Officials Warn About Fatal Car Accidents as the Thanksgiving Holiday Approaches

            Thanksgiving travel this year will continue the trend of the last few years, beating the previous year’s numbers in terms of number of travelers.  About 42 million nationwide will hit the road for Thanksgiving this year.  Well over one million from Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. will take to the area highways for travel next week.  With roads and highways jam-packed with millions of cars, trucks, and buses, accidents will occur in large numbers.  Unfortunately, some of these accidents will result in serious injuries and even fatalities.  The National Safety Council estimates 433 deaths and more than 50,000 serious injuries occurring as a result of traffic accidents.  The group cites the combination of high traffic volume and the increase in drinking and driving around holiday time as the cause for the startling predictions.  The group hopes that by making people aware of the dangers on the roads next week for holiday travel that they will save some lives.

            

            Some ways to prevent fatalities in auto accidents include wearing your seatbelt at all times, driving the speed limit, driving sober, and driving without any distractions (i.e. cell phones, make up, and radios).  Numerous reports this year have shown that deadly car accidents are significantly higher than normal due to speeding and alcohol.  It is not surprising that New Year’s tops the list for the most fatal car accidents, but Thanksgiving is near the top of the list as well.  The Wednesday night before Thanksgiving is an extremely busy night at bars for teenagers and young adults who are reconnecting with high school and college friends.  Always remember to drive sober and never drink and drive.  About one-third of all fatal accidents that occur around Thanksgiving are attributed to alcohol.

            

            If you or a family member has been charged with DUI or DWI in Virginia and/or were involved in a deadly accident as a result, please feel free to contact our office at (703) 916-1227 and schedule an appointment for a free legal consultation at our office in Vienna or throughout Virginia, or visit us on the web at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Criminal-Defense/DWI-DUI/

Drunk Driving Study Reveals Time of Day is Key Factor in Number of Fatal Accidents

           Everybody is aware of the dangers and consequences of drinking and driving, yet the number of fatal accidents where alcohol is a factor remains high.  A new study conducted found that last year, there were 7,852 fatal accidents involving drinking and driving.  In other words, there were about 22 deadly DUI-related accidents every day.  Some of the worst states included Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and South Carolina.  Virginia is one of the best states in terms of having the least number of fatal DUI crashes per 100,000 residents.  Washington, D.C. has the lowest number of fatal DUI crashes per 100,000 residents out of all fifty states.

            

            The most interesting statistics that this study revealed involve the time of day when DUI-related fatal accidents occurred.  As expected, the time period of 2-3am, when most bars close for the night, had the highest number of fatal alcohol-related accidents.  The research also showed that there were spikes in fatal crashes around 7pm, when many happy hours end, and 3pm, which shows that lunchtime drinking is gaining popularity.

           

            It is still quite amazing, that as much information is out there for people to know and understand the catastrophic consequences of drinking and driving, that so many people choose to take that risk.  In addition, today there are so many options available to people to get to their destination without having to drive themselves.  Any amount of alcohol in your body can affect your judgment and reaction time.  When you factor in drinking several alcoholic beverages or shots in a short period of time without eating a substantial amount of food, your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels will increase dramatically.  For example, at 0.08 the legal limit in Virginia, there is impaired speech, vision, hearing, and reaction time.  The effects get progressively worse as your BAC levels increase.  Anything over 0.23 will likely result in a blackout, alcohol poisoning, and a chance of respiratory failure.  While drinking is an easy way to have fun, just remember to be safe about it, and NEVER choose to drive drunk.

