Virginia skiing accidents (and snowboarding accidents) resulting in a personal injury are the subject of many questions under Virginia law. Unlike some states where skiing is major industry, Virginia skiing and snowboarding resorts are few in number and fairly small in size. Some local resorts are Wintergreen, Massanutten and the Homestead. Virginia does not have a comprehensive skier responsibility statute or other laws aimed at ski resorts and their operation. One general statute that does affect ski resorts concerns the operation of lifts used to transport skiers and snowboarders. These lifts are subject to regulation as an amusement attraction ride and have to conform to certain standards. Unfortunately, most personal injury claims involving skiers and snowboarders take place on the slopes of the ski resort. In such cases, the ski resorts often assert two primary defenses, contributory negligence and assumption of risk. In Virginia, proof of these defenses can lead to dismissal of a claim. In a ski or snowboard accident, it is vital to contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible so that an investigation can be launched quickly. For example, many ski resort employees are seasonal and move on after the ski season ends. Our law firm has handled ski injury cases in the past and we know the issues involved in such cases.
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, Staunton, Waynesboro
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Drunk Driver Car Accidents In Charlottesville and Albemarle
Personal Injury Lawyer Charlottesville Albemarle
Two weeks ago in the Charlottesville area, a drunk driver caused a head on collision car accident that killed the driver of one car and seriously injured several passengers. This tragic case is not an isolated instance of drunk driving causing a car accident. Each year in this country, over 17,000 people die as a result of drunk driver car accidents. Recently, in Albemarle Circuit Court, a drunk driver pleaded guilty to two counts of maiming as a result of drunk driving. Another recent case in Albemarle Circuit Court involved a college student who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for a drunk driving accident that severely injured a construction worker. These are local examples of drunk diver car accidents that contribute to the national picture of over 1 million injuries a year caused by drunk drivers. Such a staggering statistic does not get the attention it deserves. To put the numbers in perspective, the terrorist attacks on New York City killed over 3,000 people whereas each year there nearly 6 times that many people being killed by drunk drivers. We spend billions of dollars on homeland security to prevent another Twin Towers tragedy but only a fraction of that amount is spent on fighting the much greater threat of drunk drivers. It is also a threat that is much more real for every driver on our roads. It is a daily problem across the country and deserves just as much attention as terrorism prevention efforts. Imagine the effect of every car being equipped with an ignition lock that tested for alcohol in your breath before allowing the vehicle to start. Do you think such an investment would result in a dramatic drop in drunk driver car accidents? It is a sentencing option for habitual offenders. Would it be too much of an intrusion on our lives to have such equipment in every new car?
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, Staunton, Waynesboro
Two weeks ago in the Charlottesville area, a drunk driver caused a head on collision car accident that killed the driver of one car and seriously injured several passengers. This tragic case is not an isolated instance of drunk driving causing a car accident. Each year in this country, over 17,000 people die as a result of drunk driver car accidents. Recently, in Albemarle Circuit Court, a drunk driver pleaded guilty to two counts of maiming as a result of drunk driving. Another recent case in Albemarle Circuit Court involved a college student who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for a drunk driving accident that severely injured a construction worker. These are local examples of drunk diver car accidents that contribute to the national picture of over 1 million injuries a year caused by drunk drivers. Such a staggering statistic does not get the attention it deserves. To put the numbers in perspective, the terrorist attacks on New York City killed over 3,000 people whereas each year there nearly 6 times that many people being killed by drunk drivers. We spend billions of dollars on homeland security to prevent another Twin Towers tragedy but only a fraction of that amount is spent on fighting the much greater threat of drunk drivers. It is also a threat that is much more real for every driver on our roads. It is a daily problem across the country and deserves just as much attention as terrorism prevention efforts. Imagine the effect of every car being equipped with an ignition lock that tested for alcohol in your breath before allowing the vehicle to start. Do you think such an investment would result in a dramatic drop in drunk driver car accidents? It is a sentencing option for habitual offenders. Would it be too much of an intrusion on our lives to have such equipment in every new car?
