Galveston Motorcycle Crashes: Multiple Bikers Were Killed on I-45
In the first week of November 2022, multiple motorcycle accidents occurred on I-45, resulting in several deaths. Let’s explore the details of the Galveston motorcycle crashes with Ehline Law and our Texas motorcycle personal injury attorneys.
Separate Motorcycle Crashes Happened, Resulting in Multiple Deaths in Galveston
A Crash Happened near Bay Area Race Way, Causing One Death and Three Bikers Injured
On November 4, 2022, a major crash occurred on the I-45, resulting in the death of a 45-year-old man.
A distress call received by the local police authorities reported the devastating accident on the I-5 involving five vehicles. When the Dickinson police arrived at the scene, they pronounced the 45-year-old man, Julio Caceres, dead. Emergency Services provided first aid treatment at the accident scene to the three drivers injured in the multi-vehicle accident.
From initial investigations, the deceased was traveling northbound on his motorcycle before crashing. According to the Dickinson police, the accident happened near Bay Area Race Way at the 3800 block around 10:50 PM.
Investigations are still underway, and so far, there is no information on the cause of the multiple-vehicle accident.
Motorcyclist Pronounced Dead at Seawall Boulevard with Witnesses Stating Mechanical Issues as the Cause
On November 5, 2022, the next day, following the crash of the 45-year-old motorcyclist, another accident occurred in Galveston.
This time, the accident occurred on the 7700 Block of Seawall Boulevard and was a single-vehicle accident involving a motorcycle.
According to the Galveston police department, the accident occurred at 3:58 PM, and when officers arrived at the scene, witnesses told officers what they saw.
All the witnesses stated that the motorcyclist was heading eastbound when the motorcycle started experiencing a mechanical issue before losing control and eventually crashing.
When first responders arrived at the accident scene, they immediately took the motorcyclist to UTMB Health for medical treatment as the rider suffered life-threatening injuries.
The Galveston police department is currently investigating the cause of the incident.
A Motorcyclist Was Pronounced Dead After Running a Stop Sign and Crashing into a Jeep
The same day, on November 5, 2022, a couple of hours later, the Galveston police department received a distress call requiring immediate help with an accident on the 3700 block of Avenue J.
The motorcyclist was pronounced dead when the police arrived at the accident scene. According to witness accounts, the motorcyclist was traveling westbound and ran a red light before crashing into a white jeep.
Upon impact, the 39-year-old motorcyclist, Dwight Ball, a Houston resident, got ejected from the motorcycle and suffered fatal injuries, resulting in his death.
According to the Galveston Police Department spokeswoman Sgt Stacy Papillion, two people in the jeep at the time of the accident suffered minor injuries from the crash, with one transported to the University of Texas Medical Branch hospital for medical treatment.
The Galveston Police Department immediately assigned the investigation to its crash team.
Motorcyclist Gets Run over to Death after Getting Ejected from the Motorcycle on the Northbound Lanes
The following day, November 6, 2022, a motorcyclist died along the I-45 on Gulf Freeway near the Texas City Wye.
According to Sheriff Henry Trochesse, the motorcyclist hit something on the Gulf Freeway and got ejected from the motorcycle. Several motor vehicles ran over the motorcyclist resulting in his death.
The police have held the motorcyclist’s identity pending notification of his next of kin.
The “Legendary American” Lone Star Rally Happens Every Year
A Lone Star Rally is a four-day motorcycle rally held in Galveston, Texas, attracting bikers and bike enthusiasts from around the United States. About 400,000 people and an estimated 150,000 motorcycles attend the rally annually, making it North America’s largest motorcycle rally.
For a rally of nearly half a million people, the small number of accidents shows the responsibility and care taken by the biker community. However, even one accident is too many, especially if the injuries or death were preventable.
Motorcycle Accident Statistics in Texas
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, 519 motorcyclists died in 2021 in motorcycle accidents, a staggering 7% increase over 2020. What’s shocking is that even though motorcycles comprise 2% of all motor vehicles in the Lone Star state, they accounted for 12% of fatalities in 2021.
In Austin, there was a significant increase in motorcycle accidents in the first half of 2022. Fourteen motorcyclists died in the city, a 75% increase over the eight deaths during the same months in 2021. The first half of 2022 equaled the total number of motorcycle deaths in 2021.
Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Lone Star Texas Rally
Some motorcycle accidents occur around the United States, including Texas, because of the rider’s negligence. However, many motorcycle accidents occur because of another driver’s negligence.
One of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents is the failure of motorists to detect motorcycles due to the vehicle’s small size. It makes it difficult for a driver in a pickup truck or any other vehicle to see a motorbike, especially if it is within the vehicle’s blind spot or hindered by another object. A motorcycle’s low visibility is an unfortunate characteristic that can result in a motorcycle accident.
Besides low visibility, there are other causes of motorcycle accidents in Texas, including the following.
Left Turns
A significant number of motorcycle crashes occur when the driver or the motorcyclist makes a left turn.
In some cases, a driver fails to see the motorcycle’s turn signal; in other cases, the driver fails to see the motorbike when making an inadvertently left turn.
It can be difficult for a driver to spot a motorcyclist in their blind spot even if they look into the side-view mirrors, which is why they must practice defensive driving techniques.
Hazardous Road Conditions
Since motorcycles are less stable than other vehicles due to their lightweight, they can easily lose traction on wet surfaces, leaves, sand, or gravel, causing the motorcyclist to lose control.
Bumps, cracks, and potholes are serious hazards for motorcycles and are often critical factors in many motorcycle accidents.
Speeding
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2017, 31% of all motorcycle accidents in the United States involved speeding.
At higher speeds, the front wheel of a motorcycle may wobble, increasing the risk of an accident. Motorcycles are also quick to reach top speeds, and riders may be unaware of how fast they are driving the motorbike. Suddenly braking in emergencies at top speeds often fails to slow down the motorbike or causes the motorcycle to slip, resulting in a severe accident.
Alcohol Use
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety report in 2020 revealed that 27% of fatally injured motorcyclists had a BAC greater than the legal limits. In single-vehicle crashes, this was 41%.
It is not just drunk riders that result in devastating motorcycle accidents but also intoxicated drivers. According to the Department of Transportation, 33% of motorcycle-related deaths involve intoxicated drivers or riders.
Alcohol can seriously impair the balance, coordination, reasoning, and judgment of riders and drivers, and it even slows down their reaction time, resulting in a motorcycle crash.
Can You Sue for Injuries in a Lone Star Rally Motorcycle Accident?
There is nothing wrong with joining the Lone Star Rally among fellow bikers and enthusiasts for a bit of open-breeze fun. However, it is crucial to excise caution and ensure reasonable care when riding a motorcycle during or after the rally.
When someone suffers injuries in a motorcycle accident due to another’s negligence, they can pursue legal action against the at-fault party, whether it is another rider, motorist, or government agency.
An injured victim can recover medical bills, lost wages, property damage, reduced quality of life, and other damages. If someone loses a loved one in a motorcycle accident, surviving family members can pursue funeral and burial costs, loss of consortium, and more.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Ehline Law
If you’ve suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident or lost a loved one, you must speak to an experienced personal injury attorney to learn more about your legal options. Contact us at (833) LETS-SUE for a free consultation on your case.
