Archive for the ‘ Wrongful Death ’ Category

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1
Feb

Fatal Car Crash Caused by Texting While Driving

February 1, 2012

Two friends were killed in a tragic accident along the Chippenham Parkway in Richmond, Virginia, Saturday afternoon. According to reports from CBS 6 News, the accident happened while the 27-year-old driver of the vehicle was speeding and texting while driving.

The accident happened at 4:35 PM as the driver was traveling north along the highway with a 22-year-old passenger. Right after the Stony Point exit, the driver was texting when she veered the vehicle across and over the center median and into southbound traffic where she collided with another car head-on. Both the driver and her passenger were declared dead at the scene.

The driver of the southbound vehicle was seriously injured, but was taken to VCU Medical Center, where he remains in serious by stable condition. Officers are still investigating the crash.

Legislation is currently before the Virginia General Assembly that would make texting and driving a primary offense–meaning the act would be enough for an officer to pull over and cite a driver. The law only makes texting and driving an offense now if officers catch the driver committing another crime while behind the wheel.

The Virginia car accident lawyers with Geoff McDonald and Associates ask motorists not to wait for legislation to pass to stop the dangerous behavior of texting and driving. Instead, choose not to use your phone while driving. If you have been injured in a car accident caused by a negligent driver, contact an experienced attorney today.

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25
Jan

Richmond Valet Driver Charged With Death Of Pedestrian

January 25, 2012

The valet driver who hit and killed a woman in October of last year as finally been charged in connection with the accident. According to Channel 12 News, the driver was charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter earlier this month.

The accident happened on a brisk fall evening near the intersection of 5th and Broad Streets in Downtown Richmond, Virginia. The 23-year-old victim and her husband were walking on the sidewalk near the Hilton Garden Inn when the young driver hit the couple as they attempted to cross a street at a crosswalk. The young woman was taken to VCU Medical Center, where she died a short time later.

The 26-year-old valet driver could face up to 20 years in prison and a five-year license suspension if convicted of the crime.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that nearly 4,092 pedestrian lives were lost and 59,000 injuries occurred in 2009, with a majority of these fatal pedestrian accidents happening at intersections with crosswalks.

While the number of pedestrian fatalities may be on a slow but steady decline, the Virginia auto accident lawyers with Geoff McDonald and Associates ask that pedestrians and motorists be cautious of one another and become educated on pedestrian safety. If you have been injured by a motorist at no fault of your own, contact an experienced attorney today.

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18
Jan

Virginia Trucker Killed In Single-Vehicle Crash Along I-85

January 18, 2012

A 58-year-old UPS truck driver from Chesterfield County, Virginia, died Wednesday morning as the result of a wreck in the tractor-trailer he was driving. According to reports from CBS 6 News in Richmond, the accident happened at around 1:20 AM along I-85, just outside Charlotte, North Carolina.

Witnesses say that the trucker was attempting to pass another vehicle when either a driver error or mechanical malfunction caused the tractor-trailer to leave the left side of the road and strike a bridge. North Carolina State Highway Patrol Spokesperson Sergeant K.L. Blakley said that it appears the driver was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and was ejected from the cab of the truck. He was declared dead at the scene when paramedics arrived.

Witnesses told troopers that a faulty tire might be to blame for causing the accident; however investigators said they could not confirm that, and they were still working to determine the cause of the crash.

Estimates by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration indicate that seat belt usage rates among commercial truck drivers were 78 percent in 2010. Data shows that truck drivers are 80 percent less likely to be killed in the event of a crash if they are buckled up.

That is why they Virginia truck accident attorneys with Geoff McDonald and Associates ask that all motorists buckle up before the vehicle moves. If you have been injured in a truck accident at no fault of your own, contact an experienced attorney today.

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11
Jan

Poorly Installed Generators Put Homeowners At Risk

January 11, 2012

A local Virginia company is in hot water due to generators that were improperly installed at area homes and businesses. According to WRIC 8 News, state and local authorities are now investigating the company because of the risk of electrocution and explosion the faulty installations pose.

