Tragic Baytown Motorcycle Accident Left Father Dead
On the night of July 1st, a truck struck a man on a motorcycle as he was on his way to the store.
Details About the Incident
According to local authorities, the accident occurred on W. Baker Rd and Hemlock Dr. The victim was riding his motorcycle at around 11:30 p.m going southbound on W. Baker road.
The driver of the truck attempted to make a left turn on Hemlock and ultimately slammed into the motorcyclist, who was rushed to the nearest hospital and later confirmed deceased by local authorities.
Baytown PD took the driver into custody and are determining if intoxicated driving played a factor leading to the accident.
A Brief Overview of Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents are one of the most lethal types of vehicular accidents that can occur, causing severe injuries to the human body and mind if survived.
A 2018 report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association revealed that motorcyclists are 28 times more at risk of dying in a motor vehicle accident in comparison to passenger car occupants.
The same report also indicated that a total number of 4,985 motorcyclist fatalities across the U.S. occurred that same year, tallying up to 14% of the country’s overall traffic-related fatalities.
Additionally, Texas single-handedly accounted for 8.3% of all motorcycle-related accident fatalities in the U.S. with 418 deaths in 2018. Shockingly enough, it was reported that 49% of those Texas motorcyclists that passed were not wearing any sort of protective headgear prior to their accidents.
The Dangers of Driving Under the Influence
Let’s face it: no one should ever drive intoxicated, yet unfortunately, far too many fatalities occur as a result of this action and can leave an everlasting scar on victims, and their families forever.
In fact, in 2018, one person died tragically every 50 minutes in the U.S. as a direct result of drunk driving. Within that same report, it was concluded that intoxicated driving-related fatalities accounted for 29% of all traffic-related fatalities across the country in 2018 with a total number of 10,511 reported deaths, 940 of which occurred in Texas that same year.
Important Safety Tips for Motorcyclist
In order to ride in a safe manner, it is vital to keep the following tips in mind, especially at later hours:
- Wear the necessary safety gear : This includes a motorcycle helmet as well as the appropriate gear like gloves, heavy long-sleeved shirts, jackets, pants, reflective gear, and boots to protect your hands, arms, legs, and feet.
- Make yourself visible, and remain vigilant to your surroundings at all times: While you may think other drivers may be able to see you, many cases happen where a driver ultimately fails to see a motorcyclist until the very last second, causing a traumatic crash. Always make yourself visible to others as much as you possibly can and stay out of possible blind spots.
- Ride responsibly: As a rider, you carry the same responsibility to follow the same traffic rules and regulations as a driver would on the road. This includes not causing any sort of hazard to others, refraining from driving intoxicated, and keeping your eyes on the road ahead of you at all times.
The Road to Recovery Begins With a Consultation
While it is never easy to lose a loved one as a result of a tragic accident, there is a way to seek justice for them. The compassionate and caring Houston motorcycle accident lawyers of Lapeze & Johns can guide those surviving family members into seeking financial relief for their loved one and will walk them through the entire legal process every step of the way.
Our attorneys will stop at nothing in regards to seeking the justice you deserve and will hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions in a civil court.
Contact Lapeze & Johns today to schedule a FREE no-obligation consultation!
Schedule My FREE Consultation
Source: ABC13
