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In 2014 there were forty four 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. 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. Do not run. If you run, instinct may drive the dog to chase you.
6. 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 he lives. 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.

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.

If you or a loved one is injured by a dog bite you can call Collier & Collier P.C. at 877.825.0543 for an experienced personal injury lawyer.

Starting July 1st 2016, there will be new additions in virginia to personal watercraft regulations. According to the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries, All personal watercraft (PWC) operators age 14 and older and all motorboat operators of 10 hp or greater regardless of age need to take a boating safety course. Additionally no one under the age of 14 may operate a PWC. Operators 14 and 15 years old must show proof of completing education.

VDGIF defines a personal watercraft as: a motorboat less than 16 feet in length that are powered by jet pumps, not propellers, where the persons stand, kneel, or sit on, rather than inside the boat.

If youve already taken a boating safety course and are properly certified this isnt likely to affect you. However, if you are an experienced boater but have not taken the safety course, you may choose to take an equivalency/challenge exam rather than take a boating safety course.

Despite taking a safety course and obtaining proper licensing  it is still possible for accidents and injury to happen while on the water. It is important to note 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.

In the event of such injury, it is important to secure the experienced Richmond boat accident lawyers of Collier & Collier, P.C. as soon as possible. Our law firm will make sure you take the best step-by-step actions in an effort to get full compensation.

As spring temperatures continue heating up cyclists, pedestrians, children, and pets will become more and more active in and around Richmond (as well as the rest of Virginia). Because of this, it is important that we share the road with more than just our fellow cars.

1. Be mindful of your passing speed: A pedestrian is eight times more likely to be killed by a car when struck at 30 mph than at 20 mph. Maintaining cautious speeds when passing helps avoid unnecessary risk. If you have to dangerously accelerate to pass a cyclist, then it likely isnt the right time to pass them.
2. Give a wide berth: Virginia has set 3 feet as the motorist’s minimum legal distance for safely passing cyclists. This means that when passing a cyclist, there needs to be at least 3 feet of clearance. (Cyclists, this means you need to ride single file so that cars can pass without completely obstructing other lanes.)
3. Indicate your intentions early: Cyclists and motorists should signal well before any turn or hazard so that others on the road can anticipate their intentions and act accordingly.
4. Maintain 360 degrees of awareness: 38% of cycling fatalities in 2008 took place at intersections. Before initiating a turn, drivers should focus attention on their rear-and side-view mirrors. Turning right? Look for cyclists along the curb who may be going straight.
5. Ditch distractions: Cell phones and other distractions have increasingly been linked with accidents and fatalities over the years. Turning off your phone for the duration of time in the car could decrease your odds of an accident.
6. Count to 2: Maintaining a decent follow-distance is as simple as counting to two. Start when a cyclist passes a landmark and count until you pass the same landmark. If you reach 2 full seconds this gives you 60 feet of space at 20 miles an hour. This is considered adequate time to brake in case of an emergency.

Life isn’t always as neat and tidy as a freshly-painted bike lane, and in the event that an accident occurs with any motorist, pedestrian, or cyclist, you can trust the professionals at Collier & Collier, P.C. Contact us at 1-804-364-5200 or toll free at 1-877-825-0543 for a free consultation to discuss your case. Let us put our resources to work for you.