Tragedy struck when speed and a motorcycle combined to cause an accident that killed a young rider. Steven Michael Bennett, 24, died in a motorcycle crash when he slammed into a pickup truck in northeast Las Vegas, according to recent reports. The crash took place at the intersection of East Carey Avenue and North Camel Street when Bennett allegedly ran into a left-turning pickup truck at a high rate of speed. Bennett was ejected from the motorcycle and pronounced dead after being transported to an area hospital. Two people in the pickup truck, a young boy and a 64-year-old woman, were also transported to the hospital with minor injuries.
MOTORCYCLES, SPEED, ALCOHOL AND FATALITIES
Motorcycle riders already face a higher rate of accident and injury than occupants of passenger vehicles, but when speed and alcohol are added to the mix, the chances of a motorcycle rider suffering serious injury or death go up exponentially.
According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, there were a total of 56 fatalities in 2012 on Las Vegas streets, 11 of which were motorcyclists. This means that in 2012, about 20 percent of all traffic fatalities in the city were motorcyclists. In 2013, the number of total deaths went down to 46 and the number of motorcycle deaths decreased to 8.
However, this still represents 17 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities. So far in 2014, there have been 33 people killed in motor vehicle crashes, nine of whom, or 27 percent, are motorcycle riders. This accident brings the number of motorcycle fatalities to 10 so far in 2014, more than in the entire year of 2013 and just under the total for 2012. Alcohol and speed are two factors that often affect motorcycle accident rates. Alcohol is a significant factor both for motorcycle riders and motorists who hit them.
The Centers for Disease Control estimate that about a third of motorcycle accident victims are involved in DUI crashes, either because they are drinking or a person who hits them is drunk. Speed is another important factor in motorcycle crashes. One Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study found that 48 percent of all fatal motorcycle accidents involved speeding on the part of the motorcycle rider. If you have suffered injury in a motorcycle crash, contact High Stakes Injury Law, personal injury attorneys in Las Vegas. They can help you understand your rights and work to recover compensation for your injuries.