A motorcyclist is dead after an accident on Sept. 19 in Columbus. His Harley-Davidson was hit by a minivan driven by a Salem, Ala. woman. Both he and his wife were in the state to attend the Georgia HOG Rally. According to the coroner from Muscogee County, the man died at the Midtown Medical Center at about 10:19 a.m. An autopsy has been scheduled. The driver who hit the biker was taken into custody and charged with vehicular homicide and cited for a traffic light violation. She was released from the Muscogee County Jail after posting bond.
The accident occurred on Victory Drive near the Econo Lodge when the biker, who started entering the intersection, was hit by a 64-year-old minivan driver who did not stop at a red light while making a left turn. According to witnesses, the minivan dragged the motorcyclist for around 75 feet under the van’s carriage. Another motorcyclist saw the woman on her cellphone moments following the accident, and authorities are checking to see if she was using the phone when the accident happened.
As in this case, a fatal motorcycle crash often happens at intersections when one driver fails to stop at a traffic signal, and failure to follow the directions of traffic controlling signals may be used as evidence of negligence and liability in a civil case against an allegedly at-fault driver.
In order to be compensated for the losses associated with a fatal accident, a victim’s dependents may decide to file a wrongful death suit. An attorney may help by building a strong negligence case based on accident reports and witness accounts.
Source: Ledger Enquirer , “Update: Salem woman charged in fatal crash with motorcycle on Victory Drive “, Tiffany Stevens , September 20, 2014
