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Student Killed in Car Accident

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Monday afternoon, a 16 year old high school student died in a two vehicle accident on the 14000 block of Prince George Drive. Ryan A. Newman was killed when his 2000 Chevy Blazer crossed over the center line and collided with a Toyota.

Newman died at the scene, while the driver of the other car, Joshua Lyons, was taken to Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center.

Emergency responders were called to the accident scene shortly before 5 pm. One vehicle was on its side in the middle of the road while the other came to a rest off the road. It took crews nearly 20 minutes to remove both victims from their respective vehicles.

A preliminary investigation reports that Newman was traveling southbound on Prince George Drive when his vehicle crossed the centerline and collided head on with the Toyota.

Check back periodically for more information on this story and other Virginia car accidents.

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Posted in Auto Accidents | 1 Comment »

Recent Personal Injury News

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

Personal injury news stories are all the rage – no matter where you live or what newspaper you read. Since it would be difficult to read every story that hits the internet, we have included three below that you definitely don’t want to miss:

1. Millions on the line as first Chinese drywall trial opens

2. Personal Injury Settlements in Maryland: What Portion Is Marital Property?

3. 8 Mistakes You Can Make In Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer for Your Case

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Texting and Driving: Still a Major Problem

Monday, March 1st, 2010

Many states have passed laws prohibiting texting while driving. In 2009, Utah passed the strictest law in the nation. Any driver who is caught violating the law will be charged with a misdemeanor and will face up to three months in jail as well as a $750 fine. What about a texting related accident that results in death? In this case, the penalty is much more severe. This calls for a prison sentence of up to 15 years and a $10k fine.

At this time, there are 19 states, as well as the District of Columbia, that ban drivers from texting while driving. That being said, most of them do not penalize violators as heavily as Utah.

A recent study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute concluded that drivers who text have a 23x greater chance of being involved in an accident when compared to those who don’t.

While texting and driving is still a major issue (see the above statistic) many states are being proactive in stopping the problem. Do you think more states will begin to enforce stricter laws, such as those in place in Utah?

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New York Times: Judge Weighs Damages in Chinese Drywall Case

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

The New York Times recently ran a piece detailing the events of a court case involving Virginia Chinese drywall victims and Taishan Gypsum Co. To read the story in its entirety, visit: Judge Weighs Damages in Chinese Drywall Case.

Throughout the story, as well as many others written on the case, it is easy to see that the plaintiffs, which include a group of Virginia homeowners, have been greatly effected by this problem.

It is up to United States District Judge Eldon Fallon to rule on the case. While it is limited to seven families, there are many others who are waiting for their day in court. This problem is widespread, and many of those who have been effected are looking for some sort of help. Fallon said he will make a decision “as fast as I reasonably can.” For those involved, as well as people watching the case from the outside, the sooner the better.

Check back often for information on this case, as well as many others that will be headed for the courtroom in the near future.

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Posted in Chinese Drywall | No Comments »

Toyota Recall Information

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

Lawsuits against Toyota Motor Corp. are mounting. Believe it or not, the total cost of the recall, linked to faulty gas pedals, is going to push well past $2 billion.

At this time, there are at least 40 class action suits filed against Toyota. Along with this, there are 12 individual suits claiming injury or death related to this issue. Attorneys working on these cases feel that many more are on the way.

A February 4, 2009 earnings call showed just how much money Toyota is going to lose. The company will have to spend roughly $1.2 billion on warranty repairs, as well as more nearly $900 million in lost sales.

Of course, the lawsuits are going to cost the company even more money. University of Richmond Law Professor, Carl Tobias, had this to say in a recent interview: It’s important to distinguish the personal-injury cases from the product-disappointment or lemon cases. The latter are worth a lot less, in terms of payment.”

It will be interesting to see how many more personal injury cases are filed. Only time will tell. Check back for updates!

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Personal Injury News Stories

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

Day in and day out, fresh personal injury news stories hit the internet. Some of them are based around car accidents and related incidents; others show victims how to choose the right attorney. Below are three personal injury related stories that should open your eyes to what is going on around you:

1. Heparin blood thinner caused man to lose his toes, claims lawsuit

2. Newark man charged with DUI in fatal W.Va. crash

3. Climber who fell in Mount St. Helens crater died; body recovered

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Finding a Virginia Personal Injury Attorney can be Simple

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

Following an injury you may be thinking about hiring an attorney. Does this mean you can open up the phone book and chose the first person you come across? Definitely not. There is a system you need to follow when hiring a Virginia personal injury attorney. After all, the person you hire is going to have a large impact on the outcome of your case.

To choose the right person for your case, these three tips can be helpful:

1. Do you know any attorneys? Even if they do not specialize in personal injury law the can still help. Ask for a referral to somebody they fully trust and believe in. This way you can be confident that you made the right decision.

2. Interview more than one attorney. If you ask the same questions to all the attorneys you speak with, one should stick out in your mind when everything is said and done. That is when you can make your hiring decision.

3. Beware of attorneys who are pushing you to sign an agreement with them on the spot. If you have a case everybody will want to get involved. Any attorney who will pressure you is one that you want to avoid.

Finding a Virginia personal injury attorney can be quite simple if you follow the three tips listed above.

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Posted in Virginia Personal Injury Lawyer | No Comments »

Wrongful Death News Stories

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

It is amazing what you can learn if you stay current with the news. At this time, there are quite a few wrongful death stories that are taking up a lot of space in the newspaper and a lot of airtime on television stations all over the world. While these stories may not do anything for you right now, you never know what you can learn and put to good use at a later date.

