Virginia Physician Found Dead One Week After Being Charged with Sexual Assault of a Child
Michael B. O’Brien, a former orthopedic surgeon from the Spotsylvania County region, has been found dead in his home. At this time, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office believe the death to be a suicide, and have not noted any foul play. Last week, O’Brien was charged with one count of forcible sodomy of a victim…
Read MoreThe Complications of Burn Injuries
Burns are some of the most common types of injuries. If you have had a mild sunburn or a reaction to a strong chemical like bleach, or if you have touched a hot pan while cooking, you have likely sustained a first-degree burn before. But just because something is common does not mean it is…
Read MoreGood vs. Uber – a $63 Million Question
Uber and Lyft have millions of users across the country. Whether you are looking for a safe ride home after having a few drinks with friends, need a lift to a doctor’s appointment, or simply want some dinner but do not feel like cooking, rideshare companies have you covered. This means there are also many,…
Read MoreReport: Large Trucks Overrepresented in Fatal Work Zone Crashes
A recent report from the Institute for Safer Trucking (IST) analyzed a wide variety of statistics from across the country regarding fatal large truck crashes. Using data collected from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), IST’s goal is to identify and reduce sources of big truck accidents and deaths.…
Read MoreFederal Program Now Allows Teen Truckers to Cross State Lines
The federal government is moving forward with a plan that allows truckers under the age of 21 to drive big rigs back and forth across state lines. Previously, truck drivers must be age 21 and up to cross state lines, but this new legislation implements an apprenticeship program that allows drivers ages 18 to 20…
Read MorePhelan Petty Secures $3 Million Jury Verdict for Fetal Death
Phelan Petty partners Jonathan M. Petty and Brielle M. Hunt were recognized by Virginia Lawyers Media for securing one of the top verdicts in Virginia for 2021. Their $3 million jury verdict in a fetal death case in Henrico County was listed as #3 for the year. This verdict was the first plaintiff’s verdict in…
Read MoreSpace Heaters Can Start Home Fires
As the weather grows cooler each year, people across the country turn to portable heaters to help warm their homes, and as they do, some space heaters start home fires causing deaths, injuries, and loss of property. Virginia consumers might imagine risk of space heater fires is linked to colder, northern climates, but when the…
Read MoreDeWalt Wireless Earphones Recalled for Burn, Fire, and Explosion Hazards
Do you listen to music during your morning workout, take calls, or participate in online conferences using wireless ear buds, earphones, or headphones, or use them to cancel loud noises? If so, you benefit from lithium-ion battery technology powering your wireless device. The recent notice of importer E-filliate’s recall of earphones marketed under the well-known…
Read MoreAre In-Vehicle Technologies Driving Distractions?
Driver-assist technologies like automatic braking, back up cameras, and lane or blind spot warning systems seek to limit human driving errors to increase road safety. These technologies hold great promise for reducing car and other vehicle accidents and protecting road users from serious injury and death. But what if some new technologies installed in cars…
Read MoreTruck Accidents Are Deadlier for Occupants of Passenger Vehicles
Long haul trucks deliver most of the goods consumers purchase and find in stores. America’s reliance on these trucks means that passenger vehicles share the roads each day with numerous tractor-trailers. While these heavy trucks are critical to commerce and maintaining the supply chain, their enormous size and weight pose an ongoing, potentially fatal danger…
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