Motorcyclist Death on Long Island Marks Third in Three Days

A motorcyclist was killed in an accident on Long Island for the third time in three days on August 12 at approximately 11:20 p.m. in Smithtown.

According to Suffolk County Police, the driver of a 2007 Honda motorcycle was heading north on Route 25A when he was hit by the 17-year-old driver of a 2000 Nissan Pathfinder who was attempting to turn left off of westbound Carriage House Road on to route 25A. The driver of the pathfinder did not suffer any injuries in the collision.

Multiple motorcyclist deaths in mere days

This accident marked the eighth fatal crash in Nassau and Suffolk counties involving motorcyclists since July, and the third in a stretch of three days, all three of which involved a car attempting to turn left in front of a motorcyclist and causing a collision.

Police say in these crashes, the drivers simply failed to see the motorcyclist coming. This is the most common cause of so-called failure to yield accidents. The smaller nature of motorcycles makes them easier to miss than other types of vehicles on the road. But this is not an excuse—drivers are still responsible for surveying their surroundings and making sure the way is clear before proceeding with a left turn or through an intersection. Drivers of vehicles coming straight through the intersection with the right of way should not have to fear that another vehicle will turn out right in front of them.

If you have been injured in a failure to yield accident, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer at Jakubowski, Robertson, Maffei, Goldsmith & Tartaglia, LLP to learn more about your legal options for recovery.