Motorcyclist Killed in Crash with Pickup
A recent accident in Clarendon County has resulted in one fatality. A 68-year-old man was driving his motorcycle south on Lake Marion Shores Road in Summerton, South Carolina. A pickup truck traveling north on the road is believed by South Carolina Highway Patrol to have crossed the center line, and in doing so, struck the motorcyclist. The man was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. Highway Patrol did not mention whether alcohol was involved in the crash, nor whether charges would be filed against the driver of the truck in conjunction with the accident.
In crashes between larger vehicles and motorcycles, the motorcyclist rarely emerges unscathed. Head-on crashes with motorcycles are common sources of motorcyclist fatalities, with some 74% of all motorcycle-involved crashes being head-on collisions. These crashes occur either when cars drift over the center line into the motorcycle’s path, or turn left in front of an oncoming motorcycle. Motorcyclists are much more prone to being injured and killed in crashes, in part because they lack the external protections afforded by a vehicle. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that motorcyclist fatalities occur 26 times more frequently than passenger vehicle occupant fatalities in motor vehicle accidents.
Motorcyclists and their passengers are much more vulnerable on the road than drivers of passenger vehicles, and almost any accident can prove potentially fatal to a motorcyclist. No matter how much caution you take while you’re riding your bike, your safety is often in the hands of truck or car drivers who may be drowsy, inattentive, drunk, or texting. If you’ve been hurt in a motorcycle accident, you need an attorney who will stand up for you in court and ensure you’re paid what you’re owed for your injuries. Contact Columbia, South Carolina’s experienced personal injury and motorcycle attorneys at Peake & Fowler for an evaluation of your potential lawsuit, at 803-788-4370.
