Rider Hits Curb and Dies. Who Is Liable for Wible Road Motorcycle Crash?
A woman riding a motorcycle on Wible Road in South Bakersfield crashed and died. Let’s explore the details of the incident and who is liable for the Wible road motorcycle crash with Ehline Law and our Southern California personal injury attorneys.
Woman Hits Curb, Ejects from Motorcycle, and Dies from Injuries
According to the California Highway Patrol, the accident occurred on November 7, 2022, at around 8:30 PM on Wible Road on Wood Lane. The motorcyclist, Jessica Segura, was traveling northbound when she lost control, made an unsafe right turn, and hit the roadside concrete curb.
The impact of the collision ejected the motorcycle rider from her motorcycle and onto a metal sign while her bike crashed into the metal gate. First Responders immediately started attempts to save the motorcycle rider’s life, but she succumbed to her life-threatening injuries and died at the motorcycle accident scene.
The police are investigating the accident, and it is uncertain whether the motorcyclist was on drugs or alcohol before the crash.
Why Is Riding a Motorcycle so Risky?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed that those riding a motorcycle are 29 times more likely to die in a collision than motor vehicle drivers.
Since motorcycles are lightweight vehicles with two wheels that do not protect the motorcycle rider in an enclosed space, riders are more susceptible to serious injuries, even minor motorcycle accidents.
Here are a few reasons why motorcyclists are at risk while riding a motorcycle.
Less Visibility
Motorcycles are less visible to other drivers since they are small and are easily concealed by objects. Drivers are less likely to see motorcycle riders during intersections or when making left-hand turns.
Road Hazards
Cars and other vehicles can easily weather small bumps, cracks, and other imperfections on a road’s surface, but that is not the case with motorcycles.
Even small objects and cracks can cause a motorcyclist to lose control, resulting in a motorcycle accident.
Less Protection
Drivers in a car sit in an enclosed metal structure that protects them in case of an accident. A motorcycle is an open vehicle that does not have safety features like those in a car, such as seat belts or airbags.
Although wearing a motorcycle helmet can provide some level of protection to the head, it does not compare to the protection offered by a car.
Less Stability
Motorcycles are two-wheel vehicles, and at higher speeds, they can start to wobble, increasing the risk of an accident.
Difficult to Handle
Riding a motorcycle requires more skills than driving a passenger vehicle, and unskilled or inexperienced riders contribute to a disproportionate number of motorcycle crashes.
The NHTSA estimates about 25% of all motorcycle accidents involve riders with improper licenses.
High-risk Behavior
With faster acceleration and high speeds, motorcycles are fun to ride, but these characteristics also encourage high-risk behaviors, which can increase the risk of a motorcycle accident.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
The following are some common causes of motorcycle accidents.
Alcohol and Drug Use
Traffic safety facts published in 2018 by the NHTSA revealed that 30% of the motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes had a Blood Alcohol Level over the legal limits, and 45% had some alcohol in their system.
Drinking alcohol before riding a motorcycle can:
- Slow down reaction time
- Impair judgment and reasoning
- Impair balance and coordination.
Speed
In a 2017 study by the NHTSA, an estimated 31% of all fatal motorcycle accidents involved speeding.
Corners and clear straights may be tempting to speed on, but they can also pose a serious accident risk. Those riding a motorcycle at high speeds may be unable to brake and stop at a red light resulting in a motorcycle crash.
Inexperience and Distraction
It is important for riders to receive training on how to ride a motorcycle and learn skills that can help them prevent accidents in certain situations. Shockingly, in 2020, the NHTSA reported that 36% of all motorcycle riders involved in fatal accidents did not have a valid license.
Another huge factor in all vehicle accidents, including motorcycles, is distraction. Numerous medical studies point to the fact that the brain cannot multi-task but instead switches between tasks rapidly.
Everyone riding a motorcycle must keep their eyes on the road and avoid distractions, such as talking on the phone or looking around.
Mechanical Problems
Inadequate maintenance can increase the risk of mechanical problems in any vehicle, including a motorcycle.
Your brakes might fail in moments when you require them the most, or a tire may blow out from all the wear and tear. You can easily prevent accidents caused by mechanical problems by carrying out routine motorcycle maintenance.
Weather and Seasons
Each season and change in weather affects the road surfaces differently, and riders need the experience and skills to adapt to that.
For example, during the fall season, fallen leaves on the road can cause traction issues with a motorcycle. During rainy periods, the road surface might be extra slippery to ride on, making it a severe hazard to motorcyclists.
Roadway Conditions
One of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents is roadway conditions. Gravel, sand, leaves, cracked roads, bumps, potholes, and other signs of poorly maintained roads can be a hazard for a motorcyclist.
Who Is Liable for Wible Road Motorcycle Crash?
According to a news release, no other motorists were on the road in the above accident. It is too early to say anything about who the at-fault party is in the accident without conducting a proper investigation.
Perhaps it was the rider who was the at-fault driver; maybe they were speeding, or perhaps the bad weather made the road slippery, and the rider did not have enough experience to handle her motorcycle in such conditions. Since the police have not yet ruled out alcohol or drugs, that could be the cause of the Wible road accident.
Besides the rider, it could be possible that the government was responsible for the accident. Perhaps there was a pothole in the road, and the rider did not see the hazard due to inadequate lighting, resulting in the losing control of her vehicle.
A trial (Garcia v. Chuy’s Tire Service) involving a tire tread separating accident that caused a vehicle rollover accident, resulting in two deaths, is going on. It is also possible that a tire service company was negligent in maintaining the motorbike, causing the Wible road accident.
An experienced personal injury attorney can help investigate the cause of the accident to determine the negligent party. Suppose the motorcycle accident occurred due to someone else’s negligence. In that case, the surviving family members might be able to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit against them to recover damages, including funeral and burial expenses, loss of consortium, loss of future wages, and more.
Proving Negligence in a Wrongful Death Motorcycle Accident
The person suing the at-fault party for the wrongful death must prove the following four elements:
- The defendant owed the decedent a legal duty
- The defendant breached that duty
- The defendant’s breach caused the end of the deceased
- The plaintiff suffered damages from the defendant’s negligence.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Ehline Law
If you lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident, contact us at (833) LETS-SUE for a free consultation on the motorcycle accident case, as you may be eligible for compensation. Our attorneys can help investigate the accident, gather evidence, and pursue legal action against the at-fault party’s insurance company to get you the compensation you deserve.
