Posted on Sunday, July 24th, 2016 at 2:19 am
The Sacramento Bee is reporting that The Elk Grove Police Department is investigating a motorcycle crash at Laguna Park Drive, just south of Laguna Boulevard. A motorcyclist was apparently driving south on Laguna Park Drive when the driver of a four-door sedan traveling in the opposite direction made a left-hand turn in front of the rider.
The driver of the sedan and the two children in the vehicle went to the hospital, but did not appear to be injured. The motorcyclist was also transported to the hospital where he later died from injuries sustained in the motorcycle accident.
Should We Ban Left-Hand Turns On Heavily Traveled Roads?
Matt McFarland made an interesting argument in The Washington Post in April 2014 to ban left hand turns on some roads. Part of his argument is the fact that a large majority of fatal motorcycle crashes involve another vehicle failing to yield the right of way to an oncoming motorcycle. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), thirty-six percent of all fatal motorcycle crashes involve another vehicle making a left-hand turn in front of a motorcyclist.
Because motorcycles are small vehicles, many drivers do not pay enough attention to notice a rider approaching from the other direction. The high percentage of people driving while distracted adds to the problem of left-hand turn accidents involving motorcycles. In many cases, if a driver had been paying more attention to the road, the driver may have seen the motorcyclist and yielded the right of way to avoid a motorcycle crash.
How Can You Avoid A Left-Hand Turn Accident?
If you are a motorcyclist, make yourself more visible by always riding with your front light on and wearing brightly colored clothing. As a driver, you can avoid a left-hand turn accident by:
- Always paying attention to the road. Never drive while distracted by mobile devices, eating, grooming, passengers, or other distractions.
- Make sure to always use proper signals when turning left.
- Slow down as you approach intersections.
- Pause to check and re-check all directions before turning left.
- Never turn left from an outside lane.
- Be conscious that motorcycles, bicyclists, and pedestrians share the road with motor vehicle. Always be on the lookout for riders and pedestrians to avoid an accident.
Seek immediate medical attention, if injured in a left-turn accident. You could have injuries that you are unaware of, such as a closed head injury or internal bleeding, that could become life-threatening without medical attention. As soon as possible, contact a Sacramento motorcycle accident attorney to discuss your legal right to receive compensation from the driver who caused the collision.
Do You Need a Sacramento Personal Injury Attorney?
It is in your best interest to learn about your legal rights before you accept a settlement offer from an insurance company. Call the Tiemann Law Firm at (916) 999-9000 or chat with a representative on our website to schedule a free case evaluation.
