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On the page below you can find links to documents, reports, publications and discussions provided by Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton, P.C..

The documents below are available to the public so that they can gain a better understanding of the legal challenges facing them, and why an experienced attorney is so important for success.

Auto Accidents
Railroad Accidents, Occupational injuries/diseases
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Wrongful Death Claims
Surgical Errors, Medical Malpractice
Trucking/Tractor Trailer Accidents
General Personal Injury Claims We Handle
Firm Newsletters
General

Auto Accidents

Why are Motorcycle Deaths on the Rise?
Despite safety warnings from the NSC, many motorcyclists continue to ride without a helmet. As more and more of these vehicles join us on the road, learn how we can help keep the riders safe.
NC Teens Still Texting After State Bans Cell Phones in the Car
It has been almost two years since North Carolina passed a cell phone ban for young drivers under the age of 18, but researchers report little improvement in road safety.
Seat belts could have saved lives
What You Need to Know About South Carolina's Seat Belt Laws
Did you know that since December of 2005, South Carolina has had a primary enforcement seat belt law? Here are some other things you might not know about SC laws.
Do I Need a Seat Belt in a Truck Bed?
Riding in the back of a pickup truck can be incredibly dangerous. Still, because it is a necessary danger for agricultural communities, many states have been reluctant to enact laws prohibiting riding in the back of a truck bed.
North Carolina Seat Belt Laws
An overview of North Carolina's seat belt laws.
Two more lawsuits over 2005 school bus accident
Princess Diana was killed by negligent driving
The Virginian Pilot recently published an article written by the New York Times regarding the death of Princess Diana. According to the New York Times, after six months of hearings and testimony by nearly 300 witnesses, a jury in Britain found that Princess Diana and her boyfriend, Dodi al-Fayed were killed by the negligent driving of their chauffeur and the paparazzi that pursued their vehicle.
Air Bag Safety
Airbags, which were designed to prevent adult passengers and drivers from colliding with the steering wheel or dashboard in a car crash, can be deadly for child passengers.
Saving Lives: Virginia's Seat Belt Law
Virginia's seat belt laws require that all passengers in the front seat must wear a safety belt and that all passengers under the age of 16 must also wear one.
The Number of Motorcycle Riders Increases in Hampton Roads, Virginia and Across the Country
Potential Virginia Law to Ban Texting While Driving
The new epidemic on Virginia roads, the chronic multi-tasker, poses a risk of injury or death to other motorists. You’ve seen them on the highway, one hand on the steering wheel, the other on their Blackberry or Palm Pilot scanning, and sometimes even, typing emails as they make their way through traffic. Or maybe you’ve been next to the novice driver in her late teens, fresh our of Driver’s Ed, texting her friends while attempting to drive, her license still hot off the DMV press. Though differing in their tasks, both types of drivers will inevitably cause the same unfortunate result, an automobile crash.
ONE INJURY DUE TO DRUNKEN DRIVING IS TOO MANY
The Virginian-Pilot has reported that the percentage of people killed by drunken drivers increased in 2006 for the first time in several years.
Two Car Crashes Kill Motorist in Isle of Wight County, Virginia (VA)
On a recent Friday, in Isle of Wight County vehicle wrecks took two lives in rural Isle of Wight County, Virginia (VA).
$400k Verdict For Plaintiff's Back Injury
According to a recent report in the Virginia (VA) Lawyers Weekly, a Norfolk, Virginia (VA) Circuit Court jury awarded a $400k verdict for a plaintiff’s back injury resulting from a rear-end vehicle collision.
Keeping Our Kids Safe: Child Car Seat Safety-Amazingly Little Federal/State Regulation Leaves Kids Vulnerable
Keeping Our Kids Safe: A Practical Parent’s Guide For Safe Use of Child Safety Seats (CSS)
This article discusses ways parents can investigate a CSS and be sure that the one they select is not only a good one, but how to investigate the proper securing of a safety seat in their vehicle. The author is indebted to Douglas Gentile, of Kansas City, MO who provided an excellent review of these safety issues in Chicago at an AAJ legal seminar.
Keeping Our Kids Safe: A Review of Child Safety Inside Cars, Including Proper Installation of Car Safety Seats and Other Alternative Safety Restraint Systems
This is a continuing series of articles about keeping our kids safe while they are in our cars.
Keeping Our Kids Safe:What To Do And Know If You Suspect A Faulty Car Safety Seat
This is a continuing series of articles relating to keeping our kids safe and focuses on what to do if you or a family member has been in a car crash, with personal injuries to a child and you suspect that there was a faulty car safety seat (CSS) or a defect in the safety seat.
Virginia Attorney for Injured Child Has Flexible Settlement Option
The rules in Virginia (VA) courts related to personal injury cases is often less favorable for the family with an injured love one than other states like North Carolina (NC).
Serious injuries decrease with Virginia’s (VA) seatbelt law
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) showed that within a year of Virginia (VA) putting in a mandatory seatbelt law there were less injuries to front seat passengers.
The Virginia (VA) / North Carolina (NC) border has impact for automobile accident lawyers.
The insurance law pertaining to automobile accidents is different in Virginia (VA) and North Carolina (NC). Both states have medical payments coverage instead of PIP or personal injury protection coverage on their automobile policies where applicable. However the rules about how to calculate the exact amount of coverage for instance stacking the number of cars with medical payments coverage to reach the total available medical payments insurance available in Virginia (VA) is different from North Carolina (NC).
Personal Injury in a Pedestrian Crosswalk--Virginia Law Offers Extra Protection
When Personal Injury or Death Occurs in a Pedestrian Crosswalk certain Virginia LawsOffer Extra Protection in Favor of Pedestrians
Working With Doctors Is Key To Being A Successful Personal Injury Lawyer.
Successfully working with the doctors and other health care providers is critical to getting a maximum recovery in personal injury litigation. I bend over backwards to try to keep the doctors happy who are treating my injured clients and whose testimony is key to winning the injury case in court.
The United States Government Has Recently Announced That It Is Requiring Stability Safety Features To Be Put On All Vehicles In The Future To Prevent Roll-Over Accidents.
The car manufacturers have known about the dangers of vehicle roll-overs for a long time. However, many car makers have not installed the stability control technology on all of their vehicles as they should. This danger of accidents where the car tips over on its side or on its top is a significant safety issue.
Cell Phones Causing Alarming Numbers of Motor Vehicle/Car Crashes
Cell Phones Causing Alarming Numbers of Motor Vehicle/Car Crashes, as this causes inattentive blindness or distracted driving
Insurance Company Contact Numbers
Insurance companies don't make it easy to file a claim. Here are the contact numbers of every major insurance company in America.

