When a pedestrian accident attorney in Virginia reviews a case like the one that unfolded on Centreville Road in Manassas on the night of April 13, 2026, one fact stands out immediately: the driver had no valid license — and this was his third offense. The nine-year-old, who had autism and was non-verbal, had slipped out of his family’s locked home and was running across the road when he was struck by a Honda Civic and killed. He was 9 years old.
The driver remained at the scene and was charged with driving without a license for the third time. He was released on a summons. No vehicular manslaughter charges have been filed.
For the child’s family — and for every family in Prince William County and across Northern Virginia who is asking what justice looks like in a case like this — the answer does not end with the criminal charge. There is a separate path, and families deserve to know it exists.
Pedestrian Accident Attorney Virginia: When Criminal Charges Are Not Enough
When a driver causes a fatal crash, many families assume the criminal justice process will deliver justice and compensation. In Virginia, that is rarely how it works. Criminal charges punish the driver — but they do not pay your medical bills, your funeral costs, or account for the immeasurable loss your family has suffered.
A pedestrian accident attorney in Virginia pursues a separate legal path: a personal injury or wrongful death claim that holds the at-fault driver financially accountable to the family. This process is entirely independent of whether criminal charges are filed, upgraded, or result in a conviction.
In the Manassas case, the driver was charged with driving without a license — not vehicular manslaughter. That charge carries limited criminal penalties. But the family’s right to pursue compensation for Mathew’s death is not limited by what the prosecutor charges. Our wrongful death team can investigate the full circumstances and pursue every available avenue of recovery.
Unlicensed Drivers in Virginia: A Serious and Growing Problem
Virginia law requires all drivers to hold a valid license. A driver operating a vehicle without one — especially for a third time — demonstrates a pattern of disregard for public safety. In personal injury cases, this pattern matters.
Evidence of repeated unlicensed driving can strengthen a claim by establishing that the driver acted with recklessness or conscious disregard for the safety of others. In Virginia, this kind of conduct can support an argument for punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages for medical expenses, funeral costs, and loss of companionship.
A skilled pedestrian accident attorney in Virginia will investigate the driver’s full history, insurance status, and any other factors that could expand the family’s recovery.
Pedestrian Safety on Virginia Roads: The Numbers Are Alarming
Centreville Road in Manassas is a heavily trafficked arterial road with a history of dangerous conditions for pedestrians. It is far from unique. According to the Virginia Department of Transportation, pedestrian fatalities have increased significantly in recent years, with children and elderly pedestrians among the most vulnerable groups.
In Northern Virginia alone — on roads like Centreville Road, Route 1, Route 7, and Lee Highway — pedestrians face daily risk from speeding, distracted, and unlicensed drivers. When a crash occurs, the investigation must examine not just the driver’s conduct, but also road design, lighting, signage, and whether the jurisdiction has taken adequate steps to protect pedestrians in known high-risk areas.
Our attorneys conduct independent investigations to identify every responsible party and ensure no avenue of recovery is overlooked. Learn how we handle pedestrian and bicycle accident cases across Northern Virginia.
Virginia’s Contributory Negligence Rule: What Families Must Understand
Virginia follows one of the harshest negligence rules in the country. Under the contributory negligence standard, if a court finds that the victim was even 1% at fault for the crash, the family may be barred from recovering anything at all.
In pedestrian cases, insurance companies routinely argue that the pedestrian shares fault — particularly when, as in Mathew’s case, the child was not in a marked crosswalk. An experienced pedestrian accident attorney in Virginia anticipates these arguments and builds a case that protects the family from them.
This is not a case where families can afford to wait, guess, or navigate the system alone. The evidence must be preserved early. Witnesses must be located. The full picture must be documented before it disappears.
What Families Should Do After a Fatal Pedestrian Crash in Virginia
- Do not speak to the at-fault driver’s insurance company. They are not on your side. Anything said can and will be used to reduce or deny your family’s recovery.
- Preserve all evidence. Photos of the scene, witness contact information, any communications with police or other parties.
- Request the full crash reconstruction report when it is released — these often contain critical details not in the initial police report.
- Act quickly. Virginia’s statute of limitations for wrongful death claims is two years from the date of death. For personal injury claims, it is also two years. The clock is already running.
- Contact an attorney before signing anything. Early settlement offers are almost always far below what a family’s claim is worth.
Hilton & Somer: Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Serving Northern Virginia
Our attorneys have represented pedestrian accident victims and their families throughout Prince William County, Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria, and the greater DMV region for over 60 years. We know these roads. We know these cases. And we know how to fight for families who have already been through enough.
Every case is handled on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we recover for you.
Call (703) 560-0700 today for a free, confidential consultation. You can also reach us online at any time. We are here for your family.
References
- WUSA9 — “9-year-old hit and killed by man driving without a license in Manassas” (April 14, 2026): https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/crime/9-year-old-hit-killed-by-man-who-driving-without-license-in-manassas/
- NBC4 Washington — “Boy, 9, struck and killed by car on busy Route 28 in Manassas” (April 14, 2026): https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/northern-virginia/boy-9-struck-and-killed-by-car-in-manassas/4090599/
