Collier & Collier

Protecting the rights of injured persons since 1973

Tailgating The Right Way

DUI

super bowl 50 yard line football fieldThis month marks the beginning of a new NFL football season. You can expect water-cooler talk about team rivalries, constant gossip about player injuries, and more drunk drivers on the road each Thursday and Sunday. Dont think football season affects the road? Well, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 43% of all traffic fatalities on Super Bowl Sunday in 2012 were caused by intoxicated driving. That statistic is up 10% from what could be expected on any average Sunday.

Because of the elevated risk of drunk drivers on the roadways, it is important to know how to spot and report them.

How to spot a drunk driver on the road:

  • Weaving frequently and not able to drive in straight line
  • Making wide turns
  • Driving at slower speeds than usual
  • Stopping without a cause
  • Driving on the wrong side of the road

How to report a drunk driver if you come across one:

  • Stay as far away from the vehicle as possible
  • Do not try to pass the vehicle or signal it to pull over, this may cause an accident
  • Without disrupting or becoming distracted from your own driving, safely take notice of the license plate and the make, model, and year of the vehicle
  • Pull over and call 911 and give them your description

If you plan on tailgating and showing support for your team, make sure to do so responsibly. Make use of public transportation or a designated driver if you plan to drink. And if you dont plan on drinking but do anyway be sure to wait until you are sober to operate any motor vehicle.

If you are hit by a drunk driver, dont hesitate to call The Law Offices of Collier & Collier, P.C. toll free at 877-825-0543. Our Richmond car accident attorneys have worked on many cases similar to yours, and we are familiar with the future expenses you may incur. We will obtain full and fair compensation for your physical injuries and your past, present and future losses.

>super bowl 50 yard line football fieldThis weekend marks the beginning of a new NFL football season. You can expect watercooler talk about team rivalries, constant gossip about player injuries, and more drunk drivers on the road each Sunday. Dont think football season affects the road? Well, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported in 2012 that 43% of all traffic fatalities on Super Bowl Sunday of that year were caused by intoxicated driving. That statistic is up 10% from what could be expected on an average Sunday.

Because of the elevated risk of drunk drivers on the roadways, it is important to know how to spot and report them.

How to spot a drunk driver on the road:

  • Weaving frequently and not able to drive in straight line
  • Making wide turns
  • Driving at slower speeds than usual
  • Stopping without a cause
  • Driving on the wrong side of the road

How to report a drunk driver if you come across one:

  • Stay as far away from the vehicle as possible
  • Do not try to pass the vehicle or signal it to pull over, this may cause an accident
  • Without disrupting or becoming distracted from your own driving, safely take notice of the license plate and the make, model, and year of the vehicle
  • Pull over and call 911 and give them your description

If you plan on tailgating and showing support for your team, make sure to do so responsibly. Make use of public transportation or a designated driver if you plan to drink. And if you dont plan on drinking but do anyway be sure to wait until you are sober to operate any motor vehicle.

If you are hit by a drunk driver, dont hesitate to call The Law Offices of Collier & Collier, P.C. toll free at 877-825-0543. Our Richmond car accident attorneys have worked on many cases similar to yours, and we are familiar with the future expenses you may incur. We will obtain full and fair compensation for your physical injuries and your past, present and future losses.

iphone-410324_640In the chaos of a car accident, you can be incapacitated, incoherent, or otherwise kept from contacting your emergency contacts. It is obviously important to notify loved ones of your condition and location in the event of a car accident or other emergency, but when incapacitated, it is impossible to do so.

In order to counteract this, the DMV of Virginia offers a special program to set and forget your emergency contact information so that it will be in the hands of those who can help exactly when they need it. The Emergency Contact Program is available to people with any valid Virginia drivers license or ID card. Per the DMV website: You can add, modify, or delete up to two emergency contacts at any time. Your information will be securely stored by DMV and will be accessible only by law enforcement in the event of an emergency.

To enroll a minor under the age of 18, the parent or guardian will have to create a DMV pin for themselves, and then add the necessary information. Children under the age of 15 will need to have a child ID registered with the DMV.

In addition to the program offered by the DMV, you may want to utilize a special feature of the iPhone if you own one. iPhones can store emergency contact information and medical notes so thats its accessible to anyone from your lock screen. On iOS version 8.0 and later, iOS products have an Apple Health app.

To add emergency information on your device:

  1. Open the Apple Health app, which is installed on all iOS devices running iOS 8 and later. This app cant be uninstalled.
  2. Tap on Medical ID in the bottom right corner.
  3. Tap Create Medical ID.
  4. At the very top, make sure Show When Locked is turned on (to green). Fill in as much information as is relevant to you. If you have no known allergies or arent taking medication, it still helps to write None or None known so that medical personnel dont assume youve overlooked these fields.
  5. Make sure you assign at least one person as your emergency contact person. You must save that persons name and phone number in your Contacts app for the Health app to be able to include it.
  6. Hit Done to save.

