Cyclist Attempts a Stunt and Dies
Credit: Kylane from sxc.hu
A motorcycle rider has died as a result of attempting a wheelie and striking another vehicle in southeast Houston Sunday evening. Eyewitness reports told Houston police that the motorcycle rider popped a wheelie and struck an Acura RLX that was stopped at the intersection in the 4900 block of Reed Road. The 25-year-old victim was transported to Ben Taub General Hospital where he died of his injuries. The identity of the victim is pending verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences and notification of his family. Houston police reports that there were no indications that alcohol use was a factor in the accident. Motorcycles face many dangers on the road as it is. While most will obey the rules of the road and take extra precautions to keep themselves and other motorists around them safe, there are some who will take their passion for extreme riding onto public roads. Some even resort to trying to execute motorcycle tricks while on a public highway or street that they have seen in movies or on television. This can be extremely dangerous. Motorcycle tricks have no place in everyday traffic, and are instead best saved for special spaces and situations that are set up for this type of riding. Attempting a motorcycle stunt is very appealing. A quick search on YouTube, for example, you can find all sorts of instructional videos on how to perform these stunts and tricks. Popping a wheelie is the most popular of these stunts, and successfully performing one seems to almost go hand-in-hand with riding a motorcycle. However, many people who have seen these tricks performed seem to forget that riders who perform them are often stunt professionals or at the very least have the proper safety equipment and taken many safety precautions to insure that they and their audiences are uninjured. Amateur motorcyclists attempting to perform the same kinds of stunts on public roads can be a recipe for disaster. Some of the things that can go wrong are the loss of control of the motorcycle, tire blowouts, structural damage to the motorcycle, and crashes into other vehicles or persons. Doing motorcycle stunts on any public street or road can potentially endanger anyone in the vicinity as well as the rider themselves. Things can go wrong and when they do it can cause a very serious accident involving injury or even death. Taking such risks goes beyond being personally reckless and it is unacceptable to endanger everyone else who is around the motorcyclist. If you or a loved one has suffered harm due to the reckless actions of a motorcyclist, you may be able to hold them accountable. Call our offices and discuss your injury claim with a knowledgeable legal professional. You may be entitled to compensation for damages and your injuries. When you call, we will match you with an attorney who will discuss the details of your case and possible courses of action. Your initial consultation with our offices is confidential, free and without obligation.