Here are a few news stories that you definitely want to check out if you are interested in wrongful death topics:

1. Katherine Jackson Weighing Possible Wrongful Death Suit

2. Mayfield ready to file wrongful-death suit against stepmother

3. Coach In Wrongful Death Lawsuit Back In Court

4. Family of Hazing Victim Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against USU

If you need to hire a Virginia wrongful death attorney do not hesitate to contact the lawyers at The Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, P.C. for a free consultation.

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Lead Poisoning Sickens Hundreds in China

Monday, August 17th, 2009

Contrary to popular belief, lead poisoning is still a big problem in many parts of the world. It may not be as common as it was several decades ago, but it is something to be aware of nonetheless. If you have been keeping up with the news, you have probably heard that roughly 600 children in China were recently sickened by lead poisoning. No, this is not in the United States. But who is to say where this may happen next?

It is thought that families living close to the Dongling Lead and Zinc Smelting Co. were those who were affected. Out of the 731 children living in the two villages close by, approximately 80 percent tested positive for lead poisoning. Sources close to the situation have reported that lead levels in some children were as high as 506 milligrams per liter of blood. Is this a lot by Chinese standards? Most definitely. In fact, this is more than 10 times the “safe” amount in China.

Every house in the two villages that were affected will be relocated within the next one to two years. As you can imagine, staying put is not a good idea.

Almost 200 of the children will need hospital treatment, while the rest will receive treatment at home.

Lead poisoning can lead to nerve damage, memory loss, high blood pressure, and in some cases death.

It is unfortunate that something like this has to happen to show the world that lead poisoning can still be a problem.

If you or your child has been a victim of lead poisoning you need to know your legal rights. Do not hesitate to contact the lawyers at The Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, P.C. for a free Virginia lead poisoning consultation.

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Medtronic Pacemaker Recall: Your Legal Rights

Friday, August 14th, 2009

Were you affected by one of the roughly 21,000 Medtronic pacemakers that were recalled in May 2009? If so, you need to know your legal rights. In other words, you may be able to take action against Medtronic to be compensated for this serious problem. As you know, your pacemaker is very important to your overall level of health. Living with one that is defective can lead to serious problems and even death.

This is not the first time that Medtronic has been at the center of a large recall. In 2005, a voluntary recall was issued. This recall was even more serious than the current one as it was thought to have impacted 87,000 patients. As you can see, Medtronic has a history of problematic pacemakers.

A Class 1 recall, such as the one issued earlier this year, is nothing to take lightly. This is the most serious type of recall because it suggests that continued use could result in serious injury or death.

Were you implanted with a Medtronic pacemaker that has since been recalled? If you don’t know, it is very important to speak with your doctor and/or cardiologist at once. Those who find that they were implanted will need to take the proper steps, with the help of their medical team, to rectify the problem.

In the meantime, you have every right to consider a lawsuit against Medtronic for the dangerous situation that you have been put in.

If you have been implanted with a Medtronic pacemaker that has been recalled do not hesitate to contact the lawyers at The Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, P.C. for a free consultation.

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Posted in Defective Products | No Comments »

Medtronic Pacemaker Recall: Are you a Victim?

Wednesday, August 12th, 2009

A Class 1 recall by the Food and Drug Administration is nothing to take lightly. The FDA only uses this classification when serious injury or death is likely to occur. In May 2009, certain Medtronic pacemakers were recalled due to a high risk of failure caused by the separation of wires in the device. This was a Class 1 recall that has affected thousands of people. Are you a victim?

As you know, patients who rely on a pacemaker need their device to work flawlessly. Any failure can lead to serious injury or even death.

It is believed that there are roughly 1.7 million Medtronic pacemakers implanted in patients. Fortunately, it is also believed that only 21,000 of the units are affected by the Class 1 recall. Most of the flawed devices have been in patients for at least five years.

Medtronic has taken the initiative in alerting doctors who have used these devices in patients. Additionally, they also sent letters to patients to keep them abreast on the situation and what they should do to ensure their safety.

The Medtronic pacemakers affected by the recall are the Sigma Series 100/200/300 and the Kappa series 600/700/900.

If you think you have one of these pacemakers you should immediately contact your physician. It is important to address this problem as soon as possible as it has the potential to lead to serious injury or death.

If you have been implanted with a Medtronic pacemaker that has been recalled do not hesitate to contact the lawyers at The Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, P.C. for a free consultation.

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Posted in Defective Products | No Comments »

Not all Wrongful Death Attorneys are the same

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

Hiring a wrongful death attorney is never simple. Not only do you need to search for the right attorney, but you are in the mourning process which makes things even more difficult on you. It is important to remember, above all else, that not all wrongful death attorneys are the same. You should realize that some may be right for you, but others will not have anything to offer.

If you have a wrongful death case you need to hire an attorney to move forward. What you look for in your attorney is up to you. At the very least you should look for the following:

1. An attorney who cares about your case as well as you as a human being. You are going through a tough time and you need your attorney to be available to help you in a sympathetic manner.

2. Will he give you a complete analysis before taking on your case? You don’t want to hire a wrongful death attorney who wants you case just to make money. You want somebody who has looked over every detail and feels that working with you would be beneficial to both parties.

3. Somebody who can answer your questions. Filing a wrongful death lawsuit is not something you will do everyday. Hopefully you never have to do this, but if you do you should most definitely work with somebody who can answer any question that you have.

These are some details to consider when hiring a wrongful death attorney. Considering these will make the process simpler for you.

If you need to hire a Virginia wrongful death attorney do not hesitate to contact the lawyers at The Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, P.C. for a free consultation.

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