Motorcyclist Died in Crash in Garner, North Carolina

GARNER, NC- Abc11.com writes that a motorcyclist died in a crash with another vehicle this week near the Garner shopping center. The collision occurred when a 2005 Lincoln made a left turn into the shopping center and cut into the motorcyclist’s path.*

Responders rushed the victim to the hospital where he died. The occupants of the other vehicle did not sustain any injuries. 

Left turning cars and larger vehicles create a major risk for motorcycles. Drivers who are trying to make a left turn often fail to look out for smaller vehicles. Psychological studies indicate that drivers often just fail to notice motorcycles because they are not expecting them.  When a car or truck turns in front of a motorcyclist, the crash may be minor for the car, and deadly for the motorcyclist.

Drivers are obligated to share the road with motorcycles. There is no excuse for drivers who enter the path of a motorcycle that is approaching. However, since motorcyclists are the ones who suffer the consequences, there are things that riders can do to improve their safety. Of course, it is essential to be alert at intersections and to look for vehicles that might be making turns- slowing down while approaching intersections is a good idea. Motorcyclists can also improve their likelihood of being seen by others on the road by wearing fluorescent or reflective clothing. These vehicles need to have headlights on whenever lighting is dim.

While left turn crashes that kill motorcyclists are often the fault of the driver, and not the motorcyclists, laying blame is less important than staying safe. Motorcycles provide little protection. Riders should remain alert and always use a helmet that is approved by the Department of Transportation.

Accident News is a safety and education initiative from Montlick & Associates, designed to help people better understand and thereby avoid common accident causes.  To learn more about our injury prevention programs, including iridesafe.com - click here. We hope you are never in an accident, but if you or family member are injured, call Montlick & Associates 24/7 for your free consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333) or use our live chat at Montlick.com.

Sources:https://abc11.com/traffic/motorcyclist-killed-in-crash-near-garner-shopping-center/5720529/ and https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/motr/motorcycles-are-missed-because-drivers-arent-looking-for-them.html and https://www.nsc.org/road-safety/safety-topics/motorcycle-safety