Richard Neal Shapiro Esq

Schedule your free, confidential case review at https://www.hsinjurylaw.com

Our law firm is comprised of experienced and skilled personal injury lawyers with a national reputation in achieving success for clients day in and day out. Our team of attorneys are recognized as some of the best lawyers in America by U.S. News & World Report and as Super Lawyers in the Virginia by Law & Politics Magazine. Shapiro, Appleton & Washburn has focused on helping injured clients since 1985 and possesses an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau.

If you are in need of an attorney, you can either fill out a quick contact form when you visit our site or you can call our office toll free at 1-800-752-0042. When you contact our office, an attorney will respond within hours. You can be rest assured that none of your personal information will be shared with third parties and the discussion you have with a member of our law firm will be kept confidential.

Being involved in a car accident is stressful enough, but when the driver who caused the crash takes off, the aftermath can feel overwhelming. This can be even further compounded if you have suffered injuries in the crash. A car accident attorney can help you pursue financial damages for any losses you suffer. However, there are also steps that you can take to help ensure a successful outcome of your hit-and-run crash.

If you’ve been injured in a hit-and-run accident, we can help you collect the financial compensation you may be entitled to. At Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp, we can evaluate your case and determine your best legal options for recovering damages. Call us today at 833-997-1774 for a free consultation.

What Legal Options Do I Have in a Hit-and-Run Accident?

According to national statistics, there are almost 700,000 hit-and-run crashes that occur in this country each year, and that number keeps rising. If the driver is caught, the evidence that you and your car accident attorney have gathered will go a long way in proving your case against the driver and their insurance company, allowing you to pursue damages for any losses you have suffered.

In Virginia, if there’s been contact or a collision and the other person flees and cannot be located, all is not lost. Your own coverage, the uninsured motorist’s coverage, is there to protect you when there’s a hit-and-run accident and the driver cannot be identified. You have coverage up to the amount of your uninsured motorist coverage, and you’re protected. The car accident lawyers at our firm have successfully handled many hit-and-run accident cases in our more than three decades of advocating for our personal injury clients.

If the Driver Flees, How Do I Collect Damages?

There are several reasons why a driver may flee the scene of an accident. One of the most common is that they do not have active automobile liability insurance. In other situations, the driver may be driving on a suspended license, operating under the influence, or having outstanding warrants with the police.

Whatever the reason a driver flees, you can still collect damages by filing a claim with your insurance company under your policy’s uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM).

Filing under this provision can be complex, and if not done correctly, your claim may be denied. Consider consulting with a car accident attorney who has experience pursuing hit-and-run accident claims.

What Is the Process If I File a Run a Claim with My Insurance Company?

When you submit a UM/UIM claim under your policy, it amounts to suing your own auto insurance company. As soon as your insurer receives your claim, it assumes the role of defendant/respondent. It is, for all intents, just like you submitted your claim to the insurance company for the at-fault driver.

Your insurer will demand all the same kinds of evidence to substantiate your demands for the payment of medical bills, the replacement of lost wages, and sufficient compensation for pain and suffering.

You will need to submit the official police report on the crash investigation, medical records, and financial information. You may need to back all that up with expert testimony. You may even need to take your own insurance company to court and let a jury decide what your claim is worth.

This is why speaking to a personal injury attorney with experience advising and representing people who pursued hit-and-run claims is critical. In addition to knowing how to access, organize, and present all the evidence to substantiate your claim, a lawyer who knows the laws of Virginia will be able to counter the tactics your insurer employs to deny your claim.

What the Fleeing Driver Caused Me to Crash But There Was No Collision?

In many hit-and-run cases, the fleeing driver’s vehicle sustains no damage because there is no actual collision. For example, let’s say the other driver swerved in front of you, and then you swerved to avoid them and hit a tree, suffering injuries and damage to your vehicle. This is referred to as a hit-and-run with no contact.

The law in each state varies, but Virginia is a “no contact required” state. Even though there was no actual collision with the other vehicle, you could still file a claim. However, it is important to note that you must report the accident to the police promptly to safeguard your right to file.

Can Your Personal Injury Firm Help with My Hit-and-Run Case?

