Police Say Drunk Driver Seriously Injured Motorcyclist in Hampton

I am always appalled by the amount of serious injuries that are caused to motorcyclists in Hampton Roads by drivers who fail to look when making turns or are reckless.

It’s even worse if a driver has been drinking alcohol before a crash. However, that’s exactly what Virginia State police allege caused an accident in Hampton over the weekend that left a motorcyclist with very serious injuries.

WAVY.com reported on how the driver of a motorcycle was taken to a Peninsula hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries early Saturday morning after being struck by a car allegedly driven by a drunk driver, according to Virginia State Police.

The crash took place on I-64 Eastbound near Mercury Boulevard at 5:07 a.m., according to Sgt. Michelle Anaya of Virginia State Police. Reports suggested the driver left the accident scene but a witness followed the Pontiac after the accident and Hampton police located the vehicle on Aberdeen Road and arrested a female driver who was charged with driving under the influence. She was locked up in Hampton City Jail.

WAVY reported that the male driver of the motorcycle suffered “severe trauma to his body” and is being treated at Riverside Regional Hospital.

Every year there are over 100,000 motorcycle accidents nationwide. Because motorcycles lack the external covering and protection that cars and trucks have, motorcyclists are 39 times more likely to die in an accident than other motorists. Even when they survive, their injuries can be much more serious than those sustained by car drivers.

Other drivers are the leading cause of motorcycle wrecks. More than a third of fatal accidents nationwide are caused by drunk drivers every year. Drinking alcohol impairs our reactions and makes accidents more likely. It can be hard enough to see motorcyclists during the early hours when car drivers are sober. Even if you drive below the BAC level and you have been consuming alcohol, you are more likely to cause an accident.

I hope this motorcyclist makes a speedy recovery. The streets of Hampton have seen a spate of motorcycle crashes this year. In June, a 60-year-old motorcyclist was killed on Aberdeen Road in Hampton.

At Cooper Hurley we never defend drunk drivers. We sue them. If you have been injured by a drunk driver or have lost a loved one, call us at 757.455.0077 or see CooperHurley.com