Fauquier, Warrenton and Culpeper are no longer secondary suburbs of Virginia. The massive influx of population combined with the heavy increase in development has transformed our area from the quiet and almost rural section of the state that it used to be. While none of us can claim that our counties are the bustling equivalents of D.C., Fairfax or Arlington, long time residents have noticed that our neighborhoods, streets and highways have certainly gotten more crowded over the years.

As a growing region, the expanding network of roads and highways connecting the counties of Culpeper, Fauquier, Prince William, and Loudoun with the rest of Virginia is becoming more congested every month. While ongoing construction work tries to keep our roads up to the pace of the growing flow of traffic through our region, the snarl of traffic shows no signs of abating.

What this obviously means for residents is an increase in cars and trucks on the road, which, unfortunately and inevitably, leads to more traffic accidents. According to statistics published by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, 2004 saw 680 car crashes in Culpeper County, with 417 injuries and 14 fatalities. Fauquier County had 1,660 car wrecks with 677 injuries and 8 fatalities. And Prince William County accounted for 6,777 car wrecks with 3,419 injuries and 22 fatalities.

When accidents lead to serious injuries or fatalities, those whose lives are affected often need an experienced attorney to investigate the accident; review, supervise and accelerate the claims process with the insurance company; and determine if the injured party has a valid case. Under Virginia’s driving laws, ‘negligence’ doesn’t necessarily mean malicious or deviant behavior. In other words, a person doesn’t have to be guilty of road rage or aggressive driving or drunk driving to be considered negligent or responsible. In fact, the majority of car, truck and other traffic accidents are the result of:

Driver Distraction or Inattention: Annually, more accidents are caused by driver distraction in Virginia than any other reason. Several studies have confirmed the link between increased cell phone use while driving and a higher rate of accidents. And while technological advances such as satellite radio and TV and DVD players have made long trips easier for passengers, they have also served to be very able distractions for drivers. Other distractions are more traditional – such as eating, smoking, and drinking. More than ever, today’s busy roads and highways require complete focus from drivers.

Moving Violations: Speeding, illegal turns, failing to yield, following too closely, and illegal lane changes are all major causes of accidents that routinely leave innocent drivers with catastrophic injuries, such as brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, dismemberment and severe burns.

Younger Drivers: Of the 5 million registered drivers in Virginia, only about 90,000 are between the ages of 16 and 24. As small as it is, this segment of the driving population is also the most dangerous. Teenage drivers are three times more likely to die in traffic accidents than older drivers. A recent study released by the National Institutes of Health linked the high risk behavior of younger drivers behind the wheel to brain maturity and development. Specifically, the study showed that the part of the brain that handles risk assessment and judgment doesn’t fully develop until the age of 25. This fact, and the fact that younger drivers are simply less experienced than older ones, makes younger drivers a risk factor on our roads and highways.

While safety advances such as airbags, improvements in seat restraints, safety glass and global positioning satellites with automatic emergency contact have made your odds of surviving a car wreck, they have yet to invent a device that prevents any injury whatsoever. And some injuries are of the sort that can affect you for the rest of your life. Severe spinal cord injuries can irrevocably alter your life, costing millions of dollars to treat. They can also prevent your from returning to work, leaving you with no way to support yourself or your family. Traumatic brain injuries can be equally disastrous and life changing, causing convulsions or seizures, an inability to awaken from sleep, dilation of one or both pupils of the eyes, slurred speech, weakness or numbness in the extremities, loss of coordination, and increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation. And while severe burns are injuries that are for the most part recoverable, they leave lifelong disfiguring scars that can cause severe emotional trauma.

The aftermath of a serious car crash can be a difficult enough experience what with hospital bills, loss of income from time off of work and repair bills for your car and property. But dealing with insurance companies, especially when the accident wasn’t your fault, can make the experience that much more traumatic. In even the most cut and dried accident situations, insurance companies will go out of their way to avoid responsibility, offer lowball settlements, and refuse to pay for needed treatment. If that seems cruel and contrary to the stated goals of an insurer, you should realize that the insurance company of the person that hit you does not represent you. It is therefore in their best financial interest to get you to accept the lowest settlement possible. And as sad as it seems, sometimes the best way to get them to live up to their financial obligations is to have dedicated and competent legal representation.

After a Car Accident, Talking to a Personal Injury Attorney Always Makes Sense

If you’ve been in an accident, suffered an injury, and have already talked to your insurance company, their adjusters have probably advised you that there is no need for you to retain a lawyer for your claim. Don’t take their word for it. Speaking with an attorney after any life altering event is always a good idea, but when you are dealing with the hidden agenda of an insurance company, it is essential.

The Law Firm of DuLaney, Lauer and Thomas have years of experience in fighting for the rights of injured Virginians. Through thirty eight years of helping people through the insurance claims process, we know whether or not an insurance company is dealing fairly with you. If they aren’t, we’ll make sure they will. And if we aren’t convinced that we can get you a successful result for your car accident injury, we’ll tell you, quickly and with complete honesty.

