Summer brings heavy traffic to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Drivers arrive from across Virginia or from other states. Many watch for hotels or parking garages while trying to follow unfamiliar roads. A Virginia Beach car accident lawyer can investigate when crowded streets or a confused driver causes a serious crash.
Much of the Resort Area traffic runs along Atlantic Avenue and Pacific Avenue between Rudee Loop and the northern hotel district. Traffic also builds on roads connecting the beach to I-264. Laskin Road and Virginia Beach Boulevard carry many beach visitors as well.
Why Does Summer Traffic Increase Near the Oceanfront?
Tourist season changes how people use the roads near the beach. Families may arrive after a long trip. Hotel guests may circle several blocks while searching for a garage entrance. Rideshare drivers may stop near restaurants to pick up passengers.
The Oceanfront also hosts concerts and festivals during the warmer months. These events can close lanes or redirect traffic. A driver who expects a normal route may make a late turn after seeing a barricade. Another driver may stop without warning after missing a parking entrance.
Traffic can stay heavy well into the evening. Drivers leaving restaurants near 31st Street may share the road with people walking back to hotels. Farther south, traffic near Rudee Inlet can mix with vehicles heading toward General Booth Boulevard.
Which Oceanfront Roads Can Become Especially Crowded?
Atlantic Avenue runs closest to many hotels and beach access points. Drivers often slow down to watch for pedestrians or find parking. The city’s paid parking area includes Atlantic Avenue and nearby side streets from Rudee Loop to 38th Street. That layout places cars close to people crossing between Pacific Avenue and the beach. Pacific Avenue carries through traffic just west of Atlantic Avenue. It can become crowded near 17th Street and 31st Street. Vehicles may turn across crosswalks while pedestrians move toward the Boardwalk.
I-264 brings many visitors toward the Resort Area. Congestion can form near Parks Avenue when drivers arrive or leave at similar times. Laskin Road and Shore Drive can also carry beach traffic. The city has used those roads as open routes when holiday traffic controls affected I-264.
How Do Pedestrians Add to the Crash Risk?
The Oceanfront is designed for walking, but drivers still cross paths used by hotel guests. The increased foot traffic can also contribute to pedestrian accidents during Virginia Beach’s tourist season. A person may step into a crosswalk from between parked vehicles. Children may move ahead of their parents. Someone carrying chairs may not see a turning car.
Virginia law requires a driver to stop for a pedestrian who is crossing within the driver’s lane or an adjacent lane while approaching it at a marked crosswalk. Traffic signals can change who has the right of way, so everyone must follow the signal. Drivers should be especially careful near Atlantic Avenue crosswalks. The Boardwalk access streets also require close attention. Bright signs or beach activity can pull a driver’s eyes away from the road for only a second. That second can be enough to cause a pedestrian crash.
What Types of Crashes Happen in Tourist Traffic?
Rear-end crashes can happen when one driver brakes for a pedestrian or an open parking space. Side-impact crashes can occur when a visitor turns from a side street without seeing traffic on Pacific Avenue. Left-turn collisions may happen when a driver misjudges an approaching vehicle’s speed.
A person may also open a car door into the path of a bicyclist after parking near the beach. Rideshare pickups can create a similar danger when passengers step into a travel lane.
Some crashes happen because a driver is watching a navigation screen instead of the road. Others begin when a driver suddenly changes lanes after realizing that a hotel entrance is on the other side of the street. Alcohol can increase the danger after evening entertainment near the Resort Area.
Why Can a Tourist-Season Claim Become Complicated?
A crash involving a visitor may require extra work to identify insurance coverage. The at-fault driver may live in another state or be driving a rental car. A rideshare driver may have one policy while waiting for a request. Different coverage may apply after the driver accepts a ride request.
A Virginia Beach traffic accident lawyer may also need to act quickly to locate evidence. Oceanfront businesses may have security cameras facing the road. Hotels may have footage near a garage entrance. Nearby dash cameras may show how the crash began.
Virginia follows a strict contributory negligence rule. An insurance company may argue that the injured person helped cause the crash by speeding or crossing against a signal. It may also claim that the person failed to react soon enough. Virginia’s civil jury instructions state that contributory negligence that proximately caused the accident can prevent recovery.
What Should You Do After an Oceanfront Crash?
Call 911 if someone may be injured or if traffic is blocked. Move to a safer location when possible, but do not leave before exchanging the required information. Tell the responding officer what happened without guessing about facts you did not see.
Use your phone to photograph the vehicles and visible injuries. Take separate photos of street signs or crosswalk markings. An image showing the hotel entrance or parking garage can help explain why a vehicle stopped or turned.
Ask witnesses for their contact information. Tourists may leave Virginia Beach soon after the crash. It can become much harder to find them later.
Get medical care even when pain seems mild at first. Adrenaline can hide symptoms after a collision. Follow the treatment plan and keep records of medical bills. Save proof of missed work too.
How Did Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp Help After a Virginia Beach Car Crash?
Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp represented a driver who was struck at Lynnhaven Parkway and Primrose Lane. The other driver attempted a left turn while facing a flashing yellow signal and entered the client’s path. The client suffered serious wrist fractures that required surgery.
The legal team obtained the police crash report and medical records. It also gathered images from the scene. The firm recovered the full $300,000 liability insurance limit. It then obtained another $100,000 through underinsured motorist coverage for a total settlement of $400,000. Results depend on the facts and available insurance in each case.
A summer crash near Atlantic Avenue or Pacific Avenue can leave an injured person facing medical bills and pressure from an insurance company. Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp has handled Virginia Beach injury claims for decades. Speak with a Virginia Beach car accident lawyer at (833) 997-1774 or fill out the online contact form to discuss what caused the crash and which insurance policies may provide compensation.