A 17-year-old boy from Bradenton was killed in an accident when his motorcycle hit a car that turned directly in front of him on a street in Manatee County.
Troopers from the Florida Highway Patrol said the accident occurred at approximately 12:50 p.m. on Wednesday, February 3 at the intersection of Hawaiian Drive and 63rd Avenue West. A 75-year-old woman from Arizona was driving in her Nissan Versa sedan north on Hawaiian Drive, nearing the exit of the mobile home park located there. She tried turning left into the westbound lanes of 63rd Avenue West, but when she did she drove directly into the path of the boy on his motorcycle.
The boy attempted to slow down, but was unable to avoid a collision with the vehicle. He was pronounced dead on the scene by Manatee County EMS responders, and was wearing a helmet.
The elderly woman was not injured in the accident. FHP’s Traffic Homicide Unit continued to investigate the crash in its aftermath.
Failure to yield a common cause of motorcycle accidents
One of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents (and injuries/deaths) is failure to yield. All drivers are expected to yield the right of way to oncoming traffic when turning left. A failure to do so could result in the driver’s vehicle entering the path of oncoming traffic and causing a dangerous collision.
This occurs more frequently with motorcycles because their smaller profile makes them a bit easier to miss. But when these accidents involve motorcycles, the effects are more dangerous and severe, given the relative lack of protections motorcycles offer compared to other vehicles.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a motorcycle accident, contact an experienced accident attorney in Bradenton, FL at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez & Walsh to learn more about the steps you should take to seek compensation for your losses.