The fatal crash occurred near the Spaghetti Bowl by I-10. The 43-year-old man was going westbound near the Copia exit when he lost control of his sports motorcycle while trying to avoid crashing into the back of a semitruck on the roadway.
Speed was a factor
According to the Special Traffic Investigations Unit, the man was driving at a high speed when the crash occurred. When the man lost control of the motorcycle, he and the motorcycle slid across the interstate. Both he and the motorcycle crashed into a guardrail, and the motorcycle rebounded into traffic where it was hit by a vehicle. The victim died at the scene of the crash.
Motorcycle safety must be a priority for everyone
As this tragedy illustrates, motorcyclists don’t have the protection of a vehicle frame around them, so it’s likely that they will suffer catastrophic injuries in a wreck. Because of this, a motorcyclist and everyone sharing the road with them must follow proper safety rules. For example, motorcyclists shouldn’t weave in and out of traffic because it’s unsafe, and that’s one reason why lane-splitting is illegal in this state.
Other drivers also have to do their part by watching for motorcycles. Approximately 70% of crashes between a motorcycle and another vehicle occur at an intersection, partly due to visual recognition issues. Motorists should also give motorcycles a suitable following distance because of the risk of the motorcyclist losing control or having problems while they’re driving.
When a non-fatal motorcycle crash is caused because of a negligent motorist, the affected motorcyclist may choose to seek compensation. In the case of a fatality involving a negligent driver, a wrongful death claim may be necessary. Seeking legal assistance is beneficial in both of those cases because of the complexities involved and all that is at stake.