I changed insurance companies after I had an accident. Which company has to cover me for my accident?

The insurance company that you had on the date of the accident has to cover you for the accident you had on that day.

The newcompany that you switched to after the accident would provide you with no insurance coverage for the accident in question.

It is good to make sure you always have insurance. Try not to ever be without some sort of car insurance. I would suggest that you set up your new insurance before you cancel your old coverage.

Also it is important to have a lot of coverage. The minimum amount in Virginia is 25/50. That means $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. In a bad wreck that may not be enough to pay the hospital bills. I recommend more than the minimum.

Sometimes your own insurance has to cover you even if it is not your fault. Such as if you get hit by a driver with no car insurance. This is called Uninsured Motorist coverage. Try to make sure you have enough to take care of yourself. It is not very expensive to get better coverage.

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Progress-Index.com reports that fewer children in Virginia are dying from accidents;  this is according to state officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Accidental injuries are the leading cause of death among children in Virginia and across the country.  In 2000, Virginia had 14.5 accidental deaths for every 100,000 Virginians age 19 and younger.  By 2009, the numbers had dropped to 7.9 deaths per 100,000.  It’s been said that these numbers have decreased because fewer children are dying in car accidents.

While most causes of death have fallen, poisoning deaths have increased with prescription drug overdoses being the main contributor among teens ages 15-19.

Adults have a responsibility to ensure that children are safe – especially when driving in a motor vehicle.  Car accidents are the leading cause of death for children due to the improper use of seat belts and child car seats.  Make sure you understand  Virginia’s child passenger safety laws which state that child restraint devices are required for children through the age of seven. Otherwise, you could be hit with a $50 fine for the first offense or up to $500 for any subsequent incident.

Have you or your child been injured in an auto accident?  Contact an experienced Richmond, Virginia Car Accident Attorney to help you with your case.

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There are so many people who receive less than they deserve from a personal injury claim because they are not familiar with the claims process and how insurance companies work. As an injury victim, you have rights to recover compensation for your pain and suffering to ensure that you can continue living a healthy life long after the accident.

If you’ve endured serious injuries, it may be highly beneficial to seek the help of an experienced and knowledgeable Virginia personal injury attorney who can make the process of filing a personal injury claim much easier in addition to helping you receive a fair settlement.

There are several ways that an attorney can help you:

• An experienced attorney has access to resources that you may be unaware of. For example, if you are involved in a medical malpractice lawsuit, an attorney can help you find an expert medical witness to bring in if the case goes to court.
• An attorney can do all the investigative legwork and information gathering that pertains to your case such as medical records, police reports, and doctors’ notes.
• Have no idea what your case is worth? An experienced attorney will know what you’re legally entitled to. The last thing you want is for the insurance company to take advantage of your lack of knowledge.
• Remember that insurance companies will do their best to give you the least amount possible, so negotiating with the insurance companies can be tricky and full of hassles. The negotiating skills of an attorney can go a long way, especially when attempting to recover a high dollar amount.

When looking for a Virginia personal injury attorney, make sure to do your research. With the technology we have today, you can easily do an internet search to find reviews for an attorney that you’re interested in hiring. Also, ask friends, neighbors, or co-workers for referrals.

When you do sit down with an attorney, spend some time talking about the case and gauge your comfort level with the interaction. Go with your gut and don’t let anyone pressure you to do business with them.

Don’t underestimate the services of a personal injury attorney. Although you could essentially file a personal injury claim yourself, the process can be long and tedious. Do you realistically have the time to deal with an insurance adjuster who will probably give you the run around and attempt to discredit your claim?

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As much as we like to think that a dog is “man’s best friend”, there are some dogs that can be vicious and dangerous. Some dogs are capable of killing or inflicting serious injury to a person. Even in situations where a dog may appear to be calm, there’s always the chance that something in the environment can cause it to attack at a moment’s notice.

