In July of this year, a video went viral of a motorcyclist knocked from his bike by an unsecured vehicle load on Minnesota Interstate 94. A piece of foam water carpet became unsecured, causing it to fly off a SUV to strike the motorcyclist, and causing the bike to flip over. While this type of accident is dangerous to all motor vehicle operators, it is especially dangerous for motorcycle riders.
The motorcyclist attempted to avoid the water carpet but when the he drove over it, both
he and the motorcycle jetted into the air at a high rate of speed, throwing him off the bike and causing him to roll along 150 feet of pavement. Fortunately, he was spared any serious injuries by wearing a helmet. Other motorists came quickly to his aid.
The result of this accident could have been extremely more severe, resulting in critical or fatal injuries. Motorists must always carefully secure any type of load onto their vehicle regardless of the distance of the trip, or size of the load. In turn, motorcyclists must educate themselves in motorcycle safety and defensive driving to travel Pennsylvania’s roadways without serious incident.
State law in Pennsylvania requires that motorists properly secure all loads onto their vehicles and trailers. A 20-lb. object hitting a vehicle at 55 MPH has the impact of 1000 pounds. The following tips are recommended for securing a load:
If you or a loved one has suffered any type of injury as a result of a motor vehicle, motorcycle, or truck accident, contact Powell Law at call (570) 961-0777. The consultation is FREE and you don’t pay anything unless we win.
