Even if a rider is wearing a helmet, when a motorcycle is struck by another vehicle, the injuries suffered may be catastrophic. Helmets are worn because most riders in Texas understand how devastating a brain injury can be. Nevertheless, if the driver of a larger motor vehicle, such as a truck, is negligent and collides with a motorcycle, the chances of the biker escaping critical injury may be remote.
In an apparent effort to beat a pack of six motorcycles through an intersection, a 61-year-old man allegedly gunned his pickup through the stop sign. He collided with the pack, sending bikes and their riders in all directions. Four of the men suffered multiple broken limbs, torn muscles, punctured lungs and cracked ribs. Two of them suffered traumatic brain injuries. The lead rider received the worst of the collision and was left lying in the road with no pulse after being thrown 40 feet.
At a hearing to determine if the driver acted recklessly, the mother of the lead rider testified that while her son was being air lifted to a hospital, he coded twice and was not expected to survive the flight. He remained in a coma for two weeks and awoke needing to relearn basic skills like walking, talking and eating. The man has endured lengthy stays in numerous medical facilities, causing him to miss important milestones in the lives of his children.
A judge ruled that there was enough evidence for the pickup driver to proceed to the Court of Common Pleas on charges of felony aggravated assault by vehicle causing serious injury. Meanwhile, the families of the victims are likely receiving enormous medical bills. The man with a brain injury may need a lifetime of medical care. When families in Texas face hardships caused by the negligence of a reckless driver, they have the right to seek advice from a lawyer in pursuing compensation for the suffering of their loved one.
Source: bradfordera.com, “New Castle man has charges bound to court for accident“, Richard Lecker III, Nov. 1, 2016
