Increase in Virginia Motorcycle Accidents Raises Questions

Our state has seen a year-on-year increase in Virginia motorcycle accidents raising questions as to why more riders are losing their lives.

Motorcycle deaths may be up more than a third compared to last year. A report over the summer on NBC29 suggested deaths of motorcyclists were up 30 percent year-on-year.

As of June 2016, 23 people had died in motorcycle accidents. As of June 2, 2017, 31 people from across the Commonwealth lost their lives on a bike. The reasons for the increase in Virginia motorcycle accidents are not clear.

The Department of Motor Vehicles warns more motorcyclists lose their lives between April and August because the weather warms up and more riders are on the road. The figures for the summer months are not available to substantiate whether the increase in Virginia motorcycle accidents was sustained.

The DMV lists the locations of rider training courses on its website. If you have any doubts about your ability or need a refresher, we urge you to sign up.

Although many lives are lost every year in single-motorcycle crashes frequently caused by speed and the rider losing control, other drivers are often to blame for deaths and serious injuries to riders. Often motorcyclists are not afforded enough space or drivers fail to see them when making turns.

Tragically, a number of motorcyclists lost their lives in Hampton Roads this year, including:

• A rider killed on High Street in Portsmouth in the spring. He was involved in an accident with a car at an intersection.
• The death of a motorcyclist who was hit by a car in Carolina Road in Suffolk.
• A Newport News moped rider who was seriously injured in an accident with a car. The driver was later charged with DUI.

Motorcyclists are far more vulnerable than car drivers. Even a slight change in the weather or debris like grit on the road, can cause a motorcyclist to lose control and crash.

When a car and a motorcyclist collide as the driver is making a left turn, the rider can sustain very serious or even deadly injuries, even at low speeds.

Drivers should maintain at least two-cars’ worth of distance between their vehicle and a motorcycle. You should always look out for motorcycles that could be in a blind spot.

If you have been injured on a motorcycle or lost a loved one, please call our Virginia motorcycle accident attorneys at (757) 455-0077 or see our motorcycle accident FAQs.