Speed a Likely Factor in Death of Suffolk Motorcyclist in Northern Virginia

A motorcyclist from Suffolk, VA was killed this week in a crash in northern Virginia.Sheriffs identified the victim of the crash on August 20, 2013 as 47-year-old Timothy Ingram. They said he’d recently moved north to the Spotsylvania area. Investigators said at about 8 p.m., Ingram riding south on U.S. 1 in the southern area of the county when he lost control of his motorcycle at an intersection, said Capt. Jeff Pearce, a Sheriff’s Office spokesman. The motorcycle struck a stop sign, carried on through a parking lot and crashed into a parked pickup truck, reported the Virginian-Pilot.

The motorcycle then caught fire, Pearce said. The rider was pronounced dead at the scene.Police said speed was a likely factor in this crash, the Pilot reported.Riding a motorcycle is far more risky than driving a car. Often I see even very experienced motorcyclists coming to grief. My thoughts are with the family of Mr. Ingram.Although motorcyclists can often lose control of their bikes, particularly in bad weather, I also see many crashes in which cars hit motorcyclists, such as a recent fatal motorcycle accident in Virginia Beach. Motorcyclists can protect themselves in a number of ways including:

• Steering in a different way at a
  different speed
• Never slowing down suddenly
• Avoiding poor weather conditions
• Wearing protective clothing.

See our Suffolk, VA motorcycle accident attorneys’ advice on how to be safe on two wheels.The Norfolk, VA based personal injury law firm, Cooper Hurley with client meeting locations in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Newport News 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 the Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers’ website.