Winter weather is synonymous with luxurious meals, sledding, family bonding, and fireside relaxation. And yet  as we enter the new year, nearly 27,900 Americans will be seriously injured in auto accidents, and more than 250 will die according to AAA.

Matters are made only worse in Virginia, where our stretch of I-95 has been dubbed one of the deadliest in the country. Between 2004 and 2008 there were roughly two accidents every mile and a half.

Winter weather is fun to play in, but very dangerous to drive in. If you do need to brave the weather (emphasis on “need to”), we have some tips that can help make the drive somewhat safer:

• Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is the best method for regaining traction and avoiding skids. Dont try to get moving in a hurry. And take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.
• Drive slowly. Everything takes longer on snow-covered roads. Accelerating, stopping, turning “ nothing happens as quickly as on dry pavement. Give yourself time to maneuver by driving slowly.
• Dont stop if you can avoid it. Theres a big difference in the amount of inertia it takes to start moving from a full stop versus how much it takes to get moving while still rolling. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it.
• Dont power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads just starts your wheels spinning. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed down hill as slowly as possible.
• Dont stop going up a hill. Theres nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road. Get some inertia going on a flat roadway before you take on the hill.
• The normal dry pavement following distance of three to four seconds should be increased to eight to ten seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.
• Know your brakes. Whether you have anti-lock brakes or not, the best way to stop is threshold breaking. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
• Be sure your car is fully maintained and ready for winter weather. This includes appropriate tires, antifreeze, a good battery, new wiper blades, and appropriate oil.

Lastly… stay home. If you really dont have to go out, dont. Driving during the busiest times of the year (especially around Christmas and New Year’s) is extremely risky and should be avoided if at all possible. Plan ahead for the occasion now and buy a plane ticket if possible.

And if all of your best efforts fail you, and you end up in a fender bender or serious accident. Call The Law Office of Collier & Collier, P.C. for a free consultation to discuss your case. Let us put our resources to work for you.

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May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

Its that time of year again! Spring in Virginia is the perfect time to hit the road on two wheels. You can get sun on your skin, wind in your face, and freedom on the open road. There are scenic coastal views, and beautiful mountain vistas to take in throughout Virginia, all within the reach of the average motorcyclist.

Unfortunately, there were more than 2000 motorcycle crashes in Virginia in 2014. The city of Richmond alone had 54 accidents involving a motorcycle. Whether you ride a sportbike or a Harley, there are some things to keep in mind as you hit the roads this summer.

Prevention:

• Dont Split Lanes: Splitting lanes might seem like a great alternative to sitting in traffic. However, doing so is illegal in the state of Virginia and driving abreast of another vehicle in the same lane could result in a charge of reckless driving. Additionally, driving in between other vehicles could make your motorcycle harder to see and harder for other drivers to react to, which could result in a costly accident.
• Dont drink and ride: Half of crashes that involve a single motorcycle involve a driver that had drank alcohol before riding. And according to NHTSA, in 2014, 29%of motorcycle riders who were involved in fatal crashes had a BAC of 0.08 percent or over.
• Dont pass a car in the same lane: Only pass a vehicle if you can easily access the left-hand lane and give a few feet distance between you and the vehicle you wish to pass. Passing the vehicle too closely could place you in a blind spot and result in a collision.

Common causes of accidents involving motorcycles:

• Road hazards and obstacles: Uneven pavement, lane closures, flooded areas, downed trees, and construction all add a new level of difficulty and challenge to your everyday commute. If you see signs of road hazards, slow down to asses the situation and make your best judgement on the road.
• Other Motorists inattention/not seeing motorcycles: You can only account for your own driving patterns and actions. In an age of texting and multitasking other motorists may not have their full attention on the road. This gives you all the more reason to watch for vehicles that are swerving, driving with inconsistent speed, or seem otherwise distracted. Always wear clothing that makes you visible at night, and give plenty of indication to other motorists before making turns and changing lanes.
• Cars making left hand turns: This accounts for 42% of all accidents involving motorcycle and car. If you find yourself in the left-hand blind spot of another vehicle, consider passing or reducing speed to create a buffer distance could minimize this risk. Maintaining a buffer zone around vehicles on the highway and in the city will help reduce the chances of being involved in an accident.

Motorcycle accidents usually cause very serious injuries for their drivers. Common injuries include broken bones, head injuries, severe skin abrasions, internal bleeding and spinal cord injuries.

A complete investigation of a motorcycle accident is often very complicated and requires the expertise of a Richmond motorcycle accident attorney. If you have been in a motorcycle accident, call the attorneys of Collier & Collier, P.C. at 804-364-5200. We help clients in Richmond and the surrounding areas receive full compensation for their injuries.

Did you know that any injury that occurs on or with a boat, ship, ferry, wave runner, or jet ski is considered a boating accident? This includes slip and fall accidents, collisions with swimmers, and falls overboard. And as the weather warms up busy waterways often become crowded and dangerous when the traffic of commercial vessels and leisure boats combine.

What do you do if a boating accident occurs?

If you are involved in a boating accident and the boat is still afloat and you are aboard, then the first thing to do is to determine whether you or anyone else needs medical attention.

If anyone has fallen overboard, then you should assist the victim back onto the boat when possible. If the vessel has broken apart or is sinking, then climbing on floating debris and signaling for help is advised. You should have a life jacket on or accessible at all times to help you to stay afloat in the event of a boating accident. The U.S. Coast Guard reports that 70 percent of boating accident fatalities result from drowning.

In addition to making sure everyone aboard the vessel is OK, you should also check to determine if anyone aboard other vessels involved need assistance. You should never leave the scene of a boating accident, especially if anyone is in need of medical help.

Once ascertaining that everyone is OK and out of immediate danger after the boating accident, you will next need to obtain essential information from those on the other vessel as well as from any witnesses to the accident.

Information that you should gather at the accident scene includes, the:

• Names, addresses and phone numbers of the boat operators involved in the accident.
• Names, addresses and phone numbers of the passengers involved or aboard any of the vessels in the crash.
• Names and contact information of any eyewitnesses who may have witnessed the accident from shore or from other vessels.
• Insurance company names and the insurance policy numbers of those who were involved in the accident.

Reporting a boating accident to the U.S. Coast Guard is a good idea because an accident report from the Coast Guard may be used to help shed light on how an accident occurred. In many cases, reporting the accident is also required by federal law.

As with an auto accident, you will want to get as many pictures as possible of the scene. Take pictures of any damage to property, any injuries, as well as of your surroundings. These photos will help give us context for your unique situation.

If you have been injured in a boating accident, call the Richmond boating accident lawyers of Collier & Collier, P.C. at 804-364-5200. We are familiar with the maritime laws and boating safety regulations of Virginia and the U.S. Coast Guard. We service clients in Richmond and beyond. Our law firm will make sure you take the best step-by-step actions in an effort to get full compensation.

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