Motorcyclist Injured in I-405 Accident

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on June 12, 2013

A 24-year-old motorcyclist was injured in a Seattle motorcycle accident that resulted in him being trapped underneath a car. According to a news report in The Renton Reporter, the motorcycle accident occurred just south of the Sunset Boulevard Northeast overpass on northbound I-405 during the afternoon. Officials say he was attempting to change lanes on his motorcycle when he collided with an Audi station wagon. He was then struck by a Chevrolet Impala and trapped underneath. The Renton man was transported to a Seattle medical center in serious condition. The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.

Changing lanes without first taking the necessary precautionary measures can put you and others at great risk. According to Washington Statute 46.61.305: “No person shall turn a vehicle or move right or left upon a roadway unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety nor without giving an appropriate signal in the manner hereinafter provided.” In other words, drivers must only change lanes when it is reasonably safe to do so.

Motorcycles are easy to overlook. It is common for drivers to change lanes without even noticing that there is a motorcycle alongside their vehicle. In such cases, motorcyclists can get sideswiped or crushed before there is time to react.

Any time a motorcyclist is injured in a highway accident, it must be determined who was responsible for the collision. Injured motorcyclists who are not solely responsible for their own injuries may pursue financial compensation from the at-fault party. A skilled Seattle motorcycle accident attorney can make sure that victims are fairly and fully compensated for the injuries and damages they sustain.