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Northern Virginia Auto Accident
- Most Fatal Accidents Are Single Car Accidents
- Mandatory Penalties For Texting While Driving
- Commercial Drivers Texting On Mobile Phones Are A Menace And Cause Accidents
- Throwing Out DC Car Safety Inspections Is Insane!
- The 10 Worst Insurance Companies
Northern Virginia Motorcycle Accidents
- Virginia Motorcyclist Killed In Head On Collision
- Virginia Beach Motorcyclist Killed By Drunk Driver
- Virginia Motorcyclist Blown Off Bridge
- Virginia Motorcyclist Struck and Killed By SUV In Leesburg
- Six Virginia Motorcyclists Killed In Past 11 Days
Northern Virginia Bicycle Accidents
Maryland Motorcycle Accidents
Distracted Driving
DC Metro
- More DC Metro Workers Killed In Preventable Accident
- Metro Drags Its Feet on Needed Safety Improvements
- Two Pedestrians Killed in DC in 24 Hours
- DC Metro Fires Chief Safety Officer, So What?
- DC Metro Train Accident Injures Three and Wrecks Three Passenger Cars
DUI
DC Bicycle Accidents
- DC Bicyclist Killed in Collision With Military Vehicle
- DC Regional Traffic Planning Should Promote More Bike and Rail Use!
- Parked cars blocking your DC bike lane? Report them here!
- DC Contra Flow Bike Lane Is A Great Idea
- Fixie bikes are cool in Washington DC
Maryland Bicycle Accidents
DC Metrobus Accidents
Northern Virginia Accidents
Tractor-Trailer Accidents
Tort Reform
Motorcycle Safety Issues
- Rolling Thunder 2010
- DC Crackdown on Motorcyclists Outrageous
- Older Motorcyclists At Risk
- New website features motorcycle safety resources
- Motorcycle Accident Expert Prof. Harry Hurt, Reknowned Author of the "Hurt Report," Dies at 81
Slip and Fall
News
- Driver Charged With Manslaughter in Cyclist's Death...
Posted on 12/15/2009 - Virginia Motorcyclist Killed In Deer Collision...
Posted on 11/30/2009 - Senator's Wife Arrested For DUI...
Posted on 11/20/2009 - Motorcycle Deaths Jump 87 Percent in Virginia...
Posted on 11/10/2009 - Doctor using his car as a weapon...
Posted on 11/5/2009
Library
Northern Virginia Motorcycle Accidents
- How To Hire An Attorney For A Motorcycle Accident Case
- Avoiding The Wrong Lawyer For Your Motorcycle Case
- What You Have To Prove In A Motorcycle Accident Claim
- Why Motorcyclists Are Second Class Citizens
General
Victims of serious car, truck, motorcycle or bicycle accidents can read attorney Bruce Deming's legal blog to keep up to date on pertinent local and national accident and injury issues important to Northern Virginia residents.
The American Association for Justice issued a scathing report of what it believes to be the "10 Worst Insurance Companies" last year, and if you're a non-lawyer insurance consumer, the results may surprise you. Think your in "good hands" with Allstate? Not according to this report! Based on court records and consumer complaints to insurance regulators, the AAJ lays out in shocking detail some of the hardball tactics that many insurers employ to "delay, deny and defend" against claims filed by their policy holders and those injured in accidents. Not surprisingly, the report concludes that despite being heavily fined and sanctioned by regulators, many insurers continue to employ these unethical practices for the simple reason that it works. Profits are up. Way up! For those of us that pracice in the personal injury space, these results are hardly surprising. But for the rest of you out there, I strongly encourage you to read the AAJ's report. While I do not agree with some of the more sweeping conclusions presented, I do believe that serious regulatory reform is warranted for the industry as a whole. Read it here and draw your own conclusions.
