For the second time in a week, a Virginia state trooper has rescued a motorist from a burning car on Interstate 66 in Fairfax County, this time after a four-car crash yesterday that left a driver unconscious and his minivan in flames.

Trooper K.J. Brown, 28, is credited with saving the life of James R. Campbell, 72, of Arlington County, who police said had some sort of medical problem as he drove a Dodge Caravan west on I-66 about 11:50 a.m. While Brown was seated in his cruiser, writing a traffic ticket on the left shoulder of the highway, he saw the Caravan veer out of control and strike a Dodge Charger, setting off a chain reaction of collisions, Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller said.

The Caravan careened over to the right side of the highway and into an embankment, then started burning. Brown and the motorist he had pulled over dashed to the minivan, Geller said, but the doors were jammed shut.

Brown used his retractable baton to smash out the Caravan's driver-side window and pulled Campbell out, Geller said. A Fairfax fire supervisor who came to the scene told Brown's sergeant that "if the trooper was not there, there's no way the man would have made it," Geller said.

Five injured in four-car Fairfax crash

Five people, including a state trooper, were treated for injuries following a four-vehicle crash on Interstate 66 in Centreville. The crash closed westbound lanes of I-66 near the northbound Route 28 exit for more than an hour Wednesday.

The chain reaction began when the driver of a Dodge Caravan lost control of his vehicle due to a medical condition, according to Virginia State Police. The minivan struck a Dodge Charger and both vehicles spun out of control, hitting a Mercury SUV, which rolled twice before coming to rest on its wheels, and a Buick LaSabre.

The Caravan then hit an embankment and began burning. State Police Trooper K.J. Brown witnessed the accident and went to assist the driver of the Caravan. The doors were jammed shut, so Brown broke out a window and pulled the driver out. Shortly afterward, the van was engulfed in flames, police said.

Government upgrades investigation of 2002-2003 Jeep Liberty

The government has upgraded an investigation into Chrysler LLC's Jeep Liberty following reports of drivers losing control of their sport-utility vehicles.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it has received 22 complaints of the upper ball joint separating on either of the front wheels. The problem can lead to the front wheel collapsing, which can disable the vehicle or cause the driver to lose control.

The investigation involves more than 300,000 2002 and 2003 model year Liberty 4X4 SUVs.

Max Gates, a Chrysler spokesman, said Monday the automaker was continuing its investigation. Chrysler has received 74 complaints, but no reports of any accidents or injuries tied to the problem.

Most of the drivers who filed complaints have said the joints separated at speeds of under 20 miles per hour, according to NHTSA. But the government said it received five complaints of the separations happening at speeds of 40 mph or more, including one at 75 mph.

Truck wreck ties up U.S. 29 traffic

An over-turned box truck tied up traffic along the southbound lanes of U.S. 29 in Nelson County for two hours this morning.

The accident occurred between Rockfish River Road and Laurel Hill Lane, just north of Wood’s Mill.

Virginia State Police Trooper Hunter Birckhead said wet road conditions and low traction on the truck’s back tires caused the truck to hydroplane before overturning in the right lane. No other vehicles were involved in the accident.

Arlom Gustav Marquez, 29, of Fairfax, was the driver of the truck. He was transported to UVa Medical Center with minor injuries and released, Birckhead said.

Marquez was transporting a small amount of frozen food. He will be charged with reckless driving and defective equipment, Birckhead said.

Court reinstates ruling in motorcycle accident wrongful-death suit

The widow of a Middletown man killed in a 2004 motorcycle accident is entitled to additional compensation from the city tow truck company that was held responsible for her husband’s death, the Virginia Supreme Court ruled last week.

In a decision handed down on Friday, the court reinstated a 2006 Frederick County Circuit Court ruling awarding Christa Wright $942,535 in economic losses.

Wright had already been awarded nearly $20,000 for hospital and funeral expenses from the wrongful-death suit she filed against Minnick’s Auto Repair in Frederick County Circuit Court.

Wright sued the Winchester tow truck company, claiming Minnick’s caused the death of her husband, Anthony Wright, 32.

Anthony Wright died on the day after the July 25, 2004, accident in which his motorcycle crashed on Airport Road in Frederick County.

According to the suit, Minnick’s tow truck driver Bernard W. Everhart Jr. backed into the roadway without looking for traffic, which caused Anthony Wright to crash while trying to avoid the truck.

