On July 4, a dirt bike was reported stolen from the back of a pickup truck in Wilmington, North Carolina. And on Sept. 25, that bike was involved in a serious car accident, and charges are now pending against its 21-year-old driver. It’s unknown whether or not the driver was involved in the theft of the dirt bike.
According to the Wilmington Police Department, the male dirt bike driver was speeding and not wearing a helmet. He reportedly ran a stop sign at South 19th and Church streets around 5:30 p.m., hitting a car that had the right-of-way on its passenger side. The bike’s driver was hospitalized with critical injuries. The car’s passenger was taken to the hospital with minor injuries but the driver was not injured.
Although the motorcycle driver was the negligent party in this incident, motorcycle accidents are often caused when the drivers of other larger vehicles follow the motorcycle too closely or fail to see the motorcyclist when turning left. Regrettably, a collision with a motorcycle is often fatal for the bike rider.
In this case, the individuals who were in the car that was hit by the dirt bike may also benefit from the services of a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer. Personal injury law allows victims of car accidents injured by the negligent and sometimes reckless conduct of others to seek monetary damages for injuries and property damage sustained. The injured passenger may be able to receive monetary damages for their injuries and any pain and suffering.
Source: Star News, “Stolen motorcycle causes Wilmington crash, police say,” Brian Freskos, Sept. 26, 2011
