Archive for April, 2012

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26
Apr

Drunk Driving Problem Affects All Motorists Nationwide

April 26, 2012

When driving, a single wrong decision can mean the difference between life and death. This is the lesson that one man says he has taken from an accident he caused that claimed the life of his co-worker.

According to The Roanoke Times, the crash happened on July 28, 2011. The men had been celebrating a promotion by buying a case of beer and taking it to the victim’s home. The pair drank for the remainder of the day, but decided to go on one final beer run before the man responsible for the crash went home.

The victim was initially driving but decided that he was too intoxicated to drive and asked his friend to take over. His friend also was drunk and drove the vehicle off the side of the road at around 85 mph, causing the vehicle to flip.

The 35-year-old man responsible for the crash pleaded guilty in January to a single count of involuntary manslaughter and DUI.

Many witnesses came to his aide saying the man was never much of a drinker and rarely had more than three beers at a sitting. When asked by the court how the accident had affected him, the man stated, “I made the worst mistake I ever made in my entire life.”

The Virginia Auto Accident Lawyers with the Skolrood Law Firm ask that you never drink and drive, as operating while intoxicated can have deadly consequences.

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19
Apr

Drunk Driver Charged In Connection With Fatal Virginia Crash

April 19, 2012

A 21-year-old man from Rustburg, Virginia, has been charged with the deaths of two Lynchburg, Virginia, siblings after allegedly striking their vehicle while driving drunk. According to WSLS 10 News, the crash occurred on the morning of July 3 last year around 3:00 a.m. along US 460 in Prince Edward County.

The brother and sister, both in their early 20s, were heading back to their home in Farmville when a vehicle driven by the suspect hit them head-on. The suspect’s vehicle was allegedly in the wrong lane of traffic with his lights off at the time of the crash.

The drunk driver was taken into custody and was indicted by a grand jury earlier this week on charges of reckless involuntary DUI manslaughter. If convicted, the man could face anywhere from two to 40 years in prison for his crimes.

According to prosecutors, the commonwealth’s attorney decided to drop regular DUI charges that were placed against the defendant in order to focus on the more serious charges of DUI manslaughter.

The man responsible for the crash remains free on bond pending a trial, which is set to begin on June 28.

The Virginia Auto Accident Lawyers with the Skolrood Law Firm ask that citizens all contribute to keeping Virginia’s highways safe by not drinking and driving. If you have been consuming alcohol, call a taxi or sober friend or family member to get you home safely instead.

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12
Apr

Distracted Driving Simulator Coming To The Roanoke Area Soon

April 12, 2012

In today’s technological age, we are experiencing a growing problem of distracted driving thanks to advanced cellphones, GPS devices, and car stereo systems. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that as many as 5,000 individuals lost their lives in motor vehicle accidents where distracted driving was a contributing factor.

That is why one organization, UNITE, with the help of the Virginia State Police, is working to curb these numbers by visiting school campuses with a high-tech distracted driving simulator.

The simulator works by putting students in mock driving scenarios where they must also send text messages through a phone at the same time. One instructor stated, “The simulators are set up to put them in a real-life driving experience. It’s kind of a worst-case scenario with driving conditions. Cars are swerving out in front of you. People are walking across crosswalks.” When a driver hits an obstacle, the ride is over and Troopers issue the participant a mock citation.

WSLS 10 News reported that the simulator will be set up at the Miller-Motte Technical College campus at the Tanglewood Mall on April 28 from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

The Roanoke Car Accident Lawyers with Skolrood Law Firm encourage anyone in the area to give the simulator a try. It may just be the lesson you need about distracted driving that saves your life or the life of another motorist.

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5
Apr

Virginia Steel Plant Worker Killed In On-The-Job Accident

April 5, 2012

A worker at a steel plant in Salem, Virginia, tragically lost his life Monday in an on-the-job accident. According to The Roanoke Times, the incident occurred around 9:45 a.m. at the New Millennium Building Systems on Diuguids Lane.

Reports indicate that workers were unloading steel tresses from a truck when one of the 8,000-pound beams shifted loose and fell on the worker. He was pinned beneath the giant piece of steel and could not free his legs. Rescue crews were called to the scene and were able to lift the beam enough to free the man. He was then taken to Carillion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, but later died as a result of the massive injuries he sustained in the accident.

Both New Millennium Building Systems and the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry are investigating the accident further to determine what could have been done to prevent it.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that fatal work injuries amongst workers in the material moving industry were up by 5 percent in 2010 from previous years and accounted for roughly one-quarter of all work related deaths with 683 workers killed.

The Virginia Wrongful Death Attorneys with the Skolrood Law Firm would like to send their deepest sympathies to the family of the worker who was killed and would also like to remind the public to always obey safety regulations at your job or worksite.

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