Tort Law

This page within Virginia Tort Case Law is a compilation of cases reported by the Virginia Supreme Court and summarized by Brien Roche dealing with the topic of No Contact Accident.  

1983 Chase v. Breit, 226 Va. 102, 306 S.E.2d 877.

In this one-vehicle accident, two passengers were killed. There was evidence of excessive speed. This considered with shocking physical evidence presented sufficient evidence of negligence.

1980 Wieringa v. Moody, 221 Va. 95, 266 S.E.2d 891.

No contact with phantom vehicles driven by John Doe 1 and 2. Both John Does stricken from case due to lack of proof.

1976 Maxey v. John Doe, 217 Va. 22, 225 S.E.2d 359.

Plaintiff leading horse along shoulder of road; uninsured motorist, by blowing horn, caused horse to rear, lose its balance and fall on plaintiff. Policyholder failed to claim coverage under UM endorsement promptly and to file accident report with D.M.V.

1973 Moore v. A.P. Woodson Co., 213 Va. 464, 193 S.E.2d 800.

Plaintiff’s decedent died of heart attack 22 months after defendant’s truck crashed into living room where he had been sitting. Not error to strike plaintiff’s evidence.

1970 Harris v. Harris, 211 Va. 459, 177 S.E.2d 534.

Mother injured when car driven by her son left highway and struck bridge abutment. In action against her son, mother testified that proximate cause of accident was negligence of driver of another car, which forced them off road. Verdict for defendant.

1968 Hicks v. Cassidy, 208 Va. 610, 159 S.E.2d 827.

No survivors or eyewitnesses. Plaintiff failed to establish how and why accident occurred.

1944 Richter v. Seawell, 183 Va. 379, 32 S.E.2d 62.

One-vehicle accident. No surviving witnesses. No evidence as to cause of accident.