He was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, according to the Virginia State Police.

The Supreme Court on Friday reinstated the original verdict in the wrongful-death suit, which was tried twice in Frederick County Circuit Court.

Prosecutors Want Teen Tried as Adult in DWI Crash

Prosecutors in Loudoun County want to press adult charges against a 17-year-old Fairfax County girl charged in a drunken-driving crash that killed a 59-year-old woman.

The teen is charged with aggravated involuntary manslaughter in the death of Kathleen Becker, who was killed September 20th when her vehicle and the teen's collided on a two-lane stretch of Route 15, near Leesburg.

Prosecutors are appealing a November ruling that the girl be tried as a juvenile. They told a Loudoun judge on Thursday that the girl engaged in "binge drinking" and should be tried as an adult. Her defense attorney argued that the case should remain in juvenile court because she is immature, has no criminal record and has demonstrated remorse.

If tried and convicted as an adult, she faces between one and 20 years in prison.

Tests Link Casings from Va. Highway Shootings, Suspect

Investigators say ballistics tests positively match shell casings found near the scene of six highway shootings in Virginia and casings found inside a vehicle owned by a man charged with the shootings.

The analysis was conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the results were announced Saturday by Virginia State Police.

The ATF lab also matched the casings to a Ruger .22-caliber magnum rifle that was recovered by investigators Friday on the property of Yonder Hill Farm in Crozet.

Five killed in wrecks on Virginia roads

A 39-year-old Gloucester man died early Sunday when he lost control of the vehicle he was driving and crashed, Virginia State Police said.

Beverly Wade Chandler was driving east on state Route 198, just east of Route 608 in Gloucester County when the car crossed the center line, sideswiped another vehicle, ran off the road and hit a mailbox and then some trees. Chandler, who was wearing a seat belt, died at 9:33 a.m. at the scene, state police said.

He was among five people who died on Virginia roads in the last several days, bringing the total to 143 yesterday, compared with 148 at the same time last year, state police said.

Man injured after getting trapped by toppled rail car

Officials say a man was seriously injured in Prince William County on Tuesday when a rail car toppled over, trapping him underneath.

Kim Hylander, a spokeswoman for the Prince William County fire department, says the open-top rail car carrying gravel tipped over and onto the man at about 11:30 a.m. Rescuers managed to get him out about 40 minutes later.

Hylander says man was taken by helicopter to Inova Fairfax Hospital.

Car Crash Deaths Increase Starting At Age 12

Child passengers, ages 12 to 16, are more likely to die in a car crash than younger children, according to a study just released in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. This risk increases with each teenage year.

Conducted as part of an on-going research collaboration between The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and State Farm Insurance Companies, the study offers evidence-based guidelines for parents and policymakers to help protect this vulnerable age group. Researchers examined 45,560 crashes involving 8- to 17-year-old passengers.

Between 2000 and 2005, 9,807 passengers in this age group died in crashes. "We saw a clear tipping point between ages 12 and 14, where child passengers became much more likely to die in a crash than their younger counterparts," says Flaura Koplin-Winston, M.D., Ph.D., founder and co-scientific director of the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at CHOP.

Red-light Cameras Increase Crashes

Rather than improving motorist safety, red-light cameras significantly increase crashes and are a ticket to higher auto insurance premiums, researchers at the University of South Florida College of Public Health conclude. The effective remedy to red-light running uses engineering solutions to improve intersection safety, which is particularly important to Florida’s elderly drivers, the researchers recommend.

“The rigorous studies clearly show red-light cameras don’t work,” said lead author Barbara Langland-Orban, professor and chair of health policy and management at the USF College of Public Health.

“Instead, they increase crashes and injuries as drivers attempt to abruptly stop at camera intersections. If used in Florida, cameras could potentially create even worse outcomes due to the state’s high percent of elderly who are more likely to be injured or killed when a crash occurs.”

Va. Tech Sophomore From Manassas Hit by Car, Killed

Christine McNabb, 20, of Manassas had just parked her car in the Cage, the fenced-in parking lot on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg on Saturday evening. At 6:23 p.m., she stepped into the crosswalk on Duckpond Drive with four other people. In seconds, a car plowed into four of the five pedestrians.

Three and a half hours later, McNabb's heart stopped beating, and she was pronounced dead.

A ‘Nightmare' Tractor Trailer Collision On I-81

A second person died late Tuesday in a medical helicopter on the way to the University of Virginia Medical Center after a tractor-trailer struck a passenger van on Interstate 81 in the city, police said.

