Norfolk Auto Accident Injury Lawyer Report : Sailor Who Crashed His BMW in Norfolk, Killing Two, is Court Martialed

As a Norfolk and Virginia Beach car accident injury lawyer, I see a lot of cases involving military families.

Few are as tragic as a 2009 crash in Norfolk in which a sailor drove into a tree. Of five young people in the car, a sailor and a nurse ended up dead and another young man was paralyzed and suffered brain damage.

The Petty Officer Second Class who was driving the car is now being court-martialed on charges of drunken and reckless driving and negligent homicide, even though he was acquitted on similar charges in proceedings in a civilian criminal court last year, the Virginian-Pilot reported.

In 2009 our Norfolk, VA injury accident lawyers reported on the original DUI charge against Richard Freeman, the Petty Officer Second Class.

The sailor’s defense attorney argued he crashed his BMW near Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center, because the passengers who accepted a ride from him were rowdy and distracting.

“Freeman testified that he blacked out at the wheel after being struck in the back of the head,” the Pilot reported.

Irrespective of the result of the court martial, those injured in this crash could make a civil claim against the sailor’s insurance company and wrongful death claims could be brought by the families of those who died.

Alcohol is the cause of as many as a quarter of all fatal auto accidents in Virginia. See our Norfolk DUI victim attorneys guide to drunk driving accidents.

The Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA personal injury law firm, Cooper Hurley, handles automobile, truck, and motorcycle injuries as well as wrongful death, railroad injury cases and medical malpractice. John Cooper and Jim Hurley have over 40 years of combined experience in handling auto injury accident claims. Attorney John Cooper has been named to Virginia “Super Lawyers” since 2010. Cooper Hurley represents people hurt in accidents in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News and throughout VA, and always put the best interests of our clients first. The firm is recognized by other lawyers as “AV” by Martindale-Hubbell, a national attorney rating service, for our top level of legal skill and highest ethical standards. Our motto is: “Your Injury, our fight.” If you need help or advice about a serious injury, please call us at (757) 455 -0077 or contact us through this website.