Losing a loved one in a car accident is terrible; a life-altering event. But the tragedy is expounded when it occurs during the holidays. For most of us, the holidays are a time when the importance of family is reflected upon and celebrated. Sadly, 10 people were killed in car crashes in Virginia during the Christmas weekend. Four of these crashes took place in the Hampton Roads region.
To make matters even worse, four of the deceased individuals were under the age of 21. As a proud father, I can’t imagine the pain and suffering the parents of these young drivers are dealing with right now.
The number deaths due to traffic accidents increased this year in Virginia. There were six fatal car wrecks in 2008 as opposed to the aforementioned 10 in 2009. We know eight of these individuals were not wearing their seat belt at the time of the wreck.
When 80 percent of the people killed in these tragic holiday car accidents weren’t wearing their safety belts, it’s a reminder of how important it is to wear your seatbelt while in an automobile. Studies reveal 63 percent of all fatal car wrecks involved someone not wearing their seatbelt.
Here’s a video illustrating the importance of wearing your seatbelt…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
As you can see, there’s no excuse to get into a car and not wear your seatbelt.
In Virginia (VA) law, the fact that an injured person was not wearing their seat belt is inadmissible against them in a lawsuit for an auto accident. That is cold comfort to your family, if you died in a wreck though. As a young driver or passenger, think of your mother, father, sister or brother and buckle up. You might just save your life.
About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm (VA-NC law offices ) edits the injury law blogs Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as a pro bono service to consumers.
Rick Shapiro has practiced personal injury law for over 30 years in Virginia, North Carolina, and throughout the Southeastern United States. He is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (ABA Accredited) and has litigated injury cases throughout the eastern United States, including wrongful death, trucking, faulty products, railroad, and medical negligence claims. During his three-decade career, Shapiro has won client appeals before the VA Supreme Court, VA Court of Appeals, NC Supreme Court, SC Supreme Court, WV Supreme Court, TN Supreme Court, and three times before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, underscoring Shapiro’s trial achievements. In addition, he and his law firm have won settlements/verdicts in excess of $100 million. His success in and out of the courtroom is a big reason why he was named 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” in railroad law in U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers publication (Norfolk, VA area), and he has been named a “Best Lawyer” and “Super Lawyer” by those peer-reviewed organizations for multiple years. Rick was also named a “Leader in the Law, Class of 2022” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (total of 33 statewide honorees consisting of lawyers and judges across Virginia). And in September 2023, Rick was selected as a recipient of the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) 2023 President’s Award. Although many nominations were submitted from across the country, Rick was just one of eight attorneys chosen by the prestigious National Board which certifies civil trial attorneys across the U.S. Rick was also recently named to Virginia Lawyers Weekly 2024 Virginia’s Go To Lawyers Medical Malpractice. The attorneys awarded this honor are nominated by their colleagues and chosen by a panel from the publication.
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