Paullin Law Blog

Have a Happy and Safe Memorial Day Richmond

Thu, 24 May 2012 21:45:00 GMT

Summer is here and the Memorial Day forecast looks perfect for traditional outdoor events like boating, barbeques and pool parties. Whatever you choose to do, all of us at The Paullin Law Firm wish you a safe and happy Memorial Day.

According to MSN.com, Memorial Day weekend was more deadly on US highways in 2010 than New Year’s weekend. On most holiday weekends, alcohol consumption increases and there are more cars on the road. Police will be on high alert looking for drivers under the influence, so plan ahead if you are drinking and always have a designated driver.

Thank you to America's Veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country's and freedom. We know that freedom comes with a high price and we are grateful.

IGNITION INTERLOCK REQUIRED FOR ALL DUI'S

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 02:35:00 GMT

The penalties for DUI continue to increase. Beginning on July 1, 2012, all Virginians convicted of DUI will have to have an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicle. The interlock is a condition of obtaining a restricted license. Currently, interlocks are only required for repeat offenders and first time offenders with a blood alcohol content of .15 percent or greater.

The penalties for first offense DUI are already severe. If convicted, you face up to 12 months in jail, 12 months loss of license, ASAP classes and a fine of up to $2,500. to make matters worse, you will have to pay for the ASAP classes. Starting in July, you will also have to pay for the interlock.

An ignition interlock requires you to pass a breath test before you can start your vehicle. Ten to twenty minutes after you start the vehicle, the device will prompt you to take another breath test. Thereafter, you will be prompted to take a test every twenty to sixty minutes. If you fail a test or do not take a test when prompted, your vehicle's lights will start flashing and the horn will start sounding until you pass the test or turn the vehicle off. All breath tests and attempts to remove or tamper with the interlock are recorded. Obviously, failing or missing tests and/or tampering with the interlock can lead to further penalties.

The attorneys at the Paullin Law Firm have a wealth of experience defending drunk driving charges. Contact us if you have been charted with DUI or DWI at (804) 423-7423 or visit our website at www.paullinlaw.com.

Call Paullin Law Before you sign an Insurance Settlement

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 19:51:00 GMT

Our office sometimes receives inquiries from injured persons asking what can be done after settling a claim with an insurance company. Typically, the injured person has accepted a quick settlement without consulting a lawyer. The money has been spent, but the pain persists. In some cases, the person is unable to work and/or needs further medical treatment.

Almost always, the answer is that nothing can be done. When settling your personal injury claim, insurance companies will require you to execute some type of release. They may require you to sign a formal release in which you give up all claims concerning your injury. If they do not use a separate document, the check will serve as the release. The words "full and final settlement" or some similar phrase will appear on the check. In either case, the claim is concluded when the check is issued. You will not be able to reopen negotiations or file a lawsuit, and the insurance company is not likely to pay you more money out of the goodness of its heart.

The bottom line is that accepting a settlement from the insurance company without consulting a lawyer is rarely a good idea. An experienced personal injury attorney will be able to evaluate your claim and advise you as to whether the insurance company's offer is fair. A lawyer cannot help you after you have accepted an offer. Don't let this happen. Call the Paullin Law Firm & let our experienced attorneys help you.

Sponsor of Transformation Expo March 17, 2012

Tue, 22 May 2012 09:06:00 GMT

Transformation Expo at the Greater Richmond Convention Center
12:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Paullin Law Firm is a proud sponsor of the Transformation Expo at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, March 17, 2012, 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm. The Transformation Expo features award winning singer and minister, Donnie McClurkin.

The Expo also features: Troy Sneed, James Fortune & FIYA, Dorothy Norwood, Damon Little, God's Image, Sisterly Grace Dance Ministries, Van Boyd, Da Twinz, Nyasia, Nysha Spann, Pastor Tyrell Brown, Pastor Mark Vereen, Pastor Orrin Pullings and Yolanda Adams.

See You There!

We hope you'll look for the Paullin Law Firm table and drop by! We will be giving out water bottles and you can enter to win a dinner, on us, at a fabulous Richmond restaurant.

Slick Winter Roads Took a Toll in Richmond

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 11:35:00 GMT

Winter weather last week made treacherous roads in Richmond

Snow and ice caused nearly 1,000 truck and car accidents across Virginia in the early hours of Feb. 20, 2012, with many drivers apparently unprepared for wintery conditions. State police responded to nearly 1,000 accidents across the Commonwealth. State troopers responded to 881 crashes and 456 calls for disabled vehicles. Almost 230 of the calls were to areas around Richmond, VA.

With their experience in personal injury cases, the attorneys at the Paullin Law Firm are well aware of the challenges that snow and ice present to drivers and pedestrians. Black ice is particularly hazardous. Drivers should avoid driving in such conditions whenever possible. If you must drive, the following tips are helpful:

Drive slower and allow extra distance between you and the car in front of you
Brake gently to avoid skidding
Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other drivers
Keep your windshield and lights clean
Use a lower gear, especially on hills
Avoid overpasses and bridges wherever possible, as these areas will freeze first and are more dangerous
Never assume that you are safe simply because you are in a four wheel drive vehicle

Drivers and pedestrians are advised to exercise additional care generally in such conditions.

