Roanoke Personal Injury Law Blog

Virginia roads and highways are often traveled by commercial drivers who, in their rigs and massive trucks, carry the goods that residents want and need. Trucks and their drivers are integral parts of the cycle of commerce in the United States, and through trucking many businesses are able to deliver their products to stores, customers, and wholesalers. Although trucking is an important means of transport for retail and commercial items, it can be a dangerous practice when truck drivers fail to meet their duties of care.

One unfortunate way that truck drivers may fail to act reasonably and to keep themselves and others safe is by allowing distractions to affect their operating capacities. Driving distractions come in many different forms, though in the current technological climate handheld devices are a major cause of driver inattention. Sending and receiving text messages, dialing phone numbers, web surfing, and other internet-based activities are all hazardous activities to do when behind the wheel of a vehicle.

We are a society of consumers. We purchase goods to help ease problems or provide entertainment. No matter the purpose of a good, a consumer in Virginia and elsewhere believes that the product will work properly or as promised. Those that fail to do so could be defective. In some cases, this could simply mean that the product does not work at all. However, in other situations, this defect could cause the product to be dangerous, causing harm to a consumer.

What is product liability? In simple terms, this is placing responsibility on a party or parties for a defective or dangerous product. The party or parties are held accountable for placing a defective product into the hands of the consumer, causing him or her harm. As a result, the injured consumer is able to collect damages from the responsible party or parties.

It is very common for motorist and passengers in Virginia and elsewhere to take steps to guard against a car accident. While motorist can drive safe and occupants can properly use safety restraints, this does not mean they are not immune from car accidents or injuries resulting from a collision. Even a careful and safe driver could suffer serious accident injuries if struck by another vehicle, causing the driver or passengers to suffer pain and damages.

A seatbelt is designed to prevent and reduce the severity of injuries in the event of a car accident. However, an occupant in a vehicle involved in a crash could suffer seat belt injuries. Although seatbelts do save lives, saving around 13,000 lives in 2014, it can also contribute to the injuries suffered in a car accident.

There are few injuries as severe as a head injury. Even when a victim of an accident does not suffer a severe head trauma, an injury to the brain could have a lasting impact. It could take much time to overcome the effects a traumatic brain injury can have on a Virginia accident victim.

Based on current research, there are many obstacles TBI victims must overcome. One of these is obesity. Researchers found that individuals who have suffered a brain injury are at a much greater risk of becoming obese years after the initial injury. The risk of obesity was linked to the patient's medications, the changes in their thinking, behavioral changes, physical limitations and lack of transportation.