Motorcyclist Dies after Crashing Into Side of UPS Delivery Truck
The Belleville News Democrat reported that a 42-year-old man died May 25, 2011, when his motorcycle ran into the side of a UPS delivery truck in St. Clair County, Illinois. The victim was apparently trying to speed past the truck on the left shoulder of the road when the truck turned left into his path. Police say that he was wearing his helmet at the time of the crash. Unfortunately, his injuries were too serious and he died shortly after being taken to the hospital.
Approximate site of the accident:
Illinois has no law requiring motorcycle riders to wear helmets. However, neighboring Missouri has been the recent site of a battle over the repeal of a law requiring all motorcyclists to wear helmets. In 2009, the state of Missouri found that though motorcycles were involved in only 1.6% of traffic crashes, they accounted for 10.7% of traffic crash fatalities. That same year, the Missouri legislature passed a law that required only motorcycle riders under the age of 21 to wear a helmet. (http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2009/05/missouri-moves-to-relax-motorcycle-helmet-laws.html).
However, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon vetoed the measure, citing the potential cost both in terms of Missouri citizen’s lives and increased health care costs associated with a higher number of serious injuries from accidents. The data bears out Nixon’s reasoning. In 2009, in traffic crashes where a motorcyclist was wearing a helmet, only 27.5% were killed or seriously injured, compared to 40.9% of motorcyclists who were not wearing a helmet. While wearing a helmet may not protect motorcycle riders from all of the dangers inherent in motorized travel, helmets have the ability to significantly improve the prognosis for riders involved in an accident when riders obey the speed limit.
Have you or someone that you love been involved in an accident involving a motorcycle? On a motorcycle, the road can be a more dangerous place. The experienced St. Louis motorcycle accident injury attorneys at Page Law can help you during the aftermath of the accident. Contact Page Law at (314) 241-2273 or 1-800-CAR-CRASH for a free consultation with no obligation.
