Speeding Driver in Chesapeake Causes Accident That Kills Passenger | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

It is so frustrating to read about serious car crashes that could have been prevented if the at-fault driver was more cautious. A prime example is an accident that occurred on Blackwater Road in Chesapeake, Virginia (VA). An innocent teenage passenger was killed when the driver of a Ford pickup truck was allegedly speeding and slammed into a tree.

The at-fault driver suffered injuries while the passenger lost her life. The passenger was only 19 years old and a native of Virginia Beach, according to the Virginian-Pilot.

My deepest sympathies go out the victim’s family. Losing someone you love is a gutwrenching and devastating experience far too many people have to struggle with on a daily basis. But that pain and suffering is made even worse when the innocent victim is a teenager with her entire life ahead of her.

As a father of teenage children, I struggle reading these stories because it’s a haunting reminder that, even were one’s own children are responsible, they may be exposed to serious safety risks by reckless friends and acquiantences.

If I lost one of my children in a preventable car accident that was caused by an irrresponsible driver, I would strongly consider pursuing a wrongful death suit against the at-fault driver. A message needs to be sent to drivers who break the law and wind up taking an innocent person’s life in the process.

This kind of one car crash is one of the most common types of accidents. Usually the driver is a friend , family member or co-worker. This can make it uncomfortable to file a lawsuit against a person that the parents of the passenger know, perhaps well. Even if the mother or father does not want to sue the driver, they can still make an insurance claim against the auto insurer for the driver. The money will not lessen the grief, but can be used to help other family members, like a surviving brother or sister which will do something positive in the memory of the person lost in the preventable, sudden tragedy. 

To learn more about wrongful death and the applicable Virginia laws, read this free consumer guide on the subject.

PA