What Happened: According to timesdispatch.com, a 2002 Lexus drove off of Route 60 and ran into a tree. Virginia State Police reported that three passengers were killed in the accident; the driver incurred life-threatening injuries and was flown to a nearby hospital for treatment. One of the deceased passengers was reportedly not wearing a seat belt. According to the state police, charges against the driver of the Lexus were pending.
Here is the location of the accident:
The Virginia Injury Lawyer’s Perspective: Single-car crashes can be just as injurious and fatal as multi-car accidents, as the above report shows. Injuries can be even worse, and death is much more likely, when a victim is not wearing his or her seat belt. Virginia law mandates that passengers in the front seat must wear a seat belt at all times (backseat passengers can forgo a seat belt, though passengers under sixteen must wear a seat belt wherever they are sitting). One of the most terrible tragedies of accidents like these is that a deceased passenger may have been saved by simply wearing a seat belt.
The pending charges and further investigation of this accident will tell us more about just what happened. However, we know from experience that the loved ones of the deceased passengers may have grounds to file a wrongful death claim against the driver.
Potentially Helpful Info: We know how painful it is to lose a loved one in a car accident, and our deepest sympathies are with the victims’ families. The anguish is not made any easier at the prospect of filing a personal injury claim against someone the victims’ loved ones may have known; however, it may sometimes be necessary. The personal injury lawyers at our Virginia law firm have published an article explaining why you may have to file a personal injury claim against a family member or friend; click here to look it over.
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