A hit-and-run collision in Virginia Beach, VA, left one person critically injured and local police searching for the other driver who fled the scene on foot. The nearly fatal crash happened at the intersection of S. Independence Boulevard and Bonney Road at around 1:40 am on January 1, 2018.
Authorities who responded to the wreck found a white Dodge Durango crashed into a grey Ford Focus. The driver of the Dodge had run away, and the person behind the wheel of the Ford needed to be transported to a hospital for lifesaving medical treatment.
Anyone who witnessed the collision is being asked to share what they saw by emailing the lead investigator at [email protected] or to call Crime Solvers at 1-888-LOCK-U-U[ (562-5887). Tips can be shared anonymously.
Finding the hit-and-run driver and taking him or her into custody is essential for holding the person accountable for breaking the law and for inflicting injuries on another person. The Virginia law that covers incidents like this one in the first hours of New Year’s Day, section 46.2-894, makes it a felony to flee the scene of a crash without speaking with police, alerting emergency medical personnel and, if necessary, providing first aid to victims.
A driver who injures someone else while acting negligently or recklessly also has a legal duty to pay the injured individual’s medical bills and provide compensation for other things such as wages lost due to missing work while recovering from crash-related injuries. Identifying the driver who caused the wreck at Independence and Bonney Road could save the other person from experiencing financial difficulties in addition to his or her physical injuries.
If it turns out that authorities cannot find the fleeing driver, the injured person should have coverage under the uninsured motorist (UM) provision of his or her own auto insurance policy. All insurance plans sold in Virginia must include UM coverage. According to the state’s Bureau of Insurance, UM “provides bodily injury and property damage protection to you if you are in an accident caused by an uninsured motorist or a ‘hit-and-run’ driver. If your vehicle is damaged by a ‘hit and run’ driver who cannot be identified, you must pay the first $200.”
Since insurance companies still conduct full investigations into uninsured motorist claims, the person hurt in the New Year’s hit and run in Virginia could benefit from seeking advice and representation from a local personal injury lawyer who has experience handling similar cases.
EJL