Aggravated Manslaughter Charges Brought in Norfolk Drunken Driving Case

4/29/2011
Randy Appleton
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Aggravated Manslaughter Charges Brought in Norfolk Drunken Driving Case

A sailor who is accused of killing two passengers in a drunken-driving car crash in Norfolk, Virginia (VA), two years ago, now faces up to 40 years behind bars, if he's convicted.

This month a grand jury indicted the navy sailor on "two charges of aggravated involuntary manslaughter, which could bring a prison sentence between two and 40 years," the Virginian-Pilot reported. The sailor had four passengers in his BMW which he was driving on Norfolk's Granby Street about 2:15 am on July 25, 2009, according to police and court documents. The BMW left the road and struck a tree. The crash claimed the lives of two passengers. A third passenger suffered serious personal injuries, according to the Virginian-Pilot.

The driver's blood alcohol level was 0.13 percent, meaning it was above the legal limit for driving, a prosecutor told an earlier hearing. However, the driver's attorney said his client was struck in the head while driving and blacked out.

Whatever the result of this case, it illustrates the severe penalties the law can impose in cases involving alcohol and driving. While drunk driving can end innocent lives, it can also often end the driver's freedom. Our experienced Virginia (VA) road injury and accident attorneys deal with numerous cases in which drunk driving leads to injury.

More than 11,000 people are killed in accidents in which alcohol is a factor each year in the United States. Every 45 minutes one person dies in an accident linked to drunk driving. Drunk driving is a huge problem on the streets of Hampton Roads, Virginia (VA). Numerous passengers and people minding their own business have fallen victim, including an elderly woman who died in Hampton last year when she was struck and killed by a DWI/DUI driver while walking on Doolittle Road, according to the Virginian-Pilot.

Our experienced attorneys are experts at dealing with wrongful deaths including those caused by DUI drivers. In a 2005 case we secured a pre-trial award of $19,000 for a young college student who suffered tissue injuries to her spine when the car she was in was struck by a drunk driver in Virginia Beach.

Category: Wrongful Death

Labels: aggravated Alcohol Appleton attorneys Crash driving drunken experienced Impaired injuries injury intoxicated lawyers manslaughter Navy Norfolk personal sailor struck tree VA

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have experience handling wrongful death cases. We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia if your family member or loved one was killed as a result of someone else's carelessness.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been named to the National Million Dollar Advocates Form since 2009 and listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Shapiro and Lewis have also been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2010. Fewer than 5 percent of lawyers are chosen for this professional honor. In addition, ours was the first injury law firm in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms.

Our VA personal injury firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill.

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer free initial confidential case consultations, so call us toll free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail so we can return your call.

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Aggravated Manslaughter Charges Brought in Norfolk Drunken Driving Case

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