Texting Causes Wreck in Roanoke, Virginia (VA) | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

What Happened

A wreck occurred in Roanoke, Virginia (VA) that police say was caused by the driver texting while driving.

The accident happened in the 7700 block of Bradshaw Road on February 9, 2013. The accident is still under investigation but police initially believe it was caused when the driver lost control of the vehicle while she was texting which caused her to hit several trees.

Police did not state if there were any passengers in the car but at least one person was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

The Virginia Personal Injury Lawyers’ Perspective

This accident proves to be a clear picture of why Virginia (VA) just passed new legislation against texting while driving. It is very unfortunate accident and we hope all involved in the wreck will be ok. Texting while driving is very dangerous and becoming a wide spread problem. According to a government sponsored study from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, sending or receiving a text message takes the driver’s eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds which (at 55 MPH) is the equivalent of traveling the length of a football while driving blind. If you were involved in an accident caused by texting while driving, either by your driver or the driver of another vehicle we recommend contacting a Virginia Beach personal injury lawyer. You should not be held liable for the expense of your injuries due to someone else’s negligence. It may concern you to file a personal injury claim against someone you know but that’s what auto insurance is for. You would be filing a claim against their insurance not the individual themselves to recoup the expenses from your injury. Your friend/relative and their insurance company are separate entities and will be treated as such in litigation.

Potentially Helpful Info:

Our firm published an in-depth legal guide on what to do when you’re seriously injured in a car wreck in Virginia. Read it here.

Have Questions?

Read these FAQs discussing why you should obtain legal counsel when you are the victim in a traffic accident.

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