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.

Death From Tractor Trailer Truck Accidents

As an injury attorney, I pay attention to the numbers of accidents reported by the government. United States Department of Transportation issued a report that in 2002 there were over 4,500 tractor trailers involved in fatal collisions. Over 5,000 people died in these truck wrecks. The study put out

By Richard Shapiro

/ 11 May 2007

All We Do Is Injury Law

Our firm uses the slogan “All we do is injury law” to summarize what our firm’s focus is. However, there are really many types of cases within personal injury law. As a Virginia (VA) personal injury attorney, it always amazes me that clients may not fully understand what areas of law we practice in

By Richard Shapiro

/ 11 May 2007

What is an injury lawyer looking for in an automobile accident case?

There are three components of a good vehicle collision case, namely 1) liability, 2) damages and 3) insurance. You need to have all three of these elements in order for you to have a car wreck injury claim that I can help you with. If any of these elements is missing, I may be forced to decline the

By Richard Shapiro

/ 10 May 2007

Early investigation is key to winning truck accident cases.

Although I have always recommended clients hire a personal injury as soon as possible after an injury, the reasons for fast action are especially true in significant trucking wreck cases. The insurance company for the trucker will be out on the scene immediately collecting evidence and documenting w

By Richard Shapiro

/ 8 May 2007

Drunk Driving Takes Young Lives.

A well written letter to the editor in a recent Virginia Pilot talked about the loss of young lives in the context of the recent Virginia Tech tragedy.No words can comfort a parent who has lost a child. That is probably one of the hardest and most unnatural types of grief in the world. The author no

By Richard Shapiro

/ 7 May 2007

Car/Bus Wrecks Common

I read in a recent news clip where eighteen people were injured when a car collided with a bus. One of injuries was critical. This happened in New York. However it could have been any town in the U.S including in Virginia or North Carolina. Car wrecks involving buses are not infrequent. Sometimes th

By Richard Shapiro

/ 5 May 2007

Vision Issues and Human Factors Are Fascinating Issues in Vehicular Wreck Cases

I just met with an expert witness in a railroad crossing case (truck hit by train) whose field is vision and human factors. This lady, Ellie Francis, has two PhDs in these areas. She is an incredibly high powered expert in these subjects which are central to what happens during vehicular accidents l

By Richard Shapiro

/ 4 May 2007

Brain Injury: The Walking Wounded

A recent medical study of professional football players has showed that brain injury is a more significant problem, than thought. However, brain injury has probably been ignored or down played in the NFL and the medical community for a long time. Because brain injury is not always as obvious as some

By Richard Shapiro

/ 3 May 2007

Gastric Bypass Operations Continue To Result In Medical Malpractice Awards

Recently, a gastric bypass medical error/wrongful death case was settled for over $800,000.00 on the morning of jury trial in Norfolk, Virginia (VA). The case in the Norfolk Circuit Court involved a 28 year old single mother who had an 8 year old handicapped child. After trying to diet and exercise

By Richard Shapiro

/ 2 May 2007

People Injured in Accidents Often Face Bankruptcy

Unfortunately, there is a relationship between the field of personal injury law and the field of bankruptcy law. At my law firm, Hajek, Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis, and Appleton, “all we do is personal injury law”; however, I have had to learn over 18 years in injury practice about the relationship of ba

By Richard Shapiro

/ 30 Apr 2007

Screening Medical Malpractice Cases Is Challenging

As a law firm handling medical malpractice cases in Virginia (VA), North Carolina (NC) and in other states, we spend a lot of time on the phone talking to potential clients about their claims of medical error by doctors and hospitals. Many of these client calls are heartbreaking to hear about loved

By Richard Shapiro

/ 29 Apr 2007

I Love Being A Personal Injury And F.E.L.A. Lawyer

I have been doing personal injury law for 18 years from Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA) and I really enjoy what I do. First, I really believe that I am wearing the white hat in doing good work on a worthy cause because I represent only plaintiffs in personal injury cases. I do not think that the insur

By Richard Shapiro

/ 28 Apr 2007