Crash During Training Run Near Foresthill
A motorcycle officer with the Sacramento Police Department sustained injuries when their bike hit a deer during participation in a training ride on the morning of Wednesday, July 28, 2021. The incident happened in the Foresthill area.
Details of the Motorcycle Versus Deer Crash
During the training ride, a deer ran in the middle of the road. The involved officer performed an evasive maneuver but was unable to avoid striking the animal. The officer was ejected from the bike when the motorcycle overturned. The deer was killed on impact, and the officer sustained injuries that were described as moderate.
Officers from the Auburn office of the California Highway Patrol responded to the scene of the collision at around 9:25 a.m. A CHP helicopter reported to the scene, as did medical personnel. Deputies from the Placer County Sheriff’s Department also assisted. The motorcycle officer, who is 36 years old, was transported by helicopter to Sutter Roseville Medical Center.
Vehicle Accidents Caused by Animals
Wild animals often appear on the highways of Northern California. Even in some urban areas, animals such as raccoons or coyotes will dart into the road, most often at night. Sometimes, a motorist is unable to avoid the animal and ends up striking it. Or, a driver may perform an evasive maneuver that causes them to strike another object such as a tree, a concrete barrier, or another car. When such an incident occurs, the question of who is at fault may arise.
Key Question – Domesticated or Wild?
The answer to the question of liability (legal fault) will be very different depending on whether the animal was truly wild or if it was a domesticated animal with an owner. If the animal is a pet or livestock such as a dairy cow, the owner of the animal would likely be held responsible for the accident, since it is the owner’s duty to keep the animal under control.
However, if the accident was caused by the movements of a wild animal such as a deer, there is no negligent owner that could be held financially responsible. This means the motorist would have to use his or her own insurance to fix their vehicle and pay for their own medical treatment.
In the case of the motorcycle officer who was injured this week, because the injuries occurred on the job, workers’ compensation will, in all likelihood, pay for the medical treatment, lost wages, and other damages incurred by the injured officer.
What if an Animal Causes Two Vehicles to Collide?
Now, it becomes more complicated if the wild animal caused one driver to swerve to avoid collision with the animal and then ends up striking another vehicle because of the evasive maneuver. In that scenario, the swerving driver would likely be held responsible for any injuries or property damage suffered by the occupants of the second vehicle.
Watch the YouTube video. The news clip below is from Georgia and offers tips on avoiding deer strike accidents.
Auburn Personal Injury Attorney
Hello. Thanks for reading. We here at autoaccident.com are wishing a speedy recovery to the police officer who was injured when their motorcycle hit a deer. I’m Ed Smith, an Auburn personal injury attorney. Unfortunately, there has been a recent increase in automobile and motorcycle accidents on the roads and highways of Northern California. Most traffic crashes are caused by the negligence of another motorist. If you have suffered injuries in a wreck due to the carelessness or recklessness of another driver, call us for compassionate, free, and friendly legal advice at (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400.
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Picture: https://pixabay.com/photos/deer-on-the-road-staring-6003084/
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