A spotlight was placed on motorcycle awareness and safety in May. National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month is designed to highlight the risks that motorcyclists face and encourage drivers of conventional vehicles and larger vehicles across the nation to be more cognizant to avoid crashes. Since motorcyclists are naturally vulnerable to injuries and death in an accident, it is imperative to try and share the road with them. Despite that, there were still four fatal motorcycle accidents in and around St. Louis in May.
A substantial risk to motorcyclists is when there are vehicles turning in front of them, and the accidents in May were no exception. A 21-year-old man died at the beginning of the month when a pickup truck turned into his path.
In mid-May, another 21-year-old man died after crashing into the side of an SUV. A 41-year-old man was hit by a Chevy Impala in the last week of May and died. Finally, a man on a motorized scooter was killed when a minivan that was trying to turn into a shopping area went into the 79-year-old rider’s path.
Motorcycle accidents do not discriminate based on age. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says there were just shy of 5,300 fatal motorcycle accidents in the U.S. in 2016. That was a rise of approximately 5 percent from the year before.
In Missouri, the NHTSA says there were 118 fatal motorcycle accidents in 2016. The National Safety Council estimates that 40 percent of fatal motorcycle accidents stem from drivers turning left and into the path of a motorcyclist.
The lack of protection that motorcyclists have when riding is one major factor in these fatalities. But, drivers who speed, are distracted, under the influence and change lanes in an improper manner are known causes of these motorcycle accidents. When losing a loved one in a fatal motorcycle accident, there are inevitable issues that must be addressed, including funeral expenses, lost companionship, pain and suffering, lost wages and more. The investigation into these accidents can be key to gaining compensation in a legal filing. A law firm that is experienced in helping clients after motor vehicle accidents can be of assistance.