Wheelchair Users in Hampton Roads, (VA) are Living in Fear

5/26/2011
Randy Appleton
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Wheelchair Users in Hampton Roads Live in Fear, Says Report

They are among the most vulnerable people in society. And, according to a new report in the Daily Press, wheelchair users fear they are facing increased dangers from distracted and intolerant drivers.

Judy Head from Newport News, Virginia (VA), who has been wheelchair-bound for 18 years and is a member of the Newport News Mayor's Committee on Disabilities, told the newspaper she was surprised more disabled people aren't hurt in Hampton Roads.

"Whenever you're crossing a road or parking lot you are taking your life in your hands," she told the newspaper. "It is extremely scary."

She called for sidewalks and crosswalks to be improved and for education clinics to be held to help people in wheelchairs and other members of the public.

Our experienced Virginia personal injury attorneys have reported on a spate of accidents and deaths involving people in wheelchairs. Recently a man in a wheelchair was killed crossing W. Mercury Boulevard in Hampton, VA. This case became a criminal investigation and a wrongful death issue when a woman was later charged with hit and run.

See this video of a recent accident involving a man in a wheelchair in Hampton.

Last year, an SUV struck a woman in a wheelchair as she crossed a road in Suffolk, VA. Earlier, in 2009, our attorneys reported on a harrowing case in West Virginia (WV) in which a man died when he was hit by a tractor trailer while crossing a road in Kenova and dragged for two blocks.

While police in Hampton Roads say there is no evidence accidents involving disabled people are rising, the stories of wheelchair bound people suggest many of them fear they are taking their lives into their hands every time they cross the road.

DM

Category: All Serious Injuries

Labels: accident Appleton attorneys cross crosswalks Death disabled fear Hampton hurt injury lawyers personal Roads sidewalks VA Virginia wheelchair wrongful

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia Beach, VA-based injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and we have handled thousands of car accident, truck wreck, and motorcycle crash cases. Check out our case results to see for yourself.

We've handled car accident cases throughout Virginia including Richmond, Fairfax, Alexandria, and the Hampton Roads region including Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, Portsmouth, Newport News, and Suffolk.

Our primary office is in Virginia Beach at the intersection of Diamond Springs Road and Northampton Boulevard. We also have an office on Eaton Street in Hampton. All of our accident injury attorneys were raised in Virginia and have deep roots with the community.

Our Virginia injury law firm has been recognized as one of the best injury law firms in Virginia by U.S. News & World Report since 2010. Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been listed on the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009 and included among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Rick and Jim were named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2010, an honor fewer than 5 percent of lawyers receive. In addition, we were the first injury law firm in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms.

We also offer free special reports on distracted driving and the Best Guide to Car Accident Injuries in Virginia.

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer a free, initial confidential injury case consultation, so call us at 1-800-752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail and we will get back to you shortly.

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Wheelchair Users in Hampton Roads Live in Fear, Says Report

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