DC DUI Laws Apply to Cyclists

DUI Laws and Cycling; DC DUI Laws and Biking; DC DUI Laws Apply to Cyclists; DUI and Cycling; Drinking and Cycling in DC

Alexandria Police Chief Regrets DUI Big Time

It's no surprise that former Alexandria Police Chief David P. Baker regrets his recent DUI conviction in Arlington County big time.  He lost his job as Chief of Police in Alexandria, trashed and tarnished his distinguished career in law enforcement, lost his license for a year (mandatory in Virginia for a DUI first offense), and spent a humiliating 5 days in jail.  And if that weren't enough, now he can't even get a life insurance policy.  In speaking out forcefully to prevent others from making the same mistake, however, he should be given credit for taking responsibility for his actions.  His YouTube Video says it all, and is worth watching.

DC Bicyclist Killed in Collision With Military Vehicle

DC Bicyclist Killed; AAAS Jouranlist Killed In DC Bicycle Accident; Military Vehicle At DC Nuclear Summit Kills Bicyclist

DC Regional Traffic Planning Should Promote More Bike and Rail Use!

DC Bike; DC bike commute; DC Traffic Problems; DC Regional Transportation

DC Contra Flow Bike Lane Is A Great Idea

DC contra flow bike lane; DC bike lanes; safe biking in DC; safe bike commuting;DC biking

Parked cars blocking your DC bike lane? Report them here!

Cars blocking DC bike lanes; DC bike lane violators; DC Bike lanes; illegal parking in DC

Fixie bikes are cool in Washington DC

There's no denying it.  Fixie bikes are cool!  They look cool and they ride cool.  Aesthetically pure and beautiful to anyone who appreciates the true essence of bicycle design, it's no wonder they are the rage of the modern urban hipster.  Just ask the Washington Post.  Without brakes though, they're also way dangerous to ride.  But hey, whoever said hip comes without a price?  Here's my two cents: if you're new to cycling, or just can't resist the temptation to go "fixie," do yourself a favor and get one with brakes.  Your body (and your knees) will thank me for it! 

DC Metro Buses Colliding With Cyclists

We had another DC Metrobus / bicycle collision yesterday, and as usual Metro blames it on the cyclist.  Metro's Taryn McNeil said her "preliminary investigation" was that the cyclist "ran into the bus."  The DC Fire / EMS spokesman, however, said the injured cyclist was adjusting her bike on a bike rack when the bus somehow ran over the bike.  Huh?  Which is it Metro?  Check out the photo and story here and see what you think happened.  He also said the cyclist was transported to an area hospital with neck and back pain - injuries not considered "serious."  (Right.  Tell that to anyone who's experienced neck and back pain from a traumatic accident!)  In my opinion, this is the latest in a disturbng trend of DC Metro bus accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists, and it's time WMATA started taking these incidents more seriously before another cyclist is hurt or killed.

Cyclists In Bike Race Crash From Tacks Thrown Onto Course

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DC Metrobus Kills Woman Pedestrian

Another tragic accident happened in DC this week when a Metrobus struck and killed Stephanie Richardson, 47, as she was crossing the street after having just departed another Metrobus that was stopped.  This is just the latest in a sequence of tragic accidents involving DC Metrobuses with pedestrians and cyclists.  She was the first person killed by a Metrobus since September 2008 but this was the second high profile acident in less than a month.    Metro has recorded a deadly four months, with nine killed and 80 injured in a June 22 rail crash; a worker killed working a gravel spreading machine; a worker electrocuted at a bus garage, and another Metro employee killed by a train.  While I applaud the continuing investigations into these tragic accidents, I think it is pretty obvious by now that a top-to-bottom safety procedures review is warranted for both train and bus operators. 

