Update Phoenix Deadly Motorcycle Crash That Claimed the Lives of Innocent Arizona Motorcycle Riders And Injured Other Innocent Motorcycle Riders In Phoenix
As Arizona injury and motorcycle lawyers, we have many clients who have been seriously injured in motorcycle accidents. I was talking to a client who came in on Friday to sign his settlement documents who had been involved in a motorcycle accident. In his accident he was travelling through an intersection when another vehicle did not stop and ran the stop sign and collided with our client. The client said he saw the wife of the driver put her hands on her head anticipating the collision. Unfortunately, she was not able to let her husband know prior to him running the stop light and colliding with our client.
One thing that we were discussing is that this was not a motorcycle accident. In technical terms this was a motorcycle accident but it was not a motorcycle accident in the way that most of us picture what a motorcycle accident is when we say those terms. I (Alexis) think most people when they say motorcycle accident think the motorcycle driver was the cause of the accident. For some reason drivers of automobiles do not like motorcycle driver or bicycle riders for the majority either. Most witnesses we see on police reports say the motorcycle rider or cyclists “came out of nowhere.” I think it seems like the rider came out of no where because many times the driver is not paying attention enough to see the motorcycle rider or the cyclists. It takes extra special attention when driving.
I think the client is right though that we have to remember this Arizona deadly motorcycle crash was not an Arizona motorcycle accident, it was innocent motorcycle riders stopped at a red light when another driver just rammed into them. There was no accident about this Phoenix motorcycle crash and as injury lawyers and people we need to remember that this was not an accident.
Many more facts will start to come out as in all Phoenix motorcycle cases. When it comes to a fatal motorcycle accident in Arizona, it can take months for the police to conduct a full investigation and issue the police report.
At this time, it appears that Michael Jakscht, the driver of the dump truck, was found to be on illegal drugs at the time of the accident and his bail has been set for what we heard was $1,000,000. he is currently held at the 4th Avenue jail in downtown Phoenix.
Initial police reports are indicating that the toxicology reports showed Jakscht had drugs in his system at the time of the motorcycle crash.
Victims and victims’ families are starting to speak out. Jason Anania suffered from a shattered leg, bruises back and sore shoulder. One paper quoted him saying that his physical pain is difficult but his emotion pain is difficult as well. This is not uncommon for victims of motorcycle accidents to feel. Physical pain is visible to others but emotional pain is something that is just as serious.
Many of our clients who are involved in motorcycle crashes in Arizona have emotional injuries that are very difficult to overcome. Many clients request that they seed the help of a doctor who can help them with their emotional injuries. In fact, one doctor that we work with actually takes victims out on the roadway again as one of the emotional factors besides feeling guilty for being a survivor is having a hard time getting back on a motorcycle or in an automobile after a serious motor vehicle accident.
We cannot bring all these innocent motorcycle riders back to be with us and our legal system is not a tooth for a tooth and an eye for an eye, but if all of the reports are correct, it sure seems that a legal system like that would be fair. Drivers cannot use illegal drugs and kill innocent people and get a slap on the wrist. This driver needs to be severely punished as he has killed innocent people, seriously injured others, and torn apart families’ lives forever.
It does not appear that this is Jakscht’s only offense either. It has been reported that he was cited in 2005 for operating a vehicle with too much weight and cited in 2006 for having parts that were in an unsafe condition. Last year, while driving the same truck from the Blue Sky Sanitation Company, he was cited for not having a fire extinguisher, no pre-trip inspection and failure to inspect emergency equipment.
Although clearly the driver was at fault for the motorcycle crash, I wonder what responsibility the company holds as well. Did this company know that Jakscht was using illegal substances? What did they do about these tickets he was getting? Did they do anything to make sure he had the proper equipment on his dump truck. Did the company know something was wrong with the truck and that it could possibly cause fire?
These are some legal aspects I think are important for everyone to know as well. Of course, Jakscht is responsible because of his actions and deserves the upmost punishment but at the same time I would advise these families of those fatally injured and the surviving victims to look into the role that the sanitation company had as well.
Again, our thoughts are with these families and innocent injured victims.
