An accident on Cherry Grove Road in Suffolk, Virginia (VA) claimed the life of an 18-year-old passenger. The driver, who was apparently speeding and drunk at the time of the crash is 17. He also suffered serious injuries when the car slammed into a tree.
Both teens were pinned inside the wreckage and had to be cut free before being flown to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, where the older boy was pronounced dead.
Police charged the driver with reckless driving, failure to wear a seat belt and driving under the influence of alcohol.
This is one of those accidents that makes you shake your head and think about all of the “what ifs” that no doubt haunt the survivor and the victim’s friends and family: What if the driver had exercised some basic responsibility and not gotten behind the wheel while intoxicated? What if he had driven the speed limit?
The deceased teen’s parents should consult with a wrongful death lawyer in Virginia to discuss their legal options. Just because the driver is facing criminal charges does not preclude them from seeking justice through a civil claim. To learn about the wrongful death claim process, read this report.
PA