Colorado Springs is getting closer and closer to setting a record it doesn’t want to achieve. It is now only three car accidents away from matching the record that was set in 1986 when the city suffered a total of 43 fatal crashes in a calendar year. Fatal crash number 40 was unfortunately reached this week when a motorcycle rider died following a collision with another vehicle.
According to reports, a 50-year-old man lost his life when the motorcycle he was riding collided with a car on Bijou Street going over I-25. Police say that the motorcycle ran a red light and struck the side of a Mercedes, which had entered the intersection on a green light. The man was taken to an area hospital where he passed away as a result of his injuries. It is not known if he was wearing a helmet.
Everyone hopes Colorado Springs doesn’t reach that record 44 fatal car accidents this year, but it is only October, and a lot can happen in two months. It is up to the people of Colorado Springs to be vigilant about driving safely. Running red lights, speeding, texting while driving and driving under the influence are all leading causes of fatal car crashes and are all avoidable actions.
Motorcycle accidents are often caused by the carelessness of other drivers, but sometimes, it is the motorcyclist him or herself who is at fault. If it is determined that the motorcyclist in crash number 40 did in fact run a red light, his estate could be held liable for injuries sustained by the occupants of the other vehicle. If someone in the second vehicle also died during the crash, that victim’s family could file a civil suit against the motorcyclist’s estate for wrongful death. An experienced attorney can help the victims of car accidents understand their options and can guide them through the legal process to recover compensation for their losses.