In the state of Virginia, a “dangerous dog” is defined as “a canine or canine crossbreed that has bitten, attacked, or inflicted injury on a person or companion animal that is a dog or cat…” (Code § 3.2-6540)

If you have been bitten by a dog in the city of Richmond, one of the first steps to take is to call the local animal control at 804-646-5573. The responding officer(s) will investigate and may confine the dog or ask the owner of the dog to confine it. If the injuries from the dog bite involve severe cuts or lacerations, seek prompt medical attention and take photographs of the injuries just in case you may need to go to court. It would be up to the court to decide whether or not the dog is a threat to public safety.

Learn more about dog bite accidents in Virginia.

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You would hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t have a Facebook or Twitter account these days. People love to share their thoughts, post what they’re doing that day, and share pictures with their friends. However, did you know that what you publish on these social media sites can be used against you in a court of law?

Let’s say, for instance, that someone was a victim in a bad car accident and claimed severe back injuries that supposedly were due to this accident. However, the Facebook or Twitter page of this person shows pictures of him/her riding roller coasters, skiing, and other activities that a person normally would not do with a back injury. Even if this person had set their Facebook page to “private”, meaning only his/her friends could see postings, a judge can order disclosure of the Facebook password to gain access to any postings.

In regards to Twitter, all information posted to this site is available to the public and can be seen by anyone. During the discovery phase of a trial, the other side could site any tweets to be included in evidence. Even what you may perceive to be a fun, innocent post on a social media site may be used to paint a picture of you in a negative way. This is what happened to Isaiah Lester.

Lester was involved in a tragic car accident with a truck that left his wife, Jessica Lester, dead while he suffered minor injuries. The couple were traveling on State Route 53 when they were hit by a truck driven by William Sprouse who was working for Allied Concrete Co. Isaiah Lester became a beneficiary in a wrongful death case of over $10 million dollars. Case closed, right? Not so fast…

Of course, the attorneys who represented Allied Concrete Co. were not going to go out without a fight. They are now seeking a reversal of that judgment because of pictures that may have been posted Lester’s Facebook page. Lester’s attorney allegedly lied to the court regarding the Facebook page and intentionally withheld evidence regarding the case.

There are numerous other cases that have involved using social media postings as evidence in court. What we can learn from them is to always use discretion when publishing anything on sites like Facebook and Twitter. Before you post anything, ask yourself it if is something that might be taken out of context and portray you in a negative way. You never know who could be keeping tabs on you; it could be an insurance adjuster, attorney, or even the police.

Another lesson to be learned from all of this is to simply tell the truth. If you really were not seriously injured in a car wreck or you may have contributed to an accident, then just be honest. Keep in mind that attorneys and insurance companies will do anything to disprove your case, and that includes attempting to be your “friend”.

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If you’ve been involved in an auto wreck, you can benefit from hiring a car accident lawyer to help you with your case. An experienced lawyer usually stays updated on current laws and can help communicate with police authorities and insurance companies regarding the accident. This will help alleviate any pressure or stress on your part. It’s already enough to deal with any injuries that you may have suffered!

Your initial consultation with a lawyer will involve many questions regarding the circumstances and events surrounding the car accident. So what information will you need to know before you meet with your lawyer? Here are a few things to think about and prepare:

• What was the exact location of the accident and what was the road like (wet, bumpy, potholes, etc.) on that day?
• Did you take any photographs of the accident? If so, bring them with you to the meeting. Also, if you have any, also bring photographs of your car before the accident.
• Were there any witnesses or other parties involved in the accident? Write down all their names and telephone numbers. If another party was involved, bring their insurance information.
• If you went to the hospital or saw a chiropractor after the accident, what diagnosis or treatments did you receive? What symptoms are you experiencing at the moment?
• How extensive are the damages to your vehicle? Have you already received an estimate for damages from an auto mechanic?

Any and all paperwork pertaining to your accident should be brought to the meeting with your lawyer. This will help the process of collecting information and filing a claim go much smoother and quicker. The more information you have, the better.

