A multi-vehicle accident on Interstate-285 in DeKalb County on Wednesday left a motorcyclist dead, and 5 other people injured. According to DeKalb County police, the accident was set off by an SUV driver who entered the highway without slowing for traffic.
The driver seems to have set off a chain reaction that led to an 18 wheeler, striking a group of motorcyclists. A 54-year-old motorcyclist has been killed, and one other motorcycle rider has sustained serious injuries. Three motorcyclists and the SUV driver have sustained moderate injuries. The accident involved three motorcycles, two SUVs and two 18 wheelers.
Details are still coming in, but it seems like that the motorcycles involved in the accident were participating in the National Biker Round-up. It was the second day of the bike fest, and the event which is hosted by the Georgia biker community, is expected to continue for about a week, ending on Sunday.
It must have been a demoralizing start for the 40,000 or so motorcyclists who are expected to attend the event. These people tend to be some of the most vulnerable users of our highways. As this accident shows, there is really no safety in numbers when you are a motorcyclist. An out-of-control SUV barreling into a group of motorcyclists is bad news for the people on the bikes. Impact with a fast moving vehicle can throw a motorcyclist from his bike, and dozens of feet from the point of impact. Severe body trauma injuries are common, and if the motorcyclist hasn’t worn a helmet, then fatal head injuries can result.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcycle accident fatalities have been on the rise over the past 11 years. Last year, the number of people killed in motorcycle accidents increased over 2007, the only category of accidents in which there was actually an increase in fatality statistics.
The accident attorneys at the Katz Personal Injury Lawyers represent injured victims of such accidents in DeKalb County and across the state of Georgia.