Motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable people on the roads of Georgia. When riders are involved in crashes, they often sustain more serious injuries than other drivers. Accidents involving motorcycle passengers also occur.
Earlier this year, a motorcycle passenger was killed near Covington, Georgia, about 35 miles east of Atlanta. Police said charges were pending after the fatal crash.
The Georgia State Patrol said a 53-year-old woman from Winder lost her life at the accident scene on Interstate 20, about two miles west of the John R. Williams Highway exit.
Accidents involving motorcycle passengers
The crash occurred at 7:44 p.m. at night. According to GSP, the victim was a passenger on a motorcycle traveling west on I-20. Georgia State Patrol troopers said the bike was following another vehicle too closely when the driver was blinded by a glare, The Covington News reported.
The GSP Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team was conducting a follow-up investigation but it appears the victim was thrown from the motorcycle into the roadway when the two vehicles collided. She was dragged by a third vehicle before finally coming to rest on the highway.
Our thoughts are with the family of this woman. Accidents involving motorcycle passengers occur less frequently than those involving riders, mainly because there are fewer passengers on bikes. These accidents are often extreme when they occur. Passengers have little control over how a bike is ridden. A rider may be held responsible for a passenger death in a wrongful death action.
Motorcyclists are more likely to be killed if they are involved in an accident. Studies suggest you are about 29 times more likely to die in a motorcycle accident than in a car accident.
Since 2017, at least 10 percent of all highway deaths in Georgia have involved a motorcyclist, according to the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.
In 2017, 208 riders lost their lives on the roads of Georgia. That was an increase on the previous year when 173 bikers died in the state.
Accidents Involving Motorcycle Passengers in Georgia – Do You Have a Claim?
As the passenger on a motorcycle, you should take basic precautions. Always wear protective clothing including a helmet, which is mandatory in Georgia. Wear a thick motorcycle jacket and boots. Never get on the back of a motorcycle if the driver is intoxicated.
If a driver is going to fast or following too closely try to warn him or her in a safe manner. Passengers, whether in cars, trucks or on motorcycles have rights. If you have been injured due to the fault of another, or have lost a loved one, please call the Law Office of Michael West at (404) 913-1529.