If you are injured as a result snow and/or ice, the attorneys at the Paullin Law Firm can explain your legal options to you. Call us 804-423-7423 at or contact us online.

Welcome Paralegal, Ann Mahurin

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:46:00 GMT

We welcome our newest team member, Ann Mahurin to the Paullin Law Firm!

Ann is originally from Midlothian, Virginia and we are pleased that she continues her career as a Paralegal, here with us at the Paullin Law Firm. Ann assists the attorneys in the areas of Personal Injury, Civil Litigation, and Criminal Defense.

Welcome Ann!

The Paullin Law Firm is Growing!

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:45:00 GMT

The Paullin Law Firm welcomes our new Associate Attorney John C. Peeler. John began his career in Tidewater and has appeared in state and federal courts though out the Commonwealth. John practices in numerous areas of the law and brings his experience in personal injury, federal consumer litigation, insurance defense, civil litigation, criminal defense, domestic relations and bankruptcy.

Welcome John!

Parents Can Be Arrested for Allowing Underage Drinking in their Homes

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:20:00 GMT

Some parents take the approach that they’d rather their teenagers drink in the house where kids are not driving and in a more controlled environment. The problem is that parents hosting such parties can be charged criminally. In Virginia, any adult who provides alcohol to an unsupervised minor can be charged with a class one misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail. To make matters worse, depending on the number of underage guests, a parent can be charged with numerous counts of the same crime. This means that parents can receive a jail sentence exceeding one year. For example, a parent in Charlottesville received a 27 month jail sentence for serving alcohol at a party for her 16 year old child. According to the mom, she thought she was "protecting the kids by taking their car keys for the night."

Underage Drinking in the Richmond Area

Parents should be aware that law enforcement in counties surrounding Richmond sometimes target these parties. According to the Richmond Times Dispatch, when police raided a West End Henrico home, the mother of the teen-host served 15 days jail time.

Interestingly, Virginia is one of the states where it is permissible to serve alcohol to your own children as well as other children who are accompanied by a parent or guardian. Va. Code Sec. 4.1-200.

Paullin Law Firm Sponsors Sports Radio 910

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:10:00 GMT

Hokie Nation in New Orleans at the Allstate Sugar Bowl

Paullin Law Firm is a sponsor of Sports Radio 910, which is broadcasting the Sugar Bowl tonight, featuring the Virginia Tech Hokies! You can listen where ever you are, using your computer online or the iHeartRadio app on your phone.

Go Hokies!

Happy Thanksgiving from our Family to Yours

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:45:00 GMT

We just wanted to wish you a great Thanksgiving holiday. Have a great weekend and be careful if you are driving.

Drivers should avoid I-95 in Richmond this weekend

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:40:00 GMT

Drivers planning to travel on I-95 near Richmond this weekend may want to explore alternative routes, as the replacement of the Laburnam Avenue bridge is likely to cause major delays.

Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction beginning at 8pm tonight (10/21/11) and ending Monday morning (10/24/11) at 6:00 a.m, while contractors work on the south end of the bridge. Drivers can also expect major delays next weekend, when construction will continue on the bridge’s north end.

Alternate routes available to Richmond drivers (and those just passing through) include Interstate 295, state Route 288 or Interstate 195 and the Downtown Expressway. Please consider using one of these routes instead of Interstate 95 this weekend, and if you need to take I-95, please respect the construction workers and your fellow drivers and drive cautiously.

For more information about this weekend’s construction and the I-95 bridge replacement project, you can find the Richmond Times-Dispatch’s coverage here.

Have a safe and happy weekend!

The information and materials on this web site are intended to be used for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Individuals should not act upon information provided on the site without seeking professional legal counsel, as situations and facts vary with each case. In addition, Paullin Law Firm does not endorse or sponsor any content accessed through links to other web sites. All statements and information are current as of the posted date.

Attorney Terry Gryder educates students about the consequences of drug possession

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:32:00 GMT

In the summer of 2000, a team of four students from Chesterfield County high schools attended a leadership conference with Virginia's Youth Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Project. After learning of the risks and severe consequences associated with drug and alcohol abuse, those students decided to take matters into their own hands and educate their peers about what they had learned. They developed a program that enlists school and county officials to enact a real-life drama and educate middle school students about the consequences of drug possession on school property.

Sponsored by Chesterfield Youth Planning and Development, "Student vs. Marijuana" is a live presentation that takes place annually at middle schools throughout Chesterfield County. Seventh-grade students watch the dramatization of a student caught carrying marijuana at school. The student goes on to face both school and legal consequences, including expulsion, a drug possession charge, a suspended driver's license, and juvenile detention followed by a probation period.

Terry Gryder is serving as the student's defense attorney in this year's "Student vs. Marijuana" presentations. During the program, her role is to defend the student (who pleads not guilty) during a trial in the 12th District Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. The cast also includes representatives from the Police and Sheriff's Departments, the Juvenile Probation Department, the Commonwealth Attorney's office, the 12th District Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, and officials from each participating school, all of whom perform their real-life roles. Attorney Gryder and the other professionals who have volunteered their time have done so with the hope that students will leave the presentation with a greater understanding of the serious consequences of drug or alcohol possession.

