After Virginia accident, injuries and a maiming charge

One of the most frightening elements of drunk driving is its unpredictability. Last week, it was noted that simply jogging outdoors could lead to becoming an accident victim via another’s negligence. Recently, on the Snickersville turnpike in Northern Virginia, an alleged drunk driver demonstrated how vulnerable other drivers are.

Last month, deputies from the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office attended to an apparent drunk driving accident in which one person suffered serious injury. Late on a Monday evening, just south of Purcellville on the turnpike, the driver of a Toyota Camry overcorrected his steering and wound up crossing lanes. This type of driver error can easily lead to a head-on collision or a permanent disability, in addition to being absolutely terrifying for anyone in the other lane. In this case, a 54-year-old woman was struck by the 25-year-old driver of the Toyota, and had to be airlifted to a local hospital for treatment.

The woman has so far survived the harrowing ordeal, and police have charged the other driver with maiming via driving under the influence. This is a serious charge in Virginia; the man has been held without bond at the county’s Adult Detention Center.

If a drunk driving accident results in a very severe or even permanent disability, this is a factor the courts will consider when the issue of compensation is raised. Driving while drunk is generally considered a negligent act, and thus can be considered in civil court in the context of a personal injury case. The outcome of such a case is frequently the awarding of compensation to the victim of the negligent person, whose conduct led directly to the victim’s financial and emotional damages. These can include medical expenses, as well as pain and suffering, especially if a lifelong disability ensues.

Source: Leesburg Today, “Aldie driver charged after DUI crash,” Jan. 29, 2014