A three-vehicle chain-reaction crash on the interstate near Richmond, Virginia (VA), sent six people to hospitals with injuries. The wreck started when a woman behind the wheel of a Honda Civic swerved out of her eastbound lane on I-64 between the exits to Laburnum Avenue and Airport Avenue and crossed the median into the westbound lanes.
Virginia State Police responded to the incident in Henrico County at around 5:05 pm on January 21, 2018. Troopers determined that the out-of-control Honda struck a Toyota Camry head-on and that another car ran into the rear of the Toyota.
Fortunately, none of the reported injuries were considered life-threatening. It is unclear which vehicles the five innocent who required medical treatment people were in.
The driver of the Honda that crossed into the path of oncoming traffic has initially been charged with reckless driving. Making the allegation indicates that the troopers could not immediately determine why the woman swerved and went across the median but do recognize that she acted in a particularly unsafe manner.
The relevant state statute, section 46.2-852 of the Virginia Code, makes it a criminal offense to operate a vehicle in any way that “endangers the life, limb, or property of any person.” If evidence shows conclusively that the woman who lost control of her car on I-64 in Henrico County acted recklessly, she would have legal responsibilities for settling personal insurance claims filed by the other people who got hurt in the head-on and rear-end collisions.
The injured victims may find it helpful to consult with a knowledgeable Virginia personal injury lawyer before submitting claims. Since so many individuals have legitimate claims, the at-fault driver’s coverage limits are likely to be exhausted quickly. That situation would leave victims needing to invoke the underinsured motorist coverage provisions of their own auto insurance policies.
Virginia law requires car and truck owners to carry underinsured motorist coverage, which the state’s Bureau of Insurance explains, “protects you directly in the event you are injured by a driver whose liability limits are not high enough to cover the damages and not as high as the … liability limits on your policy.” Insurers do, however, subject UIM claims to the same scrutiny as claims from a third party. Working with a Virginia personal injury lawyer will help the people hurt in this chain-reaction crash near Richmond deal with insurance company representatives.
EJL