First, know your car. Larry Webster, Popular Mechanics automotive editor, suggests examining all controls, then practice using them. Check the placement of the brake and accelerator pedals, and familiarize yourself with any “new” features, such as keyless ignition. Ensure that your seat is far enough forward to press the brake pedal all the way to the floor.

Then, practice. Know how to shift the transmission into neutral, and practice shutting the engine off while the transmission is in drive in case of unintended acceleration. “Nobody practices antilock braking or hard braking to see what it feels like,” Webster said in an interview with NBC. “You can practice stuck throttle scenarios very easily in a parking lot.”

When braking, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration advises that drivers press down firmly on the brake pedal, and not to pump. Pumping is not only counter-productive, but it can deplete the power assist from the engine vacuum. Additionally, Toyota suggests using both feet to press on the pedal as hard as possible.

Many US automakers program electronic throttle systems to idle if the brake has been applied. While Toyota has not yet done that, Popular Mechanics tests with a 2010 Camry have shown that the car can stop from highway speeds if brakes are correctly and fully applied.

If braking does not stop the car for whatever reason, shift into neutral and steer safely to the shoulder. If you are truly worried about unintended acceleration in your vehicle, this is something you will want to practice.

If you can’t break or shift into neutral, your last resort is to shut off the engine. Doing this will shut off the power assistance to both brakes and steering—so while they will still work, they will require much more effort to operate.

Being prepared is the best way to avoid an accident. However, we can’t always control our circumstances. If you or a loved one are involved in a car accident, due to another driver, or a faulty auto, BE INFORMED. Contact the Parrish Law Firm to request your free copy of the Virginia Car Accident Guide.

If Toyota’s problems are not bad enough following the recall of 6 million vehicles in the United States for brakes and accelerator problems, another incident involving a runaway Toyota is making the news.

On March 8, 2010, James Sikes was traveling down Interstate 8 near San Diego, California when his 2008 Toyota Prius sped out of control after he accelerated to pass another vehicle. Despite James Sikes’ efforts to stop the Prius by “standing” on his brakes, the car continued to travel at speeds of up to 94 mph.

I pushed the gas pedal to pass a car and it did something kind of funny… it jumped and it just stuck there. As it was going, I was trying the brakes…it wasn’t stopping, it wasn’t doing anything and it just kept speeding up… I won’t drive that car again – period.
James Sikes

In desperation, Sikes called 911 for help and a California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer came to assist him. As the officer traveled alongside the out of control Prius, he instructed Sikes to push on the brakes and pull the emergency brake at the same time. Although the primary brakes were reportedly not working, the use of both brakes slowed the car down to approximately 50 mph which allowed the officer to use his vehicle to guide the Prius to a gradual stop.

Sikes is fortunate that this incident did not turn fatal on him as the accident that killed California Highway Patrol (CHP) Officer Mark Saylor, his wife, daughter, and brother-in-law on August 28, 2009, near San Diego, California when their 2009 Lexus ES 350 accelerated out of control and crashed.

Following the runaway 2008 Prius incident on Monday, it has been reported that Toyota plans to recall Prius hybrid 2004-2009 models to prevent more runaway vehicles.

More articles on the runaway 2008 Toyota Prius story:

• Fox 5 – MyFoxDC Toyota to Recall 2004-09 Priuses to Prevent Pedal Entrapment
• Wall Street Journal – Runaway Prius Tale Prompts New Probe
• The Virginia Personal Injury Blog – Parrish Law Firm Sticking Gas Pedal Prompts Toyota to Recall 2.3 Million Cars | Manassas Car Accident Lawyer

Have You Been Injured in a Car, Motorcycle or Truck Accident in Virginia? If so, get the facts about car accident claims in The Virginia Car Accident Guide FREE to Virginia residents.

---

The Parrish Law Firm
10620-C Crestwood Drive – Manassas, Virginia 20109
(571) 229-1800

---

Find us on Facebook.

