Posts by Michael Phelan

Recently, two Catholic dioceses in Virginia publicly named 58 priests as having been “credibly accused” of sexually abusing children. The abuse went on for decades and involves an unknown number of innocent victims. This startling and seemingly transparent disclosure of the identity of pedophiles in the clergy has been viewed by many as an attempt…

What is Paragard? Paragard is a small, hormone-free IUD made of plastic wrapped in a layer of copper.  Remarkably, copper is its only active ingredient in the device. Copper wires coiled around the device produce an inflammatory reaction, which is toxic to sperm and eggs (ova), preventing pregnancy.  The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved this…

A recent article published in the Daily Beast focused on the uptick in e-cigarette explosion cases seen at Vanderbilt University’s Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care. The surgeon interviewed for the article has treated 30 people for exploding e-cigarette injuries.  The injuries treated include third degree flame burns, chemical burns and damage to teeth and…

In September 2018, a series of violent natural gas explosions in Boston shocked the country. While the devastation caused by the Boston gas explosions stood out, gas leaks and resultant injuries happen throughout the country every year. Keep reading to learn more about the dangers of gas utility lines and find out how you can…

In 2017, more than 20% of all car accidents in Virginia involved a distracted driver. Not only that, but distracted drivers contributed to one-quarter of all fatal crashes. Unfortunately, Virginia’s distracted driving laws have significant flaws and fail to make our roads safer. Keep reading to learn more about Virginia’s distraction epidemic and find out…

Most of us can’t go an hour without using a lithium-ion battery. They’re in our smartphones, laptops, electric and hybrid vehicles, wireless headphones, activity trackers, and e-cigarettes. Unfortunately, lithium-ion batteries also pose safety hazards to users, and the problem seems to be getting worse over time. Often, when a battery explodes or catches fire, the…

For many of us, swimming pools are an essential part of summer and our family vacations. Unfortunately, they can also put swimmers — especially children — in serious danger. Before you take your family to a pool at a park, hotel, country club, or friend’s home, it’s important to understand the risks. Keep reading to…

More and more Virginians are riding motorcycles. Unfortunately, too many riders are dying on the road. In fact, the number of motorcycle fatalities in our state increased massively between 2016 and 2017. If you ride a motorcycle or you’ve lost someone in a motorcycle accident, it’s important that you know your legal rights. In this…