Newport News, VA Accident Injury Lawyer Reports – $2.7 Million Settlement in Wrongful Death ATV Case

Riding all terrain vehicles (ATVs) may sound like fun but our experienced Norfolk, VA wrongful death attorneys see far too many causes in which a vehicle has flipped over with tragic consequences.

Although some of these vehicles are inherently dangerous there are also cases in which reckless or bad driving has claimed a life.

In a recent case in Pennsylvania (PA) a $2.7 million settlement was reached in a wrongful death lawsuit filed in Scranton involving an ATV in Wayne County, the times-tribune.com reported.

The crash claimed the life of a 19-year-old college student from Sykesville, Maryland (MD) on July 5, 2009.

The victim was a passenger on the ATV driven by a college student from Connecticut. The vehicle flipped over in the fatal crash.

In this case the driver was charged with homicide while driving under the influence and involuntary manslaughter.

Although a jury acquitted him, he became the subject of a federal lawsuit that claimed the driver was drunk and driving too fast, causing the death of the 19-year-old.

See this video about an ATV accident.

15-Year-Old Crushed in ATV Accident: MyFoxHOUSTON.com

This case demonstrates the fact that victims can win large settlements in lawsuits even if the criminal law acquits the defendant.

Sadly Virginia has seen its fair share of deadly ATV accidents. In May, 2011, A 14-year-old girl died from injuries she received in an all-terrain vehicle accident in a wooded area off Rochambeau Drive in Williamsburg, the Virginia Gazette reported.

Virginia regulates the use of ATVs and an ATV should not be operated unless the driver is wearing a protective helmet while these potentially unstable vehicles should not be operated above 25 mph.

But alcohol and speed are a deadly combination on the roads. They are even more hazardous off roads.