Car Accidents | Virginia Personal Injury Blog - Part 5
It’s prom and graduation season
How can you keep your teens safer on the road?
Prom and graduation season is here. Although I’ve personally been spared having my daughter go on a date yet (she’s still in elementary school!), teens throughout Virginia are are eagerly diving into these rites of passage.
But what many soon-to-be graduates don’t realize is that, along with the privileges and freedoms of being an adult come some grave responsibilities—especially when it comes to getting behind the wheel. And statistically, they’re entering dangerous waters.
“Texts=Wrecks” includes manual distractions
How can you avoid manual distractions and stay safer?
Americans are busy, and we seem to be getting busier. Ironically, the technology revolution of the last 25 years adds to what we do each day, instead of making our lives easier. When I started practicing law, the fast form of written communication was a fax machine, which stayed at the office. Now I get voicemails emailed to me at 2 a.m., texts and emails anytime, and I can talk to clients from almost anywhere.
“Texts=Wrecks” includes cognitive distractions
How can you avoid cognitive distractions and stay safer?
We at GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys aren’t alone in sharing the message of “Texts=Wrecks.” Former chief claims officer for Liberty Mutual Insurance Ted Gramer recently said that distracted driving is an epidemic in the United States.
John Singleton: “I’ve been there, just like other accident victims”
The story below is also shared in the book, 7 Costly Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Virginia Auto Accident Case, by attorneys Ken Gibson and John Singleton. The attorneys wrote this book so that their Virginia neighbors don’t have to go through the same horrible experiences they did after their accidents.
We recently sat down with John and asked him to share his story again with us.
Texts=Wrecks: Just say no to reckless driving
And help teens say no, too
During our Texts = Wrecks campaign, we at GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys are writing and talking about the dangers of distracted driving, which is one form of reckless driving.
Under Virginia law, “Any person who drives a vehicle on any highway recklessly, or at a speed or in a manner so as to endanger the life, limb, or property of any person shall be guilty of reckless driving.” “Reckless” means “marked by a lack of proper caution, careless of consequences, irresponsible.”
Ken Gibson shares his car accident experience
People say that empathy is born out of experience. That’s true for accident survivors, who know firsthand the lingering pain of physical and other injuries.
In their book, 7 Costly Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Virginia Auto Accident Case, attorneys Ken Gibson and John Singleton share their personal stories of being injured in car crashes that weren’t their fault. Readers get the sense that their experiences influenced their decision to pursue personal injury law.
We sat down with Ken and asked him to share his story with us.
Texts=Wrecks: Stories and strategies that could save a life
Texting while driving is illegal for all Virginia drivers. A first-time offense will result in a $125 fine. A second offense (and all subsequent offenses) will result in a $250 fine.
But if you’re tempted to text while driving, don’t worry about the fines. Instead, just read the following stories or watch the videos. (Warning: the videos contain disturbing content.)
Texts=Wrecks: Could peeking at your phone really destroy a life?
Distracted driving happens any time a driver takes attention away from driving. It could be glancing at the time, adjusting music or climate controls, or even talking to your passenger.
While distracted driving is not new, it has grown exponentially over the past 20 years.
Do car insurance companies care about me?
Judging by their heartwarming commercials, catchy phrases, and pledges to be “on your side,” you would think that insurance companies are the most compassionate and benevolent companies on earth. But are these “helping hands” and “good neighbors” as selfless as they would like us to believe? And do these multimillion-dollar corporations care about compensating those hurt in accidents fairly?
After a wreck, don’t delay – seek medical attention immediately
With our busy schedules and hectic lives, we may have a tendency to want to push things aside and move on. Particularly after a minor car accident or fender-bender, we may think, “That was just a little jolt. I’ll be fine.”
But what we’re really thinking is, “I’ve already wasted 30 minutes assessing the damage and exchanging insurance information. I need to get to work, get to the gym, and get home…” And so on.
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Prevention, empathy, and diligence are hallmarks of everything we do at GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys. Our community can see these ideals lived out in our work to prevent personal injuries from happening.
- Safety Education
GibsonSingleton launches a “Texts=Wrecks” campaign to reduce the number of people injured or killed by distracted drivers. - Annual Coat Drive
During the fall, our team works to distribute coats to people in need in our community. - Hands-on Service
John and Ken join the Gloucester Point Rotary Club in cleaning up the community. - Supporting Local Schools
The Gibson family participates in Gloucester’s Botetourt Elementary Shuffle fundraiser.