A personal injury lawsuit may allow you to collect damages, including compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain, and suffering. But are personal injury settlements taxable? It depends on the type of compensation you receive and previous exemptions you claimed on your tax returns. The Car Crash Experts at Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers are here to explain the basics regarding taxes on personal injury settlements in Virginia. Receiving a settlement or court-ordered compensation often comes as a major relief to personal injury victims, many of whom lose their source of income during t ..read more

Amtrak, America’s national passenger railroad, has struggled to shake off a dubious safety record in recent years following a series of derailments resulting in deaths and injuries. An Amtrak derailment in California this month that left 15 injured has raised further questions. An Amtrak train carrying almost 200 passengers derailed when it struck a county water truck crossing the tracks in Southern California, AP reported. Three of the seven cars on the Amtrak train crashed off the track after the collision in Moorpark, according to Ventura County Fire Department. Fourteen injured passengers ..read more

New technology has made cars and trucks safer in recent years. However, the advances are not reflected in accident statistics that record a rise in fatalities in Virginia and across the United States over the past three years. Now the government is to make automatic emergency braking systems mandatory on all new passenger cars and light trucks. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would require automatic emergency braking as well as pedestrian AEB systems on passenger automobiles and l ..read more

Amtrak, America’s national passenger railroad, has been dogged by safety issues and delays in recent years. In the latest setback for the railroad operator, Amtrak’s new high-speed trains have been derailed for another year. Amtrak plans to roll out faster Acela trains in the Northeast Corridor.  The trains were meant to enter service in 2021. Their launch has now been postponed until 2024 at the earliest. The problem is one that has dogged passenger and freight services alike in recent years; Amtrak’s outdated tracks are not up to the challenge of European-style high-speed trains. Altho ..read more

Anyone who has sat in a car on Granby Street in Norfolk and waited for a slow-moving freight train to clear a grade crossing will be familiar with the frustration caused by long trains. Although running late for work might get you in trouble, research suggests that long trains can cause more serious issues if they impede first responders from reaching patients in trouble or accident victims. Rail regulators have also raised safety concerns over longer trains. Last month, the Washington Post revealed how a man suffered a stroke but a long train blocked a crossing thus preventing paramedics fro ..read more

Ever since the disastrous derailment of a Norfolk Southern freight train in Ohio in February, the railroad operator’s safety record has made headlines. In May, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced it would investigate the derailment of a Norfolk Southern freight train in Pennsylvania. The latest derailment occurred near New Castle in Pennsylvania, about 20 miles away from the site of a derailment in East Palestine, Ohio on Feb. 3. The Norfolk Southern derailment in February involved a freight train carrying poisonous vinyl chloride and other chemicals which caught fire ..read more

Cars are safer than they have ever been before and federal and local authorities are constantly bringing in new technology to make America’s roads less dangerous. It is, therefore, deeply disturbing that the death toll is continuing to rise on U.S. roads. Traffic fatalities in the first half of 2022 rose compared to 2021, one of the worst years for deaths and injuries in decades. Motor Vehicle Deaths in 2022 Figures released last month by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found an estimated 20,175 people died in motor vehicle wrecks in the first half of ..read more

It is rare for the driver of a car to be launched from the vehicle in a crash. However, motorcycle wrecks often involve the rider being thrown from their bike onto the pavement. Far too often, victims of motorcycle accidents suffer the most serious injuries. We see broken bones, multiple multi-inch lacerations, organ damage, and traumatic brain injuries. These are severe cases requiring years of treatment and extensive surgeries. Those who suffered injuries in Hampton motorcycle accidents should reach out to legal counsel to discuss their options. At Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers, our ex ..read more

If you’ve ever felt vulnerable driving on busy Northampton Boulevard near Norfolk Premium Outlets, you have good reason. Accident statistics from 2021 reveal this was Norfolk’s most dangerous intersection with 30 recorded crashes. Intersection Accident Statistics in Norfolk The intersection of Northampton Boulevard with Wesleyan Drive saw five more wrecks than Norfolk’s second most dangerous intersection, East Little Creek Road and Chesapeake Boulevard, which was the scene of 25 accidents. First responders attended more than 20 accidents at one other city intersection last year – the junct ..read more

Virginia Beach is the most populous city in our state. It also contains some of Virginia’s most congested and dangerous intersections, places where multiple lanes merge and drivers have to make split-second decisions.  The most hazardous intersection in 2021 was the crossing of Kempsville Road and Indian River Road, according to Virginia Department of Transportation figures. This intersection saw 54 reported accidents last year. Other Dangerous Intersections and Junctions Virginia Beach Town Center is one of the busiest places in the city. It is no surprise to learn that 47 crashes we ..read more