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.

Big Business vs. The Little Guy

It never ceases to amaze me how big insurance companies and corporations do everything in their power to prevent people from being able to make injury claims when they get hurt.Big businesses use all of their money and leverage to try to pay as little as they can get away with paying in all regards.

By Richard Shapiro

/ 21 Nov 2006

Testing Is Critical In Products Liability Cases.

BY: JOHN M. COOPERThe very first question when someone calls me about a products liability case is do you have the product in question in your possession.The reason this is the first question is that the only way you can win such a case is to have an expert examine the product to confirm that it was

By Richard Shapiro

/ 10 Nov 2006

The Hospital Emergency Room Is No Place For A Sick Person

Hospital emergency rooms are stretched to the limits, which can lead to medical mistakes.A 1999 study showed that more than half of all preventable hospital error claims result from mistakes in the emergency room (ER). The main problem is chaos. Hospital emergency rooms are not properly funded and t

By Richard Shapiro

/ 2 Nov 2006

Family Doctor, Chiropractor or Orthopedist – Who Do You Choose?

Our clients often ask us who should I go see after an automobile wreck with a personal injury.The choice of what kind of doctor to go see is up to the individual. There is no right answer. Generally, I, as an attorney, try to stay out of the decision. However, I do give information to folks who have

By Richard Shapiro

/ 1 Nov 2006

Accidents Most Likely Near Home

The vast majority of car wrecks happen within a 3 mile radius of your home.If you think about it, it is just a matter of common sense that more personal injuries happen near home. You are on the road more near your house than anywhere other than work. Because almost every trip begins and ends near h

By Richard Shapiro

/ 31 Oct 2006

Should I get medical care after an injury?

One of the initial questions faced by the victims of other’s negligence is whether they should seek medical attention.While the answer to this question is driven by the facts of the particular incident (i.e. the age of the victim, site of the injury, degree of trauma, etc.), early and appropriate me

By Richard Shapiro

/ 30 Oct 2006

Railroad Defense Bullies

It never ceases to amaze me how attorneys representing big corporations like CSX Railroad will try to bully and threaten the injured worker and his attorney only to give in in the end when faced with clear law in favor of the little guy.One example of this bluster by railroad defense attorneys has t

By Richard Shapiro

/ 25 Oct 2006

A Hospital Is No Place For A Sick Person

We have all heard a similar joke, even from health care providers, that the last place you want to be if you are sick is the hospital.Hospitals are dangerous places. In addition to infections, there are many other dangers of injury and death posed by hospitals that are preventable. An independent ag

By Richard Shapiro

/ 13 Oct 2006

Multi-State Injury Cases Are More Complicated

If your personal injury case involves more than one state, it is more complex and requires an attorney familar with handling such cases.Lots of personal injury cases involve more than one state. For example, if you are from North Carolina and you have a car crash just across the border in Virginia,

By Richard Shapiro

/ 12 Oct 2006

Mild Brain Injury Verdict

Not long ago, we saw a huge verdict of $3,000,000.00 in a mild brain injury case in Hampton, VA.A 41 year old woman was driving when a dump truck took a left turn in front of her. In addition to orthopedic injuries, the woman suffered symptoms of brain injury like memory loss, anxiety and loss of ba

By Richard Shapiro

/ 18 Sep 2006

My Law Firm Partner Doubles As Inventor of Fold Flat Products

My partner, Rick Shapiro, edits the Virginia Beach IB blog and has been practicing mostly injury law for over 20 years, but is also an inventor of new “fold flat” products with patented folding wheel axles. He recently posted a blog article called seeing “Both Sides” which discusses being in the str

By Richard Shapiro

/ 13 Sep 2006

Plaintiff's Lawyers Share Power of Information

Trial lawyers representing injured people have in recent years gained a huge advantage by sharing information over the internet with fellow plaintiff’s side lawyers through listserves or groups of lawyers with a common interest.For years, defense lawyers have shared information with other lawyers re

By Richard Shapiro

/ 12 Sep 2006