Your Injury, Our Fight!
Your Injury, Our Fight!
The scenario in which a passenger is killed in a late night or early morning crash in Virginia is sadly an all too familiar one.
Over the weekend details were released of an early morning crash in Middlesex County on Sunday which claimed the life of a 24-year-old man from Mechanicsville near Richmond.
WAVY.com reported the deceased was later identified as Mark Alexander Moore, 24, of the 8000 block of Ellendale Lane in Mechanicsville.
Virginia State Police said at approximately 3:40 a.m. on Sunday he was the passenger of a Honda S2000, when the car veered off the road and struck a group of trees on Route 604 (Nesting Road) just east of Route 648 (Montague Island Road) in the Nesting section of Middlesex County.
Single car accidents are the most common type of wreck on the road of Virginia. Mr. Moore was pronounced dead at the scene. My condolences go to his family. The driver was transported to VCU Medical Center in Richmond. He is reported to be in a serious condition.
The WAVY report said no charges have been filed at present. Police have not said if speed or alcohol were factors in the crash. Both occupants were wearing their seat belt at the time of the wreck.
Last month three people died – including two passengers – in a single car wreck on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. A car went off the road and hit three trees in Worcester County. The victims were from Chincoteague on The Eastern Shore of Virginia.
Last year a passenger and a wrong way driver were killed in a collision with a truck on Route 58 in Suffolk.
Why Passengers Have Rights in Virginia
If you are a passenger in a car or a truck you do not have direct control over how that vehicle is being driven. Passengers can claim against the insurance policies of the driver if they are injured in a car wreck. The families of deceased passengers can also bring a wrongful death claim against the driver’s insurance. In some cases a passenger’s claim may be undermined by contributory negligence. For example, if a passenger knows a driver is drunk when he or she gets in a car, this could be a bar to a claim. However, passengers are not always sure if drivers have been drinking alcohol or taking drugs.
If you have lost a loved one in a passenger wreck or you are a passenger who has been injured, you should consider calling Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers for a free consultation. We have meeting locations across Hampton Roads and can come to you. Call Cooper Hurley at 757.455.0077.