Norfolk, Virginia Injury Lawyer Report: Ambulance Driver and Patient Die in Collision with Cement Truck

By John Cooper, Norfolk Truck Accident Injury Attorney

An ambulance driver and a patient have died in a crash with a cement truck in Virginia (VA).

Timothy Kyle Southern was killed on Jan. 6, 2012 on Route 20 in Buckingham County, the News Virginian reported.

The private ambulance the 21-year-old was driving for Priority Ambulance crossed into a northbound lane and struck a cement-mixing truck, Virginia State Police said.

The patient Timothy Southern was transporting to a nursing home, Howard L. Watson, 82, of Dillwyn, died later on Jan. 6 at the University of Virginia Medical Center from injuries sustained in the accident.

See this video about a crash involving a fire truck in Virginia Beach, VA.

VB fire engine involved in crash: wavy.com

As experienced Norfolk-based, VA truck accident injury attorneys our thoughts are with the relatives of those who died in this terrible accidents.

When a heavy truck is involved in an accident the consequences are often more serious than a wreck involving lighter vehicles.

The accident is being investigated by police. Given that reports said the ambulance crossed a lane it does not appear that the driver of the cement truck was to blame.

It remains to be seen if there were any factors that caused Mr. Southern’s concentration to lapse. Was he over tired or were other factors to blame? If there were contributory reasons the ambulance company could face liability in any wrongful death lawsuit brought by the patient’s family.

In September, 2011, a patient died in Hampton, VA after a SUV hit an ambulance at intersection of West Mercury Boulevard and North Armistead Avenue, the Virginian-Pilot reported. Our Hampton, VA car accident injury attorneys have noted the large number of fatal accidents in Hampton.

Private ambulance companies are increasingly becoming the subject of lawsuits amid concerns about the standard of care afforded to patients who are being taken to and from residential homes.

But it’s too early yet to say if there were any training lapses or other factors involved in the Buckingham County, VA case that could question the role of the ambulance company.

DM

The Norfolk based personal injury law firm, Cooper Hurley, handles car, truck, and motorcycle injuries. John Cooper and Jim Hurley have over 40 years of combined experience in handling auto injury accident claims. Attorney John Cooper has been named to Virginia “Super Lawyers” since 2010. Cooper Hurley represents people hurt in accidents in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News and throughout VA, and always put the best interests of the our clients first. The firm is recognized by other lawyers as “AV” by Martindale-Hubbell, a national attorney rating service, for our top level of legal skill and highest ethical standards. If you need help or advice about a serious injury, please call us (757) 455 -0077. For a free consultation with a specialized Hampton Roads, Virginia personal injury lawyer contact us through this website.