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, Staunton, Waynesboro
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Car Accidents and Fatality Statistics
Personal Injury Lawyer Charlottesville
Car accidents result in over 100 deaths every day. In Charlottesville, the last week has brought news of several fatalities resulting from car accidents. Over the last 25 years, over 1 million people have been killed in car accidents in this country. That amazing statistic ties is the result of an average of 40,000 deaths per year from car accidents. Nearly half of that yearly number is the result of drunk drivers causing the car accident wrongful death. And yet, most people think that they are fairly safe when traveling on the road. That perception of safety is not very accurate. The average driver has a 1 in 9 chance of being involved in a car accident each year. Such odds do not engender a feeling of confidence for me when I get in my car, even though I think I am a good driver. We should all think about our driving habits and the care that we take when driving in order to avoid becoming an addition to these statistics. So the next time your cell phone rings while you are driving on a busy road, think before you pick it up and get distracted. Do you want to become one of the 40,000?
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, Staunton, Waynesboro
Car accidents result in over 100 deaths every day. In Charlottesville, the last week has brought news of several fatalities resulting from car accidents. Over the last 25 years, over 1 million people have been killed in car accidents in this country. That amazing statistic ties is the result of an average of 40,000 deaths per year from car accidents. Nearly half of that yearly number is the result of drunk drivers causing the car accident wrongful death. And yet, most people think that they are fairly safe when traveling on the road. That perception of safety is not very accurate. The average driver has a 1 in 9 chance of being involved in a car accident each year. Such odds do not engender a feeling of confidence for me when I get in my car, even though I think I am a good driver. We should all think about our driving habits and the care that we take when driving in order to avoid becoming an addition to these statistics. So the next time your cell phone rings while you are driving on a busy road, think before you pick it up and get distracted. Do you want to become one of the 40,000?
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, Staunton, Waynesboro
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Car Accident Statistics Are Scary
Charlottesville Personal Injury Lawyer
Halloween is coming and there will be many scary costumes. But even scarier are the statistics concerning car accidents. Did you know that every year you drive, you have a 1 in 10 chance of being in a car accident? To surmount those odds, you have to be a careful driver who is prepared to deal with the bad driver or the unexpected hazard. As a personal injury lawyer in Charlottesville, Virginia, I am always surprised at how many of my injury clients are the victims of drunk drivers. Unfortunately, the drunk driver and the bad driver usually do not have adequate car insurance and so the car accident victim has to look to his or her own insurance policy. Another frightening statistic is that in the United States, there are over 40,000 fatalities every year caused by car accidents. Think of how many plane crashes it would take to reach such a death toll. There are also over 3 million car accidents every year. These mind boggling statistics should make all of us more cautious drivers.
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, Staunton, Waynesboro
Halloween is coming and there will be many scary costumes. But even scarier are the statistics concerning car accidents. Did you know that every year you drive, you have a 1 in 10 chance of being in a car accident? To surmount those odds, you have to be a careful driver who is prepared to deal with the bad driver or the unexpected hazard. As a personal injury lawyer in Charlottesville, Virginia, I am always surprised at how many of my injury clients are the victims of drunk drivers. Unfortunately, the drunk driver and the bad driver usually do not have adequate car insurance and so the car accident victim has to look to his or her own insurance policy. Another frightening statistic is that in the United States, there are over 40,000 fatalities every year caused by car accidents. Think of how many plane crashes it would take to reach such a death toll. There are also over 3 million car accidents every year. These mind boggling statistics should make all of us more cautious drivers.
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, Staunton, Waynesboro
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Madison Man Charged In Car Accident Injuring Albemarle Family
A head on collision on Old Lynchburg Road severely injured an Albemarle family, all of whom are being treated at the University of Virginia hospital in Charlottesville, Virginia. According to the Daily Progress, the driver of the car who struck the Albemarle family's vehicle was a 28 year old resident of Madison, Virgina. He has been charged with driving under the influence. Both drivers remain in critical condition. This car accident case illustrates a fact that personal injury lawyers know only too well. Drunk drivers cause serious car accidents on a regular basis. As part of our personal injury law firm practice, we monitor cases involving drunk driving. Many times, our clients have to testify at the trial of the drunk driver. We assist our clients as needed in this process. If the blood alcohol level of the drunk driver exceeds certain levels, punitive damages are a possibility in the personal injury lawsuit. In Virgina, an award of punitive damages is limited by statute to a maximum of $350,000.00. In drunk driving personal injury cases, the option of pursuing punitive damages should always be considered as the potential for such damages enhances the overall case and can increase the likelihood of a prompt resolution of the case.
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, Staunton, Waynesboro
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, Staunton, Waynesboro
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