From Charlottesville, Virginia

Covering the state of Virginia, Wilson & Hajek, a personal injury law firm, is centrally located in Charlottesville, Virginia. Francis Hajek is an experienced Virginia personal injury attorney and lawyer who provides aggressive representation and personal service to his clients who have suffered injuries. Since 2007, he has been listed in Best Lawyers in America. www.winjurylaw.com

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Traffic Tickets For Cars And Bikes

Charlottesville Tomorrow reports that traffic tickets for bikes are on the rise in Charlottesville. As an experienced personal injury lawyer in the Charlottesville Albemarle area, I am aware that this area has a reputation as a bike friendly place to be. However, what many cyclists do not realize is that a traffic ticket for an infraction involving a bike has the same effect as a traffic ticket involving the operation of an automobile when it comes to your driver's license. If you are convicted of failing to stop your bike at a stop sign, it is just like failing to stop your car. You get the same number of points and you are subject to the same fine. Bicyclists are required to obey all traffic signs and signals. They are also required to use proper hand signals for turns. The failure to follow the traffic laws can result in a ticket. One issue the article did not address concerned the unlicensed bicycle operator. What happens if they receive a ticket? Well, they still have to pay the fine or go to court if they want to contest the charge, but since they do not have a license, there can't be an assessment of points. Francis P. Hajek Wilson & Hajek, LLC, a personal injury law firm Experienced Injury and Accident Lawyers Serving Virginia, including Albemarle, Charlottesville, Fluvanna, Louisa, Madison, Nelson, Orange, Greene, Augusta, Buckingham, Staunton, Waynesboro, Culpepper, Richmond, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News

Monday, February 10, 2014

Virginia Personal Injury Lawyers Can't Loan Money

Virginia personal injury lawyers and attorneys can't loan money to their injury clients. To do so is a serious ethical violation and can subject the Virginia personal injury lawyer and attorney to a loss of his or her license. So what does a Virginia personal injury lawyer and attorney do when the injury client says that he or she is going to borrow money because of desperate times created by the injury. I think the attorney should counsel against the loan and try to see if there are other sources of funds for the client. Maybe a family member will help out. Maybe there is a possibility of a bank loan at a reasonable interest rate. If all of these options fail, the attorney should help the client avoid the lenders who charge truly excessive rates of interest. Francis P. Hajek Wilson & Hajek, LLC, a personal injury law firm Experienced Injury and Accident Lawyers Serving Virginia, including Albemarle, Charlottesville, Fluvanna, Louisa, Madison, Nelson, Orange, Greene, Augusta, Buckingham, Staunton, Waynesboro, Culpepper, Richmond, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Child Traffic Accident Deaths Decrease

Recent headlines announced that child car accident deaths decreased by 43% over the last decade. The decrease was attributed to increased use of seat belts and car seats. While it is good news, it underscores the increase in car accidents for teens and inexperienced drivers who are increasingly driving while distracted. Recent changes in Virginia law have made it a primary offense to text while driving. However, enforcement can only be random and sporadic, just as it is for speed limits. The odds of being pulled over for any traffic offense are incredibly low. So if we are to see a decrease in the teen car accident rate, there must be a change in the culture and a recognition by teens that such behavior is incredibly risky. To that end, parents must set the example and avoid talking on the cell phone while driving. I realize that it is unpopular to suggest that we don't answer the ringing cell phone while driving, bu tit is risky driving behavior. Most studies that have looked at talking on the cell phone while driving equate it to driving after having two or three drinks of an alcoholic beverage. But most of us will say that we can drive safely while talking on the cell phone, particularly if we are using a hands free device. Well, most of us are just wrong and science proves it. So if you want your children to drive safely, set a good example. Don't speed and don't talk on the cell phone while driving. Francis P. Hajek Wilson & Hajek, LLC, a personal injury law firm Experienced Injury and Accident Lawyers Serving Virginia, including Albemarle, Charlottesville, Fluvanna, Louisa, Madison, Nelson, Orange, Greene, Augusta, Buckingham, Staunton, Waynesboro, Culpepper, Richmond, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News