Virginia (VA) Personal Injury law firm news

Should Virginia (VA) Emergency Vehicle Law be Revised?

When a cop causes a car accident with injury or death on a Virginia road, their insurer and employer can be sued by the victim for negligence or gross negligence in some circumstances. According to an article by Dena Potter from The Associated Press, a recent tragic accident has led to discussion of revising emergency vehicle law in Virginia. Ashley McIntosh, age 33, was killed in February of 2008 when a police officer sped through a red light striking McIntosh’s vehicle. Police officer, Amanda Perry had received a call regarding a shoplifter shortly before, and was responding to that call when she went through the intersection with her lights flashing, but her siren off. According to Virginia traffic regulations, police officers are not required to obey traffic laws concerning running red lights and speeding if they use their flashing lights and sirens “as may be reasonably necessary.” Due to the wording of this phrase, police officer Amanda Perry, was found not guilty of reckless driving. However, the Police Department investigated Amanda Perry’s involvement in the incident and recommended suspension and a transfer. Officer Amanda Perry ultimately decided to resign from the Police Department in March and is also facing a lawsuit from the victim’s family.

The mother of the deceased, Cindy Colasanto, approached the Virginia State Crime Commission asking the commission if they would support Senator Linda Puller’s new bill aimed at altering the law so that police officers and emergency vehicles would be required to use both flashing lights and sirens, unless there was a reason that would make it necessary that they should not. The Virginia State Crime Commission is scheduled to vote on whether or not to recommend revision of the law in December. The need for public safety of innocent bystanders must be given some weight in emergency police response practices.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm (VA-NC law offices ) edits the injury law blogs Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, as well as the Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as a pro bono service to consumers. Lawyers licensed in: VA, NC, SC, WV, DC, KY, who handle car, truck, railroad, and medical negligence cases and more.

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Our VA personal injury lawyers have been selected for many accolades.

Two of the attorneys with our Virginia Beach accident injury law firm, James Lewis and Rick Shapiro, have been named the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Two of our VA injury lawyers -- Lewis and Shapiro - have been named to Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury since 2010. In addition, Lewis and Shapiro have been selected for inclusion in the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009. 

Our VA accident injury law firm was the first in the commonwealth nvited to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms. Rick Shapiro was named as one of the Top 100 Injury Lawyers in Virginia by the National Trial Lawyers Association.

In October, 2000 our law firm and co-counsel obtained what was then the largest verdict in Virginia's history for an injured person. Our brain damaged client received an initial award of $46 million that rose to $60 million with interest when the defendant abandoned an appeal and agreed to settle. 

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Our personal injury lawyers handle personal injury cases throughout the eastern USA, and work closely with lawyers in other states on signficant injury cases.

In Virginia, this includes Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News, Suffolk, Richmond, Petersburg, Roanoke, Salem, Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Fredericksburg, Charlottesville, Ashland, Big Stone Gap, and every community on the Eastern Shore, including Accomack, Onancock, Chincoteauge, Wachapreague, and Cape Charles, Bloxom, Eastville, Exmore, Greenbackville, Machipongo, Mappsville, Melfa, Nassawadox, Onley, Tangier, Temperanceville, Wachapreague and Wallops Island.

In West Virginia, we can handle personal injury claims in Bluefield, Beckley, Bridgeport, Charles Town, Charleston, Fairmont, Huntington, Lewisburg, Madison, Martinsburg, Morgantown, Moundsville, Parkersburg, Ripley, Sutton, Weirton, Wheeling and any other town or county.

Injury Lawyers licensed in VA, WV, North Carolina (NC), South Carolina (SC), Kentucky (KY), Florida (FL) and Washington, DC.