Speed and alcohol are the suspected causes of an early morning Jan. 5, 2013, SUV rollover crash in Virginia Beach, VA, that left the vehicle’s driver dead and two passengers with injuries that required hospital treatment.
The single-vehicle accident occurred near the intersection of Bay Colony Drive and Crystal Lake Drive about a mile from the Oceanfront. Police told reporters that the man behind the wheel of the Toyota 4-Runner was thrown from the SUV when it flipped, and that the passengers’ injuries, while serious, were not considered life-threatening.
The Virginia Personal Injury Lawyers’ Perspective
An autopsy and testimony from the surviving passengers will be needed to determine whether the driver was drunk at the time of the accident. Physical evidence can show whether the man was exceeding the posted speed limit. Time will likely heel the passengers’ wounds, but nothing will bring the driver back to his friends and family.
If this proves to be a DUI wreck, it will likely be just the first of dozens in Virginia Beach during 2013. Sadly, each year sees multiple drunk driving wrecks resulting in debilitating injuries and deaths in the Resort City and its neighbors of Norfolk, Chesapeake, Hampton and Newport News. Preventing those tragedies is as simple as not driving after having too many alcoholic beverages. Perhaps more people can make taking that lifesaving action a resolution at the dawn of this new year.
Potentially Helpful Info
Passengers injured as a result of the negligence or recklessness of the person driving the vehicle in which they are riding can have grounds for seeking compensation from the driver’s automobile insurance policy. This is true even when the at-fault driver loses his or her life in the accident. You can learn these facts and other essential information about filing injury claims following a car crash by downloading this free report written by Virginia personal injury attorneys.
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EJL