It all started after one homeowner purchased the $7,000 generator following Hurricane Irene, but it wasn’t until recently that the problems were discovered. County inspectors found two pages worth of code violations surrounding the installation of the generator. Some of those issues include:

  • The unit was installed too close to a shed, causing a fire hazard.
  • The piping entering the home from the unit was too small.
  • The area where the piping enters the home was not properly sealed.

The Chesterfield County Department of Building Inspection (CCDBI) stated that the company has failed to obtain proper permits to install the generators on at least five occasions. A spokesman for the department added that infractions like these put the generators’ users at great safety risks. The CCDBI has since taken action against the company by submitting a court injunction Friday that will require the business to temporarily shut down.

The Virginia defective product attorneys with Geoff McDonald and Associates often help the victims of defective product injuries receive the compensation they need to pay for their losses and medical bills. If you have been injured because of negligent design or installation of a product, call us today to discuss your case.

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4
Jan

Seven-Year-Old Virginia Girl Dies From Allergic Reaction At School

January 4, 2012

A seven-year-old girl died Monday afternoon following an allergic reaction to peanuts. CBS 6 News reported earlier today that the mother of the child is now questioning actions taken by the school and staff during the incident.

The tragedy occurred at Hopkins Elementary School at around 2:30 in the afternoon. A spokesman for the Chesterfield fire department, Lt. Jason Elmore, who also responded to the scene, stated that the young girl was in cardiac arrest by the time rescue crews were able to arrived. The child was pronounced dead at CJW Medical Center.

The tragedy has raised numerous questions in the mind of the child’s mother. Her main question seems to be how the child was exposed to the peanut product. Also, she wonders why the school’s clinical aid refused to take an Epipen from her to keep on hand for the child in case she became ill, in accordance with the school’s policy.

The most important question is why medical staff did not attempt to give the child Benadryl during the allergic reaction as instructed to do earlier in the year, again, according to policy.

The Virginia wrongful death attorneys with Geoff McDonald & Associates say that it is vital to be able to prove negligence and fault on another person’s part in order to have a successful wrongful death case. They say one of the best ways to do this is to show a caregiver did not properly follow policy and procedure in the care of a patient.

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23
Nov

Richmond Woman And Daughter Killed In Chesterfield Car Crash

November 23, 2011

A Richmond, Virginia, woman and her daughter died after being involved in a collision with a tractor-trailer Saturday morning. CBS 6 News reported Sunday that accident happened at 10:20 AM on Chippenham Parkway, just before Jeff Davis Highway.

Virginia State Police say that the 29-year-old driver of a 2000 Lexus SUV was heading north along the highway with her 7-year-old daughter and 11-month-old son. For an unknown reason, the woman did not react to the slowing truck in front of her and plowed into the rear of the box truck. Although the woman was buckled in at the time of the crash, she died at the scene with her daughter, who was not buckled when the accident occurred. The woman’s infant son was properly restrained in a car seat, but was taken to Chippenham Medical Center to be treated for serious, but non-life threatening injuries. Neither the driver nor the passenger of the box truck was injured in the crash.

Investigators are hoping to speak with individuals who may have witnessed the accident in order to gain a better understanding of what happened.

The Virginia Auto Accident Attorneys with Geoff McDonald & Associates handle cases for injured car accident victims. If you have been hut in a crash, contact us today by filling out a free online consultation form.

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19
Oct

Richmond Cyclist Hit By Minivan

October 19, 2011

A cyclist was struck by a minivan Tuesday morning in Richmond, Virginia on her way to the Occupy Richmond protest. According to CBS 6 News, the accident happened mid-morning on 8th Street, between Canal and Cary Streets.

Reports say the female cyclist was riding near Kanawha Plaza to participate in the Occupy Richmond protest. A tan minivan struck her and sent her to the asphalt where she lay until paramedics arrived. The victim was only able to move an arm as she was loaded into the ambulance to be taken to a local hospital to be checked for injuries. The driver of the minivan was uninjured in the accident.