Railroad Accidents, Occupational injuries/diseases

The Higher Duty Owed by Railroads
Railroads owe a higher duty of care to their passengers than the typical tort defendant does because of their special status as a "common carrier."
What Not To Do In A Railroad Accident
A list of things not to do in a railroad accident.
NEW PROTECTIONS FROM HARASSMENT AND INTIMIDATION FOR INJURED RAILROAD WORKERS
Congress passed an amendment to the Federal Rail Safety Act in August 2007, intended to protect railroad workers who suffer on-duty injuries from harassment and intimidation when filing accident reports. The law appears at 49 U.S.C. 20109 and covers railroads “engaged in interstate or foreign commerce, a contractor or subcontractor of such a rail carrier, or an officer or employee of such a railroad carrier.”
What Every Railroad Worker Should Know About Diesel Fume Lung Disease and Lung Cancer
Long Term Railroad Diesel Exhaust Fume Exposure Linked to Asthma Lung Disease and Lung Cancers, discussion of regulations, EPA actions, how diesel exhaust harms the lungs.
Practice Tips for F.E.L.A Cumulative Trauma Cases
Prevention of Railroad Lifting and Repetitive Stress Injuries Using Ergonomic Analysis
Railroad injury attorneys explain how ergonomic analysis of lifting, slip, trip and fall injuries helps prevent railroad injuries.
Railroad Personal Injury Lawyer Rebuttal Provides Injured Worker Reality Check–Read Here What Norfolk Southern Does Not Want Injured Railroad Workers To Know
Norfolk Southern Issues “Injured at Work” Brochure
On Railroad Injuries Loaded With Misleading “Advice”

