A deputy fire chief who had recently retired from his position was killed in a motorcycle accident the evening of Saturday, April 4 in Whitfield County. The victim had just retired in February after putting in more than 30 years of service with the Dalton Fire Department, according to a police spokesperson.

According to law enforcement authorities, the victim was traveling south on his motorcycle on Cleveland Highway at around 7:15 p.m. The accident occurred when a Toyota Tundra pickup truck that had been traveling north on the highway made a left turn in front of the motorcyclist. The victim was unable to bring his motorcycle to a stop in time to avoid a collision with the truck. He was transported immediately to the Hamilton Medical Center, but was pronounced dead just after 8 p.m. The Georgia State Patrol continues to investigate.

Left-turn accidents are among the most common types of motorcycle crashes. Because motorcycles are smaller than the typical vehicle, they are less visible on the road, which means drivers can make left turns without seeing them. However, in most cases, drivers are still liable in these types of accidents, as it is their responsibility to ensure they have properly looked to ensure it is safe to turn. And oncoming traffic always has the right-of-way if the driver attempting to turn left does not have a green left-turn arrow.

Because of the lack of protection afforded to riders, motorcycle accidents tend to result in serious injuries. If you need to take legal action after one of these crashes, be sure to consult a compassionate motorcycle accident injury attorney at McMenamy Law LLC in Atlanta.