Linda A. Solorzano, from Buffalo, N.Y., a 48-year-old passenger in the van, died shortly before midnight. The driver of the van, her 38-year-old husband, Isaac Santos, died instantaneously, police said.

Two people in the tractor-trailer sustained non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

Does Bad Credit Mean Higher Premiums?

Does having bad credit make you a driver who is more likely to have an accident?

Most of the large personal auto insurance companies use credit data as one of the factors in determining if they want to insure you and the rates you will be charged. Is this justified? Well, the facts seem to indicate that there is a connection between your credit record and the likelihood that you will file an auto insurance claim. According to one study, bad credit risks file 40% more claims and pay up to 50% more in car insurance premiums than a person with good credit. The use of credit risk scores in selling you insurance is subject to the laws of your state.

Auto Insurers Boost Premiums on Injury, Crash Costs

Allstate Corp. and Progressive Corp. are leading the push by U.S. auto insurers to raise premiums in at least 20 states as the $160 billion industry moves to end two years of price reductions.

Insurers say they need higher prices to counter climbing repair and medical costs. Allstate, ranked second by premiums, said collision bills rose 2.2 percent in the fourth quarter from a year earlier and payouts for injuries gained 9.3 percent. Safeco Corp., which gets almost half its total premiums from drivers, reported a $19 million loss on auto underwriting.

DUI Bill Passes Virginia House of Delegates

The General Assembly is looking keep drunk drivers off Virginia roads. A bill has been approved by the House of Delegates that would require ignition interlock devices for first time DUI offenders.

If you have one too many and get behind the wheel Virginia law is clear. You will be punished. You will receive heavy fines, jail time, and your license will be taken away. But now lawmakers want to see if they can prevent the drunk driving to begin with.

84th District Delegate Sal Iaquinto (R) stated, "This is the one way to make sure before a person gets on the road with alcohol in their system that we can make sure that they don't get on the road."

Arlington Nurse Accused of Assaulting Patient

A male nurse at Virginia Hospital Center turned himself in, accused of assaulting a patient.

Adebowale Adefolaju, 51, of Lanham, Md., allegedly inappropriately touched a female patient on two occasions. Police say he worked the night shift at the hospital through a contracting agency.

Adefolaju would come into the room and tell the patient he was going to give her a massage and then he would assault her, police say.

Gun-Show Loophole to Remain Open in Virginia

A state Senate committee has killed legislation backed by families of the Virginia Tech shooting victims to close a loophole that allows criminals and the mentally ill to buy firearms at gun shows without a background check.

The Courts of Justice Committee voted 9-6 Wednesday to reject the bill before sending it to the Virginia State Crime Commission for study.

A House of Delegates committee last week rejected similar legislation, so the issue appears to be dead for this General Assembly session.

Teen Drivers Would Benefit From Greater Restrictions

Most states have graduated licensing for teen drivers but such programs should be even more restrictive, according to a study by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.

"Motor vehicle crashes are the greatest single health threat to teens," said UMTRI researcher C. Raymond Bingham. "Little or no positive change has occurred in teen crash numbers in the past 10-15 years. Clearly, current measures aimed at curbing teen drivers' involvement in crashes are not sufficient."

No Ban on Driving While Texting... Yet

Teens already are banned from using cell phones while driving, but a bill was introduced earlier this month to ban adults from sending text messages at the wheel.

On Tuesday, the House Transportation Committee referred a bill to ban sending text messages while driving to the Joint Commission on Technology and Science. The decision was made by voice vote, and it effectively kills the bill for the 2008 General Assembly session.

The purpose of JCOTS, which meets between legislative sessions, is to research policy-related science and technology issues. Del. Joe May (R- western Loudoun) and other members of the Transportation Committee, believe the technology aspects of the bill need more research.

Virginia General Assembly to Target Dangerous Driving Habits

Several bills to ban specific behavior while driving, including one to outlaw driving with a dog or other animal in one’s lap, are headed for votes in the House Committee on Transportation.

Virginia’s first proposed ban on driving with a lap dog, House Bill 533, follows a pair of bills to ban text messaging while driving that are being debated in similar fashion with some delegates questioning how many bad driving behaviors should be outlawed and with what specificity.

