The triumphs of international transportation have been turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic. The dangers of traveling close to masses of other people on airplanes, cruise ships, trains, and other public transport may outweigh the convenience as long as the coronavirus is part of our lives. Read more about how to use public transportation safely and protect your rights.
Nighttime driving presents additional dangers than daytime, partly due to lower visibility. This is especially true when large trucks are involved. Drivers have slower reaction times at night, and when they can’t see the entire outline of a commercial truck to gauge its size and…
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) was created on January 1, 2000, by the Department of Transportation to help prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries. Most commercial motor vehicle carriers are large trucks and buses. As we have discussed before, motor vehicle collisions…
Usage-based insurance (UBI), commonly known as “pay as you drive” insurance, is auto insurance that bases its rates on a driver’s driving habits. What is Usage-Based Insurance (UBI)? The first UBI programs began in the 1990s, and 19 major insurance companies offer usage-based insurance today.…
Distracted driving incidents have been steadily increasing over the past few years with no signs of slowing down. In fact, they have now surpassed even drunk driving as the leading cause of motor vehicle accidents in the U.S. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)…
As the country begins to open up from the COVID-19 pandemic, people in the bustling streets of the District of Columbia will now be better protected than they were last summer. Washington, D.C., and four states (Virginia, Alabama, Maryland, and North Carolina) still hold to…
Pedestrian injuries and fatalities in Virginia and across the U.S. have steadily increased over the last couple of decades. According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, there were 1,625 vehicle crashes involving pedestrians in 2019, and 124 were fatal. These deaths accounted for 15%…
One of several laws enacted in the 2021 Virginia legislative session that will benefit consumers is an upcoming increase in the minimum automobile liability insurance limits. Briefly, automobile liability insurance is the insurance that provides financial protection to you in the event you cause a…
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives in significant ways, and we have seen a difference in how we work and attend school. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 93% of households with school-aged children are engaged in some form of distance learning,…
In my last blog, I discussed who would potentially be at fault in a motor vehicle collision involving a truck. Another difference between trucking collisions and passenger vehicle collisions is the insurance requirements. In Virginia, pursuant to Virginia Code § 46.2-472, every vehicle that has…
Truck drivers keep America going in so many ways. Unfortunately, they’re often involved in some of the most devastating traffic accidents, and those accidents are often more severe than those involving passenger cars. The stats bear this out, as someone in the U.S. is hurt…
