Wilmington’s UNCW “WAVE” Transit Bus Strikes Moped Hospitalizing Driver | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

An transit bus accident happened about 8:30 p.m. on Hurst Drive and Wagoner Drive in Wilmington, NC when it struck a man driving a moped.  The Wave Transit bus crashed into a moped on the UNCW Campus in Wilmington, North Carolina (N.C.).  The moped driver was immediately rushed to the hospital.  Officer C. McDaniel said the extent of the injuries still remains unclear. According to the authorities, none of the occupants on the bus, including its driver, were injured.

In a recent update of the accident, the bus driver said he was turning left on Wagoner Drive and did not see the moped. According to officials familiar with the traffic accident, both drivers were cited for violations committed during the accident. The moped driver,19, was cited with not having his light on and the transit bus driver, 60-year old JC Brown has been cited with driving left of center.

A moped is typically defined as a low-powered motorcycle that can not go very fast.  It may be wrongly stereotyped that the driver of such vehicles have either loist their licenses from DUI or other such event, but this is not always the case. Mopeds are quite often the target of larger vehicles as the drivers do not see them until it’s too late. This is largely due to their smaller size and its slow speed.

In some cases teenagers use this kind of vehicle because they are economical and easy to steer due to their relative light weight. Statistically, more than 250 16-year-old boys are killed or seriously injured in moped accidents every year, according to research from the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM). That figure means they are more likely to be injured or to die while riding a moped than when walking, cycling or travelling by car.  It is always safe to use reflectors and lights when driving a moped or a motorcycle.  Also, moped drivers should use helmets and safety pads for their protection.

About the Editors: Shapiro & Appleton is a law firm which focuses on injury and accident law and our attorneys have experience handling motorcycle accident cases. Check out this case result involving a motorcycle and  a pick-up truck. Our primary office in based in Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA) although our lawyers hold licenses in NC, SC, WV, KY and DC. We are ready to talk to you by phone right now—we provide free initial confidential injury case consultations, so call us toll free at (833) 997-1774. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube . Furthermore, our lawyers proudly edit the Virginia Beach Injuryboard and Norfolk Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service.

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