In January, two teens were killed and one injured in a deadly crash on Lee Chapel Road in Fairfax County. Police say as the car was going over a hill, the driver lost control, causing the car to leave the road and flip over onto the roof. Emergency responders were able to extricate the injured teen and transport the teen to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries. The other two victims were pronounced dead at the scene. Police say alcohol was not a factor but believe speed may have been.
Residents in the area say the road where the crash occurred is deadly. In the past 10 years, more than 200 accidents have resulted in at least 123 injuries on the four-mile road. Prior to this crash, three other people have died in accidents on the road, including one victim who lost control of his vehicle on the same blind hill.
Online Petition
This tragic accident, and so many others that have occurred, has ignited action by two teenage classmates of the victims to do something about the dangerous roads. The two girls have started an online petition through Change.org calling on county officials to make changes to the road. As of the publication date of this post, the petition has garnered more than 13,000 signatures.
Teen Driver Car Accidents
Car accidents are the number one cause of death for teenagers in the United States. Many teens forget about safe driving rules with tragic results. Instead, when they get behind the wheel of a vehicle, they crank the music up and drive too fast, worried more about their coolness factor than the hazards they are creating. Statistics bear out those hazards, with car accidents the leading causes of teen death. There are more than 3,000 teen drivers involved in fatal car crashes every year, and approximately 2,500 of those drivers are killed. Speeding, distracted driving, driving under the influence, and failing to wear seat belts are all dangerous activities are all major factors in these crashes.
Virginia has laws specifically addressing young drivers. Drivers under the age of 18 are not allowed to drive between midnight and 4 am except under certain circumstances. Unless a parent is in the vehicle, drivers under 18 can only have one passenger in the car under the age of 21.
In addition to having ongoing communication with your teen about the importance of safe driving behaviors, consider signing a parent-teen driving agreement with your young driver. The agreement should outline very clearly what is acceptable, what is not acceptable, and what the consequences are for not adhering to the rules.
Contact Our Virginia Personal Injury Law Firm for Help
Our condolences go out to the families of the victims in this crash, as well as to the community. Losing a loved one is never easy, but when the victim is a child or teen, it can be especially devastating.
Virginia law allows car accident victims to pursue damages against the at-fault party or parties. If the victim is killed in the accident, their family may be able to recover damages in a wrongful death lawsuit.
To learn more, contact Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp to schedule a free consultation with one of our Virginia personal injury attorneys.
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