Truck 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…

Read More

The Dangers of Elevated Train Crossings: What You Should Know

There are some 3,200 miles of active train tracks in Virginia, a combination of freight and passenger lines overlaid on our highway system that most of us never think twice about. This transportation system exists in a sort of parallel state with other forms of transit, but follows different rules, regulations, and timeframes. In late…

Read More

What’s the Most Common Type of Car Accident in Virginia?

Vehicle crashes have been declining across the nation for years thanks to better regulations and improvements in safety technologies. However much the numbers have dropped, the fact remains that the number of accidents each year still remains unacceptably high. Eliminating traffic crashes entirely is still firmly in the realm of a high-technology future; no system…

Read More

What Are Traumatic Amputations?

Losing a limb is difficult regardless of the circumstances, but especially when the loss is the result of a traumatic amputation. Unlike an amputation that occurs in a planned surgery, a traumatic amputation is the separation of a body part such as a finger, toe, hand, foot, arm, or leg due to an accident or…

Read More

For Teen Drivers, Distraction Comes in Many Forms

Distracted driving is pervasive and dangerous. A moment’s inattention at highway speeds can have a lifetime of consequences for accident victims, and no one is immune. Legislation to combat this widespread issue went into effect statewide in July 2020, but enforcement efforts began in January of this year. The new law imposes stiff penalties on…

Read More

Second Person Killed by ARC Air Bag Inflators, Prompting Recalls

An exploding air bag inflator has killed two people and potentially injured others. According to GM Authority, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and General Motors (GM) have issued recalls for two models already, the Chevy Traverse and the Buick Enclave, citing the risk of explosion. We expect more recalls to follow. The airbag…

Read More

Dangerous Medical Errors Made Before, During, and After Surgery

Even with years of schooling and training in hospital procedures, medical professionals can still make mistakes. Surgeons, hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers attempt to minimize the risks of surgery and other medical procedures through improved technology and other methods, but errors still happen. When a surgeon or other medical professional injures a patient by making…

Read More

CPSC Recalls Magnetic Ball Toys Due to Ingestion Hazard

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released a mandatory recall of two magnet ball and cube products due to ingestion hazards. Because of these high-powered magnets, the risk of ingestion can lead to fatalities. Further, because the company refused to agree to a voluntary recall, the CPSC sued the manufacturer to force a mandatory recall.…

Read More

Michael Phelan Named to The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100

Phelan Petty is pleased to announce that partner Michael Phelan has been selected for inclusion in The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 list of Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers in Virginia. This prestigious, invitation-only organization highlights the work of civil plaintiff and criminal defense attorneys across the country who have achieved outstanding results on behalf of…

Read More