Charges Pending After Motorcyclist was Injured on Newtown Road in Norfolk

Fatal and serious motorcycle crashes are on the rise in Virginia. We were saddened to read of how another rider’s life is in the balance after a motorcyclist was injured on Newtown Road in Norfolk.

Police said the rider suffered life-threatening injuries after he was involved in a crash on Friday morning in Norfolk at about 11 a.m. The wreck involving a car was reported in the 700 block of N. Newtown Road.

Norfolk police said emergency crews found the rider lying in the street with serious injuries. He was transported to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The car driver who was involved in the crash remained at the scene. He only suffered minor injuries. Traffic was redirected at Newtown and Virginia Beach Boulevard. Southbound lanes remained closed on N. Newtown Road through the early afternoon hours. The motorcyclist Injured on Newtown Road in Norfolk was transported to a local hospital.

Norfolk police said in a press release that charges were pending the conclusion of an investigation after the motorcyclist was injured on Newtown Road in Norfolk.

Our thoughts are with this rider and his family. Far too many motorcyclists are losing their lives in Virginia, often due to the fault of other motorists.

Last week, two motorcyclists were killed on the Virginia Peninsula. A rider was killed last Thursday at the intersection of Victoria Boulevard and Greenbrier Avenue in Hampton. Police said he was traveling south on Greenbrier when he was involved in a collision with a dark-colored Dodge Charger.

Tragically, the rider failed to recover from his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

That crash was reported less than 24 hours after a rider was killed in neighboring Newport News.

Last Wednesday, a 34-year-old Hampton man died from injuries he sustained in a single motorcycle crash on Campbell Road and Warwick Boulevard in Newport News. The Daily Press noted a police officer tried to make a traffic stop at Oyster Point Road of the rider who he believed was speeding. The motorcyclist sped off but crashed.

The spike in fatal motorcycling accidents follows a massive increase in accidents and deaths of bikers in 2017.

In our Virginia personal injury lawyers’ blog, we highlighted how the number of bikers who lost their lives in Virginia rose by 50 percent in 2017 compared to the previous year.

2017 saw the highest number of fatal motorcycle crashes over the 10 years, according to officials when 107 riders were killed. The number of deaths of motorcyclists last year was almost 50 percent higher than in 2016 when 72 motorcyclists were killed. The previous high was 90 back in 2011. There were 2,119 motorcycle crashes in Virginia in 2017, a 10.4 percent increase on the previous year.

The figure has alarmed officials and other motorcycle safety advocates. Some theories for the increase include:

1. More drivers are distracted by cellphones and are failing to see riders
2. More motorcyclists are on the highways
3. More older riders from the ‘baby boomer’ generation are getting on bikes. Older riders are more prone to serious injuries and deaths.

In Virginia, April is Highway Traffic Safety Month. Virginia State Police are offering motorcycle riders free self-assessments to help them improve their riding skills.

State police hope these Ride 2 Save Lives courses will inspire riders to think more about motorcycle safety when they are on the roads of the state. The state police courses are geared towards intermediate and experienced riders. The topics riders study include the maintenance of motorcycles and daily checks, how to raise a downed motorcycle, how to ride on curves, interstate highway riding, and many other topics, according to state police.

Sergeant Chuck Kain, Richmond Division Motors Unit, said:

“In just the first three months of this year, 11 people have been killed on Virginia’s highways in crashes involving motorcycles. By helping riders hone their skills and increase their awareness on the road, we can prevent motorcycle fatalities in Virginia. Our sincere hope is that Ride 2 Save Lives courses will inspire riders to think of motorcycling and safety as one in the same.”

The first part of the Ride 2 Save Lives will be held at Cape Charles on the Eastern Shore of Virginia on April 14.

Another event will be held on April 28, at Mission BBQ, 5440 Glenside Drive in Henrico County.

At Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers, we have represented many riders who were hurt in wrecks or the families of those who were killed. We urge you to take care if you are on two wheels. Never assume other drivers will see you and slow down at intersections. If you or a loved one has been involved in a motorcycle wreck caused by another driver, please call our Virginia motorcycle accident injury team at (757) 455-0077.