Raleigh Motorcyclist Dies after Hit-Run on Hague Avenue

Michael Stegler, 49, died at Mount Carmel West Hospital after sustaining serious injuries from a crash on the Hilltop.  According to police, Stegler was riding his motorcycle near W.Broad Street and Hague Avenue in Raleigh, NC when suddenly, a van struck him and the driver kept going.

Stegler was immediately rushed to Mount Carmel West Hospital, but was not able to sustain the critical injuries. Tragically, Stegler died last Tuesday.  Jack W. Stith II, 41, of North Carolina, who apparently seems to be the culprit of the hit and run was identified by the police and was arrested and charged for failing to stop at the crash.

According to the NHTSA, one of the main reasons motorcyclists are killed in crashes is because the motorcycle itself provides virtually no protection in a crash. For example, approximately 80 percent of reported motor- cycle crashes result in injury or death; a comparable figure for automobiles is about 20 percent.

An automobile has more weight and bulk than a motorcycle. It has door beams and a roof to provide some measure of protection from impact or rollover. It has cushioning and airbags to soften impact and safety belts to hold passengers in their seats. It has windshield washers and wipers to assist visibility in the rain and snow. An automobile has more stability because it's on four wheels, and because of its size, it is easier to see. 

It is a real shame that motorcyclist are not seen by most people driving cars and trucks. Motorcycles are an excellent form of efficient personal transportation. They are great to have for both recreational driving as well as a primary mode of transportation. Unfortunately, motorcyclist do not do too well when it comes to an accident with much larger vehicles such as a van .Practically defenseless, Stegler was struck by an imposing and much heavier vehicle,  This  makes a motorcyclist  thrown from a collision at such a forceful rate that the impact of such a crash is almost always fatal at even a moderate level of speed. In the case of Mr Stegler, the only true protection he had from  this unsuspecting strike from this van was perhaps his helmet and  sadly, that was not good enough.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a law firm which focuses on injury and accident law and we have experience handling wrongful death cases. Check out our case results to see for yourself. Our law firm has offices in Elizabeth City, North Carolina (NC) and Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA). Our attorneys have handled numerous wrongful death cases and we understand the difficult circumstances which accompany these types of cases. That’s why you need an experienced attorney to help you through the legal process. Our lawyers hold licenses in NC, VA, 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 1-800-752-0042. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube .  In addition, our lawyers proudly edit the Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard, as well as the Virginia Beach Injuryboard and Norfolk Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service.

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