Moped Rider is Seriously Injured on Monticello Avenue in Norfolk

Riders of mopeds and motorcyclists are the most vulnerable people on the fast-moving highways of Hampton Roads. Often they are killed or injured by drivers who fail to look when making a turn or fail to yield right of way.

This appears to have been the scenario on Wednesday when a moped rider was seriously injured here in Norfolk.

WAVY.com reported a rider crashed after another vehicle failed to yield right of way. The moped rider was reported to be seriously injured by the impact.

Police dispatchers were called to the crash near 11th Street and Monticello Avenue, around 6:40 a.m., according to Officer Sam Shenouda with Norfolk police. He said the rider of the moped was heading southbound on Monticello Avenue and was waiting to turn onto 11th Street, when a van traveling northbound hit him as he was making his turn.

The moped rider was taken to Norfolk General Hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the minivan was cited for failure to yield the right of way. Police say the investigation is continuing.

Last year I saw a spate of accidents in Hampton Roads in which motorcyclists were killed or seriously injured by drivers who failed to yield right of way or didn’t see them when making a left turn. It saddens me that drivers continue to show such carelessness on the roads and motorcyclists pay a heavy price.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says there are more than 100,000 motorcycle accidents nationwide every year. Because motorcycles lack the external covering and protection that cars and trucks have, riders are 39 times more likely to be killed in an accident than other motorists. They also stand a significantly higher chance of sustaining a serious personal injury.

As Norfolk motorcycle accident injury lawyers, we provide aggressive representation to injured motorcyclists. We have been representing the rights of motorcyclists and scooter and moped riders for more than 25 years.

You can take a number of safety tips to protect yourself on a motorcycle. However, the majority of accidents involving motorcyclists are caused by other drivers. If you have been hurt in an accident due to the fault of another driver or if you have lost a family member, call Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers at 757.455.0077 for a free and confidential consultation.