New York Man Killed in Motorcycle Crash
Casey G. Mehlinger, 47, of Shirley, New York, died in a motorcycle accident in Upper Tulpehocken Township on November 28, 2008. According to this article, Mehlinger was riding his motorcycle along Bloody Spring Road near Route 183 when his motorcycle crossed the westbound lane, left the road and hit a tree. Mehlinger was thrown off his motorcycle. He was pronounced dead in an area hospital. He was wearing a helmet. However, the news report states that he died of head injuries suffered during the crash. Mehlinger was apparently the 51st person to die on Berks roads this year.
New York Motorcycle accident injuries are on the rise not only in New York but across the nation. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) latest statistics, motorcycle fatalities have increased from 4,387 in 2006 to 5,154 in 2007 – up by 6.6 percent, which accounted for 13 percent of all motor vehicle accidents. The number of motorcycle injuries has also significantly increased from 88,000 in 2006 to 103,000 in 2007. That is a 17 percent increase. If you think the increase in fatalities is because more people are riding motorcycles, consider this statistic – fatality rates in most years have outpaced registration rates. For example, from 2005 to 2006, when motorcycle registrations actually decreased by 1.6 percent, fatality rates increased by 5.7 percent.
Motorcycle accidents occur because of a variety of reasons. In solo vehicle crashes, the most common causes apart from driver error or speeding are a mechanical malfunction or product defect in the motorcycle or a dangerous condition on the roadway that caused the rider to lose control of his vehicle.
It is in the Mehlinger family’s best interest to contact an experienced New York motorcycle accident attorney to find out about their rights and legal options. In cases where there is negligence or wrongdoing involved – be it a defective auto product or dangerous roadway – families of auto accident victims are eligible to receive compensation for medical or funeral expenses and loss of future wages.
