Motorcycle accidents often involve situations where a driver did not see the motorcyclist. Many cases may involve distracted driving, while others are just plain inattentiveness, where a driver just does not look for an approaching motorcycle. In an odd twist of fate, a California Highway Patrol officer was recently injured in a motorcycle accident after assisting other drivers at a car accident scene.
The CHP motorcycle officer arrived at a Highway 101 car accident scene that occurred south of Santa Rosa last week. The accident involved a Dodge Ram and a Volkswagen Jetta. After the scene was cleared, the Dodge reportedly safely exited the highway. The CHP officer then drove his motorcycle to the Santa Rosa Avenue exit to assist the driver of the Jetta to remove his vehicle.
As the motorcycle approached, the 23-year-old allegedly unlicensed driver of the Jetta made an abrupt right-hand turn while attempting to exit the highway. The Jetta slammed into the CHP officer and his motorcycle. The motorcycle collision sent the motorcycle officer flying off his bike. The officer suffered personal injuries in the motorcycle accident.
Early news reports indicated that the motorcycle cop sustained minor injuries when he was ejected from the bike. San Francisco motorcycle accident lawyers know, however, that even low speed motorcycle accidents can often result in severe injuries, especially when a rider is ejected from the bike in an accident. Riders can often suffer severe internal injuries, broken bones and head injuries in motorcycle accidents, even those involving low speeds.
Source: KGO, “Unlicensed driver hits CHP motorcycle officer,” Nov. 16, 2011
