Unfortunately, drivers of passenger vehicles and trucks often have difficulty seeing motorcyclists on the road. Drivers nevertheless have a responsibility to exercise due care when driving, and this includes watching out for the safety of others, such as those operating cars, motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians.
When a driver is negligent and causes injury or death, the injured person or surviving family members may be able to obtain some compensation.
A recent fatal motorcycle accident reported in Charlotte, North Carolina’s local news provides a sad example of what can happen when drivers fail to pay attention to their surroundings and make deadly mistakes:
- On a Sunday afternoon, a motorcyclist wearing a helmet was killed when the driver of a Chevy Trailblazer turned into his path. The victim, 40-year-old Kenneth Lavern Owens, Jr., was headed northeast on Huntersville-Concord Road.
- The 73-year-old driver of the Trailblazer, William Holtzclaw, allegedly made a left turn into the path of the motorbike. The motorcyclist responded by hitting the brakes, and the bike slid onto its side.
- The victim was propelled from his motorcycle into the passenger side of the larger vehicle. Firefighters, emergency medical personnel, the local police department and North Carolina Highway Patrol responded to the scene, but the victim was already deceased by the time they arrived.
This tragic accident illustrates how other drivers can cause serious harm. Not only is the driver charged with a misdemeanor crime of death by vehicle and failure to yield the right of way, but he may also be sued for the wrongful death of the biker.
If you were injured or lost a loved one in an accident you believe was the result of the negligence or wrongdoing of others, a North Carolina personal injury lawyer may be able to provide the help you need to obtain the compensation you deserve.