Being the passenger on a motorcycle comes with an inherent risk of injury, more so than being the passenger in a motor vehicle. Despite the risk, motorcyclists and other vehicle operators have the responsibility of using care and caution when transporting passengers. Even with a great deal of care and caution, a rear-end collision can cause devastating results for motorcyclists and their passengers on New York roadways.
A recent accident took the life of a motorcycle passenger as the motorcycle operator approached an exit ramp. A motorcycle behind her rear-ended the motorcycle on which she was a passenger. This caused her to fall off, and then the other motorcycle ran over her.
The woman was 32 years old and died at the scene. The 28-year-old man who was driving the other motorcycle was arrested. He faces charges of driving with ability impaired, although no further details were given about the specific type of suspected impairment. One witness also told authorities the motorcycles were speeding and weaving in and out of traffic before the accident.
The family of the woman who died in this rear-end collision between two motorcycles has legal rights and options of which may be pursued if that family so chooses. One option may be to file a wrongful death suit in a New York civil court. This may allow that family to garner monetary damages from the driver who struck and ultimately caused the death of that family’s loved one. If successful, damages could help alleviate the burden of funeral costs, lost wages or other monetary losses suffered by the family left behind.
Source: nydailynews.com, “Woman, 32, dies after being knocked off motorcycle on Queensboro Bridge then run over by friend’s bike“, Rocco Parascandola and Thomas Tracy, June 27, 2015