If you have been injured in a hit-and-run accident, do not delay in contacting Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp to speak with one of our skilled car accident attorneys. We will evaluate your case and determine what your best legal options are for recovering damages caused by the accident.

Call us at 833-997-1774 to schedule a free consultation and let us help you get the compensation you deserve.

Find out more at https://www.hsinjurylaw.com.

Rick has practiced personal injury law for over two decades in Virginia, North Carolina, and throughout the Southeastern United States.

He is a Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (ABA Accredited) and has litigated injury cases throughout the eastern United States, including wrongful death, trucking, faulty products, railroad, and medical negligence claims.

He has written and lectured on evidence law to the AAJ, VTLA, Georgia TLA, as well as to Virginia lawyers. Rick was elected chair of the Railroad Law section of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) twice (2013-2014 and 2005-2006) and was named President of the Railroad Accident Division of the National Trial Lawyers Association (NTLA 2013-14). He was also named a “Leader in the Law, Class of 2022” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (total of 33 statewide honorees consisting of lawyers and judges across Virginia).

Rick is also a prolific U.S. inventor and designer of consumer-wheeled products, holding 18 US patents and numerous foreign patents, and is an international award-winning fiction thriller author, who wrote an Amazon #1 best-selling suspense novel. Check out an interview with Rick about his fiction thriller, Taming the Telomeres.

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http://www.hsinjurylaw.com/library/railroad-mesothelioma-cancers-asbestos.cfm . Rick Shapiro, a Chesapeake railroad worker injury attorney, discusses whether mesothelioma is a preventable condition. Rick revealed that it is indeed a preventable condition....when there are proper safety steps taken by a business entity. Unfortunately, this does not always happen and definitely did not happen with many major railroads. To make matters worse, once you're diagnosed with mesothelioma, there's no going back - it is an incurable form of cancer.

http://www.hsinjurylaw.com/reports/what-railroad-claim-agents-wont-tell-you-but-you-must-know.cfm Rick Shapiro, an experienced Norfolk railroad worker injury attorney, talks about when you should consider hiring an attorney to handle your case. Unfortunately, many railroad workers try to negotiate with a railroad claims agent on their own, but what they don't realize is that the claim agent is consulting with the railroad's legal department during that process, which gives them an unfair advantage. This can lead to issues such as disppearing evidence, stalling until the statute of limitations runs out, and even the claim agent calling your doctors and making suggestions about the type of care you should receive.

http://www.hsinjurylaw.com
Call (757) 460-7776 to learn more about this Martindale-Hubbell® AV® Preeminent™ Rated attorney. Richard N. Shapiro of Shapiro, Lewis, Appleton & Favaloro P.C. 1294 Diamond Springs Road, Virginia Beach, VA, 23455. Practice areas include Personal Injury, Car Accidents, Railroad Accidents and Truck Accidents.
For more than 130 years, lawyers have relied on the AV® Preeminent™ rating while searching for their own expert attorneys. Now anyone can depend on this important, trusted rating. The Martindale-Hubbell® AV® Preeminent™ rating is the highest possible rating for an attorney for both ethical standards and legal ability. This rating represents the pinnacle of professional excellence. It is achieved only after an attorney has been reviewed and recommended by their peers - members of the bar and the judiciary. Richard N. Shapiro has achieved an AV® Preeminent™ Rating from Martindale-Hubbell®.

http://www.hsinjurylaw.com/library/a-general-review-of-asbestos-claims-affecting-railroad-workers.cfm

Rick Shapiro, a railroad worker injury/FELA attorney with over 20 years of experience, talks about the lethal synergistic effect of asbestos exposure and cigarette smoke. Studies have shown a dramatic increase in the risk of developing lung cancer for smokers who were exposed to asbestos while working at the railroad. If this wasn't bad enough, the workers themselves were not told about the serious dangers of smoking and being exposed to asbestos. To learn more, watch this video.

http://www.hsinjurylaw.com/aboutus.cfm.

Many attorneys turn down cases where a client has a preexisting medical condition because insurance adjusters love to use these against the client. As experienced injury lawyers we have a different attitude about preexisting conditions. A person with a preexisting condition is more susceptible to serious injury.

