While most drivers in Roanoke City adhere to the rules of the road and operate their vehicles safely, there is always the danger of a reckless driver, a negligent driver or a drunk driver causing an auto accident. Car accidents can have deadly consequences as well as lead to long-term legal problems for the person who is deemed to have been intoxicated in a drunk driving accident. Holiday weekends are times that are especially rife with the potential for such crashes.
A weekend head-on crash in Virginia left three people fatally injured and led to the driver being arrested for involuntary manslaughter and DUI. The driver, a 36-year-old man, was operating a 1999 Chevy Venture and heading north when he crossed into the lanes heading south and crashed head-on into a 2012 Nissan Altima. The 55-year-old male driver and two passengers — a 53-year-old woman and 12-year-old child — were all pronounced dead at the scene of the auto accident. Another passenger, a 13-year-old, was thrown from the Altima and transported to the hospital with injuries that were considered life-threatening. Two girls, ages 8 and 9, were also in the car. Their injuries are not considered to be serious. The alleged drunk driver was not hurt.
With any kind of car crash involving injuries and fatalities, the most important thing is for those who were hurt to get back on the track to wellness. However, this can come at a hefty price, both financially and emotionally. Medical costs can be massive, as well as the need for rehabilitative therapy and perhaps long-term care. If there was a death, the person who died might have been the breadwinner in the home or a stay-at-home parent. Insurance companies are mainly interested in controlling costs and will likely try to offer a settlement early in the process to preclude litigation. The offer they make is rarely enough once all the costs are tabulated.
It is often important for there to be a full accident investigation and for the victims to know their legal rights. For the victims, it is prudent to discuss the matter with an experienced legal professional as soon as possible.
Source: WBOC.com, “Police: Accomac Man Charged, 3 Killed in Weekend Crash,” Aug. 30, 2014