Sadly, no one is immune from automobile accidents, even celebrities, who often have unlimited safety measures at their disposal. Bill Beckwith, a carpenter and co-host of the hit HGTV home improvement show, “Curb Appeal,” is the most recent celebrity to die from injuries suffered in a serious motorcycle accident in San Francisco. According to a news report, the 38-year-old carpenter was fatally injured after his motorcycle collided with another vehicle at a busy city intersection.
The most recent study shows that over 4,600 motorcyclists died in auto accidents in 2011 (the most recent year for which statistics are available). Some of these deaths are a result of another driver’s negligence and some are potentially related to hazardous road conditions, which could be the city’s fault. However, half of the motorcycle fatalities in single vehicle crashes relate to problems negotiating a curve prior to a crash and almost 60% of motorcyclist fatalities in single-vehicle crashes occur at night. This indicates that motorcyclists need to take extra precaution when driving at night and on windy roads, such as the infamous ones (Mulholland, Topanga) that snake through the Santa Monica mountains.
- How did the collision occur?
- Did the driver or the motorcyclist run a red light?
- Who had the right-of-way?
- Did speed or reckless driving play a part in the crash?
- Did alcohol, drugs or distracted driving contribute to the accident?