Contact Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton at 1-800-752-0042 or hsinjurylaw.com

What makes our law firm different or better than the others? Here are four things that make us different: multiple state licenses, state and national injury lawyer networking, we are speakers, editors and authors in injury law and we have a track record in past injury death cases. We are a fully qualified personal injury firm. To see some of our case results visit our web site. Contact Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton at 1-800-752-0042 or hsinjury.com.

Truck accidents can have devastating consequences, and both drivers and trucking companies must adhere to strict federal regulations to minimize the risk of accidents on the road. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets forth regulations to ensure the safety of commercial truck drivers, other road users, and the cargo being transported. These regulations cover areas such as driver qualifications, vehicle maintenance, hours of service (HOS), and safe driving practices.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, it’s crucial to have a personal injury lawyer experienced in truck accidents advocating for you. At Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp, our car accident law firm has extensive experience handling these complex cases. We are committed to ensuring our clients receive the compensation they deserve. Contact us today at 833-997-1774 for a free consultation to discuss your case and explore your legal options.

What Are the Federal Hours of Service (HOS) Regulations and How Do They Help Prevent Truck Accidents?

The Federal Hours of Service (HOS) regulations are designed to prevent truck driver fatigue, a major factor in truck accidents. These regulations specify the maximum number of hours a commercial truck driver is allowed to drive in a given period, as well as mandatory rest periods to ensure drivers are well-rested and alert. The primary HOS rules include:

Daily driving limits: Truck drivers are not permitted to drive more than 11 hours within a 14-hour period after having 10 consecutive hours off duty.
Weekly driving limits: Truck drivers are limited to 60 hours of driving within a seven-day period or 70 hours within an eight-day period, depending on the carrier’s schedule.
Rest periods: Drivers must take a 30-minute break after driving for 8 consecutive hours, and they must take at least 10 hours off duty before starting another shift.

By enforcing these limits, HOS regulations aim to prevent drivers from becoming overly fatigued, which can impair reaction time, judgment, and focus. These regulations are a critical tool in reducing accidents caused by driver fatigue.

How Do Vehicle Maintenance Regulations Contribute to Preventing Truck Accidents?

Federal regulations require that trucking companies perform regular maintenance and inspections of their vehicles to ensure that trucks are in safe operating condition. These vehicle maintenance rules, outlined by the FMCSA, are designed to prevent accidents caused by equipment failure. Key maintenance-related regulations include:

Pre-trip inspections: Truck drivers are required to perform a thorough pre-trip inspection before starting their routes. This includes checking brakes, tires, lights, and other vital components to ensure everything is functioning properly.
Regular vehicle inspections and Repairs: Commercial vehicles must undergo routine inspections and maintenance based on mileage or time intervals, with records kept to demonstrate compliance.
Brake and tire maintenance: Special attention must be paid to critical components like brakes and tires, as failures in these areas are often associated with serious accidents.

By ensuring that trucks are in safe operating condition, these regulations help prevent accidents that could occur due to faulty equipment or mechanical failure.

What Are the Federal Regulations Regarding Distracted Driving for Truck Drivers?

Distracted driving is a significant cause of truck accidents, and the FMCSA has implemented regulations to minimize distractions for truck drivers while on the road. The federal rules concerning distracted driving include:

Mobile phone use: The FMCSA prohibits truck drivers from texting while driving, and limits the use of handheld mobile phones. Drivers are permitted to use hands-free devices, but they are not allowed to engage in texting, emailing, or using the phone for non-driving purposes while driving.
In-cab distractions: The regulations also limit other in-cab distractions that may impair the driver’s attention, such as excessive use of radios, GPS devices, or other non-essential equipment while the vehicle is in motion.

These regulations are intended to ensure that truck drivers remain focused on the road and avoid dangerous distractions that could lead to accidents. By reducing the opportunity for distractions, truck drivers can maintain better control of their vehicles and make timely decisions to prevent accidents.

How Can Your Personal Injury Law Firm Help?

If you or a loved one were injured in a truck accident, do not try to deal with the trucking company and its insurance company on your own. Call Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp at 833-997-1774 to schedule a free consultation and find out how we can help get you the compensation you are entitled to. We handle cases on a contingency-fee basis, so you won’t pay any legal fees unless we win your case.

