(757) 552-6055Asking what you should (or would) do if you’re in an accident in Virginia Beach today seems like a simple enough question. You immediate reaction probably is that you already know what you should do. But do you really know? There are certain things you are legally required to do under Virginia law. Then there are other […]
Car Accident
Why Are Public Police Reports Important in Accident Cases?
If you’ve been in an accident, a police officer probably arrived on the scene fairly quickly. The officer talked with people at the scene, collected names and addresses, and made notes. After the accident, the officer used that information to prepare a police report. That report is not conclusive evidence of what happened, but it […]
Virginia Texting While Driving Law: What You Need To Know
Texting is the most dangerous form of distracted driving. Nearly one of every four accidents results from a driver who was texting. Nationwide, that’s 1.6 million accidents and more than 330,000 injuries each year. Our Virginia texting while driving law makes it illegal for anyone to text and drive in the state. What the Virginia […]
Virginia Auto Insurance Requirements: Virginia Beach Car Accident Lawyer Overview
Drivers often wonder whether they are required to have car insurance, and if so, what insurance is required. Each state sets its own auto insurance rules. Virginia actually does not require drivers to have insurance — but if a driver chooses not to buy insurance, other requirements must be met. Read on to learn from […]
Who Pays for an Injured Passenger? Answers from a Car Accident Lawyer in Virginia Beach
When you are injured as a passenger in a car involved in an accident, who pays your medical bills and other expenses and damages? The answer is: It can be complicated. Jeff Brooke, a car accident lawyer in Virginia Beach, explains who might pay and helps you determine what to do when you are an […]
Distracted Driving: Cautions From a Virginia Car Accident Attorney
Talking on your cell phone — or another distraction while you’re driving — is very dangerous. Virginia car accident attorney Jeff Brooke explains what distracted driving is, how it affects your ability to drive, and why it is so dangerous. What Is Distracted Driving? Distracted driving is anything that causes you to take hands off the wheel, […]
If You Are in a Car Accident on Your Virginia Vacation: What You Need to Know
When you are involved in a car accident in Virginia, responsibility for the accident is determined by Virginia law—even if you live in another state. If you have an accident while visiting on vacation or business— whether you are driving or a passenger—there are state law requirements that apply as well. Liability for Virginia Car […]
Is A Car Making A Left Turn Always At Fault In An Accident?
(See our updated September 2018 article on fault in Virginia left turn accidents.) The need to complete a left turn in busy traffic can test the patience of any driver. You are required to yield, and sometimes the rush of traffic makes it seem as though your turn to make your move will never arrive. However, […]
Do I Need To Have Car Insurance To Hire A Personal Injury Lawyer?
The decision whether to seek out a personal injury attorney for an accident that was your fault will depend on a number of factors, including the extent of the injuries suffered, extenuating circumstances and your insurance coverage. Typically, attorneys for your insurance company will serve as your defense against personal injury claims made by others […]
To Not Be a Statistic, Know the Statistics
This holiday season you and I (euphemistically referred to as “motorists” in the press), will be bombarded by the usual warnings. The state police will have standard public relations campaigns against drunk driving. Local police departments will issue press releases about DUI checkpoints. The common thread in all of these well-intentioned warnings is not to […]
Another Hidden Benefit of Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney: Fighting Against “Liens”
Injury victims usually call attorneys for obvious reasons: they want to know the value of their case and to make sure they get the maximum settlement. Recent changes in the law however have created another problem that needs to be dealt with. Whether the injury victim is represented by counsel or not, they will likely […]
How Do I Know if I Even Need a Lawyer?
Most legal cases these days seem to arise from automobile accidents. Yet victims of auto accidents quickly find that if the accident is clear cut, the insurance companies will take care of the damage. This may seem odd coming from an accident attorney, but frequently matters work themselves out, and no attorney is needed to […]
Summer Accidents
Summertime means more fun in the sun – and more accidents and personal injury cases. National statistics show that as the weather improves, the number of potentially serious accidents arises dramatically. A number of reasons come to mind: More Driving—More Accidents. AAA confirms that Americans put more miles on their cars during the summer. More mileage translates […]
Slow Down: Tips on Avoiding a Car Crash from a Virginia Auto Accident Lawyer
This blog is being authored as yours truly is on the way back from arguments in the Virginia Supreme Court. (Perhaps more to come about that). The normal 1.5 hour drive has taken 3 hours primarily because of one accident after another on Interstate 64. At least the time has allowed me to reflect on […]
Your First Personal Injury Consultation and What to Bring
Accidents and injuries by definition are emergency situations. While protecting life, health, and property (in that order) are priorities, the legal action needs to take place immediately thereafter. We like to set up our initial consultations with new personal injury clients as soon as possible. But before new clients come in, they have typically been bombarded […]
Texting While Driving in Virginia: a Primary Offense
Virginia’s laws regarding texting and driving are changing. As of July 1, texting became a primary offense, meaning that the police can pull you over even if this is the only probable cause they have that you have committed a driving offense. The rash of recent texting while driving accidents and a prominent new documentary […]
Winter Weather Car Accidents in Virginia
The Jeff Brooke Team handles many types of injury cases, but auto accidents are by far the most common. Within the category of auto accidents, the “rear-ender” is the single most common. And now that winter weather is upon us, you can be sure that the number of rear-enders is going increase up dramatically. It is […]
