Posts by Michael Phelan
PTSD and Life After Traumatic Car or Truck Crashes
For many victims, car accidents aren’t over once the physical injuries heal and the scars fade. For some, the emotional and psychological damage of the crash lasts for years or even decades. One of the most serious mental health conditions you may develop after a car accident in Virginia is post-traumatic stress disorder, generally shortened…
Read MorePhelan Petty Files Federal Lawsuit Exposing Dangerous Tesla Design Failures
Injuries from car accidents typically occur during the collision. Yet surviving a crash doesn’t always guarantee safety afterward. The alleged dangerous and defective design of the Tesla Model Y has contributed to catastrophic events on more than one occasion, including an incident in Virginia in which a passenger became trapped inside a burning car with…
Read MoreWhat is the Hit-and-Run Investigation Process in Virginia?
Under Virginia law, if you get into a motor vehicle accident that results in another person being injured or killed, or if the accident results in damage to another vehicle or other property, then you have legal duties in the aftermath of the crash. These duties include the following: Stopping at the scene of the…
Read MoreUnique Challenges in Truck Accident Litigation
Motor vehicle accidents involve some common elements, no matter what kind of vehicles are involved. For example, no matter if the collision involves a motorcycle, passenger vehicle, or a vehicle-pedestrian accident, proving the elements of a personal injury negligence claim will be the same. Truck accidents, however, can add some additional considerations that you will…
Read MoreWhy Do Trucking Companies Hire Disqualified Drivers?
The size and weight of commercial trucks mean that in the hands of an unqualified driver, they can become dangerous or even deadly on the road. This is why the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and state agencies like the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) regulate commercial trucks on Virginia’s roads and highways.…
Read MoreDanger Beneath the Surface: the Jeriflyer Pool Drain Cover Recall
If you purchased a Jeriflyer plastic pool drain cover online—or even if you aren’t quite sure which brand of drain cover you bought—you need to find out if it’s covered under a recent recall. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which tracks incidents related to product safety and issues recalls as needed, formally recalled this…
Read MoreHazmat Trucks & Hazardous Material Spills During a Truck Accident
Large commercial trucks play a central role in transporting goods across Virginia and the country. However, when those trucks carry hazardous materials, the risks involved with an accident escalate significantly. A crash involving a hazmat truck certainly means potential collision injuries, but there’s also a high risk of things like toxic spills, fires, explosions, and…
Read MoreWhat Kinds of Photos Should I Take of My Richmond Car Accident?
The moments immediately after a car accident are the best time to collect evidence of what happened, the damage, and your injuries. Even just an hour later, the lanes will be cleared, roads could be dry from the rain. It’s not long before any video of the accident may also be lost as it is…
Read MoreHow to File a Police Report After a Richmond Car Crash
In most types of car accidents, someone calls the police to notify them that there has been an accident. In Virginia, drivers have a duty to contact the police when someone dies, there is an injury, or there is property damage. There are some situations where the police are not called even though someone was…
Read MoreHow Insurance Companies Minimize Payouts After a Car Crash (and How to Fight Back)
The stark reality is that insurance companies are businesses, and their primary purpose is to turn a profit by making more money than they spend. They make money by accepting premiums, and they spend money by paying claims. Consequently, insurance companies train their adjusters to make money for their employers by minimizing claims or denying…
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