Learn more at www.hsinjurylaw.com.

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http://www.hsinjurylaw.com/practice_areas/truck-accident-attorneys-in-va-virginia-tractor-trailer-accident-lawyers.cfm.

Trucks that move between states are subject to federal statutes and regulations, as well as multiple state laws. Our attorneys hold licenses to practice trucking accident injury and wrongful death law in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Massachusetts, West Virginia, Florida and Washington, DC.

If you or a family members suffers injuries in a truck wreck on I-64, I-81, I-95, I-75, I-77, Route 1, Route 58, Route 460 or Route 13, we can act fast after the accident to make sure we collect the evidence you need to succeed in your claims against the truck driver and trucking company and receive compensation for medical treatment expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering.

Do not get victimized twice by a negligent or careless driver of a semi, tractor-trailer, 18-wheeler, tanker truck, flatbed or any other large commercial truck.

When involved in a trucking accident, whether it’s a serious injury or wrongful death, time is of the essence. Commercial trucking companies, especially large ones, have rapid response teams ready to take immediate action following a collision. These teams consist of experts and lawyers who are sent to the scene within 24 hours to protect the company's interests.

This is why it's crucial for victims or their families to act quickly and contact a qualified attorney to preserve evidence, ensure a thorough investigation, and prevent crucial details from being destroyed or lost.

Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp has practiced only injury loss since 1985 and has obtained over $100 million in jury verdicts and settlements. Our clients pay no hourly or upfront fees and get free consultations. The firm does not accept every case, but when your case is accepted, you can rest assured that you have rock-solid truck accident lawyers fighting for you to maximize your recovery. Call our firm at 833-997-1774 for a free and confidential consultation.

Why Is It Crucial to Act Quickly After a Trucking Accident?

Trucking companies have resources that allow them to quickly respond to an accident scene, often with their own team of lawyers, accident reconstruction experts, and investigators. These professionals aim to control the situation, securing evidence and documentation that may later be used to defend the company against claims. The truck and its data systems, including the black box, are critical pieces of evidence in any truck accident case, but they are vulnerable to manipulation or destruction without proper intervention. By contacting a lawyer immediately after a truck accident, you ensure that an expert can be dispatched to preserve crucial evidence before it is tampered with or lost.

Truck accident cases are typically more complex than car accidents because they involve various parties, including the driver, the trucking company, and potentially third-party contractors or maintenance services. Acting quickly allows your lawyer to engage with the necessary experts, secure evidence from the scene, and begin investigating the factors contributing to the accident. Delaying the process could result in the loss of critical data, such as electronic logging device (ELD) records, GPS data, or truck inspection reports.

What Kind of Evidence Needs to Be Preserved in Trucking Accidents?

In trucking injury or wrongful death cases, preserving evidence is crucial for establishing liability and building a strong case. Some key types of evidence that must be preserved include:

Black Box Data

The truck's black box records essential information about the vehicle’s speed, braking patterns, and other mechanical data leading up to the accident. This data is invaluable in determining fault and understanding the sequence of events.

Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Records

These devices track the hours the driver has been on the road, providing insight into whether the driver complied with federal regulations regarding hours of service or if fatigue played a role in the crash.

Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Records

If the accident was caused by a mechanical failure or improperly maintained vehicle, maintenance records can reveal if the trucking company failed to properly service the truck.

Driver’s Logs and Employment History

Records related to the driver’s training, qualifications, and past driving history can help establish whether the driver was negligent or improperly trained.

Your attorney will act quickly to ensure these critical pieces of evidence are preserved before they can be destroyed or altered. This is essential to building a case that maximizes your potential for a successful outcome.

How Can Your Personal Injury Law Firm Help?

If you or a loved one were injured in a truck accident, do not try to deal with the trucking company and its insurance company on your own. Call Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp at 833-997-1774 to schedule a free consultation and find out how we can help get you the compensation you are entitled to. We handle cases on a contingency-fee basis, so you won’t pay any legal fees unless we win your case.


Learn more at www.hsinjurylaw.com.

