Following the death of a 63-year-old Colorado man, a Denver driver is facing multiple criminal charges. Motorcycle accidents form a significant percentage of annual road deaths in Colorado, and contrary to what many people believe, many of these fatalities result from the negligence of automobile operators and not the bikers. Such seems to be the case in this incident.
According to the Colorado State Patrol, the motorcyclist was heading north on Highway 285 shortly after 11 p.m. on a recent Monday night. A 31-year-old driver who was traveling in the same direction came from behind and rear-ended the motorcycle. The impact apparently caused the biker to be ejected.
He was catapulted clear across the center median, and he landed in the lanes of the southbound traffic. The biker suffered fatal injuries and died before he could be transported to a hospital. In the meantime, the driver who struck the motorcycle reportedly fled on foot, but law enforcement caught up with him at a gas station not far from the accident scene.
That driver is now facing vehicular homicide, DUI, reckless driving and other criminal charges. The surviving family members of deceased victims of motorcycle accidents, such as this one, may pursue recovery of damages through the judicial system in Colorado. They can file wrongful death lawsuits in a civil court to try to recover financial losses and emotional damages. Proving negligence on the part of another party can be challenging, and many families choose to retain the services of an experienced personal injury attorney to guide them through the complexities of the legal proceedings of such a claim.
Source: FOX31 Denver, “Motorcyclist killed in Jefferson County hit-and-run, suspect identified“, Chuck Hickey, Aug. 30, 2017
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