The Lombardi Law Firm Blog

Another motorcycle crash out of Jackson County, Iowa on May 5, 2012

Another ATV accident, this one in Jackson County

Washington County, Iowa Motorcycle Crash - Illinois Resident Driver

Fatal accidents in Iowa have picked up this past week

Motorcycles - Driver who was charged with texting and driving reportedly pleads

It’s winter in Iowa, but motorcycles are still in the news

Why do drivers flee the scene of an accident?

Can a non-driver be guilty of vehicular homicide?

Another ATV Related Death in Sioux Center, Iowa

Wearing a helmet can save your life and your brain.

Motorcycle Crash in Black Hawk County

Motorcycles and Trucks are an Unfair Match

Riding a Bike on Urban Roads is a Risky Ride

Another Iowa ATV death from the Cedar Rapids area

Is your Motorcycle Accident from Axle Fatigue?

Iowa Accidents: Motorcycles, Age and Incapacitating Injuries

Bicyclists Are At Higher Risk of Death

Should alleged criminals be able to spell?

Cass County Sheriff is looking for help in Stewart accidental death case

Motorcyclist's death after a double collision

In this accident there is a motorcyclist heading south on Highway 67, when a car turns left of center attempting to turn into a driveway when the two collide. The motorcyclist then careens off of the first car and into another vehicle heading north. There are several questions that immediately come to mind and may shed light on whether one, two or three drivers are at fault.

It might be easy to determine how close the third vehicle was following the first vehicle. This is important because if you add distance, by slowing the speed of car number  three and the head-on collision can't happen.

The second set of questions is about car number two. The car turning left of center with the duty to yield is a 2005 Pontiac Bonneville being driven by a 45-year-old woman; she was cited for operating while intoxicated, 1^st offense under 321J.2(2A).  Her car was struck in the right rear, which would seem to indicate the motorcyclist attempted to avoid the collision.

The third set of questions will have to do with the speed of the cyclist; although knowing the second driver turned left of center is enough to find her at-fault. If they can prove she was drinking the case of fault is pretty much wrapped up against her.

THE FACTS
Accident location is ¾ miles north of LeClaire on US Highway 67 (Great River Road between 217^th Street Place and 218^th Street in Scott County, Iowa.

Date of Accident: 8/22/2010 at 5:26 pm.

Motorcyclist: John Clifford from Galesburg, Illinois was wearing a helmet and is listed as fatal.  He was 55-years-old. No charges were filed against him.

The third vehicle is a 1993 240 SX driven by a 24-year-old man from Betterndorf. He was also not cited.

An injured passenger was Kathy Clifford, a 53-year-old woman who was on the motorcycle and taken to Genesis East by EMS. She too was wearing her helmet.

Here is Trooper Pedersen's narrative: UNIT 1 WAS NORTHBOUND ON HIGHWAY 67 TURNING LEFT INTO A DRIVEWAY AT 21742 HIGHWAY 67, WHICH IS A RESIDENCE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. UNIT 2 WAS SOUTHBOUND ON HIGHWAY 67 APPROACHING THE DRIVEWAY INTERSECTION FROM THE NORTH. UNIT 3 WAS NORTHBOUND BEHIND UNIT 1. UNIT 1 TURNED INTO THE PATH OF UNIT 2, AND UNIT 1 AND UNIT 2 COLLIDED IN THE SOUTHBOUND LANE. UNIT 2 WENT INTO THE NORTHBOUND LANE AFTER THE INITIAL IMPACT AND STRUCK THE FRONT OF UNIT 3, WHICH WAS STOPPED. UNIT 2 CAME TO REST ON ITS SIDE IN THE CENTER OF THE NORTHBOUND LANE IN FRONT OF UNIT 3. UNIT 1 CAME TO REST IN THE DRIVEWAY FACING WEST.

4 Motorcyclist-Pickup Truck Deaths Preceded by Warning?

One has to wonder if the Harrison County Law Enforcement properly handled the 911 call warning of a pickup truck driving erratically on Interstate 29 last week. There is a nice Des Moines Register article detailing the 911 call and how quickly law enforcement responded. The article describes those riding as part of a veteran group that provides escort services at funerals for soldiers who died in Iraq or Afghanistan. This is going to get very serious for the young man involved; especially if his blood alcohol tests come back positive. The witness's description has the pickup truck suddenly veering across the center line and into the four riders. The focus of that investigation will center on what would make him suddenly veer across the center line? The truck's driver is from Nebraska. Here is a video provided by KETV-ABC Affiliate on Channel 7.

But here is the real issue that won't be discussed: How much insurance coverage will the at-fault driver have and will it ever be sufficient to cover the damages of the four who died. In my experience it isn't likely there will be sufficient insurance coverage, which is another reason to carry what's called underinsured and uninsured coverage on your car or truck or motorcycle. It covers you in the event you're in an accident and either the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough to cover all the damages they have caused. Under and un-insurance coverage is a wise purchase. Remember it's your life that you are insuring.

This is also true for those riding bicycles on the street.

Where the bike path crosses a road isn't an automatic right-of-way.

Do cars have to share the road with bicyclists?

Clear indication of negligence in Roseville’s woman’s motorcycle accident

Iowa I-35 and Grand Avenue On-Ramp a Lesson in Dangerous Design