Arlilngton Workers Electrocuted on Glebe Road

Arlington Workers; workers electrocuted; Arlington County liability; Arlington workers killed

Tractor-Trailer Driver Denies Computer Use Caused Accident

A Virginia trucking Company, Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc., has been sued alleging that one of its tractor-trailer drivers rear-ended a car in South Dakota causing serious injuries.  The allegation is that the driver was distracted by using an onboard company computer at the time.  The company says he wasn't "using" it, just "glancing" at it.  Right.  Excuse me, but if he was looking at it at all instead of keepng his eyes on the road, he certainly was using it.  As an ex-long haul trucker myself, I know how dangerous these rigs can be, and how long their stoppng distances are, especially when loaded.  There is no excuse for using cell phones, on-board computers, or anything else that distracts a commercial driver even 1% from his attention to the road.  Big rigs are dangerous enough as it is, and should be securely parked before any such commnications devices are used.  Period.  My two cents.

The 5 Myths About Medical Negligence

This recently issued report by the American Association for Justice sets forth in well-supported detail why medical malpractcie lawsuits are NOT a significant factor when it comes to driving up the cost of health care.   To the contrary, the problem is the disturbing increase in the number of cases in which medical negligence results in grievous injuries to patients.  As detailed in this AAJ report, the number of lawsuits are declining, and the amounts being paid out in compensation are also declining.  But instances of medical negligence are increasing.  If the insurance companies are serious about being on "our side" when it comes to reducing healthcare costs, they should focus their multi-million dollar lobbying campaigns on improving treatment safety protocols, rather than trying to deny innocent victims their right to compensation in cases where serious medical negligence has been proven to the satisfaction of a jury.

Tort Reform Is A Scam

I don't practice medical malpractice law, but I have something in common with most lawyers who do.  I know that so-called "tort reform" is a scam, and that most tort reform advocate groups are nothing more than highly paid fronts for the insurance industry.  Their sole motive is to increase insurance company profits at the expense of people suffering grievous injuries as the result of negligent medical treatment (or in the case of auto accident cases, negligent driving).  If you'd like to read a thoughtful article on why tort reform (i.e limiting medical malpractice cases) will do nothing to reduce health care costs, check out the attached opinion piece from the Wall Street Journal written by Rahul K. Parijh, MD, a treating physician who knows what he's talking about.  Any rebuttal comments or thoughts are welcome and will be posted.

Rolling Thunder 2010

Rolling Thunder; Rolling Thunder 2010; POW/MIA; The Bike Lawyer; Virginia Motorcycle Lawyer; Virginia Motorcycle Attorney; Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Rolling Thunder; Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Lawyer

DC Crackdown on Motorcyclists Outrageous

DC Crackdown On Motorcyclists; Motorcyclists Are Second Class Citizens in DC; UNwarranted CRackdown on DC Motorcyclists

Older Motorcyclists At Risk

Older motorcyclists hurt worse; older motorcyclists get hurt more often; older motorcyclists at risk; older riders ger hurt worse; older riders get hurt more often; satistics show older riders more vulnerable; statustics show older motorcyclists at greater risk

New website features motorcycle safety resources

Motorcycle safety; The Bike Lawyer; Virginia motocycle lawyer; motorcycle legal resources; Bruce Deming motorcycle lawyer; Virginia motorcycle lawyer

Motorcycle Accident Expert Prof. Harry Hurt, Reknowned Author of the "Hurt Report," Dies at 81

Harry Hurt; Professor Hurt; The Hurt Report; motorcycle crash causation; Harry Hurt Dies

Mandatory Helmet Laws Save Lives

Just mentioning "helmet laws" drives some bikers crazy.  They resent government intrusion on what they feel is a personal safety decision, and I respect their views.  As it happens, however, most of my clients who have been injured in motorcycle accidents were wearing helmets, and were thankful they did.  Regardless of where you come down on the issue, there is a large mass of data to support the contention that wearing helmets DOES save lives.  For a good summary of the latest long- term study conducted by the University of Miami which confirms the fact, check it out here. 

Slip and fall victims of snow and ice in DC are out of luck!

Slip and fall victims in DC; snow and ice in DC; falling on sidewalks in DC; slipping on icy sidewalks; icy sidewalks in DC; Snowmageddon in DC; falling on sidewalks in DC; Business owners' obligations to clear snow and ice in DC