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When a consumer or their family suffers serious injury or death due to a dangerous drug, it is critical to understand the legal steps to take and how to hold manufacturers and distributors accountable. Dangerous drugs can cause harm in a variety of ways, from side effects not properly disclosed to defective manufacturing processes.

In these cases, lawyers handling such claims need to carefully investigate all aspects of the drug’s production, marketing, and distribution to ensure that victims are compensated. Understanding where to file lawsuits, identifying the responsible parties, and tracking relevant legal developments is key in navigating these complex cases.

If you’ve been injured by a dangerous or defective drug, the legal team at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp can evaluate your case to determine what legal recourse you may have. We can assess your claim and guide you through the legal process to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Call us today at 833-997-1774 for a free consultation.

Where Do We Start as Lawyers Handling Dangerous Drug Claims?

When representing a client who has suffered harm due to a dangerous drug, the first step is to thoroughly investigate the details surrounding the injury. This involves identifying the drug involved, understanding how it caused harm, and determining if the drug was properly prescribed, used, and marketed. Lawyers begin by reviewing medical records and the specific circumstances of the injury, including any adverse reactions, side effects, or fatalities caused by the drug.

Next, lawyers focus on identifying the manufacturers, distributors, and marketers of the drug. This includes gathering information about who was responsible for producing the drug, its ingredients, and how it was marketed to the public. In many cases, pharmaceutical companies may not have properly disclosed known risks or side effects, leading to dangerous consequences for consumers. Establishing liability is crucial in determining whether the drug was defectively designed, manufactured, or inadequately tested before being sold to the public.

Who Are the Manufacturers and Distributors of the Drug, and Where Can They Be Sued?

In dangerous drug cases, identifying the key parties responsible for the harm is a vital part of the process. The primary defendants are typically the drug manufacturers, but distributors and marketers can also be held accountable depending on the circumstances. Manufacturers are responsible for the creation, formulation, and testing of the drug, while distributors are responsible for ensuring that the drug reaches consumers safely. Marketers and sales representatives may also be held liable if they misrepresented the safety of the drug or failed to disclose significant risks to healthcare providers or consumers.

Lawsuits against drug manufacturers can usually be filed in the state where the manufacturer is based, but they can often be filed in any state where the drug was sold or prescribed. This is particularly relevant in cases involving national or international pharmaceutical companies, where the drug is distributed across multiple jurisdictions. Lawyers handling these cases need to be aware of the different legal options available for filing lawsuits and where the drug was distributed to ensure that the claim is brought in the most appropriate jurisdiction.

What Are the Legal Options for Victims of Dangerous Drugs?

If you or a loved one has suffered from a dangerous drug, there are several legal avenues to explore. Victims can pursue a personal injury claim or wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible parties. These claims can seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages resulting from the injury or death caused by the drug. In some cases, class action lawsuits may be available if a large group of people has been harmed by the same drug.

Pharmaceutical companies may be held liable for a variety of reasons, including defective design, manufacturing defects, failure to warn consumers about potential risks, or misrepresentation of the drug’s safety profile. In certain cases, the company may also be held accountable for failing to conduct proper clinical trials or for rushing a drug to market without fully understanding its risks. Consulting with an experienced lawyer is crucial to determine the most appropriate legal approach and to ensure that victims receive fair compensation for their losses.

At Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp, we have decades of experience handling personal injury claims involving dangerous and defective products. We understand how to navigate the legal process and work with you to maximize the value of your case. Call us at 833-997-1774 to schedule a free consultation, and let us help you get the compensation you deserve.

Learn more at www.hsinjurylaw.com.

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Virginia attorney Richard Shapiro discusses how his firm provides safety information to help people avoid injury and also assists injured people in recovering so they can move on with their lives.

Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton law firm is dedicated to representing those injured due to the carelessness and fault of others, including railroad, truck and car accidents, faulty product injuries, and medical malpractice claims. The firm has represented thousands of accident victims throughout the eastern United States and the firm's lawyers have over 100 years combined legal experience. Our regular law firm websites are www.hsinjurylaw.com (VA) and http://Carolina.hsinjurylaw.com/(NC).

Rick is a proud Injuryboard Member.