To cut down on the number of motorcycle accidents, especially fatalities, the Texas Department of Transportation has launched a campaign called Share the Road: Look Twice for Motorcycles.
Last year, 494 motorcycle riders died in collisions and overall, there were 4,339 crashes involving other vehicles. San Antonio was the city with the most fatalities, at 37, followed by Houston with 32, Dallas with 24, Austin with 12, and Fort Worth with 11. The Share the Road campaign hopes to increase car driver awareness of motorcycles. Due to motorcyclists’ “smaller profile,” it can be difficult for drivers of other vehicles to judge the speed and distance of an approaching motorcycle. As a result, too often a driver will say that he or she never saw the motorcycle before a collision.
Part of the Share the Road campaign will be a Bike Counting Game, which car drivers will be encouraged to play with motorcycles. The game will involve one passenger in the car spotting a motorcycle and calling out to the other occupants of the vehicle. That prevents the driver of the car from going into “automatic” mode and not focusing on the other types of vehicles on the road. Motorcycle riders claim that two things they frequently see drivers do are text while driving and overall remain focused on just what is ahead of them. As a result, motorcycle riders must remain defensive at all times. Some report getting nicked and almost driven off the road by inattentive drivers.
In addition to the Bike Counting Game, the Texas Department of Transportation intends to host several motorcycle processions in San Antonio and the other cities affected by high motorcycle fatalities. The processions will include Texas Patrol Guard Riders riding in a caravan and carrying a flag symbolizing the awareness campaign.
Whether the Share the Road campaign has the desired results remains to be seen, but based on the number of motorcycle fatalities, it is clear that something must be done. One action that could have an immediate impact would be for the state government to pass a law banning texting while driving. Right now, only select cities ban texting altogether, while the state bans texting for just drivers under 18, in school zones, or by bus drivers. Until there is a ban on the practice, there will be injuries caused by inattentive driving, and injured motorcycle riders will have little choice but to file a personal injury lawsuit against the other party. A successful lawsuit can give the motorcycle rider a monetary award to pay medical bills and to compensate for pain and suffering. However, it would be better if the motorcycle rider never had reason to file a lawsuit in the first place.
If you or a loved one has suffered due to an injury in a vehicle accident caused by another driver, you may be entitled to compensation, including medical expenses, loss of wages, and pain and suffering. The experienced San Antonio personal injury attorneys at Carabin Shaw may be able to help. Call our office for more information at 1-800-862-1260.
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