The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, declared May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.
Utilizing the tagline “Share the road” the NHTSA cautions all motorists to be wary of motorcyclists. And in addition urging motorcyclists to take necessary actions to make themselves visible to all drivers on the road.
The second component of motorcycle safety campaign is urging motorcyclists to ride sober, according to NHTSA statistics the percentage of intoxicated motorcycle riders in fatal crashes is greater than the percentage of intoxicated drivers on our roads. Alcohol consumption hinders balance and coordination, both essential to riding a motorcycle.
Attorney Fred Pritzker explains the unique perils motorcyclists face on the road:
“Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable in situations involving impaired or distracted drivers. Even under optimal conditions, inattentive drivers crash into motorcycles. Texting, talking on a cell phone or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs increases the frequency and severity of those collisions.
In the past year alone, we represented:
- a motorcycle driver who lost his leg and suffered a severe traumatic brain injury when he was hit by a left-turning delivery truck operated by a driver who was using drugs;
- a motorcycle driver who suffered a below-the knee amputation after being hit a by the operator of a left turning SUV who was talking on his cell phone;
- a motorcycle driver whose neck was broken and his leg badly fractured in a crash caused by a driver who lost control of his vehicle while he was looking at a car battery on the side of the road.
Over the years, we’ve obtained recoveries in excess of $50 Million Dollars on behalf of motorcyclists injured or killed by drunk or distracted drivers. It’s an all-too-common problem and it needs to change.”
For more information contact Fred Pritzker by phone at 1-888-877-8900 or email at fhp@pritzkerlaw.com