Suffolk DUI Accident Injury Lawyer Report – Driver is Charged with DUI after Teen Passenger Dies in Suffolk, VA

A driver has been charged with a DUI in Suffolk over an accident that left an 18-year-old passenger from Smithfield, VA dead.

As experienced Suffolk, VA wrongful death lawyers, the death of a passenger is a scenario we see far too frequently and our thoughts are with the family of the dead man.

Too many young lives are needlessly lost to alcohol and poor driving in cities such as Suffolk, Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, VA

The accident occurred in Suffolk, VA shortly after 2 a.m. on April 29, 2012 on Cherry Grove Road North, Suffolk police said.

The driver was heading north when the car ran off the right of the road, hitting a tree. The driver and passenger were both trapped in the car, according to Suffolk police.

Police said the driver of the car that crashed is 17 years old. The driver and the passenger were taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital by helicopter.

The passenger died just hours after the Suffolk wreck, the Virginian-Pilot reported. The driver’s injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

The driver was later charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless driving as well as failure to wear a seat belt, police said.

Car crash injuries are the leading cause of death and the fourth leading cause of injury related emergency room visits among teens aged 15 to 19 years our experienced Suffolk, VA DUI accident injury attorneys have reported. In 2007, approximately 4,200 teens in this age group died and an estimated 387,000 were treated in emergency departments for injuries sustained in automobile crashes in the United States.

Teens are more likely to be involved in DUI related accidents.

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The Norfolk and Virginia Beach based personal injury law firm, Cooper Hurley, handles automobile, truck, and motorcycle injuries. 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. If you need help or advice about a serious injury, please call us at (757) 455 -0077 or contact us through this website.