Distracted Driving in Virginia: What Drivers do Before they Crash

            Car accidents are still the leading cause of deaths among 5-24 year olds and the second leading cause of deaths for everyone else.  A new study conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute researched 1,600 drivers over a 1-2 year period.  Numerous cameras, sensors, and radars were installed in the vehicles to track data from these drivers. 

 Over this span of time, there were 1,600 crash events, and 905 of them were severe accidents.  Some of the things observed in the serious crashes included fatigue, driver error, impairment, and distraction.  The risk of an accident doubled when drivers took their eyes off the road and used a cellphone, were reading, or using touchscreen devices in the car.  Throughout the entire study, statistics showed that nearly half the time drivers were involved in distracting activities.  The strongest correlation found by the study is when speeding occurs.  When a driver is travelling well above the speed limit and involved in a distracting activity, the risk of an accident is thirteen times higher than for an alert, law-abiding driver.  Drivers who were emotional were ten times more likely to be involved in a crash.

Interestingly, some activities that have been known to be considered distracting in the past, proved to not be as much of a factor in creating accidents.  For example, applying makeup and interacting with a baby in the car were the cause of very few accidents.

Even though the number of fatal accidents continues to decrease as car become safer, there are still far too many of these types of accidents.  So many of these accidents can be prevented because they are caused by distractions and driver impairment.  If all drivers could keep their cellphones out of their hands while driving and only driving when sober, the number of fatal accidents would likely drop significantly.

If you are charged with DUI, DWI, reckless driving, or another similar offense in Virginia and would like a free legal consultation or if you would like more information please feel free to contact our office at (703) 916-1227 and schedule an appointment at our office in Alexandria or throughout Virginia, or visit us on the web at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Criminal-Defense/DWI-DUI/

Virginia Criminal Defense Attorney: What to Expect if I am Illegal and Have Been Charged with a Crime

Our Spanish department receives countless criminal/traffic consultation calls every day.  The one question we receive all the time is how will my immigration status be affected by these charges.  While we are not immigration law experts, there is certainly always a risk that your status could be in doubt, and in the worst case scenario, you could be deported.

            

            Whether it is a traffic offense such as driving without a license, driving on a suspended license, or driving under the influence of alcohol, or a criminal offense, your immigration status here is put at risk.  While our attorneys will help defend the charges against you, we always recommend that you contact an immigration attorney to find out exactly how your status will be affected.  There is an increased risk of serious immigration penalties if you are convicted for your crime, and that is why you must hire an experienced criminal defense attorney.

           

            Many people that are here illegally are usually too afraid to go to court and defend the charges against them.  That is not a good idea because the consequences only get worse because it becomes more likely that your immigration status will be affected.

If you are charged with a criminal or traffic offense in Virginia and would like a free legal consultation or if you would like more information please feel free to contact our office at (703) 916-1227 and schedule an appointment at our office in Vienna or throughout Virginia, or visit us on the web at http://www.portnerandshure.com/

Virginia Criminal Defense Attorney: Everything Drivers Need to Know About Speeding in Virginia

           In most states, speeding is not viewed as a serious offense, and for that reason, drivers do not worry about being pulled over for going over the limit.  In Virginia, drivers must beware of the harsh consequences they will face for speeding if caught by police.  There is no simple fine to pay and you go on with your life.  Instead, jail time is a real possibility for speeders.

            

          Laws in Virginia prohibit going over 80mph or more than 20mph over the speed limit.  If caught doing either of these things, you will be charged with reckless driving, which is treated the same way as a DUI: it is a criminal misdemeanor offense.  Many drivers speed every day on the roads without any hesitation.  If you are in Virginia, you should pay attention to speed limits and your own speed.  It is not worth it to risk going to jail and/or losing your driver’s license just because you want to get to your destination a few minutes earlier.

           

         If you receive a regular speeding ticket or a reckless driving ticket, it is important to hire an experienced local Virginia attorney to help you defend the charges and limit the consequences you face.  Every county is different in terms of what speed usually results in jail time.  Some counties will order jail time if you were going 100mph or more; others will order jail time if you were going 90mph or more.  Your attorney can try and drop the reckless driving charge down to a regular speeding ticket to avoid any jail time.  However, if you have multiple speeding offenses on your driving record, judges will not look favorably on that and a more severe penalty is likely.

If you are charged with speeding or reckless driving in Virginia and would like a free legal consultation or if you would like more information please feel free to contact our office at (703) 916-1227 and schedule an appointment at our office in Vienna or throughout Virginia, or visit us on the web at http://www.portnerandshure.com/