Two motorcyclists were weaving in and out of traffic on Interstate 15 last weekend when one of the motorcyclists crashed into the back of another vehicle, a Jeep Wrangler, and was thrown from his bike. The man was thrown from his bike and into the highway before he was transported to a San Diego, California, hospital with serious injuries.
Car accidents involving motorcycles can be especially dangerous for the motorcycle rider, since they lack virtually all of the safety features that most cars have. Motorcycles also pose a greater risk for riders because they cannot always be readily seen by other motorists. Motorcycles are much smaller than a car and can easily disappear into the blind spot of another driver, especially at night, since motorcycles don’t have as many headlights or other safety lights.
Drivers should always take extra precautions to look out for motorcyclists on the road, but when a motorcyclist is breaking traffic laws, there may not be much a driver can do to avoid an accident. In this case the motorcyclists appear to have been weaving in and out of highway lanes and possibly passing vehicles in the process. The driver of the Wrangler might not have had a chance to avoid an accident, seeing as the motorcycle rear-ended the Jeep.
California has laws against racing on public highways, and if the injured motorcyclist or his companion were found to be violating public safety laws, they are also likely to be found liable for damages caused by their illegal conduct. If they were violating traffic laws, as witnesses observed, one or possibly both of them could be found jointly liable for the damage done to the Jeep Wrangler and any injuries caused by the wreck.
Source: KGTV, “Witness: 2 Motorcyclists Weaved Through Traffic Before Crash,” Aug. 13, 2012
