The short answer to that question is “YES”.  Virginia has started the phasing in of a law requiring all personal watercraft and motorboat operators to be licensed by 2016. This schedule, posted on The Smith Mountain Lake Boating Association website, is listed below:

“The state of Virginia has passed legislation requiring all Virginia boaters to complete boater education classes. These requirements will be phased in over an eight year period and are outlined below.

You need a boater education class by the given dates if:

• You are a personal watercraft operator 20 and younger by July 1, 2009.
• You are a personal watercraft operator 35 and younger by July 1, 2010.
• You are personal watercraft operator 50 and younger or a motorboat operator 20 and younger by July 1, 2011.
• All personal watercraft operators and motorboat operators 30 and younger by July 1, 2012.
• You are a motorboat operator 40 and younger by July 1, 2013.
• You are a motorboat operator 45 and younger by July 1, 2014.
• You are a motorboat operator 50 and younger by July 1, 2015.
• All motorboat operators must have a class by July 1, 2016.”

More information on how to comply with the Boating Safety Education Requirement can be found on the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries website http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/boating/education/boating-safety-education-requirement.asp

A listing of Roanoke, New River Valley, and Smith Mountain Lake boating and personal watercraft safety classes can be found here:http://smlba.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/2013-Boat-Classes.pdf.  Some class sizes are limited.  Be sure to call and pre-register for your desired date and location.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a boating accident in Virginia or West Virginia, call Paul Thomson, of The Thomson Law Firm for a free consultation at 540-777-4900.

My thoughts and prayers are with the family of a six year old boy in Pulaski County tonight.  Their son was taken from them in a day care accident this morning. Accidents in home day care facilities and centers are increasing across the country and a tragedy like this one cannot go unnoticed by state and local officials.

According to early reports, “a shelf-like structure” fell on the child at approximately 8am.  He died at Pulaski Lewis Gale Hospital at approximately 9am.

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a day care accident, call Paul Thomson of  The  Thomson Law Firm at 540-777-4900.

Looking for something fun and exciting to post on your Facebook Page?  Something that says to your friends, “I’m adventurous, in great shape, and living life to the fullest!”  Well, some would have you believe that pretending to be an elite military professional on an Obstacle Race Course  on a Saturday afternoon is just the way to spice up your fitness routine.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case for Avishek  Sengupta, a 28 year old from Maryland, who died while trying to attempt the “Walk the Plank Obstacle” at a Tough Mudder event in Gerrardstown, West Virginia.

Reports are surfacing that the event was understaffed, unorganized, and had inadequate safety measures in place.

Other people were alos seriously injured during the event. As reported on The Baltimore Sun’s webpage, “Two people who participated in the race in nearby Gerrardstown, W.Va., suffered heart attacks, according to Teresa McCabe of West Virginia University Hospitals-East, which runs City Hospital. Ten people had hypothermia, orthopedic injuries or head injuries. And two people were treated for drowning, including Avishek Sengupta, a 28-year-old Ellicott City man who died Sunday.”

For  more information on safety precautions for Obstacle Course Races, visit http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/13/130424-tough-mudder-death-extreme-endurance-sports-risk-safety/

For recommendations on how to establish rescue protocol visit http://mariovittone.com/

We will be posting more information about the validity of the waivers and that runners are required to sign before entering an event.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an Obstacle Course Race like the Tough Mudder, O-Run, Spartan, or Gladiators call Paul Thomson of The Thomson Law Firm at 540-777-4900 for a free consultation.

The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute recently released findings from a study conducted with a 100 car naturalistic study.  Many of the participants were drivers that drove in the Northern Virginia, DC Metro area and the I-81 corridor to Virginia Tech.

The cars were equipped with monitoring devices such as cameras, Vorad radar units, accelerometers, lane tracking software, and an in-vehicle network sensor.  The randomly selected video footage showed drivers yawning, closing eyelids, head-bobbing and micro-sleep at the time of crashes or near crashes.  Other behaviors noted during these sleeping episodes included drivers running red lights.

The study was done on 18-20 year olds.  Most of the incidents included daytime sleepiness.

If you have been injured in a car accident, call Paul Thomson of The Thomson Law Firm today for a free consultation. Call 540-777-4900.

Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Mazda are recalling millions of its automobiles today due to faulty airbags deployment.  In a news release, a representative from U.S. Toyota said, ” The involved vehicles are equipped with front passenger airbag inflators which could have been assembled with improperly manufactured propellant wafers. Improperly manufactured propellant wafers could cause the inflator to rupture and the front passenger airbag to deploy abnormally in the event of a crash.”

Recall information for the vehicles involved can be found by clicking on the flowing links:

For HONDA http://owners.honda.com/service-maintenance/recalls

For TOYOTA http://www.toyota.com/owners/web/pages/resources/recalls

For NISSAN http://www.nissanusa.com/apps/contactus/recall

For MAZDA http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPage.action?pageParameter=mazdaSiteMap

If you or someone you love has been injured by a dangerous product, call Paul Thomson, of The Thomson Law Firm, at 540-777-4900.  The call is free.

Medicine is supposed to make us better.  Pain relievers for pain, antibiotics for infections, vitamins to prevent us from getting sick, an occassional TUMS when we’ve overindulged.

From time to time, we all have to rely on some type of drug to help us heal.  But what happens when mistakes are made?  Could we die?  Possibly. According to the Institute of Medicine, more than 1.5 million potentially dangerous drug mistakes happen every year.

