On Saturday, a motorcycle collided with a truck on Merritt Parkway in Fairfield, killing the motorcyclist. According to State police, the 2001 Honda FLSTF skidded into the back of a construction truck around midnight.
State police are investigating the fatal motorcycle accident to determine the cause.
Around the country, more motorcyclists are hitting the road each day. The rise in gas prices coupled with energy efficiency and warmer temperatures has more people choosing to ride motorcycles over gas-guzzling cars. It is not surprising, then, that the number of motorcycle accidents is also rising.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 4,502 motorcyclists were killed in 2010, compared with 4,469 in 2009. In fact, motorcycle-deaths have increased nearly 55 percent in the last ten years.
These numbers are frustrating, given that many of these fatal motorcycle accidents were preventable. Take, for example, that helmets prevent 37 percent of motorcycle fatalities yet a large number of motorcyclists still choose to ride without helmets. Furthermore, 40 percent of all motorcycle fatalities in Connecticut are alcohol-related.
Of course, it is not only motorcyclists at fault. Other drivers’ failure to watch out for motorcyclists lead to many motorcycle-and-car accidents every year. It is up to everyone, not just the motorcyclists, to ensure that bikers are safe on the road.
If you were injured or a family member was killed in a Connecticut motorcycle crash, you may be able to recover compensation for your pain and suffering, medical bills, funeral expenses, loss of income and more. No amount of compensation can bring your loved one back or take away your traumatic experience, but it can help you on the road to recovery.
Source: Connecticut Post, “Orange motorcyclist killed in Fairfield crash,” Michael P. Mayko, Sept. 22, 2012.