Motorcycles are a passion with many Americans, whether in Bernalillo, New Mexico, or elsewhere. The kind of exploration possible on a motorcycle seems impossible with other forms of transport. However, this freedom comes at the risk of receiving catastrophic injuries from even the slightest of unfortunate incidents. The use of mandated and additional safety gear does not completely mitigate this risk, and the motorcyclist always needs to be more watchful than other drivers on the road. Also required is first-hand knowledge of the laws pertaining to motorcycle driving in different states and whether these mandate the use of special safety equipment.
In a recent motorcycle crash, which occurred on Interstate 40, a motorcyclist had to be hospitalized in critical condition following an accident. His condition later stabilized, and his injuries were non-fatal. It is not known if other vehicles or persons were involved in the accident, but police ordered the closure of all lanes going west on I-40 at San Mateo so as to facilitate their investigation. The results of that investigation are yet to be released as are details about the driver.
The incident’s aftermath, including the closure of a part of the freeway, highlights the impact of a motorcycle accident. Given that the speed limit on a freeway is higher than that for city roads, it is likely that a collision occurred at high speed and caused damage to the motorcycle, resulting in parts being strewn over a stretch of the road.
Motorcycle drivers are required by law to carry liability insurance in New Mexico other states. Victims of a crash are likely to get compensation for their hospital expenses, if not other damages. It might be useful for them to get legal advice on the intricacies of the law, which can vary from state to state.
Source: Albuquerque Journal, “Westbound lanes of I-40 at San Mateo reopened after crash“, April 9, 2014