Posted in Motorcycle Safety,Personal Injury on October 20, 2016
Serious Injuries Reported after Head-On Collision Involving Motorcycle and Car
A motorcyclist was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center via LifeFlight helicopter after being involved in a serious accident with another vehicle on Wednesday.
According to a report by Clarksville Now, the accident occurred at around 7 a.m. in Montgomery County at the intersection of Madison Street and Highway 76 when the motorcycle crashed head-on into a white sedan.
In addition to causing the motorcyclist to suffer serious injuries, the accident also caused traffic to backup for around 90 minutes and created major delays during the morning rush hour, as the roadway was reduced to just one lane as police worked to investigate the crash and clear the scene.
Anyone with information about the accident is asked to contact Clarksville’s CrimeStoppers TIPS hotline at (931) 645-TIPS or the Clarksville Police Department Traffic Unit at (931) 648-0656.
4 Things All Drivers Should Know about Motorcycles
Cars, trucks, and SUVs outnumber motorcycles on roadways in Middle Tennessee. But that doesn’t mean drivers shouldn’t be prepared to encounter motorcycles on highways and interstates.
The next time you head out on the roadway, keep these tips in mind to help reduce your risk of being involved in an accident with a motorcyclist:
Drivers are conditioned to watch out for other passenger and industrial vehicles. However, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians are also common sights on roadways. But unlike bicyclists and pedestrians, motorcyclists are capable of traveling at the same speed as other vehicles, and that means they can quickly come around turns or over hills and into your vehicle’s path. That’s why it’s vital to keep an eye out for them at all times of day and to always look both ways twice before crossing a street or entering an intersection.
One of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents is drivers turning left at intersections or across medians. Drivers who are stopped and waiting to turn left are often looking only for other vehicles before they accelerate—not motorcycles. Simply knowing that making a left turn is one of the biggest risk factors for causing motorcycle accidents can help you significantly decrease your chances of striking or colliding with a motorcyclist.
Motorcycles are significantly smaller than even the most compact passenger vehicles. Because of their small size, some drivers may fail to give motorcyclists the amount of space they need to maneuver, and they may even begin drifting into motorcyclists’ lanes. To help keep motorcyclists safe, always give them as much room as you would give other vehicles and never follow them too closely.
Many drivers are used to watching the movements of other vehicles and the use of brake lights and turn signals, but you can’t always apply the same principles to motorcycles. For example, motorcycle turn signals aren’t self-canceling, and motorcyclists don’t always slow down at the same time as drivers of passenger vehicles when they’re preparing to turn. Instead of relying on lights and signals, watch the motorcycle itself to determine where it’s going and when it’s slowing down.
Motorcyclists have only helmets and riding gear to protect them from serious injuries in the event of accidents. When drivers do their part and give motorcyclists plenty of room and keep an eye out for them on the roadway, they can significantly decrease the risks that motorcyclists face on a daily basis.
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident or a car accident that was caused by a negligent driver, you shouldn’t have to pay for expensive medical bills out of pocket—especially when you’re too hurt to go back to work and earn a paycheck.
At Matt Hardin Law, our Clarksville motorcycle accident attorneys understand the challenges you’re facing at this time, and we’ll fight to help you get the compensation you deserve. To find out how we can assist you, just dial (931) 274-7788 or complete our free online consultation form.
