Horry County Woman Dies In Motorcycle Accident

Horry County, South Carolina is one of the most fun places that one can ride a motorcycle.  It is no wonder that Myrtle Beach is known for its local motorcycle clubs and its motorcycle events, such as Bike Week, that draw enthusiasts from all over the country, and even some international visitors.  Relative to its small population, South Carolina is the site of a disproportionate number of traffic fatalities every year, including some that involve motorcycles.  All other factors being equal, such as speed and angle of collision, the risk of death is much greater if you are on a motorcycle than if you are in a car.  Wearing a helmet reduces the risk of the worst possible outcomes, but South Carolina law only requires helmets for motorcycle riders under the age of 21.  If you have suffered severe injuries in a motorcycle accident, contact a Columbia motorcycle accident lawyer.

South Carolina Residents Call for Stricter Laws About Dangerous Driving

Heather Lehr took her commitments in life seriously.  She was dedicated to her three children, to her life partner Noah Hunt, and to her patients at South Strand Medical Center, where she worked as a nurse.  She also knew how to have fun, and her favorite way to spend her free time was riding motorcycles with members of her motorcycle club, where she and Hunt had met many of their friends.  On April 8, Lehr and Hunt were riding on Hunt’s motorcycle on Highway 701 in Conway, when a car pulled out in front of the on Clemson Circle, causing a collision.  First responders transported Lehr and Hunt to the nearest hospital.  Lehr died from her injuries the following day.  She was 42 years old.  Hunt’s injuries were not life-threatening, but he was still using a wheelchair as of April 10.

Lehr was the fourth person to die in a motorcycle accident in Horry County in 2024.  Every year since 2021, the county has seen an average of 15 fatal motorcycle collisions per year.  Friends and family members of Ler and other motorcycle accident victims have called on South Carolina lawmakers to enact stricter laws to prevent the dangerous driving behaviors that cause motorcyclist fatalities.  Specifically, they are calling for harsher penalties for drivers at fault for accidents that cause fatal or catastrophic injuries to motorcycle riders.

As it stands, South Carolina law recognizes the crime of vehicular manslaughter, when a driver causes a collision that kills a motor vehicle occupant, bicyclist, or pedestrian.  Drivers can also be charged with DUI