Driver Admits Reckless Driving in Crash That Killed 9 Year Old | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

The driver who caused an accident in Orange County, Virginia (VA), that claimed the life of a 9-year-old boy and left his motorcyclist father permanently disabled, has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of reckless driving, Fredericksburg.com reported.


The accident, which once again highlighted the vulnerability of motorcycle riders on our roads, occurred last year when he turned his pickup truck from Monrovia Road onto State Route 638 and into the path of a Harley-Davidson. The motorcycle hit the side of the 1998 Ford F-250 and slid underneath the larger vehicle.

The boy was on the back of the motorcycle. He died at the accident scene. His father was transported to the University of Virginia Medical Center. He is presently in a nursing home and requires long-term care.

Our thoughts are with the family of the victims of this terrible accident.

As experienced Virginia accident injury attorneys we have reported on far too many injuries and fatalities involving motorcyclists where other drivers fail to pay them sufficient attention. Just last week we reported on another crash at an intersection, in Portsmouth, VA, that claimed the life of a motorcyclist.

There has been a spike in motorcycle crashes in Virginia and North Carolina (NC), the states in which our personal injury attorneys are based, in recent years. In 2008, for example, more than 5,000 motorcycle riders were killed in accidents, the highest level since the Department of Transportation began collecting data in 1975 and a 2.2 percent rise from 2007, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

Up to 2008, the number of crashes increased for 11 years. Motorcyclists are about 37 times more likely to die in a crash than a car passenger, and 9 times more likely to be injured, according to National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

Unfortunately, motorcycles can appear small and insignificant to other road users, and they are often missed on the roads with tragic consequences.

DM