With the summer weather in full swing, it is likely that an increasing number of motorcycle enthusiasts are hitting the pavement to enjoy a ride. At times, motorcycles can be more difficult to spot than a full-sized vehicle, which means that drivers should exercise the appropriate amount of caution while behind the wheel. Sadly, a North Carolina man was recently killed in a car accident after the motorcycle that he was riding was struck.
A 50-year-old woman entered an intersection on a flashing yellow light in order to complete a left-hand turn. At the same time, a 53-year-old man was driving his motorcycle straight through the intersection that the woman was entering. The front end of her vehicle struck the man’s motorcycle and threw him off of his vehicle.
The woman’s car continued on, striking a pickup. The ejected motorcyclist ultimately ended up underneath both of the other vehicles involved in the wreck, although the other drivers reportedly reversed away from him. Authorities report that the motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, although the other drivers involved in the accident both escaped injury.
When paired against a larger motor vehicle, motorcyclists are at a clear disadvantage in a car accident. Costly expenses, such as medical bills and funeral costs, can be a sad reality in the aftermath of a fatal accident such as this. In North Carolina, the family of a victim killed in a car accident may file a wrongful death claim on behalf of their deceased loved one. In this instance, although the driver who police say caused the wreck has not been convicted, she has been charged in his death, and the factual basis for that charge may be a vital piece of evidence toward the successful litigation of such a claim.
Source: wcnc.com, “Motorcyclist killed in Charlotte crash, woman charged”, , June 14, 2014
