On Sunday morning, a Richardson man died after being thrown from his motorcycle.According to KFDX News Channel Three, the wreck happened on I-44 at about 10:30 a.m. in Cotton County.
The victim, 65-year-old Larry Samford, was riding with a few friends, who were also on motorcycles. Apparently, Samford was ejected from his motorcycle when it struck his friend’s motorcycle during a lane change.He was thrown into the roadway, and a third motorcycle struck him. He was swiftly taken to the hospital, but succumbed to his injuries. According to KFDX News, the other riders were able to walk away from the scene.
National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
Tragically, this wreck happened during the first week of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA’s) Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Officials with the NHTSA are hoping to encourage all drivers and motorcyclists to “Share the Road” with each other.
Motorcyclist fatalities actually increased in 2012. Even seemingly minor wrecks can be devastating or fatal for motorcycle riders. Many drivers report not even having seen motorcycles prior to wrecks, so always check your blind spots before making lane changes. Equally important, drivers need to be careful not to pull out onto roadways directly in front of motorcycles, which can be a deadly mistake. Motorcycle riders don’t have seat belts or airbags. They are truly at the mercy of other roadway users.
Just the Facts: Motorcycle Wrecks in the U.S.
- In 2012, 4,957 motorcyclists were killed in crashes.
- In 2012, motorcycle deaths accounted for 15 percent of all traffic-crash fatalities across the U.S.
- 93,000 people were injured in motorcycle crashes in 2012.
- In 2011, 81,000 people were injured.
- Motorcycle fatalities have been increasing for the last 15 years.
Share the Road
Sharing the road needs to be a top priority for all motorists. The NHTSA is urging drivers and riders to look out for each other. Drivers should know that motorcycles need additional room to maneuver safely around roadway obstacles and hazards. Motorcyclists also have all the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as other roadway users, so always give them a full lane width when passing.
Although their vehicles are smaller, motorcyclists need just as much room to navigate through traffic as cars, if not more. The team at the Altman Legal Group sends their deepest condolences to the family members and friends of Mr. Samford.