Posted in News on July 18, 2013
During summer in Montana, motorists must adapt themselves to seeing motorcycles on the road and learn to share the roads with them. Similarly, motorcyclists must always exercise vigilance to avoid the devastating possibility of a motorcycle accident. Regardless of whether one is driving a car or riding a motorcycle, both types of vehicles involve a duty to obey traffic laws.
Despite numerous traffic laws on the books, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notes that motorcyclist fatalities accounted for nearly 14 percent of all traffic deaths in 2011. Furthermore, motorcycle riders were over 25 times more likely than car occupants to be killed in an accident and five times more likely to be seriously injured.
A recent car and motorcycle crash injured one on July 6 in Plains, Montana. The crash illustrates how, despite all the laws in place to prevent such accidents, they still happen. According to a Montana Highway Patrol trooper, the incident occurred when a motorist pulled out in front of a motorcycle, directly into the path of the bike. The motorcyclist suffered a laceration to his head, and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. The driver of the car was cited by authorities for failing to yield.
In this case, the motorcyclist was not seriously injured, but others may not be so lucky. When a driver’s failure to obey existing traffic laws results in an accident, and harm to another on the road occurs, that driver may be held liable for damages. An injured party may be able to recover medical expenses resulting directly from the accident as well as lost wages, any future medical expenses and compensation for pain and suffering.
Source: Valley Press, “Motorcycle and vehicle accident injures one,” Colin Murphey, July 10, 2013