South Georgia Teen Recovering After Near-Fatal Dirt Bike Accident

A South Georgia teenager is out of a coma and standing on his own after being struck by a car while he was riding his bike. In May, a 17-year-old young man was riding his dirt bike down Deborah Drive in Valdosta when he entered the intersection with Pineview Drive and was struck, causing him to strike the front end of a vehicle entering the intersection. The young man was transported to the hospital with critical injuries, while the driver of the vehicle escaped with only minor injuries. Residents of the area have complained about the safety of the intersection where the accident occurred, with another accident occurring in the same spot just days after Brown’s accident. 

This accident is indicative of the types of motorcycle accidents and injuries that can occur when motorcycles (including dirt bikes) and motor vehicles mingle. If you or someone you care about has suffered an injury in a motorcycle accident, a Tifton motorcycle accident lawyer can help you evaluate a potential legal claim. 

Motorcycle Injuries and Fatalities Are Common 

Motorcycling is significantly more dangerous than driving a passenger vehicle. According to the National Safety Council, motorcycles account for only 3% of registered vehicles nationwide but 14.6% of traffic fatalities and 3% of injuries in 2022. Over the 10-year period ending in 2022, deaths in motorcycle accidents increased 32%, while death rates increased 13%. 

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents 

No two motorcycle accidents are exactly alike, but there are some commonalities among them. Some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents and injuries include: 

• Speeding 
• Inclement weather 
• Rider inexperience 
• Riding in other vehicles’ blind spots
• Distracted driving 
• Use of drugs or alcohol 
• Lack of personal protective gear
• Failure to wear a helmet 
• Weaving in and out of passenger vehicle traffic 
• “Lane splitting” (i.e., attempting to bypass traffic jams by riding between rows of stopped vehicles) 
• Roadway conditions, such as potholes, poor lighting, hidden driveways, railroad crossings, and leaves or grass clippings

Liability for Motorcycle Accidents 

Liability for most motorcycle accidents, like most car accidents, is based on negligence. All drivers owe other drivers a duty of care to exercise reasonable caution to prevent accidents and injuries. Failure to exercise reasonable care — such as by engaging in speeding, distracted driving, or reckless driving — that results in injuries can form the basis of a personal injury lawsuit. Liability for motorcycle accidents may also be based on products liability law, such as when a defective product caused an accident. This could occur, for example, when a defectively manufactured tire suffers a blowout that throws the rider from the motorcycle. 

Evaluate Your Options With Help From a Tifton Motorcycle Accident Lawyer 

If you or someone you love has been injured in a motorcycle accident — whether as a motorcycle rider or the driver or passenger of an involved passenger vehicle — you may be entitled to pursue a legal claim. To discuss your options, please contact a Tifton motorcycle accident lawyer at the Hudson Injury Firm by calling 229-396-5848 or using our online form.