Surveillance video captures driver who struck motorcyclist
Riding on a motorcycle is often described as exciting or thrilling. Drivers and passengers enjoy the wind in their hair and the scenery they pass. Although there is much to benefit from short and long distance rides on a motorcycle, these small vehicles do not come without risks. In fact, these small forms of transportation can be more dangers than most vehicles. They have the ability to go unnoticed by other automobiles on the road because they can often hide in blind spots. Furthermore, motorcyclists will often maneuver quickly between vehicles, which could cause a motorist to hit their breaks. This in turn could cause a serious motorcycle accident.
Footage of a fatal motorcycle crash was recently released to authorities in Union Township. The surveillance video footage from a fueling station shows the driver they believe is responsible for the collision. The video shows the driver turning left onto North Avenue. During that turn, the driver cut in front of the path of an on-coming motorcyclist. This caused the biker to swerve in order to avoid a collision. In this end, this caused the motorcyclist to crash.
Observers stated that the driver of the vehicle exited their car and walked to the motorcyclist that was lying on the ground. The driver then ran off from the scene. Authorities are still investigating the collision and are trying to locate more witnesses and uncover evidence. Preliminary investigation indicates that the driver of the vehicle was at fault. Once fault is determined, the driver could have causes of action filed against the at-fault party such as a personal injury claim or wrongful death claim.
In this case, the loved ones of the deceased motorcyclist may be able to file a wrongful death suit on their behalf. This could result in compensation to help cover medical bills, funeral costs, lost wages and pain and suffering.
A motorcycle crash could result in a serious personal injury or even a fatality. Drivers are often not aware of these smaller vehicles on the roadway, which makes it especially important to triple check before making turns or maneuvering from one lane to another. A negligent driver or distracted driver could cause a serious injury and those affected could have a cause of action to obtain compensation.
Source: News 12 New Jersey, “Union Twp. police release video in search of driver believed connected to fatal crash,” Sept. 23, 2013
