A Birmingham teenager was killed in a fatal collision between a motorcycle and a truck on a recent Saturday night. The deadly accident happened around 10 pm. The truck was apparently making a left turn at the intersection of South Shades Crest Road and Grand Oaks Drive.
When authorities arrived, they pronounced the 15-year-old motorcyclist dead on the scene. The motorcyclist’s passenger, another 15-year-old, was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. The truck driver, in contrast, suffered no injuries. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Alabama has a more temperate climate than northern states, but the lack of snow doesn’t necessarily mean the state’s roads are safer for motorcycle enthusiasts. As this story illustrates, the biggest danger to motorcyclists is often other drivers, especially oncoming traffic. Motorcycles, because of their smaller size, might be easier to miss. A momentary distraction that takes a passenger vehicle driver’s eyes from the road might translate into a tragedy.
As a law firm that has helped victims of many different types of motor vehicle accidents, we understand why many safety campaigns emphasize the need to start seeing motorcycles. Unfortunately, a motorcycle accident often results in life-changing consequences. Others may not be lucky enough to survive at all.
Cars and trucks generate much greater forces upon impact than motorcycles because of their larger size. As in this story, the driver of a motor vehicle may not suffer any injuries, but the motorcycle driver and his or her passenger may suffer brain injuries, spinal cord damage or even fatal injuries. That is why a personal injury attorney is needed to aggressively fight for the motorcyclist’s rights via a civil lawsuit.
Source: al.com, “Bessemer teen killed in Hoover motorcycle accident Saturday night,” Ivana Hrynkiw, Aug. 28, 2016
