Motorcyclists are often at greater risk of injury and death than those in cars. Anyone who has been injured in a motorcycle accident understands how dangerous riding the vehicles can be. But it’s important for victims of motorcycle accidents to remember that they have the same rights as any other driver. If you are struck by a negligent driver, you have the same rights as car accident victims.
Albany residents may be interested in a story from nearby Kingston, New York. An accident involving two motorcycles in the town left one person dead and two injured. As a result, the driver who police believe caused the accident has been charged with several crimes, including vehicular manslaughter and vehicular assault.
Police believe a 28-year-old man was driving his motorcycle while under the influence of marijuana and alcohol late one night last summer. The suspect collided with a motorcycle driven by a 30-year-old man from Lake Katrine. That man was killed in the accident. In addition, the suspect and a passenger on the suspect’s motorcycle were injured.
An assistant district attorney in Ulster County said that the suspect had been convicted previously for alcohol-related offenses. He had also had his license revoked on two previous occasions for driving while impaired by drugs. The suspect was recently arrested and sent to Ulster County Jail.
It is important for victims of motorcycle accidents to understand they have the right to compensation. This is true for those injured and the families of those killed. Taking the time to understand their legal rights may help them get a better outcome in their cases.
Source: Daily Freeman, “Kingston resident Nicholas Saveskie charged in June 2012 fatal motorcycle accident,” Paula Ann Mitchell, Feb. 22, 2013