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In the US during 2013 there were 505 deaths due to accidental or negligent discharge of a firearm, and 281 deaths due to firearms use with “undetermined intent” as noted in a report by the CDC. And while there will never be a year without negligent gun death, there are several things gun owners can do to help make their home safer and hopefully avoid these horrific accidents.

• Store your firearms in a locked cabinet, safe, gun vault or storage case when not in use, ensuring they are in a location inaccessible by children and cannot be handled by anyone without your permission.
• Use a gun locking device that renders the firearm inoperable when not in use. A gun lock should be used as an additional safety precaution and not as a substitute for secure storage.
• Always unload, clean and place your firearms in their secure storage location immediately after returning from a hunting trip or a day at the range.
• Store your ammunition in a locked location separate from firearms.

While this is by no means a comprehensive list, it can help as a reminder to keep guns in safe and secured location, unloaded and away from amunition, within the home. We encourage anyone with the intent of using a gun have proper training. Even if you are going on a hunting trip over the weekend, a quick day-trip to a local range can equip you with potentially life-saving knowledge on how to properly handle firearms.

And if you or a family member find yourself injured as the result of poor or negligent gun handling. Do not hesitate to contact the law offices of Collier & Collier at 877.825.0543 for legal assistance.

According to the CDC, each day in the United States, approximately 9 people are killed and more than 1,000 injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver. People under the age of 20 are the largest group associated with distracted driving behaviors.

In order to help prevent teenagers from endangering themselves and others while behind the wheel, it is important that parents and guardians make a point to talk about distracted driving with their children: What it is, why it is dangerous, and which steps they can take to prevent it.

Distracted driving describes any action or behavior while driving that takes the drivers visual, manual, or cognitive focus off of the road. Distracted driving behaviors include, but are not limited to:

• Talking on a cell phone (even hands-free)
• Eating or drinking
• Talking to passengers
• Adjusting the climate controls or radio (or CD/mp3 player)
• Setting or reading the screen of a GPS navigation system while in motion
• Grooming
• Texting

Experts say that texting is among the riskiest behaviors to engage in while driving because it requires all three aspects of focus (visual, manual, and cognitive), to be removed from the road simultaneously. People who text while driving are twenty-three times more likely to get into an accident. Teens (and adults) who text and drive are not only putting themselves in harms way, but also other drivers and pedestrians with whom they share the road.

Along with the potential for death and injury, texting while driving in the state of Virginia can also result in legal ramifications. According to Chapter 661 of the Code of Virginia, it is unlawful for any person to operate a moving motor vehicle on the highways in the Commonwealth while using any handheld personal communications device to:

1. Manually enter multiple letters or text in the device as a means of communicating with another person; or
2. Read any email or text message transmitted to the device or stored within the device, provided that this prohibition shall not apply to any name or number stored in the device nor to any caller identification information.

With the noted exceptions of the use of handheld devices on the part of emergency vehicle operators and the like, distracted driving is against the law and if an individual is convicted, will result in an immediate fine for the first offense.

As a parent or guardian, there are things you can do to help your children make good choices while behind the wheel. First, discuss the risks associated with distracted driving realistically and often. Second, make and enforce rules regarding cell phone use while driving. Finally, set a good example by keeping your own cell phone out of reach while driving and refraining from any of the behaviors listed above. We all need to work together to prevent injury and fatalities caused by distracted driving.

No one ever plans to get in an accident, but you can make the possible situation less stressful by being prepared and knowing what to do.

Always keep an emergency kit in your vehicle. Carry a cell phone, pen, paper and a disposable camera to take pictures at the scene (if you dont have a camera phone). Also, keep a list of contact numbers handy, including law enforcement, emergency contacts, and your lawyer. Of course, feel free to call Collier and Collier any time day or night at 804-364-5200. You may also want to include a flashlights, emergency flares, and warning triangles.

If you are involved in a car accident, try to remain calm, and follow these steps:

1. Call an ambulance if anyone is seriously injured.

2. Move to safety. If the accident had no serious injuries, you and the other drivers should move your cars to the side of the road and out of harms way. If a car cannot be moved, make sure to turn on hazard lights and put out hazard triangles and flares if you have them.

3. Exchange the following information: Name, address, phone number, insurance company, policy number, drivers license number, license plate number, and a description of each car, including year, make, model and color. Also note the exact location of the collision and how it happened.

