After two cars collided head-on on Nansemond Parkway in Suffolk, Virginia (VA), on the evening of June 13, 2016, the driver of one vehicle died and her passenger was transported to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital with critical injuries. The driver of the other vehicle also sustained injuries but only required treatment at the scene.
News reports indicate that police could not immediately determine which driver caused the deadly crash or why one or both vehicles crossed the center line of the parkway just south of Nansemond River High School. Figuring out why and how the fatal wreck occurred is essential for allowing the surviving victims and the family of the deceased driver file insurance claims.
Regardless of what investigators discover, the critically injured passenger likely has a strong case for receiving compensation for crash-related medical expenses and other damages. Virginia law would hold the estate of the driver of the vehicle in which she was riding liable for settling claims because a driver has a legally binding obligation to keep passengers safe and healthy. The liability of the other driver would be even clearer should he be found to have committed the negligent or reckless act that led to the head-on collision.
Consulting with an experienced and caring Virginia personal injury lawyer may still be necessary, however. Insurance companies may try to place some of the blame for the accident and resulting injuries on the passenger herself. Also, calculating exactly what has been lost in terms of inability to work while recovering, incurring a physical disability and suffering emotional and psychological distress can be difficult without a knowledgeable guide and advisor.
EJL