Ambulance and Motorcycle Crash
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento motorcycle accident lawyer. An ambulance dispatched from the fire department in Sacramento to the Antelope area was involved in an accident with a motorcycle on February 25. The ambulance was originally headed to pick up an individual who was repeatedly run over by a motor vehicle. Thankfully, the assaulted individual suffered no life-threatening injuries, police said.
What Happened?
According to a police representative, the Sacramento ambulance was within a block of arriving at its destination on Elverta Road in Antelope when it collided with the motorcycle at Walerga and Elverta roads, a major intersection. Police officers reported that minor injuries were suffered by the motorcyclist, while the staff manning the ambulance in the crash were unharmed in the incident.
Determining Fault in the Accident
At the time of the accident, the ambulance was using its sirens. According to law enforcement, it is believed that the rider of the motorcycle either didn’t slow down or didn’t stop for the ambulance. Property damage was sustained to both the ambulance and the motorcycle involved in the crash.
Emergency Vehicle Roadway Rules
California rules about emergency vehicles are specific concerning right-of-way, particularly in intersections. Generally, motor vehicles must yield to any emergency vehicle, such as police cars, ambulances or fire trucks, provided they are using their lights and siren. According to directions in the California driver’s handbook, a motorist in an intersection is instructed not to stop in the intersection but to proceed through the intersection and pull over as soon as possible. While emergency vehicles have immunity from liability, in some cases, neither the emergency vehicle driver nor the motorist breaks the rules.
Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Depending on the type of motorcycle accident, impact of a motor vehicle and a motorcycle can end in dire consequences for the biker. Lacking the layer of protection other motor vehicles provide, bikers often experience serious injuries or death.
One of the key elements in a motorcycle accident is the use of a helmet by the biker. Although all motorcyclists and their passengers are required to wear helmets, many do not. Serious brain trauma can be prevented in 67 percent of accidents if the biker is wearing a helmet, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Fatal Motorcycle Accidents
According to the Office of Traffic Safety, 200 bikers were injured or died in accidents in 2015. One of the chief reasons a motorcyclist is fatally injured involves another vehicle turning left in front of the bike. Motorcyclists might find it hard to predict when a car or truck turns, and oftentimes, drivers do not see or are not looking for a motorcycle in their way. Bikers can add to their conspicuity on the road by using bright colors, neon strips and headlights.
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Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Sacramento
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento motorcycle accident lawyer. Motorcycle accidents cause shocking injuries, leaving the rider with high medical bills and lost work time. If this has happened to you or a family member and you want some help, please call me for free, friendly advice at (916) 921-6400 or at (800) 404-5400. I also have an online contact form for your convenience at AutoAccident.com, the website I own and founded.
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I have been in practice in Sacramento for over three decades, defending the rights of and working hard toward obtaining fair compensation for my client’s injuries, including wrongful death cases and vehicular accidents.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/adult-beard-bike-biker-blur-bmw-1866842/
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