A motorcyclist died on Interstate 70 after being hit by a large commercial vehicle. As Kansas City residents know, Interstate 70 is a major thoroughfare in the area and has a lot of truck traffic at all hours of the day.
Although initial reports were somewhat vague, police later confirmed that in the early morning hours, a motorcyclist was thrown from his bike after striking a barrier along the road which was made of concrete. It was not clear why he hit the barrier.
However, at some point after the first accident, a passing semi ran over the motorcyclist who had apparently fallen in the middle of the road. The motorcyclist died at the scene of the second crash.
While of course right now the family of the motorcyclist is probably just trying to deal with the shock and trauma of losing a loved one so suddenly and so tragically, the accident actually raises some important legal questions that the family will need to sort through as they work through the financial and legal issues surrounding their loved one’s death.
For instance, while the initial accident may, after investigation, prove to be the responsibility of the motorcyclist, there was a second incident that happened later. Specifically, a truck driver apparently was not aware of the prior accident and drove right in to the motorcyclist.
Drivers, particularly those in large trucks, have an obligation to maintain a reasonable speed and pay careful attention to the road, particularly at night. One never knows when there will be a hazard or, worse, the wreckage of an accident in the middle of the road.
Needless to say, an auto accident like the tragic one in this case may take some time to sort out legally. The victim’s family can protect their rights by relying on the assistance of an experienced personal injury and wrongful death attorney.
