Virginia Personal Injury Lawyer Blog | Serpe Law Firm

3 Family Members killed in I-95 crash, Stafford, Va

8/30/2010 10:31:00 AM

A Stafford Co., Va crash, Friday around 6 AM along Interstate 95, resulted in the death of three family members.

A 2007 Dodge Caravan struck a 2010 Chevy Impala causing it to go off the road and into a guardrail. The Caravan ran off the road, flipped, hit a tree, and landed upside down.

According to InsideNOVA.com, police identified the victims in the caravan as 73 year old Melvin Miller, his wife Marilyn Miller, and their daughter Tina Miller.

The driver of the Impala, Moesha Coleman of Ga, was not injured.

Police are still investigating the crash.

Knauf Gips denies responsibility for subsidiarie’s [Knauf Plasterboard Tinjian] production of defective Chinese drywall

8/27/2010 12:56:00 PM

August 27, 2010

Knauf Gips, a German manufacturing company, continues to argue that it is not responsible for the defective Chinese drywall produced by its subsidiary Knauf Plasterboard Tinjian, according to an article from ProPublica.org, "Documents Tie German Company to Chinese Subsidiary That Produced Defective Drywall."

Knauf Gips claims that Knauf Plasterboard Tinjian, its subsidiary, produced the defective drywall and therefore should be the entity financially responsible.

However, documents filed in Germany and in United States courts show that Knauf Gips is strongly involved in the management of its subsidiaries, which includes quality control, finding raw materials, and dealing with the issues arising from the defective Chinese drywall.

Steven Glickerstien, one of Knauf Tinjian's attorneys here in the US has stated, "Each Corporation is a separate legal entity, responsible only for its sales and its own profits."

The Consumer Product Safety Commission Drywall Information Center website states that they have "received about 3,526 reports from residents in 38 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, and Puerto Rico who believe their health symptoms or the corrosion of certain metal components in their homes are related to problem drywall."

Today the CPSC has release, "Summary of Revision 1 to the Interim Guidance - Identification of Homes with Corrosion from Problem Drywall."

Woman killed in Harrisonburg wreck; driver charged with DUI manslaughter

8/25/2010 3:49:00 PM

26-year-old Jennifer Moreland was killed this morning when the vehicle she was driving in overturned. The accident occurred around 4 AM in Rockingham Co., Va on Sky Road.

A Virginia State Police report stated that the driver of the vehicle ran off the road and struck an embarkment before stopping on its passenger side.

The driver of the vehicle, Anthony Cesar, is being charged with aggravated DUI manslaughter and is being help without bond according to NewsAdvance.com.

Jennifer Moreland died on the scene of the accident and Anthony Cesar was taken to Rockingham Memorial Hospital. Neither of them were wearing a seatbelt.

Defective Bard IVC Filter may cause life threatening injuries

8/25/2010 2:07:00 PM

The Food and Drug Administration has put out a warning to doctors to remove inferior vena cava (IVC) filters from patients after the danger of the clot has passed, with the fear that the device may fracture and migrate inside of the patient.

Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Filters are devices that are used to prevent blood clots from traveling to the lungs or heart and causing a pulmonary embolism. Studies have shown that pieces of defective IVC filters are known to break off and migrate to organs resulting in punctures, life threatening conditions, and even death. According to the FDA more than 900 reports of problems associated with IVC filters since 2005.

328 : device migration
146 : embolizations (detachment of the device)
70 : perforation
56 : filter fracture

Side-Effects

IVC Filters are meant for short-term placement, but are not always removed after the patients risk for PE has passed. Long term risks may include:

Severe and reoccurring pain in the heart or other parts of the body
cardiac tamponade (bleeding in or around the heart)
pulmonary embolus (blockage of a blood vessel in the lungs by blood clots)
hematoma (blood the collects under the skin or in an organ)
perforation or puncturing to the vena cava wall and the heart
perforation or puncturing to lungs, respiratory compromise, internal bleeding, infection
other serious complications/injuries and death

Research

Recently a study was released by the Archives of Internal Medicine concluding that the "Bard Recovery and Bard G2 filters had highprevalences of fracture and embolization, with potentially life-threateningsequelae." The investigation allowed for researchers to look at 80 patients who received the Bard Recovery Filter (first generation) or the Bard G2 Filter. The devices were available between 2003 and 2005. According to the study [See Study Here]:

16% of patients saw at least one strut fracture
1 in 7 of 28 first generation filters were found to fracture and embolize
in 5 or the 7 cases, patients had a fragment travel to the heart
3 patients experienced life threatening symptoms: ventricular tachycardia and sudden death
6 of 52 Bard G2 filters fractured
in 2 of the 6 cases, patients experienced fragments traveling to organs

Lawsuits

Bard IVC filter lawsuits have been filed. If you have had a Bard IVC filter implant and experienced injuries due to the fragmentation and migration of this device, contact our lawyers for a free case evaluation.

