Alcohol a Likely Cause of a Fatal Motorcycle Accident in Clarksville Tennessee

By Thomas Greer | February 11, 2014

Just after midnight on Sunday, January 12, 2014, a fatal motorcycle crash occurred on Peachers Mill Road in Clarksville, Tennessee. The motorcycle that Andrew S. Hafen was riding was the only vehicle involved in the deadly accident. The crash appears to have happened when Hafen was unable to negotiate a slight curve in the road. A passing motorist found Hafen at the scene of the accident, after it had happened. The accident is currently under investigation, and the police have stated that they believe that alcohol was a contributing factor in the deadly motorcycle crash.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) collects and analyzes statistical data on all different kinds of motor vehicle accidents in the United States. In 2011, a report from the NHTSA indicated that forty two percent of all fatalities from accidents involving a single motorcycle and no other vehicles were caused by drunk riding. Three times as many motorcycle fatalities which resulted from drunk riding occurred at night than during daylight hours. Perhaps the most disturbing drunk riding statistic from the NHTSA’s 2011 report is that thirty three percent of the 4,323 motorcyclists who were killed in 2011 were riding their motorcycles while they were under the influence of alcohol.

Unfortunately, motorcycle riders are getting mixed messages from within the motorcycle riding culture about drinking and riding. Some popular social events, including some motorcycle festivals, feature alcohol consumption as a prominent part of their entertainment. Individual motorcyclists often ride their motorcycles when they go out to drink at bars and clubs. On the other side of the spectrum, there are some motorcycle groups which take a stand against riding while intoxicated by making rules about alcohol consumption during their events. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation is also trying to get the word out about drinking and riding, by promoting the message that a BAC of zero is the only acceptable blood alcohol level for riding a motorcycle.

The psychology behind drinking and riding is just as scary as the results that often accompany it. When riders have even a small amount of alcohol in their systems, they become less critical of their own actions. This is dangerous on its own, but it is even worse when it is combined with the errors in judgment that can also occur in a slightly intoxicated state. The more alcohol is consumed, the more deluded riders become regarding their abilities to handle drinking and riding. Some riders even go so far as to think that riding their motorcycle is more fun after a beer or two, and that their motorcycle riding skills are actually improved by consuming alcohol.

When a person makes the decision to operate a vehicle, whether it is a car, a motorcycle, or any other type of vehicle, while under the influence of alcohol, they not only put themselves at risk, they become a danger to everyone else on the road. If a rider or driver who was under the influence of alcohol caused a motorcycle accident that injured you, you need the assistance of a knowledgeable motorcycle accident attorney. The experienced motorcycle accident attorneys at Bailey & Greer, PLLC will evaluate your case, answer all of your questions, and help you decide how to proceed. You deserve to be compensated for your injuries and damages, and it is essential that the driver or rider who has caused you harm is held responsible for their actions.  Call our office today, at 901-680-9777 to schedule a time to discuss your case.  At Bailey & Greer, PLLC, we are small enough to care, big enough to fight, and experienced enough to win.

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