Rancho Cordova Man Dies in Natomas Motorcycle Accident on Interstate 5 near Arena Boulevard
Sacramento, California (November 16, 2021) – A motorcyclist was killed Tuesday night in a traffic collision in the Natomas area of Sacramento, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The crash occurred shortly before 7:00 p.m. on the northbound side of Interstate 5, just south of Arena Boulevard.
CHP said a 25-year-old Rancho Cordova man was riding his motorcycle northbound on Interstate 5 when, for unknown reasons, he was rear-ended by a vehicle.
The impact caused the rider to be thrown off the bike and land into the No. 2 lane, where an oncoming big rig hit him.
Deadly Motorcycle Accident on I-5 in Sacramento
The motorcyclist died at the scene of the accident. His name has not been released pending notification of next of kin.
The CHP said the vehicle that rear-ended the motorcyclist veered off the roadway after the collision and crashed into an embankment. The driver sustained moderate injuries and was transported to a hospital.
The operator of the big rig, who was unhurt, stopped at the scene and cooperated with the police.
The northbound lanes of Interstate 5 were shut down but were later reopened.
Alcohol and/or drugs were not suspected to be factors in the crash.
The crash remains under investigation.
Motorcycle Accidents in Sacramento
It is almost impossible to escape injuries in motorcycle accidents. Being involved in an accident can be a traumatic experience for the victims and their families. According to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Sacramento recorded more than 60 fatal collisions involving motorcycles, resulting in at least 69 people deaths. Statistics show that the leading cause of most of these motorcycle accidents is human error. This includes dangerous acts such as;
- Lane splitting – Lane splitting happens when a motorcycle drives between two lanes of stopped or slow-moving traffic. Lane splitting may lead to motorcycle accidents due to: the close proximity of the vehicles to the motorcycle, limited space for the motorcycle to maneuver, the presumption by other motorists that no cars or motorcycles will be passing them in slowed or stopped traffic.
- Unsafe turns – Vehicles making turns usually collide with motorcycles when the bikes are: going straight through an intersection, passing the car, or attempting to pass the vehicle. When these types of accidents happen, the drivers of the involved vehicles may be held accountable for the crash. However, it is good to note that the motorcyclist may also be partly to blame if, for example, they were speeding or riding in the wrong lane.
- Speeding – Riding at high speeds reduces the rider's ability to slow or stop safely in case of a hazard or slowed or stopped traffic. The rider ends up crashing into other cars or loses control of the motorcycle after applying emergency brakes.
Riders are therefore encouraged to wear helmets and safety gear all the time. Helmets save lives by reducing the severity of head injuries in the event of a collision. Should you be involved in a motorcycle accident, you are encouraged to notify the authorities as soon as possible.
Motorcycle Accident Attorney in California
When you are involved in a traffic collision, you and your family may be forced to spend tens of thousands of dollars on medical bills, property damages, and maybe funeral services, while also enduring endless mental and emotional suffering.
Victims of traffic accidents have an enforceable right under law to full and fair compensation for the costs and losses they suffer. Whether they receive what the law provides for them or whether they receive any compensation at all depends on how well their attorneys can pursue their claims through the intricacies of the state civil legal processes.