Lichtenstein Law Group PLC Secures $1.5 Million Settlement for Bicyclist’s Death

The team at Lichtenstein Law Group PLC worked diligently to obtain a $1.5 million settlement for the husband of a cyclist who was killed by a distracted driver.

Tabitha Leigh Thompson, 39, was riding her bike on U.S. 11 north of Troutville last February when a 2014 Dodge Journey struck her from behind. The beloved wife and NICU nurse died from her injuries after being taken to the hospital.

The driver, Danielle Marie Rock, was charged with reckless driving. Although she received a 12-month sentence, 11 of those months were suspended. She served the first 30 days on home electronic monitoring.

Roanoke bicycle accident lawyers at Lichtenstein Law Group PLC helped the victim’s husband – Matt Thompson – file a wrongful death lawsuit. The case was against the at-fault driver and the auto insurance company.

According to founding attorney John Lichtenstein, “We brought the action to the defendant and the insurance carrier and ultimately negotiated the resolution of the case, and that was presented to the court. The case resolved for the complete and full extent of the applicable liability insurance coverage of $1.5 million.”

However, Matt and Mr. Lichtenstein rightly said no civil or criminal judgment could make up for losing Matt’s wife. “We won’t allow Tab’s light to be fully extinguished,” he promised. “Her communities came together and demonstrated the enormous impact of one tiny person. Today we’ll continue to carry that light in hopes to be a movement that alters the driving culture in our region.”

The Need for Safety Awareness in the Roanoke Community 

Tabitha’s death shows just how important safety awareness is in the greater Roanoke community. When she was hit, Tabitha was riding her bike legally – exactly where she should have been.

“Tabitha was riding lawfully and properly. She was one foot and one inch from the right side of the highway,” explains Lichtenstein. “The vehicle that hit her from behind did not stop, had not braked, had not laid down skid marks. It was a five-football field length of visibility.” 

Under Virginia law, drivers must leave three feet between their vehicles when passing bicyclists. They also are not allowed to hold a cell phone while driving.  Distracted driving was a contributing factor to the collision. When drivers disregard these essential safety laws, cyclists can be severely hurt or lose their lives. 

According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), there have already been 160 crashes involving bicycles on Virginia roads this year. These crashes resulted in 9 fatalities and 156 injuries. The number of fatalities is especially alarming, a 125 percent increase from this time last year.

“Cyclists are some of our most vulnerable road users. We all share the responsibility of keeping them safe,” DMV Commissioner Gerald Lackey urges. 

Contact a Roanoke Wrongful Death Attorney 

At Lichtenstein Law Group PLC, we know how your whole life can change in an instant because of someone else’s recklessness or carelessness. We hope that this needless loss can help prevent future tragedies. Contact one of our Roanoke personal injury lawyers today.

“Today, we raise awareness of bicycle safety in a way that we hope can begin to transform the understanding that bicycle safety is not about the bike. It’s about the car,” says Lichtenstein. “It’s about all of us having a light bulb that goes off to say, ‘I see the cyclist. I’ve got duties under the law. I’ve got to protect that cyclist.’”

However, these efforts won’t eliminate cyclist deaths overnight. If you have lost a loved one in a bicycle accident, contact the Roanoke wrongful death lawyers at Lichtenstein Law Group PLC. We can discuss your case and how we can help you pursue justice in a free consultation.