Charges have been filed in a crash that took the life of a moped rider in Asheville last month. Graham Shepley was riding his moped on Patton Avenue at Mimosa Drive when he was struck by Dimitry Stynka. The crash, which happened on March 21st, occurred when Stynka was making a left turn. According to WLOS ABC Channel 13 News, Stynka told police that he didn’t see the moped when he initially made the turn. Sadly, Shepley was pronounced dead at the scene. Stynka was charged with two misdemeanors, death by vehicle and failure to yield to a left turn.
Share the Road
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s “Share the Road” campaign is aimed at raising awareness for safely sharing the road with motorcycle riders. Moped and scooter riders face many of the same dangers as motorcycle riders. They’re on smaller vehicles. They don’t have the added benefit of being protected by a steel cage. They don’t have airbags or seat belts. Even when moped and scooter riders wear the appropriate safety gear, they can still get injured or killed. Some people may mistakenly think that mopeds and scooters are safer than motorcycles, because they are much slower. Unfortunately, with distracted and impaired drivers on the road, nobody is safe.
Put Down the Electronic Devices
You can’t safely share the road and send or receive a text at the same time. Distracted driving puts other motorists, motorcycle riders, cyclists, pedestrians, scooter riders and moped riders at great risk. If your attention is on anything other than the task of driving, devastating and deadly crashes can happen. Mopeds and scooters are smaller than traditional passenger occupant vehicles, so drivers need to be extra watchful when changing lanes and making turns.
After Losing a Loved One
If you lose a loved one in a motorcycle, scooter or moped crash, you should contact an experienced wrongful death attorney as soon as possible. Surviving loved ones are often facing medical bills, funeral expenses, loss of future income, loss of companionship, and pain and suffering. If you have lost a loved one in a fatal bike crash, contact the experienced team at Davis Law Group, P.A. for a free consultation today. The team at Davis Law Group, P.A. sends their deepest condolences to the family members and friends of Graham Shepley.