• Narrow lanes. Distracted drivers will often drift out of their lanes onto the shoulder, but have time to correct their mistake. In construction areas, where lanes can be narrow, distracted drivers may drift into road equipment or even workers. 
• Shifting lanes. If you are talking on the phone or text messaging, you might not notice the odd lane shifts that are often present near roadwork sites. 
• Stop-and-go traffic. The majority of construction zone accidents are rear-end accidents – a car or truck doesn’t slow with the flow of traffic or is distracted when the car in front of them brakes for workers. 
• Pedestrian workers. Those most in danger in construction zones are the road workers – men and women who put their lives at risk to make our roads safer. Taking your eyes away from the road to use your mobile phone could mean drifting into a worker or a construction vehicle with a worker inside.

Two examples of why the loophole needed to be closed

Virginia workers’ compensation attorneys

Car accident tax day study

Virginia car accident lawyers

Recent Richmond tractor-trailer accidents

On the road with Ron Floyd

Virginia truck accident lawyers

New Virginia workers’ comp bill: pros and cons 

The bill, HB153, is sponsored by Delegrate Lee Ware, a Republican from Powhatan, and received wide support from conservative lawmakers. The bill passed by a vote of 20-19 in the Senate and by a vote of 70-26 in the House. 

While those who support the bill say that the new workers’ comp law will stamp out redundancy in the wake of shipyard worker accidents, opponents to the bill believe that it will leave some shipyard workers without workers’ comp coverage in the event of a serious injury. Currently, workers filed two claims after an on-the-job accident: one Virginia workers’ compensation claim and one federal Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act claim. In most cases, the latter form of coverage is better for most injured workers. 

The bill will affect about 1,800 workers, though some shipyard employers say that only about five perfect of those workers would be affected by the new legislation. 

Virginia workers’ compensation attorney 

After a serious injury at work, it is vital that you and your family receive the support you need during your recovery. Navigating the workers’ comp process can be especially difficult for longshoremen and shipyard workers. If you have been injured on the job, a Virginia workers’ comp lawyer may be able to help. Call Chandler Law Group today to learn more. 

The teen driving study, which was conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, observed about 50 teens using vehicle cameras that switched on after an abrupt movement or brake. The study consisted of over 7,500 video clips taken from dozens of drivers between the ages of 16 and 19. Here’s what they found:

• Distracted driving caused by mobile devices was more prevalent than other forms of distracted driving, including eating, using car controls, grooming, reaching for objects, or interacting with passengers. 
• Female drivers were twice as likely to use a cell phone while driving than male drivers. 
• Teens used a cell phone in just over six percent of the video clips. 
• Older teens were more likely to use electronic devices than those who had just recently began driving. 
• 17 of the testers never used a cell phone while driving – eight of which were in the group of younger drivers. 
• Almost half of the abrupt driving events were caused by the driver taking their eyes off of the road. 

Have you or a loved one been injured in a Virginia car accident that may have been caused by teen distracted driving? Contact a VA car accident attorney at Chandler law Group today. 

Here are some highlights from the UVA traffic accident study: 

• Drivers over the age of 65 are the second most at-risk age group for serious injury and death in traffic accidents. The youngest age group – drivers between 16 and 33 – are most at risk for serious car accidents. 
• Senior drivers are more likely to buckle their seatbelt, more likely to drive the speed limit, and less likely to drive under the influence of drugs and alcohol. They are less likely to suffer injuries in late-night crashes, drunk driving accidents, or speeding accidents than younger drivers.
• Seniors are significantly more likely to become seriously injured in a daylight accident at an intersection in which they collide with a vehicle that has the right-of-way. 
• Seniors are more likely to suffer a chest injury in a traffic accident than younger drivers. Younger drivers are more likely to suffer serious head injuries. 
• Senior car accident injuries were often complicated by other health issues and conditions, such as frailty. 

If you have suffered Virginia car accident injuries (http://www.chandlerlawgroup.com/practice_areas/automobile-accident-attorneys.cfm)and need legal advice, we may be able to help you. Call the Virginia personal injury attorneys at Chandler Law Group to get your questions answered and find out whether you could collect damages in the wake of your crash. 

