THE TRAGIC DEATH OF A BELOVED ACTOR

On June 12, 2023, Vermont State Police said in a statement that actor Treat Williams was critically injured in Dorset about 4:53 p.m. Monday when a Honda SUV turned in front of him, ending in a collision that threw Williams from his 1986 Honda motorcycle. He was taken to Albany Medical Center in Albany, New York, where he was pronounced dead, state police said. The driver of the SUV, who was uninjured, was not cited; an investigation into the collision was ongoing, police said. Treat Williams was 71, and his 50 year acting career was ongoing at the time of his death.  

SUVs CAUSE MORE LETHAL INJURIES

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Abbreviated Injury Scale is used to assess injuries by body region. On it, the average scores for head injuries inflicted by SUVs were 63 percent higher than for those caused by cars. There were no statistically significant severity differences between vehicle types for injuries to other regions. The Injury Severity Score combines the injuries from the different body regions into an overall assessment. Using that method, trauma to the body as a whole was 55 percent higher for accidents with SUVs than for accidents with cars.

MOTORCYCLE CRASH STATISTICS

In 2020 there were 5,579 motorcyclists killed, 14 percent of all traffic fatalities. This is the highest number of motorcyclists killed since 1975. The number of motorcyclist fatalities in 2020 increased by 11 percent from 2019, from 5,044 to 5,579. In states without universal helmet laws, 57 percent of motorcyclists killed in 2020 were not wearing helmets, as compared to 11 percent in states with universal helmet laws.  

The most harmful event in 2020 for 3,138 (55%) of the 5,715 motorcycles involved in fatal crashes was collisions with motor vehicles in transport. In two-vehicle crashes, 76 percent of the motorcycles involved in fatal crashes were struck in the front (only 7 percent were struck in the rear). Head-on collisions are one of the most dangerous kinds of accidents for riders because of the mismatched amount of force involved (cars typically weigh four times as much as motorcycles) and the lack of safety features on motorcycles. 

In 2019, NHTSA reported that in nearly half of all fatal crashes involving a car and a motorcycle, the car was turning left at the time of the crash. Cars turning left typically strike oncoming or passing motorcycles in intersections. Left-turn right-of-way laws are clear: drivers turning left must yield to other traffic. So, the driver of a car who hits a motorcycle while turning left will almost certainly be at fault. But motorcyclists might share fault in left-turn accidents if they speed, run a red light, or ride in the wrong lane.

LIABILITY IN MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS

Like motor vehicle drivers, Georgia motorcyclists must purchase liability insurance. Since Georgia is a fault accident state, drivers who are responsible for accidents must pay for their victims’ damages. Liability insurance helps drivers uphold this financial responsibility in case they cause a collision.

Georgia law requires that motorcyclists carry insurance in the following amounts:

• $25,000 for bodily injury or death per person per accident
• $50,000 for total bodily injury or death per accident
• $25,000 for property damage per accident

Failure to comply with Georgia’s insurance requirements can result in severe penalties; the state may revoke or suspend your vehicle registration.

Georgia law requires motorcyclists of all ages, as well as their passengers, to wear a helmet while riding. This helmet must comply with requirements established by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT). Approved headgear will be labeled as DOT certified.

Georgia Code § 9-3-33 gives people two years from the date of a motorcycle accident to file a lawsuit against any at-fault parties. But depending on the specific circumstances of the case, the timeline could be even shorter.

DAMAGES IN MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS

Injuries incurred in motorcycle accidents frequently include: bone fractures, spinal injuries, burns and lacerations, facial disfigurement and crush injuries. Damages are commonly sought for medical costs, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and lost wages/earning potential.  

Hiring an experienced personal injury attorney is key to recovering all the damages injured motorcyclists deserve. If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, contact Dave Thomas at The Thomas Law Firm for a free evaluation of your legal rights.