A crash involving a motorcycle and a larger vehicle in Norfolk, Virginia (VA), left the motorcycle rider dead and the driver likely to face charges. The fatal collision happened in the 6300 block of Granby Street just after 8:10 pm on February 22, 2018.
Norfolk Police found the motorcyclist laying in the roadway alive but unresponsive. He died shortly after arriving at Bon Secours Depaul Medical Center, which sits just a couple of blocks from the scene of this wreck.
Investigators told reporters that they expect to charge the driver but also that they want to collect more evidence before doing so. Anyone who witnessed the collision is being asked to share what they saw by calling Norfolk Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP (562-5887).
As Virginia wrongful death attorneys who have helped many families who lost loved ones in motorcycle crashes, we know that negligent and reckless drivers inflict untold pain. Showing that this not merely an emotional reaction to the problem of drivers failing to share the road safely and respectfully, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles in 2015 recorded 2,061 crashes involving motorcycles in the state. Those wrecks killed 70 riders and inflicted injuries on another 1,776 motorcyclists.
While the cause of this fatal motorcycle crash on Granby Street is not publicly known, it is possible to consider what may have happened. The leading identifiable driver errors that the DMV lists for crashes involving motorcyclists are
- Avoiding another vehicle (e.g., making the rider swerve to avoid a rear-end collision or sideswipe),
- Driving left of center while not attempting to pass,
- Failing to yield right of way,
- Following too closely,
- Improper passing,
- Improper turning,
- Making an improper lane change,
- Running a red light or stop sign, and
- Speed by exceeding the posted speed limit or driving too fast for conditions.
We urge all drivers to watch out for motorcycles, mopeds and bicycles at all times. Riders have almost no physical protection from serious or, too often, fatal injuries when they get hit by a larger vehicle. While it is true that spotting and judging the speed and distance of a bike or scooter can be difficult, that just means drivers have a particular duty to err on the side of caution when turning, changing lanes, approaching a rider from behind or passing a rider. Not checking blind spots, rescanning an intersection or making sudden stops can all create deadly situations.
EJL