When riding a motorcycle, the risk of injury exists not only for the person operating the bike but also for any passengers on board. However few people realize that the threat of harm extends beyond those on a motorcycle and reaches those in passenger cars, those on bicycles, and even pedestrians who may be walking on or near a road or other driving surface.
Motorcycle accidents produce a high rate of injuries when they occur in Phoenix and the fallout from those collisions can last for years. From the immediate injuries that result to the need for medical and rehabilitative care, the financial toll enacted by a collision can accumulate quickly and can leave a victim in need of help. But injuries cause other damages as well and those who are hurt may be unable to care for their families as they normally do, may be forced to miss time from work, and may endure pain, suffering, and permanency of injuries that affect their lives indefinitely. For these reasons and in recognition of the suffering that many victims experience, state laws are available to help those who are hurt by providing them with the right to seek payment for their damages. Speaking with a personal injury attorney can clarify what rights may exist if you have been involved in a motorcycle crash in the Valley.
Like any type of crash, bikers are more likely to be involved in a collision if they engage in risky or illegal behaviors. One of the most threatening actions that a biker can do is to operate while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, something that local police in Mesa are now claiming a biker did over the 4th of July.
The incident happened on westbound South Val Vista Drive and the westbound US 60 ramp on Saturday and led to a passenger, a 26-year-old female, being thrown from the bike. The woman landed on the roadway where she was run over by a passing vehicle that has yet to be identified and unfortunately she died from her injuries.
The driver of the motorcycle recently was arrested and is now charged with operating under the influence, a condition that police allege led to the passenger being thrown from the bike. If convicted, the operator could face time in prison, fines and fees, and the loss of his license among other penalties.
Nothing can erase the tragic loss of life that stems from a fatal motorcycle accident but those family members and loved ones who are left behind may still be able to obtain relief. Compensation can ease the financial burden caused when a loved one is killed and can help the family of a victim move beyond the crash, though the suffering can never be undone.
If you have been hurt in a collision with a motorcycle or if your family member was killed, call the personal injury attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. today toll free at (855) PHX-LAWYER or locally at (602) 819-5191. We are standing by 24 hours a day to take your call and our team of lawyers will provide you with a free case consultation without obligation on your part.
At Abels & Annes, P.C., we have helped countless motorcycle crash victims and we want to help you as well. If your accident happened in Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Glendale, Scottsdale, Tempe, or elsewhere in Maricopa County, call us now and let us get to work for you.
Prior Blog Entry:
Driver Charged with Causing Fatal Pedestrian Crash, Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog, published July 8, 2015.
Resource:
Motorcycle arrested for death of passenger, by Mike Gertzman, CBS5AZ.com, published July 9, 2015.