]]> http://blog.theparrishlawfirm.com/2008-toyota-prius-takes-man-for-wild-ride-fairfax-car-accident-attorney/feed/ 0 http://blog.theparrishlawfirm.com/tiwi-claims-to-make-teenage-drivers-safer-manassas-personal-injury-attorney/ http://blog.theparrishlawfirm.com/tiwi-claims-to-make-teenage-drivers-safer-manassas-personal-injury-attorney/#comments Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:00:59 +0000 admin http://blog.theparrishlawfirm.com/?p=1933

According to the CDC motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States. Some of the car accidents involving teenage drivers may be due to lack of driving experience, but all too common, teenage drivers often do not take the privilege of driving seriously or fall to peer pressure and drive in an unsafe manner. To help reduce the number of teenagers dying in car accidents, many driving monitoring devices have flooded the market promising to assist parents with monitoring their teenage child’s driving behavior and/or whereabouts.

A new driving monitoring device that claims that its use could reduce your “child’s chance of being in a crash by up to 62%” is called tiwi. In addition to tiwi operating as a GPS device so a parent can monitor where their teenager is located, it also monitors and records seatbelt usage, aggressive driving behavior, and speeding. Basically, this monitoring device will provide real-time verbal feedback to the driver to correct their driving behavior as well as real-time reporting to the parents of unsafe driving. Another interesting feature about the tiwi is that it can be used as a communication device as the driver may use it to call emergency services and the parent can call the unit to speak to the driver.

Since the tiwi device is in clear view on the windshield and can be clearly heard by all in the vehicle, the creators of tiwi believe that it will help teenage drivers avoid peer pressure to drive unsafely because they will have an excuse to follow the law and their parent’s rules. The tiwi will be watching!

For more articles on the tiwi system:

• HowStuffWorks – How the Tiwi System Works
• KING5 – TIWI technology helping parents monitor teen driving
• Edmunds – How To Keep Tabs on Your Teen Driver; Good Parenting vs. Privacy Invasion and the Tools to Use

If you, your family, or friends are injured by the negligence of another party, contact the Parrish Law Firm to discuss your case. The Parrish Law Firm used to work for the insurance companies. Let us put our experience to work for you!

---

The Parrish Law Firm
10620-C Crestwood Drive – Manassas, Virginia 20109
(571) 229-1800

---

Find us on Facebook.

]]> http://blog.theparrishlawfirm.com/tiwi-claims-to-make-teenage-drivers-safer-manassas-personal-injury-attorney/feed/ 0 http://blog.theparrishlawfirm.com/walking-and-texting-pedestrian-accidents-on-the-rise/ http://blog.theparrishlawfirm.com/walking-and-texting-pedestrian-accidents-on-the-rise/#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:51:17 +0000 admin http://blog.theparrishlawfirm.com/?p=1930 There have been a lot of studies released lately comparing the dangers of drinking and driving to driving while texting. However, new studies show that texting and walking can be just as hazardous.

While the mishaps for a distracted walker are typically minor, serious injuries are on the rise. According to an Ohio State University study, more than 1,000 pedestrians were taken to an emergency room in 2008 because they were distracted and tripped, fell or ran into something while using their phone. That was twice the number from 2007, and about four times the number from 2006.

While many pedestrian accidents are caused by motorists, pedestrians need to be equally aware of their surroundings.

A recent NBC Washington report on two local pedestrian accidents drives the issue home.

As the report notes, it’s not just cell phones that provide distractions. Joggers should take note of their surroundings, despite the drive to get “in the zone,” or adjust headphones.

For safety reasons, all pedestrians should carry some form of identification.

Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents regularly occur in Virginia. If you or a loved one has been injured, please contact The Parrish Law Firm for a free consultation.

When the Fort Worth, Texas resident went to pick up breakfast for her family the morning of December 11, 2009, she expected it to be a quick trip.

Her husband and two young children never expected it to be the last time they saw the 27-year-old wife and mother. Neither did her mother, Stella, who had lost her husband fewer than six months ago.

A man struck Sonia’s car on his way home from a night of partying and drinking. The collision left her car a mangled shell of glass and metal. It also preemptively ended Sonia’s life.

The man, Jesus Cisneros, was an off-duty police officer. His blood alcohol content was recorded at more than twice the legal limit. Cisneros had been drinking and partying throughout the evening. When he left the Pour House, a Fort Worth establishment that evening, he was allowed (and possibly encouraged) by their staff and security guards to drive home.

Any reasonable server knows the extreme safety risk an intoxicated customer poses if they get behind the wheel of a car. As such, they know they MUST take into account the safety and welfare of others when serving alcohol to their customers. On December 11, the Pour House chose their profit over the value of human life when they continued to serve liquor to an obviously intoxicated individual.