Investigators are still working to determine fault in the accident, but reports show that the cyclist was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. This could have proved deadly as the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of injury and fatality.

The Virginia Auto Accident Attorneys with Geoff McDonald & Associates urge cyclists to do their part in maaking roads safer by wearing proper safety gear and obeying traffic laws. If you have been the victim of a cyclist accident, contact our attorneys for a free initial consultation to answer any questions you might have regarding your case.

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12
Oct

One Marine Killed And Two Others Injured While Training

October 11, 2011

A Marine was killed and two others were injured when a vehicle struck them while they were training along a road in Yorktown, Virginia. According to Channel 12 News, the accident happened on Halstead Road outside the Naval Weapons Station where the men were posted.

It happened 6:45 Tuesday morning as the daylight just began to break over the horizon. The men were running in formation as part of routine morning training, when a vehicle plowed through their ranks. One Marine sustained life-threatening injuries and rescuers attempted to airlift the soldier to Norfolk General Hospital; however, he coded in the helicopter and was taken to Mary Immaculate Hospital instead, where he was declared dead just after 8:00 AM. The other two injured Marines were taken to Riverside Medical Center in Newport News, Virginia, where they were treated and released.

The Marines were part of the 2nd Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team Company, Marine Security Force Regiment. A spokesman for the Marines stated that all the soldiers were wearing reflective clothing at the time of the accident.

The Virginia Auto Accident Attorneys with Geoff McDonald & Associates understand the difficulty in handling the details of such an accident. That is why they urge anyone who has been injured by a vehicle at no fault of their own contact them for a free evaluation of your case.

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21
Sep

Petersburg Family Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Sheriff’s Department

September 21, 2011
Family members of a Petersburg, Virginia man who died while in the custody of the county sheriff are filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the department, claiming the booking center is responsible for his death.
Video footage provided by NBC 12 News, shows the man emptying his pockets at the booking center of the Petersburg City Jail, shortly before being taken to a strip search room. Officers said that the man swallowed a small plastic bag containing white powder just before bolting from the room. Officers tackled the man to the ground to restrain him, but moments later he was dead. The county coroner listed the official cause of death as asphyxiation by the plastic bag.
Family members of the man are doubtful of this story and say the man loved life too much to swallow the bag. The medical examiner with the coroner’s office never found the bag in the man’s body, causing doubt to the conclusions.
The family’s attorney stated the suit, being filed this week, will name at least five members of the department as responsible parties in the death.
The Virginia Wrongful Death Attorneys with Geoff McDonald & Associates suggest contacting an attorney if you have suspicions a loved one died because of circumstances that were not their fault. Their office is available anytime to answer questions regarding your case by filling out a free online consultation form.

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31
Aug

Teen Convicted In Connection To Car Crash That Killed Two Virginia Men

August 31, 2011

A 17-year-old boy has been found guilty in Chesterfield County of two felony counts of aggravated involuntary manslaughter and one count of driving under the influence for his part in a crash that killed two men earlier this year. The teen could face a maximum penalty of up to 20 years for each count of manslaughter. He could also receive hundreds of dollars in fines and lose his license for up to a year in connection to the charge of driving under the influence.

According to CBS 6 News, the accident happened five months ago, on Saturday, March 19. The drunken teen was driving the wrong way on Route 76, when he collided head on with the car that was carrying the two men. The men, who were life long friends, were wearing seat belts at the time of the collision, but did not survive the crash. The teen was found guilty of the charges today and will be sentenced on December 5.

The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that alcohol is in the top three contributing factors in fatal highway accidents, andhead on collisions are one of the leading types of fatal crashes.

If you have lost a loved one because of another person’s negligent and careless driving, contact the Virginia Wrongful Death Attorneys with Geoff McDonald & Associates. The experienced team of attorneys here may be able to guide you through the claim process and answer any questions you may have regarding your case. Just fill out a free online consultation form today!

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