Posts by Michael Phelan

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…

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…

After a serious car crash, it’s important to understand all the sources of insurance coverage available to pay your claim. Without help from an experienced personal injury lawyer, you might lose valuable compensation.  To help make things simpler for you, this article explains the basics of Virginia auto insurance law.  Michael PhelanMichael Phelan is a Virginia trial attorney who practices with a…

NBC Nightly News reported that there have been hundreds of incidents of e-cigarettes exploding and catching fire.  This figure does not include numerous incidents of loose e-cigarette lithium-ion batteries exploding in consumer’s pockets or purses.  It should be no surprise to consumers that big tobacco is behind many of the companies that are selling e-cigarette…