Virginia nears a 17-year high in number of traffic deaths

Governor Timothy M. Kaine is urging all drivers and passengers to help slow the number of lives being lost on Virginia’s highways this year. As of Dec. 6, the Commonwealth experienced more fatalities in 2007 than in all of 2006. At the current rate of traffic deaths, Virginia’s 2007 highway death toll could break 1,000 traffic fatalities for the first time since 1990.

“For the first time in 17 years, Virginia may lose 1,000 lives to traffic crashes,” said Governor Kaine. “With thousands expected to take to the roads for the holidays, drivers and passengers need to take responsibility and help ensure that everyone arrives at their destinations safely this holiday season.”

Crash Tests Predict Fatality Risk In Cars, Not In Trucks

Frontal crash tests in laboratories are strong predictors of passenger cars’ safety on the road, though they fail to accurately project driver fatality risks for trucks, according to a recent Virginia Commonwealth University study.

The study examined the frontal crash test ratings that vehicles received from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, and compared them to fatality rates in the vehicles. It also compared a smaller sample of test ratings given by the privately funded Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, IIHS, which uses a 40-percent frontal offset crash test, with the vehicles’ fatality rates.

The results indicate that the crash tests held by NHTSA and the IIHS are successful in predicting real-world crash outcomes for passenger cars -- the ratings NHTSA and IIHS bestowed on passenger cars generally matched the cars’ safety record on the road. However, the ratings for trucks did not match real-world outcomes. For example, in the case of both NHTSA and IIHS, trucks that received the worst possible crash-test rating had on average lower driver fatality rates than trucks that received the best possible crash-test rating.

Weak Federal safety standards for bumpers mean more cost to you

An insurance group is again raising concerns about vehicle bumpers - those of minivans this time - contending that weak federal standards permit automakers to build cars that suffer thousands of dollars in collision damage even in impacts at walking speed.

The industry-funded research group, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, based in Arlington, Va., says the worst performer among six 2008 minivans it recently subjected to four low-speed crash tests was the Nissan Quest, with resulting damage that would have cost more than $8,000 to repair. "It's damage that consumers shouldn't have to pay for, or put up with the aggravation of having to get their vehicles repaired," institute senior vice president Joe Nolan said in a statement.

N.Va. man killed in Fairfax wreck

A 27-year-old Northern Virginia man was killed Monday when he lost control of a car on a ramp to Interstate 495 in Fairfax County and hit a tree.

State police said David Mario Brandt of Annandale wrecked about 11:15 p.m. about 500 feet north of Gallows Road.

Virginia's 2007 highway death toll yesterday was 967, compared with 912 as of the same day last year.

DC and Virginia Nursing Homes Make Dubious List

Fifty-four nursing homes are being told by the government that they're among the worst in their states in an effort to goad them into improving patient care.

Lawmakers and advocacy groups have been pushing the Bush administration to make it easier for consumers to identify poorly performing nursing homes. They complain that too many facilities get cited for serious deficiencies but don't make adequate improvement, or do so only temporarily.

The administration agreed, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will list the homes on its Web site Thursday.

"Very, very poor quality nursing homes do not deserve to be left untouched or unnoticed," said Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging. "This is not to be punitive. That's not our goal. Our goal is to see to it that the people in these nursing homes get better quality care or that they get the opportunity to move somewhere else."

Breathalyzer Case Could Overturn DUIs

Most DUI cases in recent years could be overturned, pending a decision from the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

The certified Breathalyzer test used by police in Connecticut is not accurate, some attorneys claimed Tuesday in hopes of urging the state to change policies.

The penalty for drivers charged with DUI is the loss of their license for three months.

"It would be a difficult position for the department," said John Yacavone, chief legal counsel for the DMV.

Channel 3 Eyewitness News reporter Hena Daniels reported a Superior Court judge ordered the DMV to conduct a hearing as opposing attorneys are trying to prove that all Breathalyzer tests taken by the Intoxilyzer 5000 are inaccurate.

Fauquier crash kills Oklahoma resident

An Oklahoma woman died yesterday at the scene of a two-vehicle crash in Fauquier County.

Virginia State Police reported that Diannah M. Parker, 74, was a passenger in a pickup truck traveling south about 3:22 p.m. on state Route 626, 1½ miles east of state Route 688. When the truck changed lanes, it was struck by a car, causing it to go over a guardrail and down an embankment. Parker was wearing a seat belt, police said.

