Category: STS&G News

Attorney, Mike Goodove, sat down with WTKR to talk about the latest push by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to have drunk driving prevention technology in new cars.

By: Antoinette DelBel | Link to the full article on WTKR.com

NORFOLK, Va. – Mike Goodove holds on tight to a picture of him and his younger brother Jeffrey at the University of Virginia in 1990. It’s the last photo ever taken of the pair.

Five months after the photo, Goodove said his 19-year-old brother was killed by a drunk driver.

“He was a wonderful person,” he said. “He was very outgoing; had many friends; was a pre-med student; was headed to medical school; and by no fault of his own, or the other individuals in his car, his life was cut short.”

That horrific night was more than 30 years ago.

Since then, Goodove has been advocating for tougher drunk driving laws as the Southside chapter president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). He started the local chapter a couple of years after his brother’s death.

“We’ve been very active with victim work as well as legislatively,” Goodove said. “We’ve seen a lot of very good changes occur in this area.”

The Virginia Beach native and attorney, says he supports the latest push from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to have drunk driving prevention technology in new cars.

The hope is to cut down on the number of alcohol-related crashes.

“We’ve got the technology available; it’s cost-effective and makes is safe for everybody on the highway,” said Goodove. “The problem with impaired driving is when somebody is impaired and get behind the wheel, they’ve got a several-ton weapon at their disposal and it’s dangerous, not only to them, to others on the roadway.”

The NTSB is recommending installing new equipment in cars to keep impaired drivers from getting behind the wheel. Devices include alcohol detection systems and driver monitoring systems.

In an investigation crash report released Tuesday, the agency said driving under the influence of alcohol is one of the biggest causes of highway crashes in the country.

Here in Virginia, numbers from the DMV show so far this year, there was a total of 178 deaths related to alcohol car crashes. That’s slightly lower than the 197 car deaths related to alcohol at this same time last year.

Goodove believes the technology could help save lives and could have prevented his brother’s death.

“It just tears me apart to watch what it does to a family,” he said.

For now, that picture of Goodove and his brother sits in his Norfolk law office as a reminder to never stop fighting.

“I think it would be a wonderful tool because unfortunately, some people don’t recognize that they are impaired and get behind wheel,” said Goodove. “They should, but don’t.”

Congress passed a law last year requiring the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to set the safety standard for automakers to install alcohol-monitoring technology within three years, but the agency can ask for an extension.

Goodove is hopeful the equipment will be installed soon.

Michael Goodove received recognition from MADD in appreciation for 30 years of dedication and service to MADD and the victims of impaired driving in Virginia. Goodove has been the President of Southside MADD since 1992, and has assisted thousands of victims of impaired drivers. 

STS&G are proud to announce that Michael Goodove was selected as the “Top 100” of the 2022 Virginia Super Lawyers.  Goodove received this honor as he was ranked as the top of the list in the 2022 Virginia Super Lawyers Nomination, Research and Blue Ribbon Review Process.  Mr. Goodove specializes in personal injury law. 

Attorneys Michael Goodove, Elizabeth Ufkes, Jeffrey Swartz and Mark Stokes have been selected as 2022 Top Lawyers of Coastal Virginia.  Michael Goodove and Elizabeth Ufkes were recognized in the area of Personal Injury.  Jeffrey Swartz was recognized in the area of Criminal Defense and Mark Stokes was recognized in the area of Traffic Law.  Goodove, Ufkes, Swartz, and Stokes were selected based upon evaluation by other top lawyers and independent research of the candidates and they are listed in the 2022 Coastal Virginia Magazine and CoVaBIZ Magazine which is The Business Magazine of Coastal Virginia.

Michael Goodove has joined the Regional Advisory Board of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).   The mission of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes, and prevent underage drinking.  Goodove has been volunteering for MADD since 1992, when he started the Southside Virginia Chapter and has been President of Southside Virginia MADD.

“MADD is a wonderful organization that has remained close to my heart.  No family should ever have to go through the terrible experience of losing a loved one to a drunk driver and our organization has been instrumental in working to achieve our goal of No More Victims.”, Goodove said.

Attorneys Michael Goodove, Elizabeth Ufkes, Franklin Swartz, and Mark Stokes have been selected as 2022 Super Lawyers. Michael Goodove and Elizabeth Ufkes were selected as a Super Lawyer in the field of Plaintiff’s Personal Injury.  Franklin Swartz was selected as a Super Lawyer in the field White Collar Criminal Defense and Mark Stokes was selected as a Rising Star in the field of Criminal Defense.  Goodove, Ufkes, Swartz and Stokes were selected based upon evaluation by other top lawyers and independent research of the candidates and they are listed in the 2022 Virginia & West Virginia Super Lawyers Magazine.

Mike Goodove, a partner with the Norfolk Law Firm Swartz, Taliaferro, Swartz and Goodove, has been a MADD volunteer in the Tidewater area of Virginia for 29 years. Motivated by the death of his younger brother Jeffrey in an alcohol related crash in 1990, he started the MADD Southside chapter in the Hampton Roads area in 1992 and has remained active to the present time. Professionally, he has dedicated his life to assisting victims, especially victims of impaired drivers.

In addition to his role as MADD Southside Chapter Chairman and spokesperson, Mike has coordinated Candlelight Vigils, law enforcement award ceremonies and Tie One On For Safety Campaigns. He has also served victims, participated in Victim Impact Panels, appeared in and created impaired driving awareness PSA’s, and participated in legislative and law enforcement education.

Mike received the MADD 20th Anniversary “Difference Maker” award. He was a 2014 recipient of the “Leaders in the Law” award as recognized by Virginia Lawyer’s Weekly for advocating for impaired driving victims and providing victim support. Mike was also selected as a “Fellow” by the Virginia Law Foundation for accomplishments in the area of impaired driving and victim support.

Mike says he volunteers for MADD because he believes in supporting victims and deterring impaired driving in the future. In thinking on his time with MADD, Mike remembers all of the families that he has been able to assist to make sure that their loved ones are never forgotten. The strength of MADD is the people that make up MADD and he is proud to be a part of our fine organization. 

View link to article on MADD website.