If you or someone you love has suffered injuries from an accident, and you feel that your needs aren’t being taken seriously by the insurers that are involved, contact our offices for a free case assessment today.

Library for Car Accidents & Injuries:

Hot Tips for Navigating Your Auto Accident Case
Description: After a car or truck accident it can be hard to keep track of everything that has to be done to recover and move forward, especially if the accident involved severe injuries. The insurance company you have to deal with for the negligent driver may try to pressure you into accepting a quick settlement or into making statements that could later damage your case. With so much at stake, it is important to keep a few simple rules in mind when dealing with an auto accident case.
How Safe is Your Automobile?
Description: The federal government recently stepped up their investigation into problems with Jeep Liberty upper ball joint problems. Jeep’s woes highlight the importance of carefully researching the vehicle you are about to buy. Since your safety and the safety of your family and friends depends on the quality of the automobile you chose to invest in, it is in your best interest to get all the information possible before selecting a new or used car.
Are Manufacturers Taking the Threat of Rollovers Seriously Enough?
Description: One of the challenges for automobile makers is to ensure that a vehicle’s roof is strong enough to protect its occupants in a rollover accident. However, some manufacturers have claimed that roof strength has little to no bearing on occupant safety. This is an assertion challenged by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in a new report focusing on SUV rollover risks.
Navigating the Auto Repair Maze after an Accident
Description: Being involved in an automobile accident is bad enough, but dealing with insurance companies and trying to get your car or truck repaired to your satisfaction can truly drive you to distraction. You may be asked to use a repair shop you are not familiar with, you might find that your car will be repaired with aftermarket parts, and you may be dismayed to find that your vehicle has lost value after being involved in an accident. Check out our repair tips for ways to handle these situations and come out ahead.
Who’s Looking out for Vehicle Safety?
Description: Consumers rely on manufacturers to deliver quality products free from defects, and they also rely on the government to provide oversight of all auto manufacturers to ensure that they not only deliver safe products, but notify the public in a timely manner if something goes wrong. However, years like 2007 which saw a 30% increase in auto recalls can cause consumers to wonder if the system is really working.
Virginia’s General Assembly Tackles Distracted Drivers – and More
Description: Several bills aimed at combating distracted driving are before the 2008 Virginia General Assembly. Proposed laws restricting driving while texting (DWT), cell-phone use by teens, and driving with pets will all be reviewed by lawmakers this session. Distracted driving is a significant cause of accidents in the United States, and other states and countries already have bans on driving while texting or while using a cell-phone. The attorneys at Dulaney, Lauer & Thomas care about your safety and want Virginia’s roads to be free from distracted drivers. If you’ve been involved in an automobile accident and are wondering what a skilled law firm can do for you, please contact us today.
Are our Teen Drivers Out of Control?
Description: November 2007 was a deadly month on the road for DC Metro area teenagers. Tragically, 12 area teens were killed in automobile accidents during this month. Sadly, many deaths could have been prevented – common contributing factors include excessive speed, driver error, and lack of seatbelt use. Here we offer a summary of the November accidents, and some thoughts on what can be done to reduce the number of teen deaths on our area roads. The attorneys at Dulaney, Lauer, and Thomas, LLP are concerned about your teenage driver and want them to be safe. If you need to speak with an attorney about an automobile accident, please contact us immediately to discuss your case.
The Secrets in Your Car’s Little Black Box
Description: Have you heard about the “little black boxes” that can be found in many of today’s automobiles? They’re really called “event data recorders”, or EDRs, and can be found in about two-thirds of vehicles being manufactured today. The auto accident attorneys at Dulaney, Lauer, & Thomas, LLP provide an outline of the history and function of EDRs, as well as an update about the future for and controversy about these devices.
Tips for Staying Safe this Holiday Season
Description: The attorneys at Dulaney, Lauer, & Thomas, LLP provide tips for keeping you and your family safe on the roads this holiday season. Tips for planning for holiday travel are provided, including things to keep in mind while on the road this season. Throwing a party? Advice for keeping you and your guests safe are also offered, and a summary of some of Virginia’s safety campaigns for this season are outlined.
No Safe American Cars in 2007?
Description: If you look at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's list of the safest cars of 2007, you might notice that none of them are American made.

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Dulaney, Lauer & Thomas, LLP
98 Alexandria Pike
Suite 11
Warrenton, VA 20186

Phone: 888-907-2631

DULANEY, LAUER &
THOMAS, LLP

Warrenton Office
98 Alexandria Pike
Suite 11
Warrenton, VA 20186
Toll Free: 888.907.2631
Local: 540.349.2631
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Culpeper Office
209 N. West Street
Culpeper, VA 22701
Toll Free: 800.741.1012
Local: 540.825.6046
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