At least two motorcyclists were injured in two separate motorcycle accidents in the Tri-Cities region within a three-day period, local news outlets have reported. The first accident happened about 4 p.m. on Wednesday. It involved a 49-year-old motorcyclist who was heading west on Interstate 82 in Prosser when he tried changing lanes, losing control of the vehicle and crashing.
The rider was the sole party involved. He was later taken to a Richland hospital for treatment.
The second motorcycle accident happened Saturday.
While traveling west on Highway 730, a 35-year-old motorcyclist crashed after a vehicle pulling a horse trailer turned left in front of him. While the rider was sent to the hospital for injury treatment, the second driver and her passenger were not hurt.
In WA: Motorcycle Accidents Account For Large Number Of Fatalities
According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, while motorcycles only comprise 3% of the road users in Washington State, data from the period between 2013 and 2017 showed they accounted for 15% of all fatalities and 19% of serious injuries in crashes.
These numbers are concerning. Especially when you consider the fact that the motorcycle accident numbers in Washington State have been basically the same for over a decade.
In our line of work, we see a great deal of motorcycle accident victims suffer tremendously because of their injuries. It is because we know that one in every five motorcycle collisions will result in serious injury or death in Washington that we urge our clients, friends, and blog readers to beware of the dangers.
If you are a motorcycle rider, learn to ride defensively to minimize the risks of collision. And if you drive a passenger car or a larger vehicle, learn to share the road and avoid making abrupt lane changes or turns before making sure you aren’t putting the life of a rider in danger.
For more on these two accidents, follow this link.
