A motorcyclist was critically injured on August 26, 2010 when another left-turning vehicle caused the crash. This crash occurred in West Jordan Utah when the motorcycle slammed into a car that had turned in front of him. West Jordan police report that the motorcyclist was driving through a yellow light at the intersection of 7800 South and 4800 West when a woman driving a car turned left in front of him. The motorcyclist is 23 years old and the car driver is 19 years old.

The motorcyclist collided with a car and was thrown over 30 feet and the impact with the asphalt knocked off his helmet causing him to suffer a serious skull fracture. Apparently charges are pending against the driver of the car.

Left-turning vehicles are one, if not the major, causes of crashes between vehicles and motorcycles. Almost always the motorcycle rider is seriously injured. With or without a helmet serious injuries will occur when a motorcycle rider crashes into a car. This is a crash that could and should have been prevented. Had the car driver only slowed down and looked this crash would have been averted.

I suggest you read the comments to the KSL article. Most of the comments express sympathy for both the car driver the motorcyclist. I echo the sentiments because a serious crash has long-lasting effects not only on the injured but on the person that causes the crash. My sympathies are extended to both. However, my sympathy is somewhat tempered toward the car driver. This is so because as a lawyer representing many injured motorcycle riders I see so many motorcycle crashes and the severe injuries that result as a result of left-turning drivers that are simply in too much of a rush or simply are not looking out for other vehicles.

Picture Courtesy of KSL

Traumatic brain injuries are costly, not only in terms of what it means to the injured person, but also to the family, and to society. The injured person will have to undergo very invasive surgery and perhaps years of rehabilitation and in the end perhaps never regain full function. The family may lose their breadwinner and a family member. The surgery and rehabilitation is a costly endeavor. Society will of lost a member and the injured person may become a burden on society to pay for his care. Hopefully the car driver carried enough insurance to compensate the injured motorcyclist for all of his injuries. Furthermore, I hope that the motorcyclist had lots of insurance coverage in terms of underinsured coverage and/or uninsured coverage. This civil case, providing that there is enough insurance coverage, the rise into the millions of dollars. I urge the motorcyclist and his family to contact them competent motorcycle injury lawyer because they will need help to determine the insurance coverage available to compensate this man and his family.

As a motorcycle rider myself I am constantly on the lookout for other vehicle drivers. However, all of the 80,000 motorcycle riders on the road today in Utah have to depend on other drivers for their safety, at least in part. Most motorcycle crashes occur at intersections and are caused by the driver of the vehicle and not the motorcyclist. We have to become more aware of motorcyclists. We have to slowdown, we have to look, and look again! Look twice and save a life! Perhaps the district attorney needs to be looking at this case more seriously and consider charges more serious than simply a traffic violation.

Utah Bike Law and its lawyers are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions about your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well. Utah Bike Law and its attorneys are licensed to practice law only in the State of Utah and maintain offices in Salt Lake City, Utah. No attorney client relationship is established by simply visiting this website.