Railroad Personal Injury Lawyer Rebuttal Provides Injured Worker Reality Check–Read Here What Norfolk Southern Does Not Want Injured Railroad Workers To Know
Cumulative Trauma FELA Cases
One of the hot areas in F.E.L.A. occupational illness claims is for worn out parts of the musculoskeletal system caused by railroad workers' exposure over time to the difficult working conditions on the railroad.
Expert Testimony In FELA Cases
A recent settlement by another law firm of a Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) claim in California demonstrates the complicated nature of these railroad worker injury claims as well as the necessity for qualified expert testimony in career ending claims.
Virginia railroad injury lawyers--A short history of railroad injury law in Virginia
Virginia has rich history in railroading and it is historically an area where there are also many railroad injury lawyers. Norfolk & Western Railway Company, now Norfolk Southern, has been based in Norfolk, Virginia for many years and our law office is a mere 20 minutes away.
FELA lawyers challenge Norfolk Southern Safety Award
Every year for the past 18 years the owners of the U.S. Railroads congratulate Norfolk Southern Corporation for injuring, maiming, and killing less of its employees than the other major freight carriers.
Railroad Injury or Diseases, Like Asbestos Disease, Can Fall Under Various Laws
Railroad Injury Or Disease Claims Against Railroads Can Fall Under Various Laws (Including Claims for Cancers, Mesothelioma, Lung Diseases)
What Does the Phrase “Intimidator” Have to Do With Injuries to CSX, Norfolk Southern (NS) & Amtrak Railroad Workers?
The Phrase “Intimidator” and its relationship with Injuries to CSX, Norfolk Southern (NS) & Amtrak Railroad Workers
FELA back injuries to rail workers
A railroad worker with a bad back can’t do his job safely. Many of the FELA cases that I have worked on as a FELA lawyer in Portsmouth, Virginia (VA) involve this central fact.
Railroad worker intimidation and FELA injury claims
Top 10 reasons railroaders and their families should use SCL & A for their automobile accident cases.
Although there are probably more than 10, here are the key reasons that any railroad employee or family member who has a car wreck injury should contact Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis and Appleton, not just any lawyer who claims to do personal injury:
Federal Work Safety Information Useful For F.E.L.A. Cases
A GENERAL REVIEW OF ASBESTOS CLAIMS AFFECTING RAILROAD WORKERS
A General Review Of Railroad Worker Suits Against Railroads for asbestos lung diseases, Including Mesothelioma
Repetitive Stress Claims, How Railroad Injury Law Firm Handles These
What Railroads Knew About Repetitive Stress Injuries That You Didn't
Remote Control Devices Should Come Under the Locomotive Inspection Act
I was recently working on a F.E.L.A. case where a railroad worker got hurt while wearing a remote control device.
Toxic Chlorine Gas Used in Recent Attack in Iraq is the Same Substance Norfolk Southern Spilled in Graniteville, South Carolina.
When doctors treated the injured after Norfolk Southern had a chemical spill after a train derailment in South Carolina, they did not have much experience seeing chlorine injuries because it does not happen that often.
How the Federal Employer's Liability Act (FELA) Protects Railroad Workers
How the Federal Employer's Liability Act (FELA) Protects Railroad Workers is explained by experienced railroad injury lawyers.
Do's & Don'ts if Railroad injury or catastrophe occurs (for spouses):