If you or a family member has been charged with DUI or DWI in Virginia and/or were involved in a deadly accident as a result, please feel free to contact our office at (301) 854-9000 and schedule an appointment for a free legal consultation at our office in Vienna or throughout Virginia, or visit us on the web at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Criminal-Defense/DWI-DUI/

Chesterfield County, Virginia Reported 102 DUI Arrests in September

              In the month of September, 102 drivers were arrested on suspicion of DUI in Chesterfield County, Virginia.  Police in the area are warning drivers that heavy DUI patrols will continue.  This number is far too high for a single month’s period, and police will continue to be on the lookout for possible drunk drivers in the county.  “Sobriety checkpoints, targeted patrols, and tips from the public” will continue to be employed by police officers.  This high number shows police that drivers simply are not afraid of current penalties in place for drunk driving.  Whether that is indeed the case remains to be seen, but drivers should know that if caught driving under the influence of alcohol, penalties include a $2,500 fine and/or one year in jail.  The penalties are much worse for drivers with multiple DUI convictions.  Police suggest that you should always have a designated driver if you plan to drink any amount of alcohol.  Other tips include: drinking in moderation (i.e. one drink per hour), eating before drinking, and if hosting a party, stop serving alcohol well before the party is over.

      

          If you have been arrested for a DUI/DWI it is important that you consult an experienced Virginia DUI attorney immediately because DUI is a criminal offense and carries potentially severe penalties.  An experienced attorney can guide you through the court process and find any possible defenses that can either mitigate the penalties in the case, or in some instances, lead to an acquittal or dismissal.

   If you or a family member has been charged with DUI or DWI in Virginia and would like a free legal consultation or if you would like more information on DUI or DWI please feel free to contact our office at (703) 916-1227 and schedule an appointment at our office in Tysons Corner or throughout Virginia, or visit us on the web at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Criminal-Defense/DWI-DUI/

Virginia Bicyclists Hit by Drunk Driver, Escape with Minor Injuries

              Early last Friday morning, two bicyclists were riding on Azalea Avenue, just outside I-95 in Henrico County, Virginia.  As they approached Sandpiper Drive, a suspected drunk driver crashed into them and knocked them to the ground.  Luckily, they only suffered minor non-life-threatening injuries.  Police are still investigating the circumstances of the accident, including any other factors that played a role or might have contributed to the crash.  Virginia is one of the few states that have contributory negligence, which means that if you are injured in an accident, but your actions contributed to that accident as well, you cannot recover anything in compensation for any injuries suffered.  Riding a bike in the middle of the night is not the safest thing to do, especially if you are not wearing any protective gear, such as reflective clothing, flashing lights, and a helmet.  It is difficult for drivers to see a bicyclist when it is dark outside, therefore, if you must ride your bike at night, you should always have a light or reflective gear so that you are visible to cars on the road.  Information regarding what the two bicyclists were wearing and whether they were obeying traffic laws on the road is unknown at this time. 

           

              Driving under the influence of alcohol almost always results in someone getting hurt or killed.  A drunk driver has no control over their vehicle when they have large quantities of alcohol in their system.  Their reaction time in avoiding accidents is much slower than under normal conditions.  The bicyclists that were hit in this accident are very lucky that they were not seriously injured or killed by this drunk driver.  There are so many options out there for people who have been drinking to use in order to get home safely without hurting anyone else. 

             

              If you or a family member has been injured or killed in an accident caused by the fault or negligence of a drunk driver and would like to consult an experienced Virginia personal injury attorney for free, contact us at (703) 916-1227 to schedule an appointment at one of our office locations in Fredericksburg or throughout Virginia or visit us online at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Auto-Accidents/Car-Accidents/Fatal-Car-Accidents.shtml

Virginia Drunk Driver Kills Pedestrian and Crashes into Another Car

           Two weeks ago, a 22 year old Fredericksburg, Virginia man was charged with DWI after he struck and killed a woman in Springfield, Virginia.  The woman was waiting for the bus when the drunk driver lost control of his car and ran her over.  After hitting the woman, the driver continued up an embankment, reentered the roadway, and crashed into another car on the other side of the road.  The driver in this other car suffered minor injuries.  The drunk driver and his two passengers also suffered minor injuries.

             

           As of right now, the drunk driver has been charged with his second DWI within 5 years and driving on a suspended license.  Additional charges may be pending for the driver depending on further police investigation.  A second DWI arrest in such a short period of time will result in more severe consequences and penalties, including a 3 year suspension of your driver’s license. 

