Memphis Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Discuss Failure to Yield Accidents
An accident this past September in Rutherford County serves as a tragic reminder of what can happen when the driver of an automobile fails to yield to a motorcycle rider. On September 13, 2014, a husband and wife were out for a motorcycle ride on the husband’s bike. As the husband drove his motorcycle down the road, the driver of a vehicle which was traveling in the opposite direction made a left turn across the lane where the motorcycle was, without yielding to the motorcycle. The car struck the motorcycle, and both the husband and wife were hospitalized. While the wife survived the crash, the husband died from his injuries shortly after the accident.
Failure to yield accidents involving cars and motorcycles happen more often than anyone would like to admit. Similar accidents happen when one car or truck turns across the lane where another is traveling, but the amount of injury and damage is usually far less than it is in situations where one of the vehicles is a motorcycle. When the driver of a passenger vehicle fails to a motorcycle, the rider of the motorcycle does not have enough time to react, and they usually collide with the vehicle, resulting in death or serious injury.
Failure to yield accidents happen in places where both lanes of traffic are moving, as well as at intersections. Sometimes, distracted driving, driving under the influence of alcohol, or aggressive driving play a role in preventing the driver of the vehicle from seeing the motorcycle and choosing to leave the rider enough time and space to pass by safely. At other times, there is no complicating factor, and the driver of the vehicle simply does not see the motorcycle until it is too late to avoid a crash.
In failure to yield motorcycle accidents, it is important to remember that while the motorcycle usually strikes the car, this is not any indication of rider error. All too often, when people think about car accidents, they think of the victims as the driver and passengers in the vehicle which was struck. This common misperception can cause problems during the investigation of the accident, because witnesses may believe that the rider was at fault for the accident when in reality it was the driver of the car. The potential bias of witnesses is an indication that the accident must be investigated fully so that more objective information about the crash may be obtained.
The victims of failure to yield accidents are often killed or severely injured. Some of the injuries that are often found in victims of failure to yield accidents include paralysis, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, concussions, and broken bones.
If you have been hurt or someone that you love has been killed in a failure to yield motorcycle accident, the caring and dedicated Memphis Motorcycle Accident Attorneys at Bailey & Greer, PLLC are here to help you. To learn more, please call us today, at 901-680-9777 to schedule a time to discuss your case.
Since graduating magna cum laude in 2005 from the University of Memphis School of Law, Thomas has helped make a difference in the lives of victims of serious personal injury, wrongful death, and professional negligence. Thomas has extensive trial experience in both state and federal court. Among other victories in the courtroom, Thomas obtained several impressive jury verdicts and settlements
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