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Head injury: forgotten trauma
As a Norfolk, Virginia (VA) attorney working on personal injury and wrongful death cases, I am most astonished that traumatic brain injury (TBI) is so common in the United States and how little attention seems to be paid to the people suffering from it.
Spinal cord injuries are frightening.
Paraplegia and quadriplegia can be the sad results of accidents with spinal cord injuries.
Hurrican Katrina: Seventeen Months and Counting
In President Bush's latest State of the Union, he mentioned many problems that are facing the nation. But the one thing he didn't mention was New Orleans.
Frequently Asked Questions About Brain Damage, Brain Injury or Closed Head Injuries
Our Firm Explains Our Handling of Brain Injury or Closed Head Injury Claims In Court

Wrongful Death Claims

Having A Good Support Staff Is Key To Being A Strong Personal Injury And F.E.L.A. Law Firm
Here at Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis, and Appleton, we have a great team of support staff members including paralegals, secretaries, and investigators. First of all, the paralegals and secretaries tend to be very experienced with an average of over 15 years of experience doing personal injury law work. Some of our staff have been doing injury law and railroad F.E.L.A. cases for decades.
Confidentiality Agreements Keep Information About Personal Injury Settlements From The Public
More and more, the railroads and other large corporate defendants in personal injury and wrongful death cases demand confidentiality as part of any settlement of a case. This confidentiality is required by the at-fault party to prevent the injured person or their attorney from disclosing how much money they got in the settlement or the details of the fact that the settlement occurred.
Videotaping Lay Witnesses Can Be A Powerful Settlement Tool In Personal Injury And Death Cases
In wrongful death cases, our firm has been doing videotaping of the decedent's family members to show the impact of the death on the beneficiaries. By carefully preparing and shooting the videos, the injury lawyer can get some very powerful footage of how the wrongful death has impacted the family.
Damages allowed in a Virginia wrongful death case

Surgical Errors, Medical Malpractice

Five Tips for Choosing a Cardiologist
Many of us are very inexperienced in selecting a specialist. Here are some tips that you might not have thought about when you're looking for a cardiologist.
Stroke Symptoms & Diagnosis
Stroke misdiagnosis can cause irreversible damage in a victim. The early and swift treatment of stroke can prevent permanent damage in a stroke victim.
When the Doctor Amputates the Wrong Leg
Medical malpractice takes many shapes and forms, but perhaps none is more egregious than the wrong site surgery. Imagine waking up after surgery to discover the doctor amputated the wrong leg.
Sponges, Knives, Needles Left in Surgical Cavity
Sponges and other surgical items are left inside patients every single year following surgery. These medical malpractice mistakes can leave patients with permanent injuries.
Pro-Active Patients Can Prevent These Major Hospital Risks
None of us can control our fate in a hospital. But pro-active patients can help to decrease their risk of these five hospital complications.
Med/Mal Crisis in Maryland? Not Really.
Medical Mutual of Maryland's proposed dividend payment demonstrates the lack of a real insurance crisis in Maryland.
A study from Holland shows that HPV DNA testing can detect cancer sooner than Pap testing alone
HPV DNA testing, when used in conjunction with Pap testing, can greatly improve the chances for early detection of cervical cancer or precancerous cells.
Virginia, South Carolina, West Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina Hospitals
How hospitals in Virginia, South Carolina, and Maryland hospitals attempt to avoid liability by saying that their physicians are not employees.
The “Rules” Help Medical Malpractice Lawyers Win Complex Lawsuits
As a Plaintiff’s personal injury lawyer practicing in Virginia (VA), North Carolina (NC) and West Virginia (WV), I am always trying to continue my education in the best ways to win compensation for my clients who are hurt by mistakes made by doctors and hospitals.
Many hospitals fail to properly disinfect rooms in between patients, leading to greater risk of infection.
Many hospitals fail to properly disinfect their equipment and patient rooms in between patients. This failure leads to increased patient infection and treatment resistant strains of disease.
Attack on Lawyer Ads Flawed
Eli Lilly's attack on lawyer advertising is flawed.
10% of patients hurt by hospital errors
One of every 10 patients admitted to a hospital suffers a preventable harm. This rate of medical malpractice is shockingly high.
Hospitals Charge the Uninsured More
Read about how hospitals charge uninsured patients much more than they charge insurance companies.
New book helps doctors and patients avoid medical malpractice.
A fascinating book just came out in 2007 written by a Dr. Jerome Groopman called How Doctors Think. The purpose of this book is to show doctors and especially patients how physicians are taught to diagnose medical conditions and how they actually do it in practice.
The Medical Malpractice "Crisis" Revisited
Are malpractice lawsuits hurting the medical establishment? According to the Department of Justice, the answer is no.
Shoulder Dystocia OftenCauses Permanent Brachial Plexus Injuries
One the more serious injuries that can occur in child birth is an injury to an infant’s brachial plexus (series of nerves running from the neck down the arms).
Why Medical Negligence Cases Are Specialized and Unique.
Medical malpractice lawsuits are attacked by doctors and major insurance companies, but the laws that permit these suits are critical to assuring that the delivery of medical care in the U.S. is improved.
Medical Malpractice (Supposed) Crisis Officially Over
Medical Malpractice (Supposed) Crisis Officially Over

