Motorcyclist is Seriously Injured in Poquoson After Being Hit by a Van

The most significant cause of motorcycle accidents in Virginia is other drivers. Time and time again we see accidents in which drivers fail to notice motorcyclists or riders of moped and scooters, and knock them over.

Even at a low rate of speed, a motorcycle crash can be deadly. Motorcyclists lack the protection of a steel frame and are vulnerable to head injuries. Intersections are particularly dangerous places for riders.

I was disturbed to read about another accident involving motorcyclists, this time in Poquoson near Hampton. Virginia State Police reported an accident that occurred in the 100 block of Little Florida Road on Sunday afternoon.

Virginia State Police said a van struck two motorcycles close to Little Florida Road and Odd Road. One of the two riders was transported to the hospital with serious injuries. No further details were available on the rider’s injuries and or if any charges were being brought against the van driver.

The attorneys at Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers have worked to help many motorcyclists who have been badly hurt in accidents due to the fault of another driver. We are aware that other drivers are the number one cause of motorcycle accidents in Virginia. Nationally, 56 percent of motorcycle accident deaths are caused by a car striking the motorcycle. In the vast majority of these cases, a motorcyclist is hit from the front rather than behind.

The single most dangerous situation for motorcyclists occurs when cars are making left-hand turns at intersections. These collisions account for more than 40 percent of all accidents involving a motorcycle and car. Usually, the turning car strikes the motorcycle when the motorcycle is:

• going straight across an intersection
• passing the car, or
• trying to overtake the car.

Frequently, the driver of the car is too preoccupied with his or her turn to notice the motorcyclist until it’s too late. Even if a motorcyclist hits a turning car, the driver of the car could be at fault and liable for injuries sustained by the motorcyclist. Last year Hampton Roads witnessed a series of serious and fatal accidents at intersections when cars struck riders. Fatalities included the death of a rider on Cedar Road in Chesapeake last October.

I recently co-authored the book What You Need to Know About Motorcycle Accidents in Virginia. Call Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers if you have been hurt in a motorcycle accident in Virginia or if you have lost a loved one at 757.455.0077.