BenGlassLaw Accident Team Settles Sudley Road Crash
The BenGlassLaw personal injury client was struck head-on in Prince William County by a driver who was making a left turn across his lane of travel without yielding the right of way to oncoming traffic. The accident happened at Sudley Road (Route 234 Business) and Sudley Manor Drive.
Immediately after the crash, the driver who caused the collision jumped out of his vehicle and ran away. He was later apprehended by the police and charged with felony hit and run.
In Virginia, the penalties for a felony hit and run depend on the circumstances of the incident.
1. Class 5 Felony: If the hit-and-run accident resulted in injury or death to any person, or if the accident caused damage to attended property in excess of $1,000, it is considered a Class 5 felony. The penalties for a Class 5 felony in Virginia include:
– Imprisonment: 1 to 10 years (although, at the court’s discretion, the imprisonment term can be less than one year).
– Fines: Up to $2,500.
2. Class 6 Felony: If the hit-and-run accident resulted in damage to attended property valued at $1,000 or less, it is considered a Class 6 felony. The penalties for a Class 6 felony in Virginia include:
– Imprisonment: 1 to 5 years (although, at the court’s discretion, the imprisonment term can be less than one year).
– Fines: Up to $2,500.
In addition to criminal penalties, individuals convicted of a felony hit and run may face other consequences, such as driver’s license suspension or revocation and increased insurance premiums. In this case, he was also sued.
Our client was taken by ambulance to the hospital and followed up with his primary care doctor. After physical therapy and spinal injections failed to provide him long-term relief for his neck pain, he underwent an anterior discectomy and fusion of two levels of his spine.
An anterior discectomy and fusion is a type of surgery where doctors remove a damaged disc from the front of the spine and then fuse two bones together. This helps to stop the pain and keep the spine stable.
Though liability was admitted, the $25,000 policy limits for the underlying liability carrier were not offered until about two months prior to trial. Shortly thereafter, the underinsured motorist carrier offered an additional $200,000 to settle the case for a grand total of $225,000.
Brian Glass leads the Car Accident Team at BenGlassLaw.