Police officers in Raleigh, North Carolina, have arrested a 51-year-old man in connection with a collision that killed a motorcyclist. The accident occurred on October 29 at the intersection of Old Poole Road and Poole Road in Raleigh. According to investigators, the man made an improper left turn, striking a motorcycle. The driver of the motorcycle, a 35-year-old male, was transported to WakeMed where he succumbed to his injuries.
When motorcycles and cars share the road, motorcyclists are at greater risk of serious injury in any potential accident. Motorcycle collisions involving another vehicle account for over half (56 percent) of motorcycle accident deaths. Due to the size and mass disparity between motorcycles and motor vehicles, any crashes between the two tend to be far more devastating for motorcyclists. Without the protection afforded by a car, motorcycle riders face high risks of serious injuries and death.
One of the most common places for cars and motorcycles to collide are at intersections. Despite making up just a small percentage of a motorcyclist’s route, intersections account for 42 percent of all crash locations for motorcycles. Like the accident in Raleigh, these often occur when a car makes a left turn and fails to take note of a motorcycle. Motorcycles are significantly smaller than other vehicles and they can be easy to miss if a driver is not being attentive. In almost all cases, when a vehicle making a left turn strikes another vehicle, that driver is at fault for the accident.
All drivers need to be aware of the risks facing motorcyclists. If you or someone you know has been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, speak with a North Carolina personal injury attorney at Lanier Law Group, P.A.