In Seattle, when nice weather comes around, it usually means an increase in motorcycle riders on the roads. As a Seattle motorcycle accident attorney at a Bellevue personal injury law firm, I am fully aware that motorcyclists are at an extremely high risk of being seriously injured in an accident involving a car. In 2009, there were 2,346 accidents involving a motorcycle. Of those accidents, there were 485 serious injuries and 66 fatalities. There were 2,049 injuries to motorcyclists, including both minor and serious injuries. That means that 87 percent of motorcyclists involved in accidents were injured – over three times higher than the 24 percent of car drivers who suffered at least minor injuries. Because of a lack of protection and a lack of awareness of drivers, motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to accidents that lead to serious injuries.
At about 9 p.m. on Monday March 7, Dowlad Farah of Tukwila, 31, and his passenger were driving northbound on I-5 when they changed lanes, hitting a motorcycle. The motorcycle was being driven by Shane Doubek, 20, of Parkland and his passenger was Nikki Hooper, 19, of Virginia. The impact of the crash threw Doubek and Hooper from the motorcycle and left the motorcycle on fire in the middle of the freeway. Luckily, both were wearing helmets. They were transported to Harborview Medical Center for treatment of their injuries. Their medical condition was unavailable as of Tuesday morning.
Fault for accidents involving motorcycles is usually pinned on the motorcyclist. However, in many cases it is actually the fault of a negligent car driver. These accidents can happen because the driver does not see the motorcyclist changing lanes, turning, or some other action. There are three factors that play a role in serious injuries from motorcycle accidents: time of year, wearing a helmet, and distracted car drivers. For more information about motorcycle accidents and how to proceed after one, check out our motorcycle FAQ’s. Motorcycle drivers are at a higher risk for serious injury when they ride, so it is very important for both the driver of the motorcycle and the driver of the car to be aware of their surroundings.