During the meeting, your lawyer should be able to tell if your case has potential and whether or not there is sufficient evidence to prove that the other driver acted negligently. Your lawyer should also give you an idea of how long your case will take to be completed.

Finding the right person to help you with your case is an important step to consider. You deserve to be represented by a professional personal injury lawyer who will protect your rights and ensure that you receive a fair settlement for the pain and suffering, loss of wages, and damages to your vehicle. A lawyer who specializes in these types of cases will help you investigate the accident, fill out all the insurance paperwork, and if necessary, assemble together expert witnesses if your case does go to court.

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If you can’t think of anything for dinner, look in your backyard.  These weeds are edible, but do your research and properly identify them (and make sure you or the neighbor’s dog haven’t sprayed them with something) before you put them on your plate.  A tip: don’t try these if you are prone to allergies.

♦ Dandelion.  Add the leaves, which contain vitamins A, C and K, to soup.  The leaves are more tender and less bitter if you eat them before they flower.

♦ Plantain (the weed, not the banana).  Blanche the leaves and sauté with butter and garlic. You also can crush them and use on insect bites.

♦ Stinging nettles.  You must steam or boil these to get rid of the nettles, but they are said to make a nutritious tea.

♦ Purslane.  Eat the young stems and leaves in salads or sandwiches or use them in recipes that call for spinach (the taste is similar).   Purslane contains antioxidant vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids.

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The miracles of modern medicine abound. One of the more recent are mechanical replacements for shoulders and hips.

These devices offer the promise of renewed mobility and freedom from pain. Generally, the results have been amazing.

Unfortunately some recipients of hip replacements have not fared so well. Johnson and Johnson’s DePuy hip replacement product had to be recalled from the market due to defects which were causing many problems to those who have received them, even including the poisoning of the blood due to the metals used in the replacement.

Johnson and Johnson has written to all the recipients, basically offering to pay to have the devices replaced. No offer is made to compensate for the pain and suffering, both physical and emotional, which had been caused by their product.

We are representing several victims of this hip replacement device and we are joining in a national lawsuit against Johnson and Johnson to recover a fair and just amount to compensate for the horrors they have suffered.

If you know of anyone who has been victimized by this product, please have them call me. We will be glad to discuss – free of charge – the ins and outs of this kind of claim.

Tell them to call me at 804-643-4343.

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Whether you just bought a computer, flat-screen TV or washing machine, chances are you were offered an extended warranty. Here are 5 tips to help you make the decision.

• Retailers will push them. They make more money on the warranties than they do on the products themselves.

• Know the difference between an extended warranty and a service contract. An extended warranty protects you against manufacturing defects; a service contract provides varying degrees of maintenance.

• You probably don’t have to decide on the spot. Many retailers let you add extended coverage up to 30 days after your purchase. Go home and research the repair costs and track record of the specific item.
• Not all warranties are alike.  If you think you do need one, be sure to read the fine print.  Don’t be afraid to negotiate with the retailer.

• You may already have coverage. Your credit card company may extend the length of your manufacturer’s warranty.  Check before you shop.

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The next time you’re wondering what’s wrong with your car, check out the color of the smoke that’s coming out of the exhaust. AAA.com says these are the colors to look for:

Blue smoke. This means engine oil has leaked into the cylinder area and is burning. It’s okay to drive but you should take your car to a technician as soon as possible before oil starts to affect the spark plugs.

Black smoke. There may be too much fuel in the fuel-air mixture that’s burned in the car’s cylinders. It could be caused by the fuel pump or injectors. If it only happens when you start the car, don’t worry. But if it continues and the color of your oil on the dipstick is brown or milky, call a tow truck.

White smoke. It’s not smoke – it’s steam. A thick steam coming out of your tailpipe means water and/or antifreeze is entering the engine and being vaporized. Address this immediately before driving to avoid further engine damage. If you don’t see steam but you do have to add coolant regularly, you should be suspicious of a leak and talk to a technician.

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