Motorcycles are very popular forms of personal transportation. They are used and loved by many different kinds of people, from young adults to successful business persons. The popularity of motorcycles has also made them dangerous. In collisions where a motorcycle is struck by a larger vehicle – and most vehicles on Ohio’s roads are bigger than motorcycles – the driver of the cycle often suffers serious and possibly fatal injuries. A recent Toledo collision between a motorcycle and an SUV demonstrates this tragic fact.
A motorcycle driven by Sean Bowerman, the former warden of the Toledo Correctional Institution, was struck by an SUV in Flatrock Township. The SUV was traveling south on County Road 14 and approaching its intersection with County Road L when it struck the motorcycle. The driver of the SUV suffered only minor injuries and was treated at Henry County Hospital. The rider of the cycle was also treated at the same hospital, but he sadly died from his injuries while being treated. His motorcycle was later found in a nearby ditch.
The Henry County Sheriff’s Office has not disclosed any details of the accident or any theory about a potential cause. The fact that the driver of the SUV suffered only minor injuries while the cycle driver died indicates that the motorcycle probably absorbed most of the energy of the impact. If this inference is correct, it probably indicates that the driver of the SUV was inattentive and did not see the motorcycle.
Anyone who has been injured or lost a loved one under similar circumstances may wish to explore the possibility of a legal action for damages. An experienced accident attorney can provide a helpful evaluation of the evidence, suggest legal theories that will support such a claim and provide an estimate of the likelihood of recovering damages for medical expenses, lost income and pain and suffering.
