Practice Areas

Blog

News

Library

Car / Truck Accidents

If you have lived in, or ever visited, Northern Virginia, you are well aware of the ever worsening traffic conditions we face.  No matter the time of day, there always seems to be congestion on our roads.   All too often, the source of that congestion is an accident.

Sadly, many of the car accidents that we encounter are avoidable.  For example, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute examined accidents in the Northern Virginia region.  Its findings were remarkable.  Nearly 80% of all crashes and 65% of all near-crashes involved driver inattention (due to distraction, fatigue, or just looking away) within 3 seconds of the accident.  Similarly, visual inattention was a contributing factor for 93% of all rear-end striking crashes.   As for drunk drivers, nearly 15,000 drunk drivers were arrested in the Washington area in 2007 - that's an arrest rate of about 41 people per day.  Many of the accidents involving trucks or tractor trailers are likewise avoidable.  The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has estimated that driver fatigue was a contributing factor in 30-40% of all accidents involving trucks.

Hopefully, neither you or a loved one have been injured in car or truck accident.  If you have, and if you are looking for an attorney, look no farther than Shevlin Smith.  At Shevlin Smith, we have vast experience handling cases involving injuries from car and trucks accidents.  Our experience comes from multiple perspectives.  As a former prosecutor, Michael Shevlin has intimate knowledge of the traffic laws in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  As former insurance defense attorneys, Brian Shevlin and Thomas Smith are familiar with the tactics used by insurance companies to defend cases.  We have read hundreds of insurance policies.  As trial lawyers with decades of experience, all of us stand ready to take our client's case to trial if that will help ensure full and fair compensation for our client's injuries.

We promise you direct contact with our attorneys; we promise you a thorough investigation of your case; we promise you a candid evaluation; and we promise you aggressive representation.

So if you think you might have a automobile or truck accident case, call or email us for a free consultation.  We handle cases in all parts of Virginia.

Blog for Car / Truck Accidents

• Think Fast! What to Do if Your Car Crashes into Water in Virginia
• Why are “left turn” truck accidents so common on Virginia roads?
• I’m buying a new car. Are side-impact airbags important?
• Spring into Safety: Top 5 Ways to Bike Safely in DC
• Are Virginia motorcycle accident deaths on the rise?
• How to Survive a Virginia Rollover Accident
• Top 5 Rules for Virginia Construction Zone Safety
• Five Places NOT to be Around a Truck: Know Your “No Zones!”
• Top 5 Car Seat Safety Tips: Make Sure Your Child is Secure
• What Not to Do After a Car Accident in Virginia
• Five Easy Steps to Prevent Distracted Driving Accidents in Virginia
• The High Cost of Spinal Cord Injury Treatment: How to Prevent It
• 2009 Virginia Drunk Driving Statistics Provide Important Information for Virginia Drivers
• The Top 5 Reasons Teenage Drivers Cause Car Accidents

Library for Car / Truck Accidents:

• 5 Items that Can Save Your Life: What to Keep in Your Car’s Emergency Kit   
  What should I keep in a car emergency kit in Virginia? Learn how a few simple items in your car can save your life from a trusted Fairfax car accident lawyer.
• Top 5 Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Virginia   
  Why are motorcycle accidents in Virginia so common? An experienced Fairfax motorcycle accident attorney tells you how to avoid a motorcycle crash in DC.
• The Slow Crash: How Semis Cause Accidents in DC Intersections   
  Is it possible to prepare for a DC truck accident? Learn how to avoid an intersection accident in Virginia from a trusted Fairfax trucking accident attorney.
• Are DC Side-Impact Car Accidents More Deadly Than Head-On Collisions?   
  Are Virginia T-bone accidents more deadly than head-on collisions? Learn more about auto accidents in DC from a trusted Fairfax car accident attorney.
• When Does Drowsy Driving Become Impaired Driving?   
  Is drowsy driving more dangerous than drunk driving in Virginia? Get the facts about impaired driving crashes in DC from a trusted Fairfax car wreck attorney.
• Crash and Burn: Top 5 Causes of Fairfax Bicycle Accidents   
  Hit while bicycling in DC? Legal advice from an experienced Fairfax bicycle accident attorney can get you compensation for your Virginia bike crash injury.
• Common Head Injuries in Virginia Motorcycle Accidents: Signs & Symptoms   
  Are you suffering from a head injury after motorcycle accident in Virginia? Get a free consultation from an experienced Fairfax motorcycle injury attorney.
• Common DC Car Accident Injuries: Are you suffering from a pelvic fracture?   
  Was your pelvic fracture misdiagnosed? Call a DC car accident attorney at Shevlin Smith at (703) 591-0067 for information on your Fairfax personal injury case.
• Aggressive Truck Driving in Virginia: How to Spot the Warning Signs   
  Aggressive truck driving is a common cause of Virginia road accidents. Don’t let a truck driver bully you into an accident! Call Shevlin Smith at 703-591-0067.
• The Frightening Facts about Virginia Rollover Accidents   
  Involved in a rollover accident? Get advice from a Fairfax personal injury attorney who knows the risks, injuries, and settlements involved in Virginia rollover accident cases. Call Shevlin Smith today at (703) 591-0067 for more information and a free consultation.
• What Every Driver Should Know About Virginia Work Zone Accidents   
  Suffering after a work zone accident in Virginia? Find out more about your work zone injury, including possible damage compensation, with experienced legal advice from the personal injury attorneys at Shevlin Smith. Call (703) 591-0067 today for more information and to schedule your consultation.
• Truck Driver Fatigue: How to Avoid an 18-Wheeler Accident   
  Trucker asleep at the wheel? If you were involved in a car accident with an 18-wheeler due to driver fatigue, the experienced personal injury attorneys at Shevlin Smith can help get you the compensation you deserve. Call our offices today at (703) 591-0067 for a free consultation on your Virginia truck accident case.
• Children in Fatal Car Accidents: How to Prevent a Tragedy   
  Is your son or daughter secured properly in their car seat? Would your child survive a head-on collision? Ensure child safety on Virginia roads by following these safety tips—and to see if your children are at risk. If your child suffered an injury in a Virginia car accident, get advice from a trusted Fairfax personal injury attorney today by calling Shevlin Smith at (703) 591-0067.
• 5 Easy Steps to Surviving a Virginia Car Accident   
  Don’t panic after a Virginia car accident! Follow these simple tips and be prepared. Know what to carry, what information to get, and who to call in the event of a road accident in Virginia. Contact Shevlin Smith today at (703) 591-0067 for more knowledgeable advice from our trusted Fairfax personal injury attorneys.
• Distracted Driving: A Leading Cause of Virginia Car Accidents   
  Hit by a distracted driver in Virginia? Are you suffering because a driver on a cell phone wasn’t paying attention? If you or someone you love was injured in a distracted driving car accident, then advice from a Washington, DC accident lawyer can help you recover. Call Shevlin Smith today at (703) 591-0067 to learn about your options and possible compensation.
• Interesting Facts About Virginia Accidents in 2009   
  In 2009, tens of thousands of people were injured and more than 700 people were killed in Virginia car accidents. Read this article to find out what caused these accidents, where they happened and what you should do if you’ve been hurt in a Virginia accident. The Virginia and Washington D.C. car crash lawyers of Shevlin Smith are available for a free consultation if you’ve been injured lost a loved one in a Northern Virginia accident.
• Nighttime Driving is the Most Common Cause of Teenage Car Crashes   
  Nighttime driving is the biggest risk for teenage drivers, according to a new study. Teenagers, and their parents, should understand the risks of night driving and comply with driving laws in Virginia and Washington D.C. that limit the nighttime driving of novice drivers. If you, or your child, has been hurt in an accident call the Virginia car accident lawyers of Shevlin Smith at 703-591-0067 for a free consultation.

