Placerville Motorcyclist Killed on Pleasant Valley Rd.
I’m Ed Smith, a Placerville motorcycle accident attorney. A Placerville man was killed while riding his motorcycle on October 24 by an oncoming vehicle.
Details of the Accident
Steven Marcki, 62, was heading east on Pleasant Valley Road in the vicinity of Karl Drive at approximately 12:30 p.m. A California Highway Patrol (CHP) spokesperson said that Marcki tried to pass another vehicle on the two-lane rural roadway, crossing into the oncoming path of another vehicle. A 2007 Kia hit the motorcyclist. Authorities have identified the driver of the Kia as Kristin Selmyhr, 36, a resident of Somerset. The CHP said Selmyhr could not avoid hitting the motorcycle despite making an evasive maneuver.
Our deepest sympathies go out to the family and friends of Mr. Marcki during this difficult time.
Injuries Due to the Accident
Marcki died at the scene of the accident. At the time of this report, there is no word as to the condition of the driver of the other vehicle, Kristin Selmyhr, or if drugs or alcohol were involved in the crash.
Incidence of Motorcycle Accidents
In 2015, the last year for which information is available, there was an increase in motorcycle accidents across the country resulting in 4,976 fatalities. According to the Insurance Information Institute, this was an 8.3 percent increase over 2014’s 4,594 deaths. The number of injuries decreased in 2015 by 4.3 percent from 92,000 to 88,000 injuries. Of the motorcyclists killed, about 40 percent were not wearing a helmet. In addition, the fatality rate was six times greater that year than that for passenger car occupants. Thirty-three percent of motorcyclists injured or killed were speeding at the time of the crash.
Incidence of Motorcycle Fatalities by Age
More than 50 percent of all motorcycle accident deaths involved older riders, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Between the years 2005 through 2015, 17 percent more motorcyclists over 40 died in accidents. Two reasons explaining this statistic are that older bikers tend to have bigger motorcycles, as well as slower reaction times and declining visions.
Impaired Bikers
According to a report by the NHTSA, about 27 percent of bikers who died in motorcycle crashes were intoxicated. By age, those 35 to 39 years of age had the highest number of fatalities at 37 percent followed by those 45-49 at 35 percent. During daylight hours only 13 percent were intoxicated. However, that number jumped to 42 percent at night. Intoxicated bikers (51 percent) used their helmets less than non-intoxicated ones (65 percent).
Motorcycle Injuries
Traumatic injuries in motorcycle crashes commonly affect the lower extremities followed by upper extremity injury with fractures predominating. Other common injuries are those to the spinal cord, including paralysis and impingement syndromes, traumatic brain injury and trauma to the chest and abdomen. Head injuries are often sustained in accidents involving riders who did not wear a helmet.
The Need for an Experienced Motorcycle Lawyer
In any motorcycle accident, it is important to prove negligence. A seasoned motorcycle attorney is able to use the evidence at the accident site to reconstruct the accident as well as having experts in the field give their opinion as to how the crash occurred. In injury cases, this can help in obtaining just compensation for economic damages such as medical bills and lost income, as well as non-economic damages including pain and suffering. In cases where a motorcyclist was killed, the attorney can file a wrongful death claim, helping the family pay end-of-life bills as well as compensate them for the income that the deceased would have otherwise provided for family expenses.
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Placerville Motorcycle Accident Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Placerville motorcycle accident attorney. If you were injured in a motorcycle accident or if a loved one was killed, you need the help and compassion of an experienced injury attorney who will answer your questions and provide you with options. You can reach me at (530) 392-9400 anytime, or if you need to reach me long distance, phone (800) 404-5400.
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