Posts by Michael Phelan

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…

Truck accidents happen for many reasons, but no matter how they occur, they frequently lead to catastrophic results for the victims. The statistics are terrifying: between 2009 and 2015, the nationwide number of injuries from truck accidents increased by 62%. And data from the U.S. Department of Labor shows that truck driving is the most dangerous job in the United States, largely due to the frequency of wrecks.  So why do these…

Defective e-cigarettes can cause burns and other serious injuries when their batteries explode or light on fire. Unfortunately, e-cigarette manufacturers and retailers try to avoid liability for these incidents, often by blaming consumers.  At Phelan Petty, we know from experience that battery and design defects are usually to blame when e-cigarette explosions happen. In this article, we’ll discuss how you can protect yourself from faulty e-cigarettes and what you…