Sturgis Motorcycle Accident Kills Two, Injures One

Attorney Claude Wyle | 888-981-0826 | Free Consult

Two motorcycle riders were killed in an accident near the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota. One rider missed a curve on Highway 14A, causing him to crash head-on into two other riders. Two of them died in the crash, and the third sustained serious but not life-threatening injuries.

This Legal Brief features Claude Wyle, an injury attorney and partner at Choulos Choulos & Wyle based in San Francisco, CA. He has nearly 40 years of experience.

To learn more, contact the attorney directly by calling 888-981-0826 or by submitting a contact form on this page. The consultation is free and confidential, and you owe no out-of-pocket attorney fees.

Despite the effects of coronavirus on attendance, this year has seen a higher rate of collisions than this time last year.

It’s easy to let your guard down when you’re surrounded by people of a similar mindset and skill level. However, letting your guard down for even a moment can have dire consequences when you’re on a motorcycle, especially without a helmet like the riders in this accident. With officials estimating an attendance of more than 200,000 motorcyclists attending this year’s Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, accidents are likely to happen. Following guidelines for safe riding practices should be a habit, but riders are encouraged to exercise additional caution this year while attending the rally. With so many people, bikes, and vehicles in attendance in one location, everyone needs to do their part to mitigate the risk of serious and even fatal collisions.

Wyle warns people to use extra caution when attending events with large groups of people.

The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, similar to other large events, has the potential to be particularly distracting, both for drivers of passenger vehicles and for motorcyclists. As a long-term motorcyclist himself, Wyle understands the appeal of the Sturgis Rally and encourages people to have fun. However, this sobering incident is a reminder that a moment of inattention can result in costly and tragic consequences. Drivers, motorcyclists, and pedestrians alike need to remain extremely aware of their surroundings and the other people and objects sharing the road with them, especially when joining together in a crowded environment full of distractions.

To learn more, contact Claude Wyle directly by calling 888-981-0826 or by submitting a contact form on this page. The consultation is free and confidential, and you owe no out-of-pocket attorney fees.

Video Transcript:

Just because attendance is down this year at the world's largest motorcycle rally, that doesn't mean crashes are, and some of them have been fatal.

I'm Rob Rosenthal with AskTheLawyers.com™, and this is an AskTheLawyers™ Legal Brief. Two people have died so far this year in motorcycle crashes surrounding the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota.

The Department of Public Safety says a 22-year-old male missed a curve on Highway 14A, crossed the centerline.

This caused him to crash his bike head on into two other riders. The 22-year-old and a 55-year-old both died in the collision, and a third rider suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries. None of the riders were wearing helmets.

San Francisco motorcycle attorney Claude Wyle, with the law firm Choulos Choulos and Wyle, is an avid lifelong motorcyclist himself, and has more than 30 years of representing injured motorcyclists in court.

He says, "Even though you are joining with fellow motorcycle enthusiasts, it pays to be extra careful to avoid crashes when so many folks are in one place at one time. Car drivers may even be more distracted with all there is to see at Sturgis, and some riders may not be paying as much attention to the road as they otherwise might."

He goes on to say, "So I have a great time, but keep your wits about you when you are on the road, and also while a pedestrian."

Even though officials estimate this year's attendance at Sturgis is down because of the coronavirus outbreak, the number of crashes, many with serious and life-threatening injuries is higher than at this time last year. Officials estimate there are more than 200,000 motorcyclists attending this year's rally in Sturgis.

This has been an AskTheLawyers.com™ Legal Brief.

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