• Cars are safer than ever before. Cars in 1959 didn’t have seatbelts, airbags, high-tech brakes, modern bumpers, or crash avoidance technology. Even when accidents happen, they are less likely to involve serious injury or death. 
• Roads are safer and better designed. Advances in pavement technology, rumble strips, better barriers, more lights, and better signage all mean that fewer people crash due to road conditions. 
• Drivers are making better decisions. Drivers and passengers are both buckling up at record rates, while drivers are making better decisions about drinking and driving. Tougher DUI laws in many states may also contribute to lower crash rates. 

As you might guess, intersections are the backdrop for a significant number of Virginia traffic accidents - and many crashes at intersections occur when a traffic signal is ignored. In addition, making left turns is especially dangerous because it places your car into the path of oncoming vehicles.

How can you stay safe while making left turns at busy intersections? Wait for the green light or green arrow and always look for cars, bikes, and pedestrians before proceeding. If you regularly use an intersection that you believe could be improved, write your local government.

What should you do if you have been injured in a left turn accident in Virginia? Contact a Virginia Beach personal injury attorney today to learn more about your possible options for legal action.

According to an investigation by the Virginian-Pilot, three of the main violations included:

• Workers had not been warned of the dangers of getting into the back of the truck.
• Holton had not been trained to drive the truck that he was driving that day. 
• The safety system on the truck had not been tested that morning as was required.

Perhaps the most shocking part of the fatal Virginia worker accident is that the report was not given to Holton's family or brought to the attention of city councilmen.

If your loved one has been injured or killed in an on-the-job accident in Norfolk, it is absolutely vital that you understand how the accident took place and who was at fault. Call a Virginia worker injury attorney today to learn more about your case.

According to a Public Citizen press release, over five hundred workers have died of heat-related causes in the last two decades while an estimated 43,000 more workers have missed at least one day of work due to on-the-job heat-related medical issues. However, despite these numbers, the OSHA has not implemented a safety standard for heat exposure. The OSHA argues that heat exposure is covered in more general standards regarding safe work conditions.

Heat exposure has a number of serious consequences, including heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and even death. Workers are especially susceptible to these issues as they are often laboring for hours while wearing protective gear. The workers who are most often affected by extreme heat exposure are construction workers and agricultural workers.

If you have been harmed by extreme heat exposure on the job, it is important that you understand your rights - and that your employer is aware of the dangers of exposing workers to dangerous conditions. Call Chandler Law Group today to speak with a Virginia worker injury attorney.

Witnesses to the Virginia worker accident say that the approaching car was speeding in the moments before it struck the truck and that the driver suddenly veered out of the left lane and into the truck. Two of the TME workers were thrown from the vehicle and all three were injured. Three people in the car that allegedly caused the on-the-job accident were also injured. All six injured people were transported by ambulance to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.

Virginia state police say that both speeding and alcohol consumption were factors in the crash, though they have yet to charge the driver of the sedan.

Just last week, Virginia State Troopers reminded residents that a large amount of roadwork would be taking place across the state in the coming months and that it was extremely important that drivers slow down and stay alert in road work zones. This construction zone accident is a sad reminder we must do a better job at keeping our construction workers safe.

Have you or a loved one been injured in a Virginia worker accident? Speak with a Culpeper workers' comp attorney today about the details of your case.

Earlier this year, a manufacturing worker for the Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company was injured at work and received medical benefits, temporary total disability benefits, and permanent partial disability benefits in the wake of his accident. Later, after he returned to his job, his entire line was furloughed for a week due to a drop in demand. The worker then sought lost wages benefits for the week without pay.

While his employer argued that there was not a significant connection between his injury and the loss of wages since his coworkers also lost pay, the worker contended that a causal relationship existed. The Virginia Court of Appeals sided with the employer, finding that since other employees suffered the same experiences despite a lack of injuries, the injured worker should not be granted benefits.

When fighting to secure benefits for your Virginia workers' compensation claim, it is vital that you establish a causal relationship between your injury and any monetary losses. Do you have questions about your current Virginia workers' comp case or on-the-job injury? Speak with the Falls Church workers' comp attorneys at the Chandler Law Group today.