A motorcycle accident lawyer in Delaware reveals what you should know
A 74-year-old motorcyclist was recently killed in a left-turn motorcycle accident in Dover caused by a driver who turned into the oncoming path of the victim, according to 1st State Update News and other news reports.
The fatal motorcycle crash occurred on a recent Friday night near the entrance to a store on Forrest Avenue (Route 8). A vehicle heading east on Forrest Avenue made a left turn directly into the path of the oncoming, westbound motorcycle on Forrest Avenue, 1st State Update reported.
The motorcyclist immediately applied the brakes but was unable to avoid a collision with the passenger side of the oncoming vehicle, resulting in the rider being ejected from the bike. An ambulance transported the victim to the emergency room at Bayhealth-Kent Campus hospital in Dover and was later pronounced dead.
Tragically, fatal motorcycle accidents like this are becoming far too common in Delaware and across the U.S.
motorcycle Crash Statistics
Accidents caused by oncoming drivers making left-hand turns in front of riders are among the most common types of motorcycle crashes. In particular, 41 percent of fatal motorcycle accidents involved another vehicle turning left while a motorcyclist was going straight, passing another vehicle or overtaking another vehicle, according to statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2019.
In addition, a 2020 study conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation found that 95 percent of collisions involving a motorcyclist and another driver involved the other driver turning left and crashing into a motorcyclist heading straight. In contrast, only 5 percent of fatal motorcycle accidents involved a motorcyclist turning left and crashing into an oncoming vehicle heading straight.
Negligence by other drivers is a common cause
Motorcycle accidents caused by other drivers turning left happen for many different reasons. The Department of Transportation study found that 37 percent of accidents occurred at night, indicating that poor visibility is a contributing factor in such crashes. Other common causes of left turn motorcycle accidents include:
- Driver didn’t look to see if there was an oncoming motorcyclist.
- Distracted driver was texting or talking on the phone at the time of the crash.
- Drunk driver was impaired and didn’t realize there was a motorcyclist.
- Reckless driver disobeyed the rules of the road, including turning left on a red light.
- Speeding driver didn’t slow down and crashed into a motorcyclist.
These are just some of the reasons why these accidents occur. Whatever the cause of your motorcycle crash, make sure you talk to an attorney as soon as possible to learn more about your legal rights.
lEGAL HELP IS AVAILABLE IN DELAWARE
If you were injured or a loved one died in a motorcycle accident in Delaware, it's critical that you have a clear understanding of your legal rights and options. Our law firm can help. We have years of experience representing injured motorcyclists throughout Delaware, and we know how to build strong cases that get results.
Learn more about how we can help and contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced Delaware motorcycle accident lawyer.