A 56-year-old motorcyclist died after he was struck by a driver who made a left turn in front of him. According to a news report in the Hunterdon County Democrat, the man was operating his motorcycle when a 38 year old woman made a left turn in front of him into a driveway. The man was thrown from his bike and sustained a fatal head injury. He was transported to an area hospital where he died a few days later.
According to a 2006 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report about 75 percent of motorcycle accidents involved collisions with other vehicles, most often a passenger vehicle. Two-thirds of multi-vehicle motorcycle accidents involved a failure to yield the right-of-way to a motorcycle. The failure of motorists to observe motorcycles in traffic is one of the main causes of these accidents. In a majority of vehicle versus motorcycle collisions, the driver of the other vehicle failed to see the motorcycle until it was too late.
Personal injury and wrongful death claims can be filed when another person’s negligence causes death, or non-fatal physical, emotional and economic harm to the accident victims. Injured motorcyclists can seek compensation related to unpaid medical expenses, lost wages, disability and physical pain and suffering. Families of deceased accident victims may also be able to pursue a claim for wrongful death, including claims for loss of future income and the value of the lost advice, guidance, counseling, companionship, support and services which would have been provided by the deceased throughout his/her life.
If you would like to obtain more information about your legal rights and options, contact the experienced New Jersey motorcycle accident lawyers of Blume Forte. Call us at 973-845-4421 for a no-cost consultation.