Some motorcycle enthusiasts are seasonal riders, while others are considered experienced drivers who ride their motorcycles quite a bit. Motorcyclists are usually aware of the risks involved in riding a motorcycle, such as being susceptible to severe injuries in the event of a collision with another vehicle and may take steps to limit the possible damage.
Sadly, even the most responsible riders sometimes find themselves involved in collisions, which appears to the case in one recent accident that saw a motorcyclist lose his life. In early May, the rider was heading northbound on state route 100 in the mid-afternoon when he was struck from behind by a car. According to the report, the rider and his motorcycle became lodged beneath the car and were dragged almost 750 feet before the vehicle came to a stop. When responders arrived at the scene, the vehicles were on fire. The motorcyclist perished at the scene.
During the subsequent investigation, investigators discovered that the vehicle driver had both marijuana and the painkiller Fentanyl in his system at the time of the accident. Now, the man is facing criminal charges of vehicular homicide in addition to offenses such as reckless driving and following too close.
If a motorcycle accident occurs, often authorities investigate to determine if negligence was a contributing factor. Drunk driving, failure to follow traffic rules and regulations and distracted driving are all considered negligence. Such dangerous driving habits increase the probability of motor vehicle accidents, which endangers the lives of people on the road. In this case, the family of the accident victim may wish to file a claim if they can present evidence that can prove that negligence caused the accident - in such cases, a police report and subsequent criminal charges can provide a strong basis for a successful civil claim.