Trucking/Tractor Trailer Accidents

Tire Failure Can Cause Serious Personal Injury
Most of us take the safety and reliability of cars for granted. However, if you stop and think about it, motor vehicle tires withstand extreme forces of pressure and heat. When one of these tires fails, it can cause serious personal injuries such as closed head injuries, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, paralysis and many other serious personal injuries
Large passenger vans pose rollover risk
According to a study of vehicle safety published on the website for the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration there is a big risk involved with 15 passenger vans.
Norfolk, Virginia (VA) teenagers killed by an out of control truck.
Two families in my home town of Norfolk, Virginia (VA) are grieving at the recent loss of their children when a tractor trailer truck lost control, crossed the median, and wrecked into the Volkswagon Jetta that the teenagers were riding in.
Basics about auto and car accidents-frequently asked questions by our clients.
This article explores the frequently asked questions about personal injury auto or car accident claims/cases, including medical bills, lost wages, fee agreements, contributory fault/negligence.
Safety Expert Testimony
An excerpt of trial testimony of a traffic safety expert in an injury case.

General Personal Injury Claims We Handle

INSURANCE COMPANIES CONTINUE TO OVERCHARGE CUSTOMERS AND UNDERPAY CLAIMS
According to a recent study written by the Consumer Federation of America and released in conjunction with a variety of consumer organizations, it has been determined that in 2007, property and casualty insurance companies continue the longstanding trend of charging too much money to their insurance customers and short changing claimants who presented injuries and damages to them for compensation.
North Carolina's Court System
An outline of the North Carolina (NC) courts in which a personal injury case may be filed or heard.
Boating accidents and injuries in Hampton Roads, Virginia (VA)
With the fun of boating comes the responsibility for knowing the rules of the water just like a motorist needs to know the rules of the road. Recreational boaters need to be familiar with lots of safety requirements, including the use of life preservers and when to yield the right of way to a passing boat.
Virginia enters the modern era regarding boating licenses
One of the biggest running jokes in the state of Virginia is that a 14-year-old can operate a 68-foot yacht, without any license whatsoever, but the same 14-year-old cannot operate a jet ski without a license. This may sound crazy but it is true.
Will your lawyer take the tough injury case?
Over my years of practicing personal injury law in the Virginia Beach and Norfolk, Virginia (VA) area, one of the things I have most enjoyed is successfully getting compensation for someone injured in a case that was turned down by other lawyers who saw the case as too difficult to take on.
Insurance Companies Abandon the Consumer Once More-Fail to Cover Health Insurance
Insurance Companies Abandon the Consumer Once More-Fail to Cover Health Insurance
Liability For Assaults
A Personal Injury Lawyer Handling Big Cases Needs To Know About Special Needs Trusts
Special needs law refers to the idea that if an injured client is receiving government assistance or benefits, then you may mess up their ability to collect social security income and Medicare, among other benefits, if you simply give them the money at the end of an injury case.
Virginia (VA) Courts That Handle Personal Injury Cases Explained
A Basic Outline of Virginia's courts in which personal injury suits are filed.
Forensic Evidence Law-How Personal Injury Attorneys Analyze Forensic Evidence
Personal Injury Lawyers must know how to gather forensic evidence to win personal injury cases