To test that the app has worked properly, lock your phone. Now wake it up but dont fully unlock it with the passcode or Touch ID (thumbprint). When you slide to get to the passcode screen, you should see Emergency at the bottom. Press it, and a new screen appears with a number keypad to dial, as well as Medical ID in the bottom left. Press Medical ID, and youll see your information appear along with a phone icon that, when pressed, will automatically dial your ICE contact.

After an automobile accident, you may require multiple surgeries, extensive rehabilitation or long-term care. Our Richmond car accident attorneys have worked on many cases similar to yours, and we are familiar with the future expenses you may incur. We will obtain full and fair compensation for your physical injuries and your past, present and future losses.

Contact the law offices of Collier & Collier, P.C. at 1-804-364-5200 for a free consultation to discuss your case. Let us put our resources to work for you.

super bowl 50 yard line football fieldWhether you are a football fan, friends with one, or you just watch for the commercials, millions of viewers will be tuning in on Sunday, February 7th for Super Bowl 50. Some go out to sports bars, others throw parties for the occasion, and while it is all in good fun, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2012, 43% of all traffic fatalities on Super Bowl Sunday were caused by intoxicated driving.

The greater volume of people in bars, at parties and otherwise makes for dangerous road conditions. It is important that you know both how to avoid a DUI, and how to avoid drunk drivers on the road.

How to spot a drunk driver on the road

Although there will be many DWI checkpoints on our roadways that weekend, be sure to be on the lookout for drivers exhibiting these signs:

  • Weaving frequently and not able to drive in straight line
  • Making wide turns
  • Driving at slower speeds than usual
  • Stopping without a cause
  • Driving on the wrong side of the road

How to report a drunk driver if you come across one:

  • Stay as far away from the vehicle as possible
  • Do not try to pass the vehicle or signal it to pull over, this may cause an accident
  • Without disrupting or becoming distracted from your own driving, safely take notice of the license plate and the make, model, and year of the vehicle
  • Pull over and call 911 and give them your description

As the host of a a Super Bowl party, you are an important part in helping to prevent drunk driving and DUI arrests. If you serve alcoholic beverages, be sure to also serve plenty of food, as a full stomach helps alcohol absorb more slowly into the bloodstream. Provide tasty alcohol-free alternatives to alcoholic beverages so that designated drivers wont feel left out or be tempted to indulge. Pay attention to your guests behavior and serve alcohol accordingly. Its usually smart to stop serving alcoholic drinks an hour or two before the party ends.

And if you are hit by a drunk driver, or arrested under DUI charges, dont hesitate to call The Law Offices of Collier & Collier, P.C. toll free here 877-825-0543.

DUIThe end of the year means more cocktail parties, gift exchange events and late-night get-togethers. These events will likely involve some amount of festive alcoholic beverages and, in turn, the risk of getting a DUI drastically increases during the holiday season. According to the NHTSA, during the Christmas and New Year period, the average number of fatalities involving an alcohol-impaired driver rises by 34%.

Make sure you can enjoy the festivities without incurring a DUI by planning ahead to avoid drinking and driving. If you know you are attending an event with alcohol, there are certain tips you can use before and during the get-together to have a great time and stay safe.

  • Assign a designated driver beforehand.
  • Entrust your keys to the host of the event or other responsible person as soon as you get there.
  • Alternate alcoholic drinks with a glass of water and food. Stop drinking alcohol during the last two hours of the event.
  • Remember there is no stigma attached to deciding not to drink at a party. If you dont want the task of finding alternate transportation home, your best option is to not drink.
  • Keep a list of nearby cab companies in your wallet or saved on your smartphone. Dial 1-800-TAXI-USA for immediate taxi service or download the companys free mobile app, Taximobile, to find a taxi service near you.
  • Apps like Uber and Lyft can also be helpful if a taxi isnt nearby.
  • If you are intoxicated and need a ride home but dont want to leave your vehicle overnight, consider using a service like BeMyDD, that sends a chauffeur to drive you and your car home.

As the host of a get-together this season, you are an important part in helping to prevent drunk driving and DUI arrests. If you serve alcoholic beverages, be sure to also serve plenty of food, as a full stomach helps alcohol absorb more slowly into the bloodstream. Provide tasty alcohol-free alternatives to alcoholic beverages so that designated drivers wont feel left out or be tempted to indulge. Pay attention to your guests behavior and serve alcohol accordingly. Its usually smart to stop serving alcoholic drinks an hour or two before the party ends.

However, if you find yourself in an accident involving alcohol or other substances, call the experienced attorneys at The Law Offices of Collier & Collier, P.C. toll free here 877-825-0543. We serve clients in Richmond and the surrounding areas. If you are injured in an automobile accident, its very important to contact an experienced lawyer right away.

Contact Collier & Collier for a FREE Consultation CALL NOW 804-364-5200