Bladen County, NC (June 16, 2021) – A 40-year-old man was killed in a motorcycle crash on North Carolina Highway 41 in Bladen County. The accident happened on Tuesday, June 15th.
According to Trooper J.C. Waldrop of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Derrick Highsmith, of Harrells, was driving a motorcycle on N.C. Highway 41. At the same time, a vehicle driven by Henry Howell, of Harrells, was traveling eastbound on N.C. 51. Howell attempted to make a left turn but turned into the path of the oncoming motorcycle. The two vehicles collided with each other. Highsmith was ejected from his bike and was pronounced dead at the accident scene. Howell was taken to Cape Fear Valley Bladen County Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
Following an investigation, Waldrop was issued a citation for misdemeanor death by motor vehicle and failing to yield the right-of-way. Neither speed nor alcohol is believed to have played a role in the crash.
There is no further information available at this time.
Our most sincere thoughts and condolences are with the family of Derrick Highsmith during this difficult time.
Fatal Motorcycle Accidents in North Carolina 
Motorcycles are a common and popular mode of transportations for many motorists across our state. Although many people enjoy riding motorcycles, they do not come without risk. The chances of being hurt or killed in a North Carolina motorcycle crash are far greater than the chance of suffering an injury in a traditional passenger vehicle. While motorcycle riders should always use protective equipment, including helmets, this equipment does not always help when a serious crash occurs. The force and impact of a motorcycle accident alone can cause serious damage. In addition, riders may be thrown from their bikes, which can also result in major injuries.
To make matters worse for motorcyclists, many accidents are not their fault. In 2018, there were about 3,000 reported motorcycle accidents in North Carolina. In these crashes, nearly 90% of victims suffered some type of injury. When a motorcycle accident occurs, the police must carefully investigate the scene and determine who should be held responsible. Often, motorcycle crashes are caused by negligent drivers who are distracted or driving recklessly.
If you or a loved one have been affected by a motorcycle crash, you need an attorney on your side who will fight for you. Motorcycle accidents are serious events and they require an attorney who understands your need to secure maximum compensation and who will work hard to protect your rights. At Burton Law Firm, North Carolina motorcycle accident lawyer Jason M. Burton has represented motorcycle crash victims for more than eight years. From our office in Raleigh, we help people in all parts of the state who have suffered losses due to the careless actions of others.
We are here for you at any time. Our firm offers strong and compassionate representation when you need it the most. To schedule your free appointment with one of our attorneys, please contact us at the link on our website or give us a call at (833) 623-0042.
Note: Burton Law Firm utilizes a variety of outside sources in the creation of these accident news posts. These sources include news bulletins, police reports, first-hand accounts, news stories, as well as additional outside sources. For this reason, the details surrounding this accident have not been independently verified by our office or writing staff. If you find information that is not correct about an accident that we have written about, please contact our firm as soon as possible so that we can promptly correct the information. If you would prefer that we remove the story, contact us directly and we will make every effort to remove the story in a timely manner.
Disclaimer: Our team of personal injury lawyers at Burton Law Firm has taken pride in being active members of our local business community for more than 8 years. We are always striving to improve the quality of life for our community members and improve the overall safety and well-being of all North Carolinians. We hope that by providing this information about the dangers of driving that we will bring added awareness and drivers will use increased caution when operating a motor vehicle. Our thoughts are with everyone who may have been affected by this incident. This post is not a solicitation for business. None of the information in this post should be misconstrued as medical or legal advice. The photos in this post are not a depiction of the actual accident scene.