Toll Free: 877-544-5323 or Click Here to Email Us

Pedestrian killed in Roanoke Va. single vehicle crash

8/23/2010 10:13:00 AM

August 23,2010

A fatal accident occurred Saturday morning in Roanoke Va., when a vehicle rolled over several times striking a pedestrian.

According to WSET.com, Keith Shupe of Roanoke was driving near the corner of 10th Street and Grayson Avenue with he lost control of his vehicle, striking 44-year-old Edith Cook of Rocky Mount.

Edith Cook was dead before parmedics had arrived. The driver was taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital with life threatening injuries.

Prior to the crash, Shupe had been speeding and was not wearing a seat belt. Invesetigators believe that alcohol and high speeds may have been a factor.

Northampton Blvd tractor-trailer crash kills one; Virginia Beach

8/13/2010 10:21:00 AM

A tractor-trailer accident that occurred on Northampton Blvd in Virginia Beach this morning resulted in one fatality.

According to WVEC.com the tractor-trailer was traveling south down Northampton Blvd when it struck a minivan traveling east on Burton Station road.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The truck driver was not hurt.

Google Maps: Northampton Blvd and Burton Station Road

Update: Driver of Norfolk wreck that killed 3 charged with DUI

8/12/2010 8:59:00 AM

The driver of the vehicle involved in the horrific Norfolk fatal crash yesterday has been charged with DUI.

Yesterday around 3AM at the intersection of Indian River road and Wiltham Ave, the car being driven by Craig A. Watson struck a guardrail, street light, several street signs, pushed over a tree, and then landed against a house.

The accident left 3 people dead and sent 3 others to the hospital. Paris Shorter of Virginia Beach, Marquita S. Walker of Hampton, and Karnell W. Faulkner of Chesapeake were the victims killed in the crash.

According to The Virginian Pilot, Watson was charged with a DUI. They also believe that speed was a factor, and further charges are pending.

Indian River Rd Norfolk fatal car wreck; 3 dead and 3 in hospital

8/11/2010 11:35:00 AM

According to The Virginian-Pilot, a car traveling at high speeds around a curve at the intersection of Indian River and Wiltham Avenue crashed and ended up against a house around 3AM this morning.

Two people were pronounced dead at the scene, one later died in the hospital, and 3 others were taken to the hospital. Their identities have not been released.

"The car smashed into a guardrail; knocked over a street light, stop sign and street sign; then pushed over a tree and ended up against the house. Firefighters had to cut the car to get to people inside."

The house was not damaged.

Police believe that speed was a factor, and that alcohol could have been as well.

Liberty University Professor and Son killed in Roanoke crash

8/9/2010 2:10:00 PM

August 09, 2010

Liberty University (Lynchburg) Professor Jill Jones, and her 16 year-old son Nicholas Jones, where killed in a car accident in Roanoke County on Sunday.

According to HamptonRoads.com, the SUV that struck their vehicle was being driven by Roanoke resident Paul Harris. Harris was traveling on Challenger Avenue at a high speed when his SUV ran a red light at the intersection of Cloverdale Road. His SUV then struck 2 vehicles making a left turn.

Melanie Rice of Montvale was driving the second vehicle that was hit. She was taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital and was said to be in serious condition.

Paul Harris also had a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the accident. They were both taken to a local hospital.

The accident is still under investigation and Police have reported that the driver may have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time.

College student hit on crosswalk in Virginia Beach

8/5/2010 2:34:00 PM

A college student from China was hit by a car at the Oceanfront Monday morning when crossing the intersection of Pacific Avenue and 15th Street.

According to The Virginian Pilot, Chun Chang Tang was taken to Virginia Beach General Hospital where she underwent surgery needing steel screws in her hip. She was also treated for a concussion, bruised shoulder, and shattered pelvis. The Doctor said that she probably will not walk for at least six weeks.

Initially there was some dispute over who had the right-of-way. There was no crossing signal, however there are flashing lights along Pacific Avenue to warn drivers of pedestrian crossing. A Police Department spokesman said the the driver did not have the right of way, but was not charged because he could not see her crossing. It was finally determined that Tang did have the right of way and the driver should have stopped for her. State laws state that pedestrians on roadways with a speed limit of 35 mph or under have the right of way.