Firm Newsletters

Spring 2008 Newsletter [PDF]
Early 2007 Law Firm Newsletter [PDF]
An abobe (pdf) copy of the Winter 2007 Law Firm Newsletter, covering current legal news.
Law Firm Newsletter-Winter 2006 [PDF]
lawyers/law firm newsletter
SCLA Summer 2006 Newsletter [PDF]

General

MILD BRAIN INJURIES MAY BE DIFFICULT TO RECOGNIZE
One out of 500 Americans suffers from a traumatic brain injury (“TBI”) each year. “Brain injury” refers to a wide spectrum of brain injuries with most falling toward one end of the spectrum or the other. An injury is readily apparent in cases of severe traumatic brain injury (“STBI”); however, an injury is not so readily apparent in cases of mild traumatic brain injury (“MTBI”).
One of our Attorneys Recognized by Virginia Lawyers Weekly
John Edwards, Defender of Civil Justice and the Jury System
Rick and Terri Shapiro with John Edwards
AAJ Chicago Convention, Summer 2007
Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton Video
Two Car Crashes Kill Motorist in Isle of Wight County, Virginia (VA)
On a recent Friday, in Isle of Wight County vehicle wrecks took two lives in rural Isle of Wight County, Virginia (VA).
Why You Shouldn't Waive The Meningococcal Vaccine
Why your college student should get the meningitis vaccine.
Hampton Roads, Virginia (VA) is a big military region
Growing up in Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA), I know what a huge presence the military has in our area. Norfolk is home to the largest naval base in the world. Virginia Beach with its Oceana facility is home to tons military aircraft.
Attorney Reputation Matters in Accident Cases
Learning Injury Law At The Foot Of A Master Virginia (VA) Lawyer
The Association of Trial Lawyers of America changed its name during the past year to the American Association for Justice.
The reason for the name change was to better describe the purpose of our organization. The old name focused on who we are, injury lawyers, not what we do.
Contingency Fee Contracts Let Lawyers Share Risk With The Injured Client
Our law firm, Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton, P.C. only uses contingency fee contracts in representing people in personal injury and wrongful death cases. The contingency fee contract is a percentage contract. This means that we do not charge clients anything unless and until we make a recovery for them, then we get paid a percentage of what is collected from the insurance company or at fault person.
Recent Virginia (VA) Transportation Funding Law May Have an Affect on Motor Vehicle Safety
The Virginia (VA) Legislature and Governor just passed a significant transportation dollars law which will help fund Virginia (VA) highways into the future.
All The Attorneys At Our Firm Are Licensed In North Carolina
Each of the attorneys at our firm are not only licensed in Virginia, but are also licensed in North Carolina among other states.
State Farm: No Profit in Mississippi
State Farm has recently suspended writing new home owners policies in Mississippi. The reason? They might actually have to pay for claims.
Unrelenting Trailblazers--Read About 4 Major Firm Case Reports [PDF]
Lawyer Networking is Important and Why
Law firm lawyers/attorneys are active in state and national lawyer organizations and exchange critical information on injury cases, faulty products and similar topics.
Our lawyers contribute to many charities with time and donations
Our law firm lawyers actively support charities with donations and/or their time.
Lawyers support diversity and equality...
Our law firm/lawyers actively support diversity, civil equality, and civil Rights.
Questions to Ask When Choosing an Attorney
A personal injury case is not something that should be taken lightly. The Law Firm of Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis and Appleton urge you to look into the background of an attorney before obtaining their services.

Quick Contact

Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton, P.C.
1294 Diamond Springs Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23455

Toll Free: (800) 752.0042
Phone: (757) 460-7776
Fax: (757) 460.3428

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General Personal Injury Claims We Handle

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