Spokane motorcycle riders have it good. Lots of summer sunshine, and all types of riding opportunities. Urban roads, day trips into the country visiting one of the quaint small towns dotting the region, a trip along the Columbia River, or a ride into the mountains.
Most Spokane riders are passionate about riding and their motorcycles, but there is a serious side to it all. Motorcycle riders are 28 times more likely to be killed in a crash than motorists according to a report from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
Hummer versus Motorcycle Crash ends in Fatality in Spokane Valley
A motorcycle slammed into a Hummer on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, killing the rider of the bike. The accident happened on East 4th and South McKinnon Road around 7 p.m. Police say that the driver of the Hummer was attempting to turn left and the motorcycle hit the Hummer and was ejected from the bike.
EMS workers tried to revive the 20-year-old rider with CPR at the scene but were unsuccessful. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident is still under investigation, and no charges have been filed as of yet.
The Dreaded Left Turn
Over 40% of all motorcycle versus motor vehicle fatalities come from the driver of a car turning left into the path of the motorcyclist. This happens in three scenarios, first, the oncoming bike smashes into a car that turned left into the bike’s path at an intersection.
Second, the car or truck turns left on a straight stretch of road into the path of an oncoming motorcycle, or third, the motorcycle is passing a motor vehicle on the motorist’s left, and the motorist turns left into the path of the bike.
In most of these cases, the fault is on the motorist. When passing on the left, a motorcycle rider needs to make sure that the road is acceptable for passing, and that the driver isn’t slowing down to take a left turn. Many times when it’s the driver’s fault, it’s because of a phenomenon called “tunneling” where the motorist looks right at the motorcycle but it doesn’t’ register and the driver turns into the path of the rider.
Motorcycle Accident Injuries
At Crary, Clark, Domanico, & Chuang, P.S., we understand the risks to motorcyclists, and we feel strongly that a motorcycle rider should be able to take to the road without the added risk of death or injury because of negligent drivers. We’ve seen many cases where the motorist said that they simply didn’t see the motorcycle.
While it happens fairly often, this doesn’t excuse the driver’s carelessness, and when it happens, we will stand behind the injured motorcycle rider and help them get their life back.
Contact a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer.
Established in Spokane in 1948, Crary, Clark, Domanico, & Chuang, P.S. is committed to providing our clients with the absolute highest quality legal representation. If our Spokane Motorcycle Accident Lawyers represent you for your accident case, you have our assurance that we will use our absolute best efforts to win your case. Contact us after any accident resulting in a serious injury for a free, confidential consultation and case evaluation. We will only offer you advice which is in your best interest.
