Fatal Multivehicle Motorcycle Accident in Sacramento
A multivehicle motorcycle accident led to the death of the motorcyclist on May 17 in the Ben Ali section of Sacramento. The motorcyclist was heading west on El Camino Avenue when it collided with a Mercedes turning south on Princeton Street. The collision occurred at approximately 12:40 p.m., according to the Sacramento Police. The motorcycle rider was transported to a local hospital with what were described as life-threatening injuries and died shortly afterward. I would like to take this opportunity to offer my condolences to the friends and family of the deceased who died in the multivehicle motorcycle accident.
Investigation into the Accident
A Sacramento Police Department representative reported that as of the present time, there was no indication that alcohol or drugs were involved. However, the department has asked if anyone is able to provide additional information about the accident to call them at 916-808-5471.
Motorcycle Fatalities
California ranks third in the number of motorcycle deaths nationwide trailing Florida and Texas. The most common cause of fatalities is when a car is turning left. This situation leads to 42 percent of all multivehicle motorcycle accidents. Most of the time, the motor vehicle hits the motorcycle as it is proceeding straight on a roadway. This frequently happens at intersections. The problem is that accidents between motorcycles and other, larger motor vehicles are likely to result in serious injury or death to the biker. Motorcyclists are 37 times more likely to be killed than other motorists, according to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Head On Collisions
Head on collisions often result in fatalities. Of all deaths related to a multivehicle motorcycle accident, 78 percent are due to a head on collision.
Left Hand Turns
Motorcyclists are often hit when a car is making a turn to the left. Some of the situations where this happens include when the motorcyclist is proceeding through an intersection or passing another vehicle. Car drivers often say that they hit the motorcycle because they did not see it. This may have to do with the motorcycle’s smaller profile or simply because the driver was not looking for it. Generally, it is the driver that is turning left who will be found responsible for the accident.
Speeding
When a biker or a motorist is speeding, the opportunity for a multivehicle motorcycle accident is increased. Speeding makes it more difficult to control a vehicle or to stop it. Drivers frequently find that they cannot stop in time to avoid a collision. Any motorist, whether driving a car or a motorcycle, will have a greater chance of being found liable if they were speeding.
Impaired Motoring
Overall, driving while impaired is a sure-fire prescription for disaster. Drinking or using drugs, illegal or not, can make the motorist less likely to be careful. The loss of cognitive ability and judgment puts the biker or motorist in a precarious situation. Most of the bikers that are found to be impaired at the time an accident happens are older. It is also more of a problem on weekends.
Single Vehicle Collisions
Collisions involving just one vehicle as opposed to a multivehicle motorcycle accident are common. They are responsible for about 25 percent of motorcyclist deaths. This figure is lower when it comes to single vehicle fatalities involving a car. One of the reasons they are more likely to cause death in a motorcycle accident is the biker’s lack of protection.
Sport Performance Motorcycles
Today, it is common to see large, powerful motorcycles on the road. These machines are capable of reaching higher speeds and have more powerful engines than those of the past. Both sport and supersport models account for numerous accidents. Supersport motorcycles are actually racing bikes modified to be used on the street. They are not heavy, so their increased power makes it easy to reach high speeds. More young riders buy such vehicles and are prone to taking risks. The riders of all sports motorcycle types have a death rate that exceeds that of conventional bikes.
Listen to the following video presented by attorney Ed Smith:
Legal Assistance
If a member of your family died in a multivehicle motorcycle accident or if you were hurt, an attorney can help. He or she can examine the accident site, review medical and police reports, and determine who precipitated the crash. By doing this, an experienced injury lawyer can build a strong case against the responsible party. This will help you or your family obtain the compensation that is needed in this daunting time.
Sacramento Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento motorcycle accident lawyer. If you find yourself hurt and financially strapped after an accident, you might benefit from legal advice. Call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice. You can also contact me by using my contact form found on my website.
I’ve helped many people who have been injured. Some of the areas I work in are wrongful deaths, car accidents, traumatic injuries, and other personal injuries.
Read some of the comments made by previous clients, and check out some of the verdicts and settlements I won on the following pages:
- Avvo
I am proud to say I belong to the following groups:
- National Association of Distinguished Counsel: Membership is only offered to those lawyers who offer clients the highest level of legal counsel.
- Million Dollar Advocates: Membership is limited to those attorneys who have won more than $1 million for a client.
Photo Attribution: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9-lg0clbRM; https://pixabay.com/photos/condolences-trauerkarte-letters-3991589/
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