The plaintiff was a 71-year-old female who attended a funeral. After the funeral, employees of the funeral home directed the funeral procession to cross through a very busy intersection that was governed by traffic lights on Route 1 in Spotsylvania. There was no law enforcement assistance on the scene (though the funeral home contended that […]
Continue reading…$1 Million Settlement for Wrongful Death Caused by Dog Knocking Victim to the Ground.
In this case, the Decedent was a very active 80 year-old who was riding his bike by a neighbor’s house. Unfortunately, the neighbor opened their front door which allowed their unleashed and unattended family dog to run from the house. The dog ran into the Decedent’s travel path, causing him to fall. In that jurisdiction, […]
Continue reading…How does the prosecutor prove you were drunk in your Virginia DUI case?
Whether you’ve been to court before, taken a criminal justice class, or are a big fan of legal movies or crime dramas, at some point in your life, you have been introduced to the principle that all are presumed innocent of a crime until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The same principle applies in […]
Continue reading…Do I even have a chance to win my Virginia DUI trial? (Possible defenses to your case).
Just because you were charged with a Virginia DUI does not mean you are automatically guilty. While every case will depend on its particular facts, it’s important to discuss your case with an attorney. Virginia DUI cases are very technical, and there are certain facts a prosecutor most prove for you to be convicted. Of […]
Continue reading…Should I go to trial for my Virginia DUI?
For everyone facing a Virginia DUI charge, at some point you will have to make a decision – Do I go to trial or do I take a plea? In most Virginia DUI cases (but not all and will depend on each case), the prosecutor will make an offer to resolve your case without trial. […]
Continue reading…An explanation of Enhanced Penalties for Some Virginia DUI Charges.
When it comes to extreme cases of DUI, Virginia imposes so-called “enhanced penalties.” These are cases where the driving behavior was particularly dangerous, such as where the driver caused an accident or almost caused one, where the intoxicated driver’s vehicle had multiple passengers or juvenile passengers, or where the driver had a bad driving record. […]
Continue reading…Can You Get A Year in Jail for Your First DUI in Virginia?!
One question that we, at Abrenio Law, get often for DUIs is – James, can I really get a year in jail for my first Virginia DUI? Here’s my answer: While the maximum jail sentence for a first DUI is one (1) year, the actual jail sentence received depends on the particular facts of each […]
Continue reading…Virginia’s 4th Circuit reverses dismissal of law enforcement shooting of a suspect’s dog.
Recently, the 4th Circuit of Virginia reversed the dismissal of a suit based upon the shooting of a Plaintiff’s dog during a police investigation. As written about in the Fairfax County Times, Augusta County Law Enforcement was called to investigate a domestic assault. The dog , Jax, was placed on a zip leash and had […]
Continue reading…You notified the car insurance company about your Virginia claim. No, that’s not enough to toll your statute of limitations.
Often, I get calls from potential clients about their Virginia car accident claims just before their statute of limitations runs. They tell me that they’ve already notified the car insurance company about their claim so they’ve met their deadline. To be clear, in Virginia, this is not enough. You have to either settle your claim […]
Continue reading…In Virginia, you need to preserve your car accident evidence.
If you’ve been in an accident here in Virginia, it’s in your best interest to preserve evidence in your case to prove how your accident happened, the injuries you sustained, and the recovery you were forced to make. However, Virginia recently clarified that it’s not only in your best interest, but it’s now the law. […]
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