To help prevent inury or death from mishaps, follow these guidelines:

1) Always check the medication inside of the bottle to make sure that it is the correct.  Many drugs have similar names or look like other drugs.  Double check your pills by using a website like this one http://www.webmd.com/pill-identification/default.htm.

2)READ and FOLLOW the instructions on the label. “Take at the same time every day.”, “Avoid alcohol”, “Eat with food”, “Do not crush or chew”, all of these instructions have a purpose.  Whether it is to prevent horrific and painful side effects or to ensure the effectiveness of the drug, it is important.

3)Keep a record of all the medications you take.  This includes vitamins and over- the -counter drugs. If you have a smartphone, keep a record on it, so you will be able to provide your doctor with the information.

4) Did you know that a bathroom’s moisture can cause a drug to deteriorate? Store drugs in a large plastic box away from the reach of children instead of a bathroom medicine cabinet.

The CPSC reports that 8 people died between the dates of January 29, 2013 and February 11, 2013. You read that correctly, in just 13 days, 8 people lost their lives.  Luckily, none of the victims were under the age of 16. The CPSC and ATVsafety.gov offers these safety tips for use of this potentially dangerous product:

1) ATVs are not toys! They are powerful and potentially dangerous vehicles.

2) ATVs can travel in speeds in excess of 60 miles per hour and can weigh in excess of 700 pounds.

3) ATVs can easily roll and tip over.  Their unpredictable nature in off-road conditions makes training and proper use essential.

4) In 2003, there were an estimated 740 deaths associated with ATVs, including 140 reported deaths that involved children.  In 2004, an estimated 136,000 ATV-related injuries were treated in hospital emergency rooms.

6) About one-third of ATV-related deaths and injuries involve children. Anyone younger than 16 years of age should never be on an adult ATV.

7) Stay off paved roads and avoid unfamiliar terrain.

Never carry a passenger on a single-rider ATV.

9)Do not drive an ATV while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Visit ATVsafety.gov to locate a training course in our area. As of this writing, a course will be offered in Victor, West Virginia, a short 3 hour drive from Roanoke, Virginia.  A worthy investment to save a life! For more information about ATV safety and details for the safety course click here https://online.svia.org/training/Enroll/EnrollIntro.aspx

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, call The Thomson Law Firm today.  You will talk to a lawyer.  The call is free, so dial 540-777-4900.

My wife has driven a 3 hour stretch on I-81 six times in the last 3 weeks with our kids in the back of her minivan.  Because she has extended family in Front Royal, VA; Manassas, VA; and Martinsburg, WV, she has seen her share of roadkill, mile marker signs, and yes, accidents. Local news outlets, including The Roanoke Times and WSLS have reported that our stretch of I-81 is the most dangerous according to VDOT crash statistics.

While drivers can’t control every circumstance, there are simple steps we can take to avoid serious injuries that can result from an auto accident.

When driving on I-81 and especially near tractor trailers, use these precautions:

1) Keep in mind that it takes a tractor trailer traveling at a speed of 65 mph approxiamately 300 feet to come to a full stop, so never abruptly change lanes, come to an abrupt stop, or pull out in front of a “Big Rig.”

2) Allow plenty of room for a tractor trailer to turn.

3) Always use turn signals.

4) Maintain a safe speed.

5) Adjust your speed according to weather conditions.

6) Do not ride beside tractor trailers.

7) Do not “draft”. Maintain at least a 4 second following distance.

Be aware.  Drivers of “Big Rigs” are only human, and some drivers, like drivers in cars,  may be drowsy, distracted, or even careless.

9) If you are stopped behind a truck on a incline, leave adequate room for the truck to “roll back” as the driver puts the truck in gear.

10) Do not text, drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol or drive tired on I-81 or on any other road!

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, call Paul Thomson, of The Thomson Law Firm, in Roanoke, Virginia today. The call is free and you will speak to an attorney 540-777-4900.

After seeking medical attention for your child, try to obtain the following information about the dog:

• Has the dog ever bitten anyone else before?
• Does the dog have a history of aggression?
• Are the dog’s shots up to date?
• What is the dog owner’s name, physical address, phone number, and homeowner’s or renter’s insurance information?

Take pictures of your child’s injuries, the area where the attack took place, and the dog if possible.  Talk to witnesses and take down their contact information.

Report the bite, even if it is minor to local authorities so that there will be a record of the incident.

If you or a loved one is injured by an animal attack, call Paul Thomson of The Thomson Law Firm in Roanoke, Virginia at 540-777-4900.

If you were affected by the fungal meningitis outbreak, you may still be interested in updated information regarding the ongoing investigation by the FDA and the CDC.

You can follow the progress of the investigation by clicking on this link:

http://www.cdc.gov/medicationsafety/recalls/necc/#advice

I urge anyone that received an injection linked to any NECC product to closely monitor their health.  If you think you have symptoms of fungal meningitis or other disease, be sure to advise your doctor of your injection. The CDC is also reporting that patients who received injections may suffer complications such as spinal epidural abscess and arachnoiditis.  For more information from the CDC click here:

http://www.cdc.gov/hai/outbreaks/clinicians/index.html

If you have been sickened by a NECC product, contact The Thomson Law Firm in Roanoke, Virginia, by calling 777-4900. All calls are free and confidential.