San Antonio Couple Killed in Motorcycle Crash
According to the Austin Statesman, a San Antonio couple “died in motorcycle accident in New Braunfels” in early August when they crossed into oncoming traffic. Both Raul Guerrero, 34, and his wife Rebecca Guerrero, 37, were killed with they collided with the front of a Dodge pickup truck at about 7pm in the evening, according to New Braunfels police. She died instantly and was pronounced dead at the scene. Raul was driving the motorcycle, and was initially “taken to Christus New Braunfels Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.” According to the Statesman, neither were wearing helmets. A recent CDC study found that “between 2001 and 2008, more than 34,000 motorcyclists were killed, and an estimated 1,222,000 persons were treated in a U.S. emergency department for a non-fatal motorcycle-related injury.” Not surprisingly, the highest death and injury rates were for drivers and passengers 20–29 years old. Wearing a helmet can save a motorcyclist’s life in the event of a crash, and “the most effective way to get people to wear helmets is by passing and enforcing a universal helmet law,” according to the CDC. A universal law such as this requires all riders and passengers to wear a helmet, no matter how far they’re riding or how far from home. Passing a helmet law such as this is in the jurisdiction of individual states. “As of May 2012, 19 states and the District of Columbia had universal helmet laws, 28 states had a partial helmet law, and 3 states had no helmet law.” According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, The only three states with no motorcycle helmet use law are Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire. Texas, however, has only a partial helmet use law, requiring only riders 20 years old and younger to wear a helmet. Police have speculated that if the San Antonio drivers killed in New Braunfels were wearing helmets they may not have died. If you or someone you know has been injured in a motorcycle accident—either because of a motorcycle or as a rider—don’t go through it alone. Contact an experienced New Braunfels injury attorney today.
