A 31-year-old motorcyclist was taken to the hospital suffering from major injuries after crashing into a truck in the Lincoln Park area of San Diego on April 29th in the middle of the night.
The male rider was driving a black 2009 Harley Davidson and was heading south on Euclid Avenue just after 8 PM, according to the San Diego Police Department. A 70-year-old man is the known driver of a black 2005 Dodge Ram truck that collided with the motorcyclist after making a left-hand turn in the dedicated left-turn lane for southbound traffic. The man ultimately got in the motorcycle’s path according to SDPD. The rider of the motorcycle slid about 40-feet after dropping the motorcycle and hit the right side of the truck’s panels.
Officer Robert Heims of the San Diego Police Department said the rider of the Harley had to “lay down the bike” as he saw the collision with the truck coming. For motorcycle riders, this is a common tactic to avoid even more serious injury; however, the rider was still hurt even with evasive action.
The motorcyclist was taken to the hospital with a collapsed lung as well as left femur and pelvic fractures. The names of the rider or driver of the truck have not yet been released to the public. The San Diego Traffic Collision is still investigating the unfortunate incident.
“This terrible incident is one of many that have taken place in San Diego that have harmed motorcyclists within the city,” said Gerald Singleton at Singleton Schreiber. “My thoughts are with the family of the victim, and I hope for their speedy recovery.”
Singleton Schreiber motorcycle accident attorneys can be reached at 619-367-7768 or by emailing info@singletonschreiber.com.
Lincoln Park Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents within San Diego have been on a significant rise leading to various injuries, which can be extremely severe due to the riders being exposed, as well as other factors. According to data provided by the Office of Traffic and Safety in 2020 about 353 victims in San Diego were killed or injured in motorcycle accidents in that year alone. The leading causes of motorcycle accidents are due to the following reasons:
- Reckless Driving – Reckless driving can take many forms whether it be reckless or aggressive methods on the road, the ultimate consequence is colliding with another driver. Motorcyclists are more prone to being drawn into these negligent scenarios since drivers do not see them when acting recklessly and are not aware of their surroundings. As a result, motorcyclists are seriously injured or killed out on the roads every day.
- Excessive Speeding – Drivers not driving the legal speed limit required by law are always prone to lose control of their vehicles and cause severe harm to other drivers. Specific factors that have been known to injure motorcyclists are sharp left-turns at extensive speeds or hitting debris, which can make you wipe out or crash easily.
- Intoxicated Driving – Intoxicated driving is unfortunately the leading cause of many traffic collisions out on the road. This type of driving almost always leads to fatal or severe injuries. Drunk driving or driving under the influence of substances is never recommended, it causes severe impairments to one’s actions, instincts, and awareness. Motorcyclists are often on the receiving end of these collisions due to them being harder to visually see or anticipate.
The lives of motorcyclists in San Diego are put in jeopardy when the public is not made aware of leading causes and/or reasons as to why motorcycle accidents occur. The following are severe injuries that they commonly face if involved in a crash:
- Head or facial injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Lacerations or road rash
- Whiplash
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
A major reason that these riders face intensive injuries is because they are almost always completely exposed while operating their motorcycles. The only protection they have when hit by a vehicle is a helmet on their head, but even then, some helmets are faulty and do not serve their complete purpose. Faulty helmets are due to manufacturers not abiding by safety regulations set in place to protect the rider. Manufacturers cut corners or use poor materials that in turn cause a defect in manufacturing or design.
“Motorcyclists such as the one injured in this tragic accident deserve to operate and drive on San Diego roads without the fear of being involved in a deadly crash,” said Mr. Singleton. “With the list of injuries he suffered, his medical bills will be extensive. He’s likely due compensation and it seems from details so far that he was not at fault for this crash. He or his family should seek legal counsel as soon as he’s able.”
To contact San Diego motorcycle accident lawyers at Singleton Schreiber please call 619-367-7768 or email info@singletonschreiber.com.
