Suspect Charged With Second-Degree Murder over Death of Chesapeake Employee George Harris

We are very sad to hear about the tragic death of Chesapeake City employee George Harris. I regularly travel down Johnstown Road in Chesapeake with my family and this accident hits close to home.

The news reports indicate that a suspect, allegedly violating parole in another state, was fleeing from the police in a car when he rear-ended another vehicle before colliding with the Chesapeake Waste Management truck driven by Mr. Harris. He was stopped earlier for not having a valid inspection sticker.

The suspect was charged with second-degree murder.  It is our sincere hope that Mr. Harris’s family finds some degree of comfort and closure as a result of any criminal prosecutor against the suspect.

In tragic situations such as this, and in addition to any criminal charges, the surviving family of someone likely has a right to additional sue the suspect under Virginia’s Death by Wrongful Act Statute.  This Virginia Act allows certain family members to seek compensation for their sorrow and anguish, as well as loss of companionship, comfort, and guidance, including other elements of losses and damages such as funeral expenses.

While it goes without saying that there is no amount of money that could ever account for the loss of Mr. Harris’s life, tragedies such as this are often compounded by a lack of insurance coverage.  There is a good chance the other driver had no insurance or the Virginia minimum limits of merely $30,000 to pay for a death.  This is why we always emphasize the importance of carrying ample uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.

In all likelihood, however, the City of Chesapeake maintains a substantial uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage policy on the waste management truck to protect its employees and their family members for these exact situations.

Our website contains amble information about underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage if you would like to leave more about how it can protect you.  Again, while no amount of money can account for a life, it is our hope a sufficient insurance policy is in place to at least compensation this family for their loss in the context of a civil wrongful death claim.

If you have lost a loved one or been hurt in a crash in Hampton Roads, please call our Chesapeake wrongful death lawyers at (757) 333-3333.