A motorcyclist is in critical condition after colliding with a passenger vehicle in Winston-Salem at speeds of close to 100 mph on Sunday. Police responded to a reported accident at around 4:45 pm at the 100 block of North Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
The motorcyclist, Bryan Vivas, 22, of Kernersville, was driving a Honda CRF450 Dirt Bike motorcycle, heading north on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive at speeds nearing 100 mph. A Dodge Journey SUV, heading south on the same road, started to make a left turn into the intersection at East First Road, when Vivas collided with the SUV and was thrown from his bike. Vivas was taken to a local hospital, where he is being treated for critical injuries.
Less traffic on the roads, but more accidents
Although increased telecommuting has resulted in lighter traffic patterns across the nation since March, the fatality rate does not appear to be going down when factoring in total vehicle miles traveled (VMT). According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the statistical projection for traffic fatalities in the first half of 2020 is estimated to be 2% lower than fatalities during the same period of 2019.
However, the VMT also decreased, by approximately 264.2 billion miles or 16.6%, during that same period in 2020. The NHTSA reported that fatalities were actually up 31% over the same period of 2019 when measured per 100 million VMT.
Motorcyclists and speeding
Bikers are much more likely to experience serious head trauma and catastrophic injury in a collision with a car, and are more likely to be thrown from their bike. Drivers whose vehicles are much larger and higher off the ground do not see motorcyclists either right before a collision, or when it is too late to veer away.
Unfortunately, a third of all motorcycle fatalities occur when the biker is speeding, and many accidents involve alcohol impairment, either of the biker or the motorist. Many accidents also occur when passenger drivers do not give motorcyclists the right of way.
Negligence and compensation
It is important if you or a loved one has been involved in a motorcycle accident to seek a trusted personal injury attorney who will protect your rights and can help you recover compensation for your injuries. Determining the cause of an accident is an important first step in deciding whether the other party was responsible. If the accident was caused by the other driver’s distracted or reckless driving, you can pursue a claim that will hold them liable for your injuries.
