A fatal motorcycle accident occurred just before 5pm Monday in Indianapolis on the city’s east side. The 22-year-old rider was traveling east on Washington Street when the deadly collision took place. As the motorcyclist entered the intersection at Post Road a van heading west on Washington turned south onto Post, crossing directly into the bike’s path.
The motorcycle slammed into the front passenger side of the minivan and the 22-year-old was violently thrown from the bike. When authorities arrived they pronounced him dead on the scene. The 59-year-old driver of the van was treated at the scene for non-life threatening injuries.
One of the more common hazards of riding a motorcycle is your limited visibility to other motorists. Often by the time a motorcycle is seen by another vehicle, it’s already too late for them to prevent an accident, and unfortunately accidents involving motorcycles are more likely to end in serious injury or death.
But there are ways when riding to make sure that you’re seen on a motorcycle. The most important is staying out of the blind spots of other motorists – if you can’t see the driver, the driver probably can’t see you. Also, leave plenty of distance in front of you to give yourself maximum time to maneuver away from dangerous situations.
Smaller details like riding a brightly-colored bike and wearing brightly-colored clothing can make a big difference as well.
By Indiana law “a motorcycle and motor-driven cycle must be equipped with at least one (1) and not more than two (2) head lamps.” It is also only required you use your head lamps between sunrise and sunset, or during any conditions where vehicles or people are not “clearly discernible at five hundred (500) feet ahead.” Despite not being required by laws, it’s more beneficial to have more than one head lamp as it’s easier for other motorist to distinguish the speed of a vehicle with two lights spaced apart. Also, running your lights during the day can improve the chance of you being seen by other motorists.
Taking steps to improve visibility while operating a motorcycle can play a significant role in avoiding more tragic events like the fatal accident in Indianapolis.
Whether we are in another vehicle and struck by a motorist or legally utilizing our Indiana roadways as pedestrians or exercise enthusiasts; we are at risk and by being out there we are trusting that the other guy on the road is doing his best to make sure we all will make it to our destination alive and intact. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.
One of the vehicles involved in the head on collision was a commercial flat bed truck registered in another state; can that affect the legal status of the case? It may indeed, and that is another reason why if you are involved in a car or truck collision of any sort in Indiana you should seek qualified legal representation in a timely manner. Think of it this way; you wouldn’t wait days or weeks to seek medical attention, why would you wait days or weeks to seek legal representation.
seems to be a miracle that other vehicles were not affected. Of course all SUV’s have the warning on their sun visors that remind drivers/owners that SUV’s have a much higher rollover risk; this is not a frivolous caution but rather a warning based in reality.
Thankfully no one was killed. The driver of the van refused medical attention on the scene. The Fort Wayne man was flown by helicopter to a nearby hospital with an injury to his right leg. Both men were lucky to get out of this accident alive.
Where:
Elizabeth Eckland, 29, of Fort Wayne, was hit by a car while crossing the street in the 2000 block of South Anthony Blvd. early Monday morning. Police found her lying in the grass on the side of the road with blood coming out of her left ear.
These men are lucky. Each year close to 5,000 people lose their lives in commercial vehicles accidents, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