Northern Virginia Auto Accident
Most Fatal Accidents Are Single Car Accidents
With all the scary stories in the news about head on collisions are drunk drivers, most folks who consider themselves responsible drivers worry about the "other guy" that could involve them in a terrible accident on the highway. But the reality of the situation paints a different picture. New data out from the NHTSA shows that 60% of the 1449 people killed in accidents in Virginia, Maryland and DC between 2004 and 2008 died fron single car accidents. They accounted for 64% of Virginia's traffic deaths, 62% of the District's, and 53 of Maryland's. Are these all so-called "freak accidents" that "just happen"? Of course not. While alcohol is always a statistical factor, there is more evidence all the time that distracted driving resultng from cell phone use and texting are also causative factors. Additional common demoninators include speeding, and having a track record of prior traffic convictions and crashes.Mandatory Penalties For Texting While Driving
The Federal Dept. of Transportation convened a huge conference in Washington, DC this week to talk about the dangers of texting while driving. This subject has been getting a lot of press lately, and it should. The figues are sobering: 2,600 deaths, 342,000 injuries and a financial toll of $42 billion annually resulting from text / cell phone-use accidents. In fact, reserach shows that texting is as dangerous as drunk driving when it comes to increased risk for the driver and others on the road. My question is, why aren't our elected officals taking this seriously? Most of the laws on the books so far, including Virginia's, are a joke. Slap on the hand fines? That won't get the job done. What will get the job done is mandatory jail time. Think about it. If we have mandatory jail for DUI, and texting is just as dangerous, why not? Will anything less change drivers' behavior? I don't think so. History has proven that catchy slogans and ad campaigns simply don't work. Mandatory penalties (like a weekend in jail) do. Check out today's Washington Post Article and tell me if you agree.Commercial Drivers Texting On Mobile Phones Are A Menace And Cause Accidents
A highway safety group has petitioned the U.S. Dept. of Transportation to prohibit texting and cell phone use by commmercial drivers nationwide. This comes in the wake of some horrific tractor trailer and commercial bus accidents resulting from cell phone use by professional drivers. I say "it's about time." As in "mandatory jail time" for any commercial driver that gets caught. Think that's too heavy handed? Check out the video on this link of a bus driver texting just before he crashes into a car. It might change your mind.Throwing Out DC Car Safety Inspections Is Insane!
The DC Government's decision this week to do away with mandatory car safety inspections is crazy. Some of my friends in the District are saying "cool, one less government intrusion," but the fact is, having safe cars on the road saves lives and a whole lot of health care costs. Couple that with the fact that 35% of the cars tested annually in the District failed to pass, and what does that tell you? Mayor Fenty claims $400,000 saved a year. That's pocket change compared to the medical and legal costs we'll all bear, not to mention the damage to people's lives. Think the impact will only be the District? No way. Maryland and Virginia will be affected too. Pure idiocy.
The 10 Worst Insurance Companies
The American Association for Justice issued a scathing report of what it believes to be the "10 Worst Insurance Companies" last year, and if you're a non-lawyer insurance consumer, the results may surprise you. Think your in "good hands" with Allstate? Not according to this report! Based on court records and consumer complaints to insurance regulators, the AAJ lays out in shocking detail some of the hardball tactics that many insurers employ to "delay, deny and defend" against claims filed by their policy holders and those injured in accidents. Not surprisingly, the report concludes that despite being heavily fined and sanctioned by regulators, many insurers continue to employ these unethical practices for the simple reason that it works. Profits are up. Way up! For those of us that pracice in the personal injury space, these results are hardly surprising. But for the rest of you out there, I strongly encourage you to read the AAJ's report. While I do not agree with some of the more sweeping conclusions presented, I do believe that serious regulatory reform is warranted for the industry as a whole. Read it here and draw your own conclusions.Northern Virginia Motorcycle Accidents
Virginia Motorcyclist Killed In Head On Collision
Jushua C. Smith; Joshua C. Smith Killed; Motorcycle Accident in Abingdon Virginia; Virginia Motorcyclist Killed in Head On; Bruce Deming Motorcycle Attorney; www.thebikelawyer.comVirginia Beach Motorcyclist Killed By Drunk Driver
Virginia Beach Motorcyclist Dies; www.thebikelawyer.com; Virginia motorcycle lawyer; Andrew Markowitz; Andrew Markowitz Killed By Drunk Driver; Virginia Beach motorcyclist killed by drunk driverVirginia Motorcyclist Blown Off Bridge
Newport News Motorcycle Death; Motorcyclist Blown Off Bridge; Motorcyclist Killed On Jamews River Bridge; James River Bridge Motorcycle Death; Virginia Motrocycle Lawyer; Bruce Deming; Garlon TurnerVirginia Firefighter Killed in Motorcycle Accident
Virginia Firefighter Killed in Motorcycle Accident; Virginia Motorcycle Lawyer; The bike Lawyer; Firefighter Motorcyclist Killed; Motorcycle Speed KillsSix Virginia Motorcyclists Killed In Past 11 Days
6 Virginia Motorcyclists Killed In 11 Days; Spike in Virginia Motorcycle Deaths; Hu1ge Spike In Virginia Motorcycle Fatalities; Virginia Motorcycle Lawyer; Warm Weather Brings Spike In Motorcycle DeathsVirginia Motorcyclist Struck and Killed By SUV In Leesburg
Motorcyclist Killed in Leesburg; Leesburg Motorcycle Death; Loudoun County Motorcyclist Killed; Loudoun County Motorcycle Death; Driver Charged in Leesburg Motorcycle Death; Bruce Deming Virginia Motorcycle Lawyer; The Bike LawyerMaryland Motorcyclist Killed Speed A Factor
Maryland Motorcyclist Killed; Fatal Maryland Motorcycle Crash; Motorcycle Lawyer Maryland; the bike lawyer; Speed Kills2007 NHTSA Motorcycle Accident Data
The new NHTSA data on motorcycle accidents in 2007 is out, and it shows several distrubing trends. First, the number of fatal accidents is up over previous years. Secondly, the number of fatal bike crashes involving alcohol-impaired riders remains alarmingly high. In Virginia, for example, out of 126 riders killed in 2007, 29% had blood alcohol content (BAC) of over.08% (the amount at which one is legally presumed to be driving while impaired). And over 39% had some alcohol in their system. In Maryland, the same numbers were comparable at 23% and 30%, respectively, and in the District of Columbia, 50% and 100%. These are bad statistics indeed, and demonstrate the need for greater awareness among motorcyclists - especially those who think they can ride and party. Stop and think: if you ride a bike, you are already at substantially greater risk of being killed, especially by negligent auto and truck drivers. Why do anything to make your chances even worse? Be safe out there! Don't drink and ride!Labels:
NTSB Statistics Show Motorcycle Deaths Up Again!
