Last week, a man in Ashland was killed when the motorcycle he was riding was struck by a pickup truck. After the accident, he was taken to King’s Daughters Medical Center where he was pronounced dead that afternoon. According to authorities, when they arrived the man was being treated for injuries on the side of the road by county EMTs.
Witnesses report that he had turned left into oncoming traffic and entered into the path of the pickup truck. The truck tried to brake, but still ended up striking the motorcycle when the truck fishtailed due to braking quickly. On impact, the motorcycle driver flew off his bike and unfortunately was not wearing a helmet at the time. The driver of the pickup did not sustain any injuries.
We see these types of accidents all the time at our firm and each and every one is just as unfortunate as the last. This scenario is unique because the motorcycle driver was not wearing a helmet. It is always important to wear a helmet when driving a motorcycle because it does mean the difference between life and death. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), North Carolina sees more than 10 deaths a year per 10,000 registered motorcycles. The NHTSA also reports that fatalities have been increasing every year.
The incident above may not hold the pickup driver liable for the motorcyclist’s death because: 1. The motorcyclist turned into oncoming traffic and 2. The motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet. This is not always the case and there are incidents every day that involve inattentive drivers that hit and injure motorcycle riders. If you or your loved one has been involved in a motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation.
The Lanier Law Group, P.A. understands that an injury may leave you hurt and unsure of where to turn. Our firm is dedicated to providing clients with reliable legal counsel. If you have a question related to a motorcycle accident or you want to schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys do not hesitate to contact us today.