Like any metropolitan area with heavy traffic, Houston experiences serious vehicle accidents every day. It has never been more important to drive carefully. This is especially true for motorcyclists, who are both harder for other drivers to see and more likely to be injured in a collision with a larger vehicle. Here are just a few of the recent motorcycle accidents that have occurred in the Houston area:
On November 13, 2016, a motorcyclist was thrown from his bike after failing to negotiate a curve in the highway. He died at the scene. The Houston Police Department told reporters the motorcycle had been traveling at a high rate of speed.
On January 16, 2017, Dominique Jones was driving her Suzuki motorcycle at a high rate of speed when she crashed into a passenger truck. Jones died at the scene.
At 3:51 a.m. on April 1, 2017, a motorcyclist was killed after colliding into the back of a cement truck. The cement truck had been attempting to change lanes. The motorcyclist – who was traveling at a fast speed – was unable to avoid it.
On April 8, 2017, Michael Gother was driving a 2006 Harley Davidson. He swerved to avoid a vehicle ahead of him, which was making a left-hand turn. Gother skidded off the road and was thrown from his bike. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. Texas DPS officials noted that Gother was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.
What Can Motorcyclists Do to Stay Safe?
There are some common themes in these tragic accidents that can help motorcycle riders stay safe in the future:
- Be vigilant in watching for obstructions. Debris in the road, vehicles ahead of you, and other obstacles should be identified as early as possible.
- Watch your speed. The best way to avoid a collision is to allow yourself enough stopping distance to safely respond to obstacles in the road.
- Always wear a helmet. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that, for every 100 motorcyclists killed while not wearing a helmet, 37 of them could have been saved by wearing a helmet.
Contact an Experienced Houston Motorcycle Accident Attorney Today
If you’ve been involved in an accident or have other questions about motorcycle driver liability, contact the experienced team at Stewart J. Guss, Attorney at Law. You can also call 800-898-4877 to schedule a free consultation. We provide the personalized attention you need to get the compensation you deserve.