The deafening crash, shearing of metal, and shattering of glass were the last things the two brothers heard when a Volvo slammed head-on into their Taurus on the Eastern Shore of Virginia (VA). The two brothers died and two people were seriously injured in the head-on crash on Va. 175 on the Chincoteague Causeway on Monday afternoon.
The driver of the Taurus, like her passengers, was not wearing her seat belt. She was flown to a hospital with major injuries. The at-fault driver of the Volvo, was also seriously injured and flown to a hospital for treatment. Investigators have determined that alcohol was not a factor in the crash, but the investigation continues.
It’s a scary thing knowing that at times only a painted line keeps you from being hit by another car, but what happens when that line is not enough? What happens when speed, alcohol, or even distractions cause the driver to leave his lane and come into yours, going the wrong direction? Too often, the results are fatal accidents such as the one in Chicoteague. Our thoughts go out to the family of the pair and we know they will be sorely missed.
Unfortunately wrong way drivers are not uncommon. , according to VDOT. Of the more than 42,000 people killed on our nation’s highways annually, over 25,000-almost 60 percent-died in crashes caused when their vehicles veered from the lane. In some cases, the vehicle crossed the centerline and wasinvolved in a head-on crash or opposite direction sideswipe. In others, the vehicle left the roadway to roll over or impact one or more natural or man-made objects, such as trees, utility poles, bridge walls, embankments, or guardrails.
Clearly, this is a problem that needs to be addressed. As personal injury attorneys we see the suffering and pain that a family goes through during these difficult times. Our goal is to relieve some of the burden off the family by fighting insurance companies for what is right.
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