Houston, TX
A fatal motorcycle crash that occurred in the early morning hours of Sunday, November 22, 2020, around 4:30 a.m., highlights the importance of drivers keeping a proper lookout for motorcycles. The driver of a black Maserati was pulling out from a private drive onto Richmond (near Hillcroft) making a left turn across traffic when the motorcycle crash occurred. Before he could cross the eastbound lanes to get to the center lane, he was struck by the approaching motorcycle. The motorcycle operator was killed.
Intoxication Not a Factor in Fatal Motorcycle Crash
The driver of the Maserati remained at the scene and voluntarily gave a blood draw to the police. He was found not to be intoxicated. The driver indicated to police that he saw the approaching motorcyclist but thought he had time to make it across. The 46-year-old victim of the fatal motorcycle crash was believed to be traveling at a high rate of speed. It appears to be simply a case of misjudged time and distance.
Take a Second Look Before You Leap
According to research done by the National Safety Council, the majority of fatal crashes happen on Saturday nights. Judging the speed and distance of an approaching vehicle at night is difficult due to the limitations on visibility. This can be made even more difficult by things such as the weather, poor lighting, single-headlight motorcycles vs dual-headlight vehicles, traffic conditions, driver fatigue, driver distraction, and driver intoxication.
Next time you find yourself trying to judge whether you have time to pull out across traffic before an approaching vehicle arrives, ask yourself how sure you are about making it across. Can you really tell the speed of the approaching vehicle? If there is any question at all, take an extra moment to let the vehicle pass. Getting there sooner is simply never worth risking a life.
Talk to an Attorney
If you have questions about the obligations of vehicle drivers and/or motorcycle riders to keep proper lookouts to avoid a fatal motorcycle crash, call a motorcycle accident attorney who offers a free consultation. Knowing your obligations could be the difference between life and death for someone.
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