Theodore Stiles Killed in Springdale, AR, Motorcycle Accident
Springdale, AR -- February 2, 2017, Theodore Stiles was killed due to an accident where his motorcycle and a Jeep collided on the highway.
An Arkansas State Police report indicates that the fatal collision occurred around 6:30 p.m. at the intersection of Business Highway 71 and Black Oak Avenue.
According to the preliminary investigation, a Jeep Liberty was traveling southbound on the highway. It attempted to make a left turn onto Black Oak, putting itself into the path of 68-year-old Stiles's Honda motorcycle. As a result, the motorcycle crashed into the Jeep, ejecting Stiles onto the roadway.
Emergency services transported Stiles to Washington Regional Medical Center with critical injuries. He eventually died there. The other driver was not hurt.
Authorities did not say if any charges or citations were filed. Their investigations are ongoing.
Map of the Area
Commentary
Looking at the intersection where this accident took place, there are not traffic lights or stop signs along Highway 71 at the Black Oak Avenue. What this suggests to me is that Mr. Stiles had the right of way at the time of the accident. That being said, I can only base my conclusions on an early police investigation, and that's hardly thorough evidence to go by. What I will say is that most of the motorcycle accidents I see involve a larger vehicle failing to notice the smaller motorbike on the road and either turning or changing lanes into the path of the rider, causing an accident.
Despite this being such a common occurrence, motorcyclists often find themselves facing obstacles following an accident in terms of seeking compensation. The reason for this is that the general public tends to have a bias against motorcyclists, buying into the myth that they're all dangerous drivers. Most people will conjure up images of bikers speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, barreling down emergency lanes, etc.
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We've all seen that kind of person, but the fact of the matter is that they are the bad apples ruining the bunch. Most motorcyclists are incredibly safety conscious and fall victim to the negligent driving of other vehicles. However, this general bias against motorcyclists gives insurance companies opportunities to undermine the efforts of these responsible drivers. They take full advantage of the negative attitude toward motorcyclists to try and avoid or minimize liability after a crash.
This is why many motorcyclists find themselves in need of professional representation. While many think they are automatically going to receive compensation for their injuries, the truth is that they need assistance overcoming the obstacles that insurance companies put in their way. By bending the truth and playing off negative stereotypes, insurance companies hope to sabotage and bully motorcycle accident victims into getting less than they deserve.
However, with the right experience and a case built on tangible evidence, a civil jury will see that the facts outweigh the assumptions. When information is lacking, speculation can run rampant, leaving people to fill in the blanks with their own biases. But clear and tangible evidence will overcome these assumptions and get motorcycle accident victims and their families the compensation they deserve.
--Grossman Law Offices
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