Every decision that drivers make on the roads can affect someone other than themselves. The roads are a shared place, making it crucial for each motorist to drive as though every driver, passenger and pedestrian around him were his own family. One wrong turn, and someone can get hurt or die.
That literally was the case for a pair of victims in a motorcycle accident in Alabama last week. Not only were they injured in a crash, but the driver who was reportedly responsible for their injuries didn't stop to help and report the incident.
The hit-and-run suspect was apprehended. While the victims will hopefully recover, the driver faces criminal charges. He's charged with leaving the scene of an accident causing injuries. From a personal injury perspective, a person in the 21-year-old's situation could also become the target of a civil suit on behalf of the motorcycle crash victims.
Sure, most people who drive motorcycles understand that doing so comes with a certain level of increased risk. Still, people are free to ride and they should be better able to do so without fearing for their lives. Just as in this Mobile accident, too many drivers drive recklessly around motorcycles.
Accident reports indicate that the driver was making a left turn when he hit the motorcycles that were oncoming in his opposite lane. This is a common setup for wrecks that lead to serious and sometimes fatal injuries for motorcyclists. Just because there is high risk for bikers and it is the riders who take the brunt of accidents doesn't make them in any way to blame for their injuries.
Drivers need to follow traffic laws. It is that simple. That means allowing motorcyclists the right of way that they deserve.
Source: al.com, "Mobile man charged with leaving an accident after 2 hospitalized in crash," Theresa Seiger, Nov. 8, 2012
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