Modesto Injury Lawyer Blog

A recent motorcycle accident in Modesto left a man dead after being thrown from his bike, according to News10. Modesto police Officer Scott Nelson says that the motorcyclist was heading north on Tully Road when he ran into an SUV that was making a left turn in front of him. The driver of the SUV failed to see the oncoming bike. While airborne, the cyclist went through an elevated street signs and into someone's backyard. The cyclists ended up near a sliding door of the house.

"It was loud and bad. It seemed like it hit the house. They couldn't find the body of the person. They were looking on the roof," said the homeowner.

Our Modesto motorcycle accident lawyers understand that the state of California is fortunate enough to be able to provide residents with motorcycle-riding weather year round. Unfortunately, because of these conditions riders are faced with serious risks for accidents too. More than half of all motorcycle accidents involving another vehicle are in fact the fault of the other driver and not of the motorcyclist. It's a new year and we're using this time to reach out to drivers to ask them to be more cautious on our roadways and to keep a close eye out for motorcyclists.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were nearly 4,500 motorcyclists killed in traffic accidents across the country in 2009. Another 100,000 were injured during the same year. In the state of California, nearly 400 motorcyclists were killed throughout the year. Our state was the third most dangerous in the country for these types of accident.

Motorcycle Accident Statistics Breakdown:

-About 75 percent of all motorcycle accidents involve a collision with another vehicle.

-Only about a quarter of all motorcycle accidents are single-vehicle accidents.

-Roadway defects contribute to about 2 percent of all motorcycle accidents.

-In multiple-vehicle crashes, the other vehicle's driver failed to yield to the right-of-way of the motorcyclists nearly 70 percent of the time.

-Drivers failing to see or recognize motorcycles on the road is the predominating cause of motorcycle crashes.

-Motorcycle accidents most frequently occur at intersections.

-Weather is not a factor in 99 percent of all motorcycle crashes.

The Modesto Police Department and our personal injury attorneys are here to offer you some motorcycle safety tips to help reduce the risks of these types of accidents.

Motorcycle Safety Tips:

-Never tailgate. Vehicles may stop unexpectedly and motorcycles have a difficult time stopping on some surfaces.

-Avoid riding between lanes, even if traffic is stopped or traveling slowly.

-Know and follow all traffic laws.

-Use turn signals and hand signals to help alert other motorists of your intended maneuvers.

-Make sure that you protect yourself when riding, wear the safety gear.

-Always drive defensive and assume that other driver's don't see you.

Continue reading "Fatal Motorcycle Accident in Modesto Blamed on SUV Driver" »

According to NBC affiliate station KCRA, a fatal crash in Winters, CA killed a motorcyclist and ten other people on Tuesday night, August 3, 2010. The chain-reaction crash occurred just after 10pm last night on I-505 south of Putah Creek Road. The California Highway Patrol stated that both drugs and alcohol played a role in the crash.

The crash began when one car unexpectedly spun out of control and hit a guardrail, said the CHP. The driver was suspected of DUI. From there, two other vehicles hit the first car and then a motorcyclist hit a freeway divider while trying to avoid the accident. He died at the scene, according to the CHP. Several other people who suffered injuries were treated and released from local hospitals.

Drunk Drivers Must Be Held Responsible
All too often, drugs and alcohol play a role in terrible accidents like this one. When someone uses alcohol or an illegal substance and then operates a vehicle, they can be punished under the law for injuries caused as a result of their behavior. They will likely face criminal charges, but they can also be sued for injuries caused or for wrongful death.

A Modesto auto accident attorney can help explain your options if you've been in an accident that involved drugs and/or alcohol. You may be able to receive compensation for lost wages, pain and suffering, medical bills and more. If someone you love has been killed, you may be entitled to settlement for their death.

In Modesto, motorcycle riders must obtain a license (Class M1 or M2), just like any other driver. They must obey traffic laws and they have all the same rights as any other driver on the road. Unfortunately, some four-wheeled drivers don't always pay attention to riders on two wheels and accidents do happen.

According to the State of California's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) estimates from 2008, more than 500 motorcyclists were killed in the state and thousands more were injured in accidents. Sadly, those numbers were on the rise for 2009. And most of the accidents could have been prevented with increased driver awareness, says Caltrans Director Will Kempton. Too many car drivers ignore motorcycles until it's too late, causing dangerous situations on highways and residential streets.

Sometimes, a car or truck driver will actually see a motorcyclist, and then pull out in front of the motorcycle like it's not even there. Occasionally this is intentional, but most times it's simply a lack of observation. Motorcycles are a fraction of the size of semi trucks and big SUVs and drivers simply discount the motorcycle's presence. Other times, careless drivers will discard debris out of their windows, causing a motorcyclist to swerve and collide with a tree or telephone pole. These cases can be especially devastating at high speeds.

If you've been involved in a motorcycle accident, contact an experienced motorcycle attorney today. An attorney can help you recover damages for broken bones, road rash and damage to your motorcycle caused by a negligent driver.