Furthermore, allowing him to get behind the wheel of a car is inexcusable.

In Virginia, the Alcoholic Beverage Control has policies against over serving patrons who are visibly intoxicated.

Sonia’s family and friends may never come to terms with what has happened. Establishments such as the Pour House should be held responsible—regardless of whether or not Cisneros knew what he was doing, they continued to serve an already inebriated man alcohol, and even let him drive off without incident.

We at the Parrish Law Firm keep the family and friends of Sonia Baker in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

The study is geared to children between the ages three and six. “This is not a small problem,” said David Schwebel, professor and vice chairman of the psychology department at UAB.

“Dog owners love their dogs and think their dogs are very safe,” Schwebel said. “A huge portion of dogs are safe. But if they get provoked the wrong way, they will bite.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and prevention, dogs bite about 4.5 million Americans per year, with several further cases going unreported.

Children can be especially susceptible to dog bites., according to the CDC. Dogs don’t typically “just snap,” according to an ABC News report, and a number of common behaviors can get children bitten. Hugging tightly around the neck, tail-pulling and ear-touching are just a few of these habits.

The nonverbal Blue Dog software program presents children with choices to make in various situations involving dogs. In one scenario, a dog is eating. The child selects whether to play with the dog, or to leave it alone.

In another, the child chooses whether to play with its own toy or with the dog’s toy. If the child makes the wrong choice, the Blue Dog will exhibit typical warning behavior—growling and baring teeth. The computer tells the child they have made the wrong choice without actually showing the consequences. When the dog growls, the cartoon child will, however, appear scared, reinforcing to the child they made the wrong decision.

UAB researchers are hoping to see the child exhibit safer interactions with dogs after playing the game, for example petting the dog on the back instead of the face.

If you or a child you know has been bitten by a dog, you probably have a lot of questions about what the next move should be. Before you speak with an insurance company, know your rights. Request a copy the Insider’s Guide to Dog Bite Claims in Virginia from the Parrish Law Firm.

Millions of vehicles are being recalled each year, without the attention afforded Toyota. While the manufacturer is required to notify owners when a recall is issued, many people miss the warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration hosts a website called Safe Car. Click on the tab labeled “Defects & Recalls” to enter your vehicle information. You may be surprised at what you find.

According to an NBC report, over 400 million vehicles have been recalled since 1966, but you may not have heard about it.

All kinds of consumer products are recalled, but word does not always make it to the end users.

While incredibly unfortunate, many drivers you share the road with simply may not be aware that their vehicle has been recalled.

If you have been in an accident, you may want to check if any of the vehicles involved have been recalled for safety reasons. Contacting an experienced attorney to protect your rights may be the best thing you can do.

Fox 5 revealed in their report FOX 5 Investigates: DC Injury Claims that the DC Attorney General’s office employs tactics to delay and devalue personal injury lawsuits filed against the District of Columbia – all for the sake of saving money.

Peter J. Nickles, Attorney General for the District of Columbia stated in his interview with Fox 5:

Peter Nickles further explains that “if you lose (in court), you encourage lots of other people to come out of the woodwork.” Therefore, due to the unpredictability of jury verdicts and awards, DC settles personal injury claims out of court – often at a fraction of the real value of the case – mainly to avoid a flood of “frivolous” claims.

According to the claimants highlighted in Fox 5’s investigation, it was clear that the DC Attorney General’s Office used tactics to delay the cases hoping that the claimants would just give up. Jonathan Siegel of George Washington University Law School refers to this defense tactic of wearing the plaintiff down as establishing a “psychological advantage.” Both of the claimant’s in Fox 5’s investigation settled their claims after six years of delays and now regret not pursing a jury trial.

Insurance Companies’ “Tricks of Trade” Revealed

The Parrish Law Firm used to work for the insurance companies and know the “tricks of the trade” that insurance companies use to deny, delay, and devalue your personal injury claim. If you are injured in a car accident in Virginia, request a copy of The Virginia Car Accident Guide: An Insider’s Guide to Auto Accident Injury Claims which is free to Virginia residents.

Let us put our experience to work for you!

---

The Parrish Law Firm
10620-C Crestwood Drive – Manassas, Virginia 20109
(571) 229-1800

---

Find us on Facebook.

