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I would recommend Mr. Shapiro and his staff to other persons who have a personal injury and need help with their situation as I did.
I asked a friend of mine...what attorney would he use [to handle a mesothelioma case] and he immediately said Rick Shapiro. He called Rick on his cell phone and explained our situation and handed me the phone. That connection to the law firm of Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis and Appleton began a relationship of trust and a sense of confidence that we had not experienced before. It was apparent to us that we had the right team fighting for our father.
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I was really happy with the work that John Cooper did on my auto accident case. We went to mediation and got the case resolved for a good amount which will let me do things to help my financial future like buying a house.

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Pregnant drivers face unique injury risks while behind the wheel of a car. This page is focused on the issue of keeping both the soon-to-be-mother and unborn baby safe in a vehicle.

Generations ago, women may not have driven while pregnant as much as they do today, but with expansion of personal automobiles (most homes have at least two cars nowadays) and a higher percentage of women in the workforce, this tradition has been supplanted by an ever-increasing number of women carrying a baby driving regularly. This presents major risks for serious injury and even fetal death.

We don't know the full extent of this problem since states are not required to report fetal deaths in data sent to the federal fatal accident system. Researcher Stefan Duma of Virginia Tech said reliable studies indicate 300 to 1,000 fetal deaths occur each year because of car accidents, according to USA Today.

The fatality rate of unborn babies in car crashes is roughly four times the rate for newborns to 4-year-olds, according to Duma.

A study by the University of Michigan estimates roughly 170,000 car wrecks involve pregnant women each year in the United States. These estimates indicate there are more deaths to unborn children from car crashes than fatal car crashes to infants under age one, according to consumerreports.org.

The biggest injury risk is placental abruption where the placenta is torn from the uterine wall, which cuts off blood flow to the placenta.

There is currently no new safety technology or mechanisms available for pregnant drivers and many believe we're at least 15 years away from having any innovation in this particular area. The primary reason being this issue just hasn't been deemed a "major concern" by the auto industry (probably since the accident data is drastically underreported).

So what can be done about this? Ideally, women could reduce the amount of driving necessary while pregnant, especially during the final trimester, but this option isn't available to everyone. Even more troubling is the fact that our most reliable safety mechanism - a seatbelt - can actually become a detriment to the safety of your soon-to-be-born baby during those final months since it can wind up restricting blood flow and circulation to the placenta. Another option would be to arrange to take public transportation such as a bus or cab to get to your destination.

There is an effort by Loughborough University in the United Kingdom to enhance pregnant women's quality of life both behind the wheel and as a passenger. However, their research is still in the early stages.

I wish there was some new, groundbreaking safety device I could tell you about, but this issue is largely overlooked and until the spotlight gets placed on the safety of pregnant women behind the wheel of a car, unborn babies (and the soon-to-be-mother drivers) will continue to be put at risk for a serious injury.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a law firm which focuses exclusively on injury and accident law. We have a proven track record in the court room, and you can review our case results to see for yourself. Our attorneys have deep roots in Virginia and handle cases throughout the commonwealth. Our office is based in Virginia Beach, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia if you've been seriously hurt by someone else's carelessness. While not every injury case meets our criteria, we off a free, initial confidential injury case consultation, so call us toll free at 1-800-752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail and we will return your call promptly.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis were included among the "Best Lawyers in America" 2010 Edition. Rick and James, along with fellow attorney John Cooper were named Virginia "Super Lawyers" For Personal Injury Law (2010 Ed., less than 5% of lawyers are chosen), and selected by the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum (2009). In addition, we were the first injury law firm in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical, respected law firms. Our firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill.

We also offer free special reports along with editing the Virginia Beach Injuryboard and Norfolk Injuryboard as a public information service. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube, a Railroad Accident/FELA Lawyers blog, a Medical Malpractice and Surgical Errors blog, and a blog dedicated to accident and safety issues on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

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1294 Diamond Springs Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23455
Phone: (757)-460-7776
Fax: (757)-460-3428
Toll Free: 1-800-752-0042

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Mill Point Center
101 Eaton Street
Hampton, Virginia 23669
Phone: (757)-788-8162

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101 E. Elizabeth Street
Elizabeth City, NC 27909
Toll Free: 1-800-752-0042

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Offices

Main VA Office
1294 Diamond Springs Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23455
Phone: (757)-460-7776
Fax: (757)-460-3428
Toll Free: 1-800-752-0042

Hampton-Peninsula Area Office
Mill Point Center
101 Eaton Street
Hampton, Virginia 23669
Phone: (757)-788-8162

North Carolina Office
101 E. Elizabeth Street
Elizabeth City, NC 27909
Toll Free: 1-800-752-0042

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DISCLAIMER: PLEASE NOTE THAT EVERY CASE IS DIFFERENT, AND THE VERDICTS AND SETTLEMENTS MENTIONED ON THIS WEBSITE, WHILE ACCURATE, DO NOT REPRESENT WHAT WE MAY OBTAIN FOR YOU IN YOUR CASE.