State police also reported three other fatalities, bringing Virginia's 2007 highway death toll to 927 yesterday, compared with 867 at the same time last year.

Slain Stafford motorist possessed DUI record

A motorist fatally shot by a state trooper along Interstate 95 in Stafford County during the weekend had been convicted of multiple DUI and reckless-driving charges, court records show.

Virginia State Police yesterday would not say whether Marc D. Greenberg, 41, was wanted on outstanding warrants when he sped from a Stafford sheriff's deputy who tried to pull him over Sunday because of an expired registration.

MADD Kicks Off Annual Safe Driving Campaign

As part of the Tie One On For Safety program, Toll Road Investments Partnership II, owners of the Dulles Greenway, have joined Loudoun's MADD chapter for the past nine years and assisted in getting the word out to drivers. Each toll collector will be handing out MADD's red ribbons as well as educational materials to each driver that comes through a tollbooth.

"We have trained all toll collectors to recognize impaired drivers and call them in," Ann Huggins-Lawler, representative of the Dulles Greenway, said. "We want to help send a clear message that drinking and driving don't mix."

Kurt Erickson, from Washington Regional Alcohol Program, also announced that the nonprofit would again offer its Sober Ride, a program that offers free cab rides to impaired people if they call 1-800-200-TAXI. The program will run from Dec. 7 to Jan. 1, 2008.

Three killed in local Virgina road crashes

A man standing in the road was struck and killed in King George County this weekend in one of several fatal car accidents.

In Culpeper, a man was charged in the death of a woman. Her husband was injured.

In Louisa, a Fredericksburg man died when he hit a tree. His two passengers were injured.

In King George, a man standing in the middle of U.S. 301 Sunday night was struck by a car and killed, state police said.

Bealeton teen hurt in a two-car crash

The incident reportedly occurred at the intersection of Route 28 (Catlett Road) and Independence Avenue in Bealeton just before 5 p.m.
The 17-year-old, who was driving a 1995 Mercury Tracer, had stopped on Independence Avenue, according to a Fauquier County deputy's report. But when it was his turn to proceed, the teen allegedly went straight instead of making a right turn.
Oliver H. Corbin, 65, of Catlett was driving a 1999 GMC north on Route 28 when he hit the teen's car, police said. The impact pushed the Tracer into a nearby fence.
The teen was medivaced from the scene, police said. Corbin and two others were also transported to the hospital by EMS personnel.
Charges are pending.

Hams guide rescue crew

Alert action by two ham radio operators recently helped bring speedy assistance to the scene of a recent two-car collision near northern Stafford County.

During a heavy rainstorm on July 27, KG4UCM was driving south on State Route 612 in Fauquier County along the western edge of Quantico Marine Corps Base. "I took that route," he said, "because, in that weather, I thought it would be safer and easier than I-95."

At 6:30 p.m. he came upon two cars that had plunged into the southbound ditch. They had collided head-on minutes earlier. Other vehicles had stopped. Debris was in the road and people were running back and forth.

For more information, follow the link below.

Warrenton woman charged in wreck

A Warrenton woman was charged with DUI and other traffic violations after she was involved in a car crash July 22.

A Fauquier deputy's report indicates that the crash happened in the 11000 block of Marsh Road (U.S. 17) in Bealeton at 12:36 a.m

For more information, follow the link below.

Man charged in four-car collision

Police said a Marshall man was charged with following too close after he was involved in a four-car crash July 20.

The wreck reportedly occurred in the 6400 block of John S. Mosby Highway near Upperville at approximately 5:09 p.m.

For more information, follow the link below.

Drunk, dangerous driving will cost big money

Virginia drivers who drive drunk or dangerously after July 1 will pay for it in the pocketbook when new civil fees go into effect.

Anyone with a Virginia driver's license who is convicted of driving drunk or other selected offenses will have to pay up to several thousand dollars.

For more information, follow the link below.

Virginia Tech student injures eight while driving drunk

The accident occurred at the 200-block of South Main Street, in front of Boudreaux’s and Big Al’s, as the driver headed north in a 2001 silver Toyota RAV-4.

After passing the Jackson street intersection, the driver swerved into the southbound lanes, knocking down a small tree and light pole as the vehicle crashed into eight pedestrians.

For more information, follow the link below.

Motorist charged with DUI

A resident of The Plains was reportedly charged with DUI after he was involved in a single-vehicle accident on Saturday night.

