Motorcyclist Dies after Hitting Pothole
Officials in Nashville have identified the man who died in a motorcycle accident earlier this month in a multi-vehicle crash. According to Nashville Metro police, John LaSalle, 55, of Ashland City was heading northbound on Briley Parkway when his motorcycle hit a pothole and veered to the right, sideswiping a Honda Accord.
Mr. LaSalle was ejected from the motorcycle and died at the scene near the exit for County Hospital Road. Phillip Myatt, a motorcyclist who was driving behind LaSalle, told the police that he had to lay his motorcycle down to avoid hitting the Honda. Mr. Myatt was seriously injured and taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for treatment. Thankfully, he is expected to make a full recovery.
No occupants in the Honda were injured, and police do not suspect that alcohol or drugs played a role in the accident. After the crash, the Tennessee Department of Transportation filled the pothole that LaSalle hit while emergency crews were still there. While department crews are working to fix all the potholes in the Nashville area they urge drivers to be careful. While drivers in cars or trucks may be able to withstand a pothole hit without being injured, there is a much larger potential for injury with motorcyclists.
Tennessee Motorcycle Accidents
According to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, there have already been nine fatalities from motorcycle accidents this year. Since 2010, there have been 138, 114, 139, 135, and 121 motorcycle fatalities across the state each year. The majority of the fatal accidents involved riders wearing helmets, as motorcyclists have a much higher risk of injury and death on the roads given the lack of protection around them.
Road hazards like potholes are a common cause of motorcycle accidents in Tennessee and across the United States. Some of the most common road hazards for motorcycles out on the roads include rough roads, gravel on pavement, edge breaks, expansion joints, open bridge joints, animals, slick surfaces, standing water, snow and ice, railway tracks and crossings, debris, and potholes.
Besides road hazards, there are other common causes of motorcycle accidents that are distinct from automobile accidents. Cars making left hand turns without looking, vehicles hitting motorcycles that are lane splitting, not checking before opening car doors, and cars hitting motorcycles head-on are some of the other more common causes of motorcycle accidents on the road.
Contact a Motorcycle Accident Today
The extent of injuries or fatalities for motorcyclists involved in accidents on the road is almost always more severe than drivers in cars or trucks. If you or someone that you know has been injured or killed in a motorcycle accident in the Nashville area, let the experienced personal injury lawyers at Calhoun Law, PLC help. Call the office or contact us today for a free and confidential consultation of your case.