New NTSB stats released in Washington this week held good news and bad news. The goods news is that higway fatalities generally were down almost 10% between 2007 and 2008. The bad news is that motorcycle deaths are on the rise - again - continuing a trend that has steadily worsened since 1998. Some experts believe that failure to use helmets, combined with the overall increases in numbers of people riding bikes, are significant factors. Regardless, take some advice from a lawyer who has represented many victims of bad motorcycle wrecks. #1. Take a certiication course from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. (Stats show your chances of getting in an accident will be reduced if you do.) #2. Call your insurance agent and buy all the un-insured / under-insured (otherwise known as "UM / UIM") coverage you can afford. That way, if you are injured as the result of a negligent driver, you won't have to worry about whether HE has enough coverage to compensate you for your injuries. You'll already have it.
Motorcycle accident deaths on the rise in DC area
What do Chris Ford, Marc Grant and Tony Trilli have in common? All three were motorcyclists killed in the DC area in the same 36 hour period a few weeks back.
On August 24, 2009, the Washington Post published an article examining possible causes of what appears to be a significant increase in motorcycle deaths in the DC area this year.
The big question, of course, is why? According to the author, the increase may simply be due to an increase in the amount of traffic in the region generally, including more bikes on the road. A secondary, but equally important issue however, is whether the negligence of the motorcyclists or the cars is the most frequent cause of bike crashes and fatalities.
According to the famous “Hurt Report,” the most comprehensive study of motorcycle accidents ever undertaken (and sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 1981), in multiple vehicle accidents, “the driver of the other vehicle violated the motorcycle right-of-way and caused the accident in two-thirds of those accidents.” That’s right. Two out of three accidents were the car’s fault.
Without doubt, I am biased on this issue. As a lawyer who represents a lot of injured motorcyclists, I believe that motorists are to blame most of the time. But however you view the issue, in my opinion, motorists and bikers alike need to exercise even greater caution out there if we are to reverse this disturbing trend of death and mayhem. Innocent lives depend on it.
Northern Virginia Bicycle Accidents
Northern Virginia Cyclist Struck and Killed By SUV
Abdelouahid Chadli; Cyclist Killed By SUV; Innocent Cyclist Killed By Reckless Driver; The Bike Lawyer.com; Bruce Demng Bicycle Attorney; Bruce Deming The Bike Lawyer; Northwen Virginia Bicycle AttorneyCharlottesville Cyclist Killed By City Truck
Charlottesville Cyclist Killed; Virginia Cyclist Killed By City Truck; Bcyclist Killed in Charlottesville; City Vehicle Kills Cyclist in Charlottesville; Virginia Bicyclist Killed By City TruckMaryland Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclist Killed in Germantown
Joshua Charles Warden; Motorcyclist Killed in Germantown; Motorcycle Speed Kills; Josh Warden Killed; Motorcyclist Killed; Maryland Motorcyclist KilledDistracted Driving
Distracted Driving Kills Hands Free Devices Useless
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More DC Metro Workers Killed In Preventable Accident
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Metro Safety Improvements; Metro Ignores Needed Safety Improvements; Metro Safety Recommendations; Metro Train Crashes; Metrorail Crash InvestigationsTwo Pedestrians Killed in DC in 24 Hours
Two DC Pedestrians Killed; Pedestrians Hit in DC; Pedestrian SafetyDC Metro Fires Chief Safety Officer, So What?
DC Metro Chief; DC Metro safety chief; DC fires Metro deputy; DC Metro accidentsDC Metro Train Accident Injures Three and Wrecks Three Passenger Cars
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