Parrish, FL — November 19, 2024, a motorcyclist was killed due to a commercial truck accident at around 12:46 p.m. along U.S. Highway 301.
According to preliminary statements, the collision happened at the intersection of U.S. 301 and 116th Avenue E.
The Florida Highway Patrol said that an 18-year-old was on a motorcycle going along U.S. 301. At 116th Avenue E., authorities said that a tractor-trailer was making a turn across highway lanes. The truck entered the path of the motorcyclist, resulting in a collision.
Due to the collision, the teen motorcyclist was fatally injured. No other injuries were reported. At this time, additional details about the accident are unavailable.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
Looking at this stretch of road (if the images I’m seeing are up to date), it seems traffic along U.S. 301 would have the right of way here. That may lead people to think this crash is open-and-shut, since the truck was the vehicle turning across the highway. But with any motorcycle wreck, it’s important to be proactive and confirm what it is authorities are investigating. Frankly, a lot of people are quick to assume motorcyclists are reckless drivers, and this can lead to situations where authorities either miss important information or outright make mistakes.
I’ll give a perfect example. I handled a case not long ago where a family wanted a second opinion after authorities claimed their loved one had been speeding and weaving through traffic on a motorcycle before crashing into a semi-truck. They knew their loved one was a cautious driver, though, and they felt the details weren’t adding up. They asked us to look into things, and it turned out authorities made a big mistake.
Through our investigations, we found the investigating officer was inexperienced and based his findings on a sole eye witness. That witness was as shocked as the family was to see those reports. Apparently, the officer completely misinterpreted the witness’s testimony. All they said to the officer was that the victim passed their vehicle on the left, then merged back to the right—a completely normal, safe maneuver. The officer took this information, though, and let their own negative bias against motorcyclists warp the facts, and he ended up painting a picture that put the victim at fault when the actual evidence showed the complete opposite.
Simply put, had the family in that case not trusted their instincts, it’s possible the truth never would have come to light. To be clear, the investigations into this crash could be more thorough, and authorities may be able to provide clear details which show they’re taking the investigations seriously. However, folks should always consider the kind of answers they’re getting from authorities after any serious accident, especially one where a single person’s bias could lead to mistakes. That way, if things don’t details aren’t adding up, steps can be taken to have an unbiased set of eyes pick up the slack.
call us 
Email Us 
Text us