such as safety, not make them worse. Still, at times controversy and questions may arise over the impact of federal rules for specific industries.

The trucking industry is one area in which federal regulations have long had an impact. It is not difficult to imagine how a commercial vehicle accident can be avoided through proper regulations. In 2013, key changes were made to the commercial trucking industry that affected when truck drivers are on the road. Now, drivers carrying property cannot continue driving after 60/70 hours on duty within 7/8 days in a row. Only after taking off at least 34 consecutive hours may a truck driver "restart" a 7/8 day period. Another provision, which has since been suspended, mandated that drivers' rest periods include at least two periods from 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.

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 Posted on May 01, 2015 in Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Roadway safety in Northern Virginia is the responsibility of everyone who uses the roads. However, not all drivers make the same commitment to safety, and as a result minor, serious and even fatal car accidents are a common occurrence on local roads. While no one can guarantee they will never be hit by a negligent driver, use of basic restraints may lessen the chances that certain injuries will turn fatal.

Sometimes, the simplest of precautions can turn out to be the most effective. While most Manassas drivers and passengers likely put on their seat belt automatically, not every vehicle occupant will do so. Proper seat belt use is not only obeying the law in Virginia, but also a potential safeguard against the fatal injuries one could suffer when their car is hit by a negligent driver. In 2012, over 50 percent of car occupants killed in fatal motor vehicle accidents were not wearing their seat belt at the time. Air bags may also help prevent fatal injury, but only when used in conjunction with seat belts.

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 Posted on April 22, 2015 in Drunk Driving Accidents

Last week, the differences between the civil court system and the criminal court system were discussed. The civil courts can give the victim of a drunk driving accident the ability to hold a drunk driver accountable in the event of an injury-causing or fatal accident. However, navigating the civil system and pursuing a successful lawsuit against a negligent driver can be highly complicated. A Virginia drunk driver victim attorney can shoulder the burden of navigating the court system for a victim or family hurt by an accident.

In the days and weeks after an alcohol-related accident, victims and their families often don't know what to do. The attorneys at Locklin & Coleman, PLLC understand the financial burden of recovering from a wreck. They work aggressively to pursue recovery of a fair amount of damages to which a victim is entitled.

These damages may include current and future medical expenses, lost wages due to inability to work, pain and suffering and loss of life enjoyment. In fatal accident cases, the victim's family may be in dire financial need after the loss of an income-earner. A wrongful death case can be pursued when a drunk driver claims the life of another. When a driver's BAC level was 0.15 or higher at the time of an accident, victims may also pursue punitive damages from the drunk driver.

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 Posted on April 16, 2015 in Drunk Driving Accidents

Imagine you have just been hit by a drunk driver. As a Virginian, what do you do?

In most cases, seeking immediate medical attention and cooperating with police are a drunk driving accident victim's first priorities. However, after one's emergency medical needs have been met, there can be confusion regarding how to hold a drunk driver accountable.

Both the criminal and the civil court system can hold a drunk driver accountable for their actions. There are significant differences between the two systems, though, and an accident victim can learn more from a Manassas personal injury attorney.

In the criminal system, the accident victim, or his or her family, typically hopes for justice. A negligent, law-breaking driver may be punished via jail time, fines, a driver's license suspension or a license revocation. That individual will also have a criminal record, if convicted of a crime.

In the civil court system, a broad variety of conflicts are heard, from class-action product liability lawsuits to divorce cases. Personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits are also heard in civil court, which is why drunk driving accidents may appear in either type of court.

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 Posted on April 09, 2015 in Truck Accidents

Being involved in a Virginia car accident is a traumatic experience, but becoming a victim of a tractor trailer accident can prove extremely harrowing. Many Manassas residents have likely experienced driving down a highway or interstate and seeing a tire on a semi-truck blow-out. A tire-related tractor trailer accident can have serious repercussions for both the driver inside the truck, as well as for other vehicles on the road. Unfortunately, a new report indicates that accidents related to semi-truck tire blowouts are increasing.

