Roanoke Personal Injury Law Blog

When motorists in Virginia get behind the wheel of a vehicle, they are tasked with operating the vehicle safely. Unfortunately, there are various obstacles that can get in the way of a driver operating a motor vehicle safely. Distractions, recklessness and intoxication could cause a driver to unsafely operate a vehicle, even causing the automobile to drift from their lane. Whether it is because a driving is texting, speeding or under the influence of alcohol, traveling into the wrong way of traffic could result in a serious or even fatal head-on collision.

Emergency crews were dispatched to a head-on collision in Bedford County recently. According to preliminary investigation, the crash occurred at the intersection of Forest Road and Settlers Way at around 8:00 p.m. Heavy damage was reported to both vehicles, and Virginia authorities dispatched that there was an entrapment. Additional emergency vehicles arrived at the accident site and quickly extricated the driver from the vehicle.

Most individuals in Virginia understand that the brain is a vital organ. A brain not only provides cognitive thought but is also the source of memories and what makes a person himself or herself. Thus, when the brain is injured, this can disrupt a person's life significantly. This is often apparent immediately; however, some brain injuries cause an accident victim to suffer years or even decades after the incident.

Based on current studies, a traumatic brain injury increases a person's risk of dementia. This risk remains fro more than 30 years after the trauma occurred. One should note, however, that researchers found that the risk of dementia does decrease over time as well. Although dementia has been linked with TBIs, the risks associated with a TBI over time have not been well studied.

When night rolls around, many of us in Virginia plan to turn in for the night and get some sleep. This is not the case for everyone though, as some individuals work during the nighttime hours. Some even drive during the late hours of the night for work. In some industries, such as the trucking industry, it is necessary to travel at night to get shipments delivered on time. The concern with this, like any driver traveling late at night or on little sleep, is that a truck driver will get drowsy behind the wheel or even fall asleep.

According to current studies, everyone needs roughly seven or more hours of sleep per night. Nonetheless, research found that more than one-third of people do not get enough sleep. When an individual does not get enough sleep, not only does this pose health risks, but it also increases a person's chance of getting in a car or truck crash when they get behind the wheel of a vehicle.

Vehicles of various sizes and weights share the roadways in Virginia and elsewhere. Each of these vehicles, whether they are personal vehicles or work vehicles, are attempting to get to their final destinations. When traffic becomes heavy, this can add minutes to a driver's commute. When drivers are not paying attention, do not signal a turn or lane change or are driving too fast or too close to other vehicles, this poses many risks on the roadways. This could result in an automobile collision, possibly involving multiple vehicles.

According to recent reports, a multi-vehicle crash occurred in Montgomery County. Based on preliminary investigation, the accident occurred on Interstate 81 and involved three cars and a tractor-trailer. This large crash caused lane closures, as the vehicles and debris covered many lanes. Roughly 4.5 miles of backup traffic resulted.