News/Updates

Most of us have been involved in a minor fender bender at some point in our lives. We pull over, exchange information with the other party and go about our business. No police, no injury and minimal property damage, if any. Unfortunately, in some of these minor crashes there are soft tissue injuries such as sprains, strains and contusions for which medical treatment is required. In other cases injuries can be catastrophic such as multiple bone fractures, head trauma and spinal cord injuries. But what about the psychological impact of a car crash? You might expect to have some anxiety or fear of driving or being a passenger for a few weeks following the crash. But what if the anxiety doesn’t go away? What if you experience other symptoms such as depression, mood swings, insomnia, flashbacks and nightmares? You could be suffering from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Being involved in a car crash can be very stressful. Not only are you coping with physical and emotional pain, but you must also deal with medical bills. If you go to the emergency room after the crash, you will likely receive several bills for that one emergency room visit. You will get a bill from the hospital, but also from the ER physician, the laboratory department, and the radiology department, to name a few. If you are admitted and consult with any type of specialty doctor, such as a neurologist or orthopedic doctor, or if surgery is required, you will receive additional bills for the cost of those services. In addition, you will probably follow up with your primary care doctor who may refer you to a specialty doctor or even physical therapy, depending on your injuries. Even with health insurance, your bills for co-pays and deductibles can add up fast.

Driving on icy roads can be scary and extremely dangerous. You may think that you have your vehicle under control but if you hit ice you can lose control in an instant and cause an accident, injuring yourself and others. If possible, you should avoid driving in extreme weather conditions. If you have to drive there are precautions you can take to reduce the risk of getting into an accident.

Not everyone injured in a car crash needs to hire a lawyer. Not every case requires you to have a lawyer. If you do a little bit of research, you might decide that you can handle your case on your own. 

The State of Virginia recently threatened the maker of its transportation system’s guardrails that it would ban and remove the existing product due to concerns over safety if additional testing did not occur.

Safe driving campaigns have been in action for years – “Drive Sober or Get Pulled over,” and “Click It or Tick It” are a few of the catchy marketing names used to draw attention to the importance of safe driving. Now a new program, known as “U Drive, U Text, U Pay,” uses common texting shorthand to promote the hazards of texting while driving.

http://www.nhtsa.gov/Research/Crash+Avoidance

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811875.pdf

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811856.pdf

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811851.pdf

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811870.pdf

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812006.pdf

§ 8.01-419.1. Motor vehicle value.

The first step to getting the most from your auto insurance is to choose your insurance company wisely. Barbara S. Williams offers tips and hints for choosing the right company, and what common “gotchas” to look out for in insurance contracts. Be sure to educate yourself before signing on the dotted line, and show the insurance companies that you mean business.

Big insurance companies are no longer sending qualified claims adjusters to view the victims of a crash. Instead they use inaccurate database software to automate claims.

Are you wondering what steps can be taken by drivers, automobile manufacturers, and the Federal government to improve driving safety? Barbara S. Williams P.C., an experienced personal injury attorney for Loudoun, Fairfax, and Northern Virginia, provides a summary of some recent recommendations for automotive safety. Please contact Barbara S. Williams today if you or someone you love has been injured in a serious automobile accident.

Virginia man awarded $14 million against Hyundai after suffering a Traumatic Brain Injury in a crash due to his side air bags failing to deploy.

The National Transportation Safety Board voted unanimously on May 14, 2013 to issue bold recommendations to help the US eliminate alcohol-impaired driving. "Courtesy: National Transportation Safety Board"

This article from foxnews.com describes the reasons why the number of traffic fatalities have decreased.

A Belgian man involved in a near fatal car crash in 1983 was presumed to be in a vegetative state for 23 years. However, a neurologist discovered his brain was still functioning and he was conscious the entire time.