July 4th Celebrations Ended Tragically for Several Virginia Families

The July 4th holiday is one of the most dangerous on the roads of Virginia and elsewhere. According to a Virginian Pilot article, over the recent holiday weekend Virginia State Police reported eight fatal crashes on Virginia’s roads. Two of them were in the Hampton Roads area, and four of the crashes involve motorcycles.

Police reported that on the morning of July 5 a motorcyclist veered off the road into a ditch before it struck a tree. This incident took place in Virginia Beach. Another incident occurred in Newport News on Saturday morning when a pedestrian was walking across Jefferson Boulevard when a Ford Explorer hit him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

These were only two crashes out of the 566 that Virginia State Police responded to throughout the commonwealth. The authorities also charged 77 people with impaired driving, 11,712 with speeding, 2,673 with reckless driving, 832 with safety belt violations, and 342 with child safety restraint violations.

The holiday weekend is no excuse to drive carelessly. The laws are always the same, and police tend to crackdown even more on major holidays. If you have been drinking alcohol, do not get behind the wheel. Virginia has a zero tolerance policy for drivers who are under the influence. Instead you should call a taxi, organize a designated driver ahead of time, or enjoy the festivities without alcohol. As a driver, it is your duty to be sober and alert at all times.

If you or anyone you know was injured over the holiday weekend, please seek the proper medical help, and then contact an experienced auto accident attorney. Call the Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers at 757-333-3333, or visit us online at www.cooperhurley.com. When it really counts, count on Cooper Hurley!