View All

Case Results for Car / Truck Accidents:

• Dump Truck Accident Case Settlement

Awarded: Confidential

• Automobile Accident Case Settles for $500,000 after the Discovery of a Second Insurance Policy

Awarded: $500,000.00

• Automobile Accident Case Settled for $500,000

Awarded: $500,000.00

• Head-on collision case settles for $425,000

Awarded: 425,000

• Jury Verdict in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Case

Awarded: $145,000

• Car Accident Case Settles for Policy Limits

Awarded: $100,000.00

• Case Settlement For Pedestrian Hit By Car In Shopping Center Parking Lot

Awarded: $100,000.00

Web Resources for Car / Truck Accidents:

• 2006 Statistics for Virginia Motor Vehicle Accidents

  Description: In 2006, there were 42,642 fatalities in the United States resulting from motor vehicle accidents. In Virginia, there were 963. This site shows all of the statistics relating to Virginia motor vehicle accidents involving a fatality.

• Child Passenger Safety Tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  Description: NHTSA seeks to ensure that all children ages 0-16 are properly restrained in the correct restraint system for their age and size every time they travel in a motor vehicle. This site is a wonderful educational tool for ensuring child passenger safety.

• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

  Description: The FMCSA develops and enforces data-driven regulations that balance motor carrier (truck and bus companies) safety with industry efficiency; harnesses safety information systems to focus on higher risk carriers in enforcing the safety regulations; targets educational messages to carriers, commercial drivers, and the public; and partners with stakeholders including Federal, State, and local enforcement agencies, the motor carrier industry, safety groups, and organized labor on efforts to reduce bus and truck-related crashes. Its website is a wonderful resource for rules, regulations, facts and research relating to large truck and bus safety issues.

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  Description: The mission of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is to "save lives, prevent injuries and reduce economic costs due to road traffic crashes, through education, research, safety standards and enforcement activity." Its website is a wonderful resource for information directed to advancing this mission.

• National Transportation Safety Board

  Description: The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent Federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant accidents in the other modes of transportation -- railroad, highway, marine and pipeline -- and issuing safety recommendations aimed at preventing future accidents.

• NHTSA Crash Avoidance Research Technical Publications

  Description: The Research and Development department of the National Highway Traffic Safety Adminsitration engages in extensive research, development, testing, crash investigation, and data collection and analysis activities. This website lists many of its publications.

• Truck Accident Legal Center

  Description: Truck Accident Legal Center provides in-depth information to truck accident victims including immediate steps after a truck accident. We are helping you reassemble your life by being aware of your rights and by assisting you in getting the best possible compensation.

• Truck Safety Coalition

  Description: The Truck Safety Coalition is a partnership between The Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways (CRASH) Foundation, and Parents Against Tired Truckers (P.A.T.T). The Truck Safety Coalition is dedicated to reducing the number of deaths and injuries caused by truck-related crashes, providing compassionate support to truck crash survivors and families of truck crash victims, and educating the public, policy-makers and media about truck safety issues.

View All

Do I Have A Case? A Patient's Guide to Virginia Medical Negligence Law

Let us help you