Alaskans enjoy riding motorcycles for a variety of reasons: the freedom, the ease of parking, the fun.
But riding a motorcycle isn’t without risks: motorcyclists don’t have metal frames, seat belts, or airbags, and a collision with another vehicle can be deadly. This is why safety-conscious riders take steps to reduce their risk of accidents and injury. They do things like wear a helmet, wear protective gear, and keep their motorcycles in top shape.
Unfortunately, however, motorcyclists can never completely avoid an accident no matter what they do. They simply can’t control the actions of other drivers or the condition of the roads on which they drive.
This was the case for motorcyclist Daniel Jared Riggs, whose motorcycle was struck while he was stopped behind a line of cars in a work zone on Sterling Highway.
Riggs’s motorcycle was struck by a double tractor-trailer. The driver of the tractor-trailer reported that he didn’t see brake lights and didn’t realize that the motorcycle was stopped. When he realized his mistake, he tried to avoid a collision. The second trailer collided with the motorcycle, knocking Riggs and his motorcycle into the boat trailer in front.
According to the Alaska State Trooper spokesperson, the accident site “had been marked a work zone for the last three miles,” and “there were signs for flaggers ahead and a ‘prepare to stop’ sign.”
As a result, it is confusing as to why the driver of the tractor-trailer didn’t realize that he needed to stop. His actions may have been negligent, and he could be facing personal injury lawsuits from those injured in the crash.
Fortunately, Riggs walked away from the crash with only a minor cut on his leg. His decision to wear a helmet probably saved his life that day.
We’re very glad to hear that this motorcycle accident resulted in only minor injuries. As motorcycle accident lawyers, we know that many others aren’t so lucky. Too many crashes result in serious injury or even the death of the rider.
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, please don’t hesitate to contact the personal injury attorneys at Kelley & Canterbury LLC to learn your options.
Photo Credit: <a href=”https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/8988023051/”>vetaturfumare</a> via <a href=”http://compfight.com”>Compfight</a> <a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/”>cc</a>
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