According to a Fauquier deputy's report, the wreck happened shortly after 8 p.m. in the 2500 block of Bull Run Mountain Road north of The Plains.

For more information, follow the link below.

Stafford County man dies in wreck

A 42-year-old Stafford County man was killed yesterday when his car ran off the road and hit a tree in Fauquier County.

State police said Rodney Tim Mosley was driving northbound on state Route 612, just north of state Route 639, about 10:40 a.m. when he lost control of his car and hit a tree. He died at the scene.

For more information, follow the link below.

Teenager Charged With Posession of Alcohol After Crash

Bealeton teen was charged with reckless driving and possession of alcohol while underage after she was involved in a car crash on Saturday, police said.

According to a Fauquier deputy's report, Jessica L. Hatton, 18, was driving a 2000 Ford Mustang on Beach Road when it went off the right side of the road and hit several trees. Hatton reportedly told the deputy she was attempting to miss a deer.

She was not hurt in the crash, according to the report.

Henrico County Settles in Wrongful Death Case

Henrico County has agreed to pay $500,000 to settle a wrongful death suit brought by the estate of Dana Quarles. The Varina High School student was hit by a car after getting off a school bus.

The estate sought $5 million from the Henrico County School Board, the school bus driver and the car's driver.

For more information, follow the link below.

Dulaney Lauer and Thomas Helping the Injured in Western Prince William

Like it or not, development is coming to Western Prince William County. And there will be specific legal issues that will arrive part and parcel with every road, home, school and shopping center that will be built over the next few years.

For more information, follow the link below.

Lynchburg teen killed in crash

A Lynchburg teenager was killed Tuesday when he lost control of a pickup truck and collided with a tractor-trailer in Amherst County.

For more information, follow the link below.

Head-on collision on U.S. 15 takes life of Haymarket man

A Haymarket man died March 11 from injuries sustained in a head-on collision last month on U.S. 15 in Loudoun County, near the Prince William County line.

Talmage Eugene Simpkins, 79, of Haymarket was traveling south on U.S. 15 in a 2002 Buick Park Avenue, just after 1 p.m. on Feb. 24, when a 1991 Chevrolet station wagon struck him head-on.

For more information, follow the link below.

State Farm Again Posts Record Profit. CEO Gets 82% Raise.

Filing for Workers' Comp Benefits? Get Ready For A Fight

Injured workers are finding it harder and harder to get fair treatment these days.

DuLaney Lauer and Thomas tell you what to expect if you get injured on the job.

Virginia auto workers not eligible for extended federal jobless benefits

NORFOLK -- Three weeks ago, workers and former employees at Ford Motor Co.'s plant learned they might qualify for extra federal benefits, including reimbursement of moving costs and $10,000 worth of retraining.

Turns out, most of them can't get the sweetest option - up to two years in additional unemployment insurance.

Ford workers say they've been told by the Virginia Employment Commission that they will be shut out of that benefit because of how Ford's severance calculations and the state's employment law are structured.

For more information, follow the link below.

Progressive Insurance: Art for Profit's Sake

Progressive Insurance owns the most valuable collection of American art in the world.

So why do they nickle and dime thier policy holders?

For more information, follow the link below.

Fiery Crash Kills Three, Injures One

Three people died and one person was injured early yesterday in a three-vehicle crash involving a gasoline tanker on westbound Interstate 66.

The tanker's cab, a Volvo station wagon and a Jeep caught fire after the 3:50 a.m. crash near the ramp for the Fairfax County Parkway, said Sgt. Terry Licklider, a spokesman for the Virginia State Police.

For more information, follow the link below.

Nursing Homes Susceptible to Norovirus

This isn't your ordinary "stomach bug."

"Literally in a matter of 45 minutes to an hour, I was sick as a dog", said Dr. Lori Lewis who works at Frankford Bucks Hospital.

Her husband, John, got it too, "I felt this turn in my stomach and it woke me up and it was almost simultaneous vomiting and diarrhea."

For more information, follow the link below.

Insurance Companies AGAIN Enjoy Record Profits in '06 -- Look Forward to More in '07.

Need insurance company contact information? Click here.

Insurance companies arent always easy to get ahold of, especially if you are trying to file a claim. Dulaney, Lauer and Thomas is pleased to provide you with the contact information for every major insurance company in America.

Crashes Tied to Alcohol Decline

Alcohol-related crashes and injuries have been declining in the Washington suburbs and fatalities have dropped significantly, a new two-year study shows.

