Authorities say that a 25-year-old Baton Rouge man was killed last weekend when he hit a car that pulled in front of his motorcycle. The motorcycle accident occurred on Plank Road around 7:20 p.m. last Saturday.

This is one of a series of fatal traffic accidents that we have discussed on this blog. Yesterday we discussed the death of a 16-year-old driver who was killed when he pulled in front of a speeding driver. The failure to yield to oncoming traffic is a common cause of Baton Rouge area car accidents and the outcome of these accidents depends on a variety of factors, including the types of vehicles involved. Motorcycle drivers are much more likely to suffer catastrophic injuries in such an accident because motorcycles offer the least amount of protection in a crash.

Another determining factor in the severity of car accident injuries is the use of safety devices such as helmets and seat belts. Car drivers who fail to wear seat belts may be injured upon being ejected from a vehicle and motorcyclists that fail to wear helmets frequently suffer from traumatic brain injuries.

It was not reported whether the 25-year-old man involved in the Plank Road accident was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he died of his injuries. The 28-year-old car driver was cited for failing to yield because he ran a stop sign. It is unclear whether he will also face a wrongful death lawsuit from relatives of the 25-year-old.

Source: The Advocate, "1 dead in Plank Road motorcycle accident," Sept. 26, 2011