Join us for a special night of great art and a great cause!

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 21:07:00 GMT

Last fall Paullin Law Firm had the great pleasure of participating as a sponsor of the Artists Support ChildSavers event at Richmond's glave kocen gallery. The annual event is a spectacular partnership between two Richmond institutions that brings a charitable event to an art gallery setting for a night of good deeds and good fun. This year, ChildSavers has once again brought together a host of talented local artists (as well as some that hail from afar) to create a special exhibition. We are elated to announce our sponsorship for this year's event, and we hope you'll join us for what is sure to be a fabulous evening of art and goodwill!

An opening reception for the exhibition will be held at glave kocen gallery (located at 1620 W. Main Street, Richmond, Virginia) on Friday, October 28, 2011, and the exhibition will be on display through Saturday, October 29. A portion of all proceeds from the event and any art sold during the show will go to support ChildSavers and its programs. Founded in 1924, ChildSavers is a community-supported non-profit agency that provides hope and support to Central Virginia's children. For more information about the organization, check out their website. To take a look at the Artists Support ChildSavers event flier, click here!

Mark your calendars now.... We can't wait to see you at this year's event!

What does "Reckless Driving" really mean?

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 19:52:00 GMT

Ask any driver about these two little words, and he or she can tell you that "Reckless Driving" is a phrase that no one wants to see stamped on his or her driving record. That said, how many of Virginia's 15 felony and misdemeanor reckless driving charges can the average driver name? We're not sure, but we imagine some of them might surprise you. Did you know, for example, that an officer can issue a ticket for reckless driving in a parking lot? Or for passing another vehicle on the crest of a hill? Here, dear driver, is a complete list of the violations eligible for reckless driving charges in the Commonwealth of Virginia. (The numbers in parentheses represent the number of years that each conviction will remain on your DMV record.)

Speeding in excess of 80 mph (11 years)
Speeding 20 mph or more above the posted speed limit (11 years)
Racing (11 years)
Passing or overtaking an emergency vehicle (11 years)
Passing a school bus (11 years)
Passing on the crest of a hill (11 years)
Passing at a railroad crossing (11 years)
Passing two vehicles abreast (11 years)
Driving two vehicles abreast (11 years)
Driving too fast for conditions (11 years)
Failing to give a proper signal (11 years)
Faulty brakes/improper control (11 years)
Reckless driving on parking lots, etc. (11 years)
Driving with an obstructed view (11 years)
Generally reckless driving behavior (11 years)

This list, as well as information about other "six-point violations," is available on the Department of Motor Vehicles' website.

Faulty inspection, maintenance, or repair can cause truck accidents

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:28:00 GMT

If you were injured in an accident caused by the improper inspection, maintenance or repair of a tractor trailer, the trucking company’s own records may provide the most important clues and evidence to support your claim. The attorneys at Paullin Law Firm know that obtaining these records is imperative, and will ensure that they acquire every piece of evidence that may help defend your claim.

•   Under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, interstate motor carriers are required to “systematically inspect, repair, and maintain all motor vehicles subject to [their] control,” and must maintain accurate records of all inspections, repairs and maintenance (FMCSR § 396.3). However, these records must be maintained for only 1 year, or less if the truck leaves the motor carrier’s control. Thereafter, they may be destroyed. The attorneys at Paullin Law Firm are familiar with these regulations and know how to secure crucial records before they are lost or destroyed.

•   Every motor carrier must prepare a daily written report identifying any defect or deficiency the driver has discovered that could affect the safety of the vehicle’s operation or result in its mechanical breakdown. The carrier must maintain the original inspection report and certification of repairs for only 3 months from the date the report was written. If a company is aware of a defect but makes a conscious decision not to repair it, regardless of the risk to the general public, their negligent action may result in an accident. If you were injured in a collision caused by a trucking company’s failure to correct a defect in one of its tractor trailers, our attorneys will obtain the carrier’s daily reports to determine if the trucking company was negligent.

•   Motor carriers are required to maintain a driver qualification file for every driver, including a driver’s application for employment, driving record, the medical examiner’s certificate of the physical qualification to drive a commercial motor vehicle and a list of violations of motor vehicle laws. The attorneys at the Paullin Law firm will review these documents to seek evidence the truck driver involved in your accident had prior traffic violation convictions for reckless driving or DUI.

The attorneys at Paullin Law Firm are knowledgeable about the regulations listed above as well as other federal regulations that govern the loading, maintenance, and operation of tractor trailers. Our attorneys review these and many other facts of your case to determine if a trucker’s failure to comply with the safety regulations contributed cause to your accident. Call (804) 423-7423 today to speak directly with one of our experienced attorneys.

The information and materials on this web site are intended to be used for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Individuals should not act upon information provided on the site without seeking professional legal counsel, as situations and facts vary with each case. In addition, Paullin Law Firm does not endorse or sponsor any content accessed through links to other web sites. All statements and information are current as of the posted date.