Virginia Governor Bill McDonnell signed a new law on Tuesday, Ashley’s Law, which requires emergency vehicles to use their sirens or horns and flashing lights when traveling through intersections.
The law was named after a Fairfax woman, Ashley McIntosh who was killed in 2008 when she was struck by an emergency vehicle at an intersection. Ashley’s mother, Cindy Colasanto was vacationing in Florida at the time of the accident and made home in time to see her daughter once before she died.
Colasanto immediately retained a lawyer. If negligence played a part in this tragedy an accident attorney would have to prove that in court before the victim’s family is eligible for compensation.
In the months after the accident, details of Ashley’s accident had begun to emerge. The police officer who crashed into Ashley’s car had the flashing red lights on, but was not using the siren and failed to break when entering the intersection; at the time Ashley had a green light.
The police officer was charged with a misdemeanor, which was disheartening to Colasanto, who vowed to push for a new law regarding emergency vehicles.
After a two year battle, the new law was enacted to protect passenger vehicles from colliding with emergency vehicles in intersections.
Ashley’s family was not only victorious in getting the new law passed, but also won a civil lawsuit against the officer, who was not responding to an emergency at the time of the collision.
Negligence or carelessness is the primary case of most traffic collisions. The injured or the families of the deceased can seek compensation by hiring an accident lawyer.
Because of their extensive knowledge if the law accident attorneys often win large settlements for
the people they represent.
