On Sunday evening a 48-year-old woman was riding her motorcycle on the Alaskan Way Viaduct when she was in a potentially life-threatening accident. Komonews.com reported that she was going southbound (where the road veers left, ahead of the stadiums,) navigating her way along the viaduct when she lost control of the bike. Authorities arrived on the scene and rushed the woman to Harborview Medical Center. It is not known what the condition of the rider is, but her injuries were classified as life-threatening. No other vehicles were involved in the accident, and investigators and clean-up crews had the southbound lanes of the viaduct closed for several hours.
As a motorcycle accident attorney, I know how devastating and dangerous they can be. That’s why it is so important not only as a motorcycle rider but also as a four-wheeled vehicle driver to stay alert on the road. Specific care needs to be taken for motorcyclists—often misconceptions about their actions can lead to disastrous results. While poor driving conditions brought on by weather and traffic are dangerous for any driver, this is compounded several times for the motorcyclist. While you should always exhibit safe driving behaviors, the knowledge that the injuries inflicted while on a motorcycle should encourage both drivers and riders alike to be more alert behind the wheel. We wish this Seattle rider a speedy recovery, and hope that her accident can act as a reminder to other drivers and riders to stay safe out on the road.