Driver Loses Control, Crashes Into Norfolk Apartment Building [Norfolk, VA]

A family of three was displaced from their Norfolk home this week after a driver lost control of her vehicle and crashed into their apartment building on Eastover Road, according to the Norfolk Police Department. Police say the driver’s foot slipped off the brake pedal, sending the car into the building and forcing the residents out of their home. The incident was reported by 13News Now as part of its ongoing local coverage.

According to police, the driver was attempting to brake when her foot slipped, causing the vehicle to accelerate and strike the apartment building on Eastover Road. The impact was significant enough to displace a family of three residents from their unit while the structure is assessed and repaired. Information about injuries to the driver or any occupants of the apartment had not been released at the time of reporting, and the Norfolk Police Department’s investigation into the circumstances of the crash continues.

Crashes involving a vehicle striking a building are more common than many residents realize, and they raise distinct legal questions different from a typical two-car collision. When a vehicle leaves the roadway and strikes a structure, the people most directly affected are often not other drivers, but residents, tenants, or business occupants who had no role whatsoever in the incident. A family displaced from their home faces not only the disruption of relocation, but potential damage to or loss of personal property, temporary housing costs, and the stress of an unexpected upheaval through no fault of their own.

Under Virginia law, a driver who causes property damage and injury through negligent operation of a vehicle, including a failure to maintain proper control, may be held liable for the resulting harm. This can include the cost of damaged personal belongings, temporary lodging while a home is repaired or rebuilt, and any physical injuries sustained by residents in the building at the time of impact. Property owners and tenants affected by this kind of crash are not without legal recourse, even though they were not occupants of either vehicle involved.

For tenants displaced by a crash like this one, navigating a claim can be more complicated than it might initially appear. Documenting the condition of the unit and personal property before and after the incident, along with any communications from the property management company, can be important in establishing the full extent of a tenant’s losses.

Anyone injured or displaced in a vehicle-into-building crash should understand how Virginia’s contributory negligence rule may affect injury claims. Consulting with an attorney early can help ensure that all available avenues of recovery are properly identified and pursued. Consulting with an attorney early can help ensure that all available avenues of recovery are properly identified and pursued.

If you or your family has been displaced, injured, or suffered property damage as a result of a vehicle crashing into your home or building in Norfolk or anywhere in Hampton Roads, Breit Law is ready to help you understand your rights. With more than 47 years of trial experience, William Breit has represented injured Virginians throughout Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and all of Hampton Roads, and is not afraid to take a case to court when necessary. To speak with an experienced Virginia personal injury attorney, contact us today.

Source: 13newsnow

Location of the vehicle-into-building crash on Eastover Road in Norfolk, Virginia.