Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Car Accidents in Snow

Since we had snow in Roanoke last week and are expecting snow in Fairfax and Roanoke this week, it seems like a good time to talk about accidents on slippery roadways. Legally, these accidents can be more complicated than regular car accidents. For example, normally a rear end car accident is considered to be the fault of the driver who does the "rearending." In snow or ice fault can be harder to place.

If a driver is keeping a good following distance and driving the same speed as the drivers around him, it is harder to convince a jury that the driver is negligent if he slides on a slippery road. In icy conditions, it can also be easier to prove that the driver in front was negligent. If an argument can be made that the front driver over-reacted and braked too hard or without good reason, it might be considered the front driver is at fault. There are many legal doctrines at play that can make a slippery road accident tricky. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help analze these issues for you

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Dog Bite Injuries

Serious injuries can occur from a dog bite. The first thing to do after a dog bite is contact animal control. That is the only way to make sure the dog has its shots up to date. It is also important to go to the doctor so the doctor can determine if the injured person needs to get a tetanus shot or the rabies vaccine.

If a dog has shown dangerous characteristics in the past, the owner can be responsible for allowing the dog the opportunity to bite or injure someone. Virginia has a statute that addresses dangerous dogs and the responsibilities owners have towards the public regarding those animals.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Snow and Ice

Winter is here. Not every fall on snow or ice can result in a legal claim. Claims for slip and fall injuries and premises liability are filled with complicated legal issues. For example, a business does not have to remove snow or ice until a reasonable time has passed after the precipitation has stopped. Also, in any Virginia case, the injured party has to be able to show that there was no act or omission on his/her part that contributed to the fall. So always take extra precautions such as watching where you step and choosing the safest possible route.