            

           As for the victims of the accident, they deserve compensation.  The woman who was killed as a result of the driver’s negligence in choosing to drink and drive for a second time deserves compensation. This was the driver’s second DWI offense within 5 years, but who knows how many other times he drove under the influence of alcohol and did not get caught.  His actions killed somebody and injured another this time, and nothing can be done to reverse that. 

             

           If you or a family member has been injured or killed in an accident caused by the fault or negligence of a drunk driver and would like to consult an experienced Virginia personal injury attorney for free, contact us at (703) 916-1227 to schedule an appointment at one of our office locations in Fairfax or throughout Virginia or visit us online at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Auto-Accidents/Car-Accidents/Fatal-Car-Accidents.shtml

Roanoke, Virginia Man Charged with DUI After Leading Police on Low-Speed Chase

          Virginia police were alerted of a reckless driver heading north on Route 221 during the afternoon of Labor Day Monday.  The car crashed in someone’s front yard, but continued on driving.  Police tried numerous times to pull the driver over, but were unsuccessful.  Thus, a low-speedpursuit began down Route 221 to apprehend the driver, who is now facing a DUI charge, felony eluding, having an open container of alcohol, failure to obey a traffic signal, and failure to wear a seatbelt.  Police had to use spike strips in order to bring the vehicle to a stop.  With the tires punctured, the driver then lost control of the car and hit a parked vehicle.

            

          Labor Day Weekend likely resulted in numerous DUI arrests across Virginia.  The weather for the weekend was perfect, and Labor Day Weekend is a popular time for people to have cookouts and outdoor parties where alcoholic beverages are served.  The circumstances surrounding this DUI arrest are unknown, but it is certainly possible that the driver was leaving a cookout in the afternoon after drinking and thought that he was ok to drive.  Whatever the circumstances were, he made a very dangerous decision to drink and drive, putting his life and the life of others at risk.

It is important that you consult an experienced Virginia DUI attorney immediately if you have been arrested for a DUI/DWI because it is a criminal offense that carries severe penalties.  An experienced attorney can guide you through the court process and find any possible defenses that can either mitigate the penalties in the case, or in some instances, lead to an acquittal or dismissal.

If you or a family member has been charged with DUI in Virginia and would like a free legal consultation or if you would like more information on DUI or DWI please feel free to contact our office at (703) 916-1227 to schedule an appointment at our office in Manassas or one of our many other offices located throughout Virginia or visit us on the web at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Criminal-Defense/DWI-DUI/

University of Virginia Incoming Freshman Quarterback Charged with DWI

           During the last week of July, freshman quarterback for the University of Virginia was caught by police driving while intoxicated in Charlottesville.  The quarterback’s blood alcohol level was 0.14 at the time of arrest, which is almost double the legal limit of 0.08 in Virginia.  Police pulled the 18 year old quarterback over because he was driving without headlights on at night.  The officer then smelled alcohol on his breath and a breathalyzer was then used to determine his blood alcohol concentration.  His status with the team has not been determined yet because they are awaiting the results of his pending trial in September.

            

           Statistics from 2013 for the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area show that close to 18,000 arrests were made for DUIs, which comes to about one arrest every thirty minutes.  This staggering number of arrests is the result of increased police patrol in the region to try and prevent alcohol-related serious deadly accidents.  There were 243 traffic deaths in 2013 and 81 of them were alcohol or drug-related.  Luckily, police were able to stop the quarterback before he injured or killed another person or himself.

      If you have been arrested for a DUI/DWI it is important that you consult an experienced Virginia DUI attorney immediately because DUI is a criminal offense and carries potentially severe penalties.  Our experienced attorneys can guide you through the court process and find any possible defenses that can either mitigate the penalties in the case, or in some instances, lead to an acquittal or dismissal.

If you or a family member has been charged with DUI in Virginia and would like a free legal consultation or if you would like more information on DUI or DWI please feel free to contact our office at (703) 916-1227 to schedule an appointment at our office in Fairfax or one of our many other offices located throughout Northern Virginia or visit us on the web at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Criminal-Defense/DWI-DUI/