Fatal Single Vehicle Accident in Newport News Leaves Many Questions | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

As Virginia (VA) accident injury lawyers we get many questions about different scenarios that can occur from a car accident.  One of them is, “I was injured in a single vehicle accident where my friend was driving. Do I have a lawsuit?  The answer is, yes.  If you were injured in an accident as a passenger in a vehicle and you were not at fault, you almost certainly can get a recovery from the insurance company of the driver, even if you are related to the driver.  One notable exception to this rule is if you get into a vehicle with someone that you know is intoxicated or otherwise impaired, and that impairment is a cause of the accident. 

The family of a passenger who was killed in a car crash along Interstate 64 in Newport News recently may need to look into a wrongful death claim if there was any negligence involved.   The single-vehicle crash happened in the westbound lanes near mile marker 250 when a 1998 BMW ran off the road and struck a tree.  The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, the passenger was airlifted but later died as well. The crash remains under investigation at this time and troopers are working to determine if speed and/or alcohol were factors.

Fatal single vehicle accidents leave many unanswered questions for the family.  Was the driver trying to avoid another car that had swerved over into the wrong lane? Was there any debris in the roadway or a mechanical failure on the vehicle?  These are just a few of the questions that can be raised as a result of a single-car crash. Unfortunately, when such a crash occurs, insurance companies may be reluctant to claim any responsibilities for paying for damages, or may want to hold off on paying in the hopes that something or someone else can be held liable for the wreck.

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