Even as New Year's Eve remains the most dangerous night for drunken driving crashes, the developments are fueling optimism among the people whose mission is to push for sobriety behind the wheel.

Rubber-necking causes crash

Curiosity about one car crash allegedly caused another one on Friday morning.

According to a Fauquier deputy's report, the wreck happened in the 7000 block of James Madison Highway (U.S. 17) north of Warrenton shortly after 11 a.m. Phillis Ann Kent, 60, of Marshall, was driving a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck when traffic slowed for state police, who were investigating another crash.

"The driver of vehicle one looked over at the accident and did not realize that vehicle number two (a Fauquier County school bus) had stopped for traffic," the report states. "This was when vehicle number one rear-ended vehicle number two."

Kent "admitted that the accident was her fault and took full responsibility," according to the report. No one was injured and Kent was not charged in connection with the accident

ATRA Fights for The Rights of Big Business

The ATRA recently designated Cook County, Illinois as a "Judicial Hellhole." But is it "frivolous lawsuits" clogging up the courts, or is it the contract disputes of big business?

Indiana Man Wins $20 Million Verdict v. Allstate

A jury on Thursday decided that Ted K. Fields was in bad hands with Allstate and awarded the Valparaiso man $20 million.

Fields' attorney, Kenneth J. Allen, said the jury's decision supports his contention that Allstate acted in bad faith against its customers, and he hopes the verdict sends a message to Allstate and other insurers to treat their customers fairly.

For the whole story, follow the link below.

Insurance Companies Post Record Profits In 2005.

This article details how the insurance industry posted record profits in 2005, even after factoring in claims associated with Hurricane Katrina. Industry wide profits were up 19% over the previous year. The insurers' cash reserves were up as well.

Louisiana Ruling Gives Hurricane Victims More Options

BATON ROUGE, La. -- A state judge Wednesday ruled as constitutional two new state laws giving insurance policyholders more time to sue their insurers or file claims over damage from hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
District Court Judge Kay Bates, who read her ruling from the bench, said the extension of the time periods doesn't expand citizens' rights under existing contracts but gives those who were displaced by the storms more time to enforce their rights.

For more information, please follow the link below.

GEICO's Advertising Costs at $502 Million in 2005

While GEICO’s advertisements might be flashy and clever, they do very little to tell you how you will be treated if you actually need your insurance company’s help.

Follow the link for more information.

New Book Details Allstate's Unfair Claims Handling

National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration Releases Annual Crash Predictions

The NHTSA has released its annual projections for crashes and fatalities on our nation's highways.

Traffic fatalitites are expected to increase by 1%, while injuries caused by crashes are expected to decline by 4%.

To view the entire report, please follow the link below.

Legal "reform" in Texas does more harm than good. A lesson for other states.

Business lobbying group issues misleading radio ads, billboards as part of attack on W.Va. civil justice system.

How the media helps the insurance industry promote the myth of America's "lawsuit crisis."

Tort Reform and Your Civil Rights

Trial lawyers stand up for every-day Americans injured through no fault of their own and assure that regular Americans get a fair shake-even against the wealthiest and most powerful corporations.

Supporters of so-called tort “reform” claim that too many lawsuits have led to an excessive burden on our economy. They also charge that juries can no longer be trusted to render fair verdicts. But the truth belies these assertions.

Bad Faith in the Insurance Industry - A Woman's Fight Against an Insurance Giant

Tractor Trailor Defensive Driving Guidelines

In 2004, accidents involving large, heavy trucks accounted for 5,190 fatalities and about 116,000 injuries. These figures have remained at or close to the same level over the past nine years.

The most often-cited contributing factors to big truck crashes are: truck-driver fatigue or lapses in alertness, paying drivers only for miles driven, substandard brakes, overusing stimulants to stay awake, drivers breaking the hours-of-service (HOS) rules, and unsafe driving by motorists.

Along with truck drivers, motorists have a responsibility to be aware of their own fatigue, to avoid risky driving and to know what precautions to take when driving in the vicinity of a large truck.

The Following Information is Adapted from the American Trucking Associations:

* Never cut in front of a truck. At 55mph, fullly loaded trucks take the length of a football field to stop - 50% farther than a car. Be sure you're at least four car lengths in front of the truck.

