MAUI, Hawaii — A Kula man is in critical condition after a Sunday evening collision that ejected him from his motorcycle.
The victim, 28, was riding his 2022 Yamaha MT-03 in Makawao shortly after 7:30 p.m. when he struck the side of an orange 2017 Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck that was exiting a parking area onto Makawao Avenue near Ai Street.
The motorcyclist was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center, where he remains in critical condition after suffering life-threatening injuries. The truck driver was treated at the hospital for minor injuries but has been released.
“Our thoughts are with the family of the motorcyclist who is fighting for his life after this crash,” said Paul Starita, a partner with Singleton Schreiber.
Young men are disproportionately likely to have fatal motor vehicle accidents, especially when drugs or alcohol are involved.
Police are still investigating the circumstances leading up to the collision to determine whether speed, alcohol or drugs were involved.
Data from the National Safety Council indicates that motorcycles account for less than 1% of total vehicle miles traveled in the United States, but 15% of the traffic fatalities. In all, more than 6,200 motorcyclists were killed in accidents in 2022, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
If drugs or alcohol were involved, an otherwise avoidable accident would become much more likely. Reaction times can be negatively impacted with a blood alcohol content as low as 0.02%, well below the legal limit for intoxication. And men under the age of 30 are over 50% more likely to get in a fatal accident while under the influence than their female counterparts.
“It doesn’t do much good to simply speculate on whether any of the parties involved in a crash was impaired by drugs or alcohol at the time,” Starita said. “That’s why a thorough investigation that gets to the bottom of the circumstances around this crash is so important.”
“Victims of motor vehicle accidents and their families may want to consider contacting a personal injury attorney,” he continued. “While we can’t bring back deceased victims or heal injuries, attorneys are there to help you understand what legal recourse you have and potentially lessen the financial burden that you have to bear after an incident like this.”
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle crash, contact Singleton Schreiber by email at info@singletonschreiber.com.
