Automobile Accidents

• Cellphones and Work Zones: A Dangerous Combination

  Michael Phelan | April 27, 2012 4:54 PM | 0 CommentsRichmond, VA

  Virginia, like many states with aging infrastructure, is facing a dangerous combination. There are more drivers on the roads each year. More of those drivers are distracted by the use of...

• Small Strides in the Fight Against Drunk Driving

  Michael Phelan | September 13, 2010 4:23 PM | 0 CommentsRichmond, VA

  New data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that drunk driving deaths dropped to their lowest level since MADD has been tracking the data. The number of fatalities in...

• Is Smart Car Concept a Safety Breakthrough or an Orwellian Nightmare?

  Michael Phelan | July 08, 2010 4:57 PM | 1 CommentRichmond, VA

  Intel is developing a car that will come equipped with airplane-like black box technology which will record vehicle speed, steering, and braking data. It will also be equipped with cameras that will...

• Mr. Toyoda, Why is Toyota Hiding its Black Box Data?

  Michael Phelan | March 06, 2010 6:22 PM | 0 CommentsRichmond, VA

  Automobile product liability lawyers already knew that Toyota's litigation strategy includes blocking access to data stored in its vehicles' on-board black box, also known as Event Data Recorders...

• Breaking News: Defense Medical Examinations May Be Bogus!

  Michael Phelan | April 01, 2009 3:32 PM | 0 CommentsRichmond, VA

  The New York Times reported on a problem in personal injury and workers' compensation cases that is well-known to plaintiff's lawyers. Doctors who perform independent medical examinations (more...

• Bus Driver Settles for $5 Million During Trial

  Michael Phelan | February 24, 2009 10:53 AM | 0 CommentsRichmond, VA

  A bus driver who lost a leg in a tractor trailer truck crash in Norther Virginia settled his case for $5 million while a Richmond Circuit Court jury was deliberating the case last Tuesday. The...

• New Laws Aimed at Curbing Underaged Drinking and Driving

  Michael Phelan | July 01, 2008 10:22 AM | 0 CommentsRichmond, VA

  The General Assembly voted in March to institute tougher penalties to curb the number of car accidents involving teens who drink and drive. Those stiffer penalties go into effect today....

• Accident Victims Are in Bad Hands With Allstate: Just File Suit!

  Michael Phelan | April 08, 2008 2:27 PM | 0 CommentsRichmond, VA

  On April 4, 2008, the District Court of Appeals, First District, State of Florida upheld the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation’s suspension of Allstate from writing insurance in the State of...

• Allstate Faces Contempt Charges for Handling of Auto Cases

  Michael Phelan | January 17, 2008 3:33 PM | 0 CommentsRichmond, VA

  I blogged earlier this year about Allstate's "Delay, Deny, and Defend" policy designed to screw injured victims making claims under Allstate policies. CNN's Anderson Cooper also did an expose on this practice. The courts are now catching on. Allstate is facing contempt charges in Missouri with a $25,000.00 per day fine because it refuses to produce a report from consultant McKinsey & Co....

• Fibromyalgia Drug Approved by FDA

  Michael Phelan | January 14, 2008 10:59 AM | 0 CommentsRichmond, VA

  Fibromyalgia is a disease whose very existence is questioned by some doctors, typically doctors hired by insurance defense lawyers in personal injury cases. However, fibromyalgia must be a real disease, because drug giant, Pfizer, says it is. Pfizer is marketing its drug Lyrica, which is the first drug approved to treat this pain condition. Fibromyalgia is characterized by chronic, widespread...