Motorcycle Accident Death in Sacramento
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento motorcycle accident attorney. A man died in a Christmas morning motorcycle crash. I’d like to take this opportunity to offer my condolences to his family and friends in this time of loss.
Accident Details
The accident happened, according to a Sacramento Police representative, in the late morning hours in the Oak Park section of the city near 4th Avenue and 42nd Street. The police reported that the motorcycle hit cars parked along the street, throwing the biker onto the roadway. At the time of this report, all that is known is that the motorcyclist was described as an adult. There has been no announcement from the Sacramento coroner’s office as to his identity. The cause of the accident is yet to be divulged, and there is no word whether alcohol or drugs were involved. Several roads around the accident site were closed as the investigation proceeded but were later reopened to traffic.
Motorcycle Accident Statistics
Nationwide, 4,976 motorcyclists were killed in 2015, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This represented an increase of 8 percent over the number in 2014. About 93 percent of fatal accidents occurred on bikes with only two wheels. There were also 88,000 motorcyclists injured in 2015. Of all deaths, bikers accounted for 94 percent with passengers at 6 percent.
Sacramento Injuries and Deaths on Motorcycles
The California Office of Traffic Safety reported 200 motorcycle riders were injured or killed in 2015 in Sacramento. This shows a high increase over the 136 motorcyclist deaths and injuries in 2014. The number of motorcyclists killed or hurt in accidents in Sacramento County in 2015 totaled 556. This placed Sacramento in 17th position among the 58 counties in California.
Reasons for Motorcycle Accidents
There are several common reasons motorcycle accidents happen:
- Cars making a left turn: This is one of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents. It happens primarily at intersections but can happen when a car is exiting a side street or pulling out of a driveway. A motorcyclist needs to look out for drivers who may not be paying attention or looking for cars and not seeing bikes. Bikers should check for visual obstructions for motorists such as tree limbs or signs, and take note of whether the vehicle’s wheels are turned. Bikers should be ready to hit the brakes, and look around for the possibility of making an evasive move.
- Hitting sand, ice or wet leaves: This situation presents itself all the time. The motorcyclist suddenly finds himself hitting a pile of wet leaves or gravel. The best way to avoid this is to slow down.
- A motor vehicle changes a lane in front of a rider: This usually happens when a driver fails to spot the motorcyclist. Cars have blind spots, and the biker might be riding in one of them. A good rule of thumb is if the motorcyclist can see the driver in his or her side mirrors, it is likely they can see the motorcycle. On highways, it is a good idea to check ahead, and see if traffic is starting to slow in the fast lane. Look for turn signals on the motor vehicles ahead or alongside the bike and hang back if possible.
- Rear-ended by a car: When a biker has to stop and traffic is behind, it is best to stop as far to the side of the lane as possible. The biker should start flashing his or her brake lights, and watch to see if the vehicle behind starts to slow down. If not, the rider should be prepared to leave the potential impact point as quickly as possible. Exercise more caution in bad weather and around crosswalks when a pedestrian may suddenly appear in the road.
Sacramento Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento motorcycle accident attorney. Motorcycle accidents can at times be prevented but not always. If you’ve been injured due to someone’s negligence or if a family member has died, reach out for an experienced injury lawyer. Call me at (916) 921-6400 and at (800) 404-5400 or contact me online anytime. You will receive friendly and free advice.
I’ve practiced law for 35 years in Sacramento, and I’ve helped many residents with motorcycle and car accidents. I’ve been at their side through wrongful deaths too.
You want to know as much as possible about an attorney before you retain him. Take a look at my Avvo, Yelp and Google pages to learn from client reviews.
You may also want to know how I resolved prior cases. Go to settlements and verdicts.
I was inducted into the Million Dollar Advocates, a forum of trial lawyers who won $1 million or more for clients.
AutoAccidents.com is the website I founded and own. It is a comprehensive forum of law topics in personal injury law.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/motorbike-vehicle-motorcycle-bike-1720531/
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