]]> http://blog.theparrishlawfirm.com/dc-settles-personal-injury-claims-to-avoid-court-and-save-money-virginia-personal-injury-attorney/feed/ 0 http://blog.theparrishlawfirm.com/hulk-hogan-settles-sons-negligence-lawsuit-from-2007-car-crash-manassas-car-accident-lawyer/ http://blog.theparrishlawfirm.com/hulk-hogan-settles-sons-negligence-lawsuit-from-2007-car-crash-manassas-car-accident-lawyer/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:00:33 +0000 admin http://blog.theparrishlawfirm.com/?p=1881

Famous wrestler Hulk Hogan settled a negligence lawsuit that resulted from a 2007 street racing car crash involving his son Nick Bollea. The investigation revealed that the car accident occurred when 17-year-old Nick Bollea lost control of his father’s 1998 Toyota Supra while racing another vehicle on August 26, 2007 in Clearwater, Florida. As a result of the accident, Nick Bollea pled no contest to a reckless driving charge for which he served 5 months in jail.

Bollea’s passenger John Graziano, who was reportedly not wearing a seatbelt, sustained permanent brain damage and was paralyzed as a result of the car crashing into a tree. Graziano’s family pursued a negligence lawsuit against Bollea, Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan), and Nick’s mother Linda Bollea seeking punitive damages as Graziano incurred substantial medical expenses and will continue to require constant medical care since he is unable to care for himself due to the brain injury.

Graziano’s attorney, George Tragos, announced that a settlement had been reached on February 19, 2010, just days before the case was to go to trial, but did not disclose the settlement’s terms.

• NY Daily News – Hulk Hogan settles lawsuit with John Graziano’s family over son Nick Bollea’s car crash
• San Francisco Chronicle – Hulk Hogan settles lawsuit over son’s car crash
• CNN – Hospital discharges Hulk Hogan’s son after wreck

Have You Been Injured in a Car, Motorcycle, or Truck Accident in Virginia? If so, get the facts about car accident claims in The Virginia Car Accident Guide FREE to Virginia residents.

---

The Parrish Law Firm
10620-C Crestwood Drive – Manassas, Virginia 20109
(571) 229-1800

---

Find us on Facebook.

]]> http://blog.theparrishlawfirm.com/hulk-hogan-settles-sons-negligence-lawsuit-from-2007-car-crash-manassas-car-accident-lawyer/feed/ 0 http://blog.theparrishlawfirm.com/snow-covered-sidewalks-force-pedestrians-on-street-virginia-personal-injury-lawyer/ http://blog.theparrishlawfirm.com/snow-covered-sidewalks-force-pedestrians-on-street-virginia-personal-injury-lawyer/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:50:01 +0000 admin http://blog.theparrishlawfirm.com/?p=1871

Although it has been two weeks after back to back blizzards and record snow fall in the D.C., Maryland, and northern Virginia area, bus stops and sidewalks are still deeply buried under snow making them dangerous and impassable forcing pedestrians to unsafely walk on the streets.

Since the bus stop on Martin Luther King Highway in Landover, Maryland was covered in snow, Denise Johnson waited on the road and was struck by a hit-and-run driver that is still at large. Denise Johnson sustained serious and permanent injuries to include a broken back and broken ankle due to this unfortunate car accident.

On his way to work, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) employee Asa Fukuhara was not so lucky and was killed by a hit-and-run driver in Suitland, Maryland when he walked on Branch Avenue instead of the sidewalk that was under two feet of snow.

Until the snow melts making the sidewalks passable, drivers should be cautious and keep a lookout for pedestrians walking on the road in their lane of travel. It is important to keep especially vigilant in residential areas where children may be walking on the street or waiting for school buses as well as along stretches of road where pedestrian traffic is normally observed.

More articles on pedestrians walking on streets in avoidance of snow covered sidewalks:
NBC4 Washington, D.C. – Police Searching for Hit-and-Run Driver
Washington Post – Pedestrian killed on Branch Avenue while avoiding snowy sidewalks

If you, your family, or friends are injured by the negligence of another party, contact the Parrish Law Firm to discuss your case. The Parrish Law Firm used to work for the insurance companies. Let us put our experience to work for you!

---

The Parrish Law Firm
10620-C Crestwood Drive – Manassas, Virginia 20109
(571) 229-1800

---

Find us on Facebook.

]]> http://blog.theparrishlawfirm.com/snow-covered-sidewalks-force-pedestrians-on-street-virginia-personal-injury-lawyer/feed/ 0