Man Injured in Tractor-Trailer Accident on FM 1472 in Laredo, TX
Laredo, TX -- May 10, 2022, one person was injured due to an accident where a motorcycle and a truck collided on FM 1472.
Initial reports said that the crash took place at around 4:30 p.m. along FM 1472 at the intersection of the Bob Bullock Loop.
According to officials, a 27-year-old man was on a Honda motorcycle traveling southbound along FM 1472. At Bob Bullock, authorities said that a tractor-trailer that was eastbound on Bob Bullock disregarded a light, crashing into the motorcycle.
Due to the collision, the motorcyclist reportedly had non-incapacitating injuries. No other injuries were reported. At this time, exact factors surrounding the crash remain unclear.
Commentary on Motorcycle, Truck Accident on FM 1472 in Laredo
These reports seem about as straight-forward as they can get, but it's important to ensure victims and families have the tools to meet whatever roadblocks will stand between them and the help they need. For example, one potential roadblock could arise in a crash like this simply due to the victim being a motorcyclist. Why is that?
As many motorcyclists likely know, a lot of people are quick to blame them for crashes. They just assume all motorcyclists are reckless daredevils that cause serious wrecks by speeding and weaving through traffic lanes. What makes this particularly troublesome is the incessant blame-shifting trucking companies and insurance companies engage in to avoid responsibility.
For example, I had a case not long ago where a company claimed our client had been speeding and weaving through traffic lanes just before impact. We had to independently track down witnesses to show clearly that wasn't true because the police report wasn't anywhere near clear enough to dispute the company's ridiculous claims. Without that clear evidence, things can too easily become he-said-she-said, and their claims are already likely to play into the negative biases a lot of people already have.
At the end of the day, few things speak louder than the facts. Even if people are quick to blame motorcyclists, they're not likely to deny what's right in front of them. That's why relying solely on a preliminary crash report is so risky and why having independent investigators gather clear evidence is a vital step toward getting people the help they deserve. Were those steps taken here?
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