Navy Motorcyclist Ralph J. Toland is Killed in Virginia Beach

I was saddened to read of the death of a young naval officer in Virginia Beach this week when he was hit on his motorcycle.

The Virginian-Pilot reported Petty Officer 2nd Class Ralph J. Toland III, died after he collided with a Cadillac Escalade as the driver tried to make a left turn in the 2800 block of Twinflower Lane in Virginia Beach. He was thrown from his motorcycle, but died later at a local hospital.

As a Virginia Beach injury lawyer who works with many military families in Hampton Roads, my thoughts are with the family of this young serviceman who had a promising career ahead of him.

As is the case with many motorcycle accidents, it appears a driver failed to notice the motorcyclist as he made a turn. Virginia Beach police reported Petty Officer Toland had the right of way. Motorcyclists have rights in Virginia which are not always respected by other drivers.

The Pilot reported the motorcyclist enlisted in the Navy in 2006 and served as an electronics technician at NAS Oceana in Virginia Beach.

Police later charged a 67-year-old driver with failure to yield right of way.

When a motorcyclist or another driver is killed due to no fault of his own, his family likely will have a case to make a wrongful death claim against the insurance company of the driver to cover all of the many losses associated with the loss of a life.

Contact our Virginia Beach motorcycle accident lawyers for a free consultation.

The Norfolk, VA based personal injury law firm, Cooper Hurley with client meeting locations in Virginia Beach and Hampton, handles automobile, truck, and motorcycle injuries as well as wrongful death, railroad injury cases and medical malpractice. John Cooper and Jim Hurley have over 40 years of combined experience in handling auto injury accident claims. Attorney John Cooper has been named to Virginia “Super Lawyers” since 2010. Cooper Hurley represents people hurt in accidents in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News and throughout VA. If you need help or advice about a serious injury, please call us at (757) 455 -0077 or see CooperHurley.com