Do not tell the other drivers or the police that the accident was your fault, even if you think it was.

4. Document the accident. Take pictures of the damage to all the vehicles and get the contact information for any witnesses.

5. File an Accident Report. Law enforcement officers may not respond unless there are injuries, but you should still file a state vehicle accident report, which is available at police stations and often on the DMV website.

6. Call a Richmond personal injury attorney like the ones at Collier and Collier, P.C. at 804-364-5200. We are here to help and happy to answer any questions you may have.

Virginia allows those injured by dog bites to seek compensation from negligent owners, but the states dog bite laws can be rather complicated, especially if the dog has no previous history of violent behavior. For this reason, it is very important to secure an experienced Richmond dog bite lawyer immediately. The attorneys at Collier & Collier, P.C. pursue all legal avenues in order to provide our clients with the results and compensation they deserve.

In 2017 there were thirty-nine fatalities due to dog bites. Just like people, dogs have personal boundaries and can act aggressively or unpredictably when approached in a disrespectful manner. Its important to protect yourself and your children from possible bites, and there are simple steps you can take that will help minimize the possibility of a bite.

1.  Not all dogs are friendly to new interactions, especially if they happen quickly. Dogs may see sudden moves as signs of aggression or otherwise threatening. If you want to approach a dog, be sure that you ask the owner for permission first.
2. Be mindful of the dogs body language and keep a safe distance. Do not try to approach a dog that is without an owner, or is restrained to a post or behind a fence.
3. Some signs a dog may feel uncomfortable and feel the need to bite are: a tensed body, stiff tail, pulled back ears, furrowed brow, eyes rolled so the whites are visible, yawning, flicking tongue, intense stare, backing away.
4. If a dog is exhibiting the above signs it is very important that you back away slowly from the dog while maintaining eye contact.
5. If you are bitten or attacked by a dog, try not to panic. After you get away from the dog, immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and warm water. Contact your physician for additional care and advice. Report the bite to your local animal care and control agency.

If you are attacked by a dog and call animal control, tell the animal control official everything you know about the dog, including his owner’s name and the address where they live. If the dog is a stray, tell the animal control official what the dog looks like, where you saw him, whether you’ve seen him before and in which direction he went.

The Richmond, Virginia personal injury lawyers of Collier & Collier, P.C. will take the right action to make sure you receive all of the compensation to which you are entitled. You may be entitled to payment for medical costs, property damage, lost wages, cost of rehabilitation, permanent injuries, physical pain, and emotional suffering. You can call Collier & Collier P.C. at 877.825.0543 for an experienced personal injury lawyer.

After medical- and automotive-related incidents, gun-related fatalities round out the top three causes of death in the US according to the Center for Disease Control. Gun use has become so prevalent in fact that in a 2012 article from Bloomberg, it was reported that “by 2015, firearm fatalities will probably exceed traffic fatalities for the first time…” For reference, in 2013 there were 32,719 motor vehicle fatalities.

Shockingly, many of these deaths are pure accident. Not the end result of murder or suicide, but accidents or carelessness and neglect. As many as 15% of total gun-related hospitalizations are the result of accidents.

If you, or a friend or loved one, have been injured in a gun accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. And if a gun accident contributed to the death of a family member, their estate may have a valid wrongful death claim.

When making a personal injury claim, there are generally two types of firearm discharge being discussed. Accidental and Negligent.

Accidental discharge can occur even when the gun owner had proper training and took all reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of others. Yet the gun owner may drop the gun or mishandle it in a way that results in a discharge.

Negligent discharge occurs when the gun owner or shooter fails to exercise reasonable care and precaution when handling the gun, thereby endangering the safety of others.

The difference between accidental and negligent discharges is that it’s more difficult to succeed in a personal injury claim when the discharge was accidental. However, the more evidence showing someone’s negligence was responsible, the stronger your claim. Common evidence used in gun-related personal injury and wrongful death claims include witness statements and security footage.

Because the inherent risk surrounding firearms, it is important that anyone with the intent of using a gun have proper training. Even if you are going on a hunting trip over the weekend, a quick day-trip to a local range can equip you with potentially life-saving knowledge on how to properly handle firearms.

And if you or a family member find yourself injured as the result of poor or negligent gun handling. Do not hesitate to contact the law offices of Collier & Collier at 877.825.0543 for legal assistance.