According to federal investigators, higher speed limits on many interstates are to blame for a disturbing number of truck accidents. From 2009 to 2013, there were 14,000 deadly wrecks caused by buses and large trucks. Government data show that over 220 of the fatalities involved the heavy tires on such trucks. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigation revealed that tire maintenance and high speed limits were behind several blowouts of Michelin tires.

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 Posted on April 01, 2015 in Car Accidents

A car crash in the Manassas area can take many forms: one vehicle may rear end another, there might be a dangerous "t-bone" impact, cars may slide on ice and hit each other or a wrong-way driver may plow head-on into another car. Regardless of the type of auto accident, it is extremely important to determine who was at fault. The finding of fault has crucial implications for liability, insurance, payment of medical expenses and the criminal and civil legal aspects of a crash.

How is fault determined after an auto crash? First, it is important to know that fault is not always obvious — and even when it seems to be, insurance companies and lawsuits require evidence. In certain types of collisions, such as rear end accident or a left-turn accident, fault may be relatively straightforward to discern. However, variables such as weather conditions, the state of the vehicles involved in the crash, road conditions, signage near the area of impact and the behavior of the driver who was hit may make finding fault in these types of accidents more complicated.

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 Posted on March 26, 2015 in Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Following any type of car accident in which there has been loss of life, families of the victim often require multiple types of support. There is a tremendous need for emotional support, and often the need for financial support as well. After an unexpected death in the family, relatives must generally cope with medical expenses and funeral costs in addition to potential loss of income. Families in Manassas and surrounding areas may also have another need during times of shocking loss - the need for legal support.

At Locklin & Coleman, PLLC, families can find a crucial source of legal support when it seems as if the uncertainty is overwhelming. Our experienced legal team has helped families obtain millions of dollars in settlements following fatal motor vehicle accidents. Just as importantly, the Virginia wrongful death attorneys at our firm help families through the legal process step-by-step. From a no-cost initial consultation through verdict and settlement, the lawyers are assertive advocates for the rights of victims' families.

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 Posted on March 19, 2015 in Commercial Vehicle Accidents

When most Manassas residents think of commercial vehicles, they probably think of professional drivers behind the wheels of big rigs and 18-wheelers. However, commercial vehicles can take many different forms, from large semis to box trucks. In addition, sometimes, non-commercial drivers will find themselves behind the wheel of a larger truck to which they are unaccustomed, especially if they are renting a box truck for the first time.

Many drivers are understandably a bit nervous behind the wheel of an unfamiliar vehicle, especially a large truck. In order to avoid negligence on the roads and resulting accidents, drivers can follow safety tips for novice truck drivers. Likewise, those sharing the roads with commercial vehicles can also benefit from these safety precautions in order to avoid an accident with a truck.

One of the biggest safety issues for truck drivers is visibility. Truck drivers will generally want to take the time to properly adjust all mirrors so that they can see as much as possible at all times. Unlike smaller cars, trucks feature much larger "blind spots" so extreme caution when changing lanes is also a necessity. Those driving a truck for the first time may find it more comfortable to stay in the right lane as much as is reasonable, especially since it can take a while to get heavily-loaded trucks up to speed on a highway.

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 Posted on March 12, 2015 in Drunk Driving Accidents

Most drivers in Manassas are aware of the possibility of a car accident, but few think a serious or fatal accident will ever happen to them. For all motorists, passengers and pedestrians, though, the presence of intoxicated drivers is a threat that can impact them directly at any time. One Virginia family was recently left reeling after a drunk driving accident that claimed the life of two sisters from Goochland.

The accident took place earlier this month on a Sunday, on Interstate 64 a little after 8:00 p.m. Two sisters and the 16-year-old son of one of the women were heading home from a baby shower when an apparently drunk driver struck their vehicle from behind. Their car lurched off the road and struck a tree. The drunk driver's car proceeded to collide with a third car as well as a guardrail. Fortunately, the driver in the third vehicle did not suffer serious injuries, but the same could not be said for the occupants of the car that was forced off the roadway. Both sisters were killed in the accident, while the 16-year-old's collarbone was broken.

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