MOTORCYCLIST KILLED BY WRONG WAY PICKUP TRUCK DRIVER-NH

A 32 year old female motorcyclist, driving on a one way entry ramp, was killed recently when a pickup driver, in a 1997 Dodge truck, was driving the wrong way down the ramp and struck the motorcyclist head on. What options are available to her family?

My first concern, as an attorney, is for the search for adequate insurance coverage to compensate for the obvious catastrophic losses that this motorcyclist and her family have sustained at the hands of the carelessness of another.  The fact that the faulty driver was in a 20 year old pickup suggest that perhaps he has either none or inadequate insurance coverage.

I encourage all motorcyclists to examine their own insurance policies with their agent to assure adequate uninsured and under insured coverage.  That coverage steps in when the faulty driver has inadequate coverage for the harm caused.  My recommendation is at least $250,000 in uninsured motorist coverage.  I also recommend an umbrella policy with at least $1,000,000 uninsured motorist coverage.  I frequently find that the umbrella policy usually costs only an additional $200 per year.  That is great additional protection for a catastrophic loss such as this instance at modest additional cost.

I ride motorcycles and am making general commentary as an interested rider.  I am not commenting on this specific accident, that was reported in the NH newspapers, and wish the family of the deceased motorcyclist our condolences.

Atty. James Normand

Normand|Higham Law

Manchester, NH