Sebastian Motorcycle Crash Kills Two

In a story that’s all too familiar to Port St. Lucie riders, a driver may face no legal consequences after he struck a motorcycle during a left turn against traffic, killing both the rider and passenger.

The wreck occurred on Sebastian Boulevard. According to police and witnesses, a Harley-Davidson three-wheeler was westbound on Sebastian. An eastbound Cadillac SUV attempted to make a left turn against traffic. As it entered the westbound side, the Cadillac struck the motorcycle. The motorcycle driver was killed at the scene; the motorcycle passenger died shortly thereafter at a local hospital.

No charges are pending against the Cadillac driver at this time.

Breaking Down a Port St. Lucie Left Turn Crash

It is little wonder that left-turn wrecks account for more than a third of motorcycle rider fatalities in Florida. These incidents combine driver inattention, sudden acceleration, and a compressed time period.

The large vehicles which are on most Port St. Lucie roads, like SUVs, delivery trucks, and pickup trucks, often obscure vision when it comes to spotting obstacles in a driver’s path. When it comes to small, thin motorcycles which are low to the ground, these issues may make motorcycle riders almost invisible.

To compensate, many riders do things like wear bright clothes or modify their mufflers to make more noise. But there is little or no evidence that these tricks are effective. Moreover, they may simply antagonize drivers who already dislike motorcycle riders.

As a result of all this, many tortfeasors (negligent drivers) do not see oncoming motorcycles as these drivers prepare to turn left against traffic. In most cases, they do not see because they are not looking.

Sudden acceleration is an issue as well. Most drivers try to shoot through small gaps in traffic. The burst of speed is often deadly for motorcycle riders.

A vehicle’s Event Data Recorder is often telling in these situations. Most EDRs accurately record engine RPM, so the jury clearly sees how fast the tortfeasor was travelling at the moment of impact.

Finally, in left turn situations, drivers have very little time to react. The gap may only be open for a split second. In that amount of time, they may be unable to accurately estimate an oncoming vehicle’s speed. That’s especially true with regard to motorcycles. A slight miscalculation can be tragic.

Damages Available in Port St. Lucie Motorcycle Wrecks

The perfect storm of crash conditions usually causes serious injuries. So, victims are usually eligible for significant compensation. Damages usually include money for:

• Medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and other economic losses, as well as
• Pain and suffering, loss of consortium (companionship), emotional distress, loss of enjoyment in life, and other noneconomic damages.

Additional punitive damages may be available as well, in some extreme cases.

To obtain compensatory damages, victim/plaintiffs must establish negligence by a preponderance of the evidence (more likely than not). To obtain punitive damages, victim/plaintiffs must establish extreme recklessness by clear and convincing evidence.

Team Up with Dedicated Lawyers

An aggressive lawyer may be the only way to obtain compensation and justice in a motorcycle crash case. For a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney in Port St. Lucie, contact Eighmie Law Firm, P.A. Home and hospital visits are available.

Resource:

tcpalm.com/story/news/local/indian-river-county/2018/09/14/two-dead-after-three-wheeled-motorcycle-crash-sebastian/1301070002/