* Don't linger alongside. There are large blind spots around trucks where cars disappear from the driver's view. Check the trucks side mirrors: If you can't see the driver's face, ther driver can't see you. To get out of left and right blind spots, pass quickly or slow down.

* Pass on the left. The blind spot on the right runs the length of the trailor and extends out three lanes. It's safer to pass on the left.

* Keep a safe distance. To avoid blind spots when behind a truck, stay back 20-25 car lengths, if possible.

Drunk Driving in Virginia - Statistics Revealed

For one of every 170 miles driven in Virginia in 1999, a person with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) >.08 sat behind the wheel. Police in Virginia reported 10,942 crashes involving a driver or pedestrian with a BAC of .01 or more. Formulas developed by NHTSA were used to estimate the number of alcohol-related crashes where alcohol involvement was not reported by the police. An estimated total of 89,060 crashes in Virginia involved alcohol which killed 320 and injured an estimated 14,200 people.

Impaired Driving by Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

In 1999, Virginia drivers with:

• BACs of .10 and above were involved in an estimated 84,700 crashes that killed 246 and injured 12,400

• BACs between .08-.09 were involved in an estimated 1,460 crashes that killed 22 and injured 600

• Positive BACs below .08 were involved in an estimated 2,900 crashes that killed 52 and injured 1,200

COSTS

Alcohol is a factor in 24% of Virginia’s crash costs. Alcohol-related crashes in Virginia cost the public an estimated $2.6 billion in 1999, including $1.4 billion in monetary costs and almost $1.2 billion in quality of life losses. Alcohol-related crashes are deadlier and more serious than other crashes. People other than the drinking driver paid $1.7 billion of the alcohol-related crash bill.

Costs perAlcohol-Related Injury

The average alcohol-related fatality in Virginia costs $3.5 million:

• $1.2 million in monetary costs
• $2.3 million in quality of life losses

The estimated cost per injured survivor of an alcohol-related crash averaged 101,000:
• $50,000 in monetary costs
• $51,000 in quality of life losses

Costs per Mile Driven

Crash costs in Virginia averaged:

• $4.80 per mile driven at BACs of .10 and above
• $2.10 per mile driven at BACs between .08-.09
• $0.10 per mile driven at BACs of .00

Costs per Drink
The societal costs of alcohol-related crashes in Virginia
averaged $0.90 per drink consumed. People other than the drinking driver paid $0.60 per drink.

Impact on Auto Insurance Rates

Alcohol-related crashes accounted for an estimated 21% of Virginia’s auto insurance payments. Reducing alcohol-related crashes by 10% would save $54 million in claims payments and loss adjustment expenses. The estimates reported here were produced under National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Contract DTNH22-98-D-35079, Task Order 7.

Contact Information:
Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE)
11710 Beltsville Drive, Suite 300
Calverton, Maryland 20705-3102
301-755-2700

The Truth about "Frivolous Lawsuits"

Business lobbyists and their political allies have created a perception that America’s legal system has run amok. They point the finger at consumer and patient lawsuits, which they imply are concocted by “greedy trial lawyers.” They argue that lawsuits have detrimental effects on society and the economy, and effectively suggest that people should turn the other cheek when their rights are violated. President Bush and Vice President Cheney mimic these erroneous claims and make attacks on the legal system a central part of their campaign stump speeches. “See, everybody is getting sued,” says the President, and the lawsuits are “junk and frivolous.”

Number of pro-business lobbyists in D.C. has doubled in five years

The number of registered lobbyists in Washington, D.C. has doubled during George W. Bush's administration, climbing from 16,342 in 2000 to 34,785 today. Charging as much as $1000 an hour and promising big results, the new wave of pro-active lobbying peddles influence on Capitol Hill like never before, reducing regulations on businesses and the insurance industry; influencing the federal tax code; and promoting more government spending in ways that deliver record profits to corporate America. Read the full article. - Washington Post, 6/25

Are Lawsuits Really Driving Doctors Out of Business?

The insurance industry argues that weakening our legal system will strengthen the economy and improve access to health care. This is incorrect. The tort system ensures that the costs of injuries are borne by those who cause them, thus compensating victims and deterring unsafe conduct. Data shows:

(1) doctors are not leaving states with high malpractice premiums;

(2) unsuccessful lawsuits (often termed “frivolous”) have little impact on health care costs;

(3) lawsuit filings have decreased since 1992, and that the median jury award for personal injury cases fell 30 percent between 2000 and 2002.

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Phone: 888-907-2631

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