Satellite Boulevard and Martin Farm Road Intersection
Local News
41-year-old Christopher Bettis was reportedly killed in a Suwanee motorcycle accident Tuesday morning, September 30, 2014.
According to the AJC, Mr. Bettis was traveling on Satellite Boulevard around 8:30am Tuesday. A Nissan Altima, apparently attempting to turn left onto Satellite Boulevard from Martin Farm Road, collided with the motorcycle. Mr. Bettis perished from injuries in the crash.
Our Legal Take
The Murray Law Firm is following this incident closely and questions whether the driver of the Altima turned too closely in front of the motorcycle and whether distraction may have contributed to this tragedy.
The NHTSA warns, “Approximately one-half of all motorcycle crashes involve another vehicle [and] nearly 40 percent were caused by the other vehicle turning left in front of the motorcycle.”
Does traffic surveillance footage indicate whether the Altima came to a full stop and looked for oncoming traffic prior to turning onto Satellite Boulevard?
Do cellphone records and traffic footage indicate whether texting or another distraction may have contributed to the driver’s failure to notice or yield for the approaching motorcycle?
Were blood tests performed on the Altima driver at the scene and, if so, do these results indicate whether alcohol, drugs or medications may have been factors in the driver’s failure to notice or stop for the motorcycle?
As the details of this tragedy continue to develop, and if the Altima driver is found to be at fault, the family of Christopher Bettis may elect to file civil claims in his wrongful death. Claims of this magnitude will serve as a grave reminder to all local drivers of the critical need to share the road with motorcyclists.
As insurance companies are more concerned with limiting their own financial exposure than protecting victims, the Bettis family should retain an experienced personal injury firm as soon as practicable to protect their interests and ensure an unbiased investigation. Photographs of the vehicles and roadways involved and a review of traffic surveillance footage and cellphone records will need to be performed immediately before any evidence is damaged or destroyed.
The Murray Law Firm has extensive experience in protecting families of catastrophic motorcycle accidents, such as this, and we offer our legal expertise, if needed. Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us at 404.842.1600.
