Legal

This section highlights updates on Virginia laws, important court rulings, and consumer protection issues. We also analyze how state and local legal developments impact individuals and families. From new legislation to high-profile cases, our goal is to keep readers aware of how the legal system shapes life across Virginia.

Driver That Killed Infant Sentenced to 1 Year in Jail

The SUV driver who hit and killed an infant in a stroller in Lansdowne, Virginia in a crosswalk was sentenced this month to a year in jail. The sentence was the maximum that the 47 year old Leesburg man could receive under state law. Prosecutors…

By Randy Appleton

/ 1 Feb 2018

Georgia School Bus Flips On Side; 16 Injured

Approximately 16 students were taken to the hospital in Gilmer County, Georgia on Jan 22 when their school bus flipped onto its side in a one-vehicle accident. The sheriff’s office in Gilmer County stated that the accident occurred on Yukon Road after 3 PM. The…

By Randy Appleton

/ 29 Jan 2018

West Virginia Judge Hands Down Harshest Possible Sentence in Fatal DUI Case

Judge John Hatcher in Fayetteville, West Virginia gave the harshest sentence possible under state law on Dec. 28 to a young woman who was driving under the influence of drugs when she killed a married couple on June 18, 2015 near Glen Jean, West Virginia.…

By Randy Appleton

/ 16 Jan 2018

Fatal Car Accident Rate in West Virginia Higher Than National Average

At least 240 people were killed in car accidents in West Virginia in 2015, according to state statistics. The fatality rate in West Virginia is higher than the national average. Experts speculate the mountainous terrain, speeding, and alcohol consumption on the state’s many rural roads…

By Richard Shapiro

/ 2 Jan 2018

Herndon, Virginia Crime Spree Results in 5 Injuries

A woman and five children suffered serious injuries when a stolen pickup truck slammed into a minivan on December 27 in a police chase in Herndon, Virginia. Police reported that all parties who were injured are still in the hospital. The pickup driver also was…

By Richard Shapiro

/ 2 Jan 2018

Fair Compensation for Wrongful Death

What happens in fatal car wrecks? Like most other states, North Carolina has a wrongful death statute. Under this law, an experienced attorney can provide a family compensation for their loss. Direct economic losses in wrongful death cases are compensable. These items include funeral and…

By Randy Appleton

/ 21 Dec 2017

Two Killed in Head-On Crash in Crimora, Virginia

Two people were fatally injured in a crash that shut down Route 340 in Crimora, Virginia on November 26. The Virginia State Police reported that a Toyota 4Runner was going south on the highway when it crossed the center line and slammed into a Ford…

By Randy Appleton

/ 4 Dec 2017

Truck Driver Charged in Crash That Killed Virginia Woman

A tractor-trailer driver that was blamed for a deadly truck crash that killed a woman from Spotsylvania County, Virginia will be charged in the accident. The Virginia State Police reported this week that the 62-year-old truck driver from Georgia will be charged with involuntary manslaughter and…

By Randy Appleton

/ 16 Nov 2017

Allegedly Drunk Boater to Face Trial in Indiana

A 20-year-old woman in Fort Wayne, Indiana who allegedly was drunk when she drove a boat that spun out of control on Lake Gage in July, will face a criminal trial in 2018. Dominique M. Effinger, 20, will be in court from May 21-25, 2018…

By Randy Appleton

/ 8 Nov 2017

Hampton Roads, Virginia Has The State’s Most Dangerous Drive

The I-264/I-64 interchange in Hampton Roads, Virginia is the busiest in the Hampton Roads area, and the second-busiest in the state. It also has the highest number of recorded accidents for 2017 in Virginia. Specifically, the point where I-64 eastbound merges with I-264 is where…

By Randy Appleton

/ 5 Nov 2017

Poquoson VA Man Charged in Fatal DUI Crash

A 23-year-old man from Poquoson, Virginia was released from the hospital on Oct. 11 and was charged for a September 17 DUI crash that killed his passenger. The Virginia State Police reported that the deadly DUI crash happened at 3:30 AM on I-64 eastbound near…

By Randy Appleton

/ 1 Nov 2017

West Virginia Man Pleads Not Guilty to DUI in Fatal Crash

A man from Elkview, West Virginia who stands accused of causing a fatal car accident while he was high on drugs in early 2017 has pleaded not guilty. The 55-year-old man pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence causing serious bodily injury and driving on…

By Eric Washburn

/ 1 Nov 2017