Quirino Ramirez Killed in San Marcos, TX, Motorcycle Accident
San Marcos, TX -- January 19, 2017, Quirino Ramirez was killed following an accident in which his motorcycle collided with a car.
The San Marcos Police Department responded to the accident scene at around 6:30 p.m. just outside the Highcrest Apartment Complex on Old Ranch Road 12.
Preliminary police investigations indicate that 20-year-old Ramirez was riding a motorcycle westbound on Old Ranch Road 12. As he did so, a Toyota Corolla was exiting the Highcrest Apartment Complex. The driver reportedly didn't see the motorcyclist and turned into Ramirez's path.
The motorcycle collided into the side of the car, ejecting Ramirez onto the roadway. Ramirez injuries proved fatal, and he died at the scene.
Authorities did not report any charges or citations resulting from the accident. Their investigations are ongoing.
Map of the Area
Commentary
This accident certainly seems to mirror a lot of the motorcycle accidents that I've seen time and time again. Too many times our firm comes across a case where a car or a commercial vehicle fails to notice a motorcyclist on the road enters their path. It's a very common way for motorcyclists to be injured or killed, yet there exists a misconception about motorcyclists that tends to neglect this. Many people automatically believe that any motorcycle accident is the motorcyclist's fault.
A lot of the reason for this bias is because people have this mental image of motorcyclists as dangerous drivers. When they think motorcyclist, they see someone speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, and barreling down the shoulder of a highway. It's true, these people exist. I've seen plenty myself. But these are the bad apples that are spoiling the bunch. Most motorcyclists are incredibly safety-conscious drivers. When they're surrounded by vehicles at least 4 times their size, they sort of have to be.
Where this really becomes a problem is when victims and their families are seeking compensation from an insurance company after an accident. Insurance companies know this bias exists, and they'll try to use it to their advantage. By capitalizing on people's biases and implicating the motorcyclist as the one at fault, they attempt to avoid or at least mitigate their liability following an accident. They're counting on the possibility that either they can convince a jury that the victim was complicit in their own harm or that an inexperienced attorney will fear this and rush to make settlement. The problem is that this settlement will likely be worth far less than the victims and their families deserve.
The way that an attorney experienced with motorcycle accidents handles this is through a solid case built on evidence. By ensuring that there is plenty of tangible evidence from the accident, the victims can ensure that a jury would convinced of the at-fault driver's liability. People may have a bias against motorcyclists, but they can't argue with clear facts. Knowing this, insurance companies faced with solid evidence have no choice but to admit liability and get victims and their families the compensation they deserve.
--Grossman Law Offices
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