Chesapeake, VA Personal Injury Attorney Reports: Drug Use Suspected in Pickup Truck Accident That Killed Elderly Woman

10/27/2011
Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton
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Chesapeake, VA Personal Injury Attorney Reports: Drug Use Suspected in Pickup Truck Accident That Killed Elderly Woman

Police found the synthetic marijuana product known as spice in the pickup truck driven by Stephen Vance shortly after he struck and killed Lucille Wheeler in Fisherville, Virginia (VA), on October 13, 2010. The 81-year-old woman had been mowing the lawn outside her home on Jefferson Highway, and Vance now faces aggravated involuntary manslaughter charges.

The negligence Vance demonstrated while driving on the rural road in Augusta County, VA, was determined to be aggravated because of his use of an intoxicating Class I drug. Both the federal government and Virginia have laws making the sale and use of spice illegal, and blood tests conducted on Vance showed he could be charged with DUI because he had spice metabolites in his system.

This map shows where a Fisherville, VA, woma was killed by a pickup driver suspected of being high on the synthetic marijuana product known as spice

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol always puts people -- those behind the wheel, in the vehicle as passengers and anyone else on or along the road -- at risk for injury and death. Not a week goes by that I or one of my Virginia personal injury law firm colleagues does not report on or take a case involving drunk or drugged driving.

Neither a criminal conviction of the at-fault pickup truck driver nor a wrongful death civil lawsuit verdict or settlement can compensate Wheeler's family for their loss, but both outcomes would represent measures of justice for a person whose irresponsibility cost another person her life.

EJL

Category: Wrongful Death

Labels: aggravate involuntary manslaughter at-fault driver Augusta County civil lawsuit Cooper drunk and drugged driving DUI accident Fisherville illegal drug Jefferson Highway marijuana negligence pickup truck crash spice VA Virginia Personal injury lawyer wrongful death

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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Chesapeake, VA Personal Injury Attorney Reports: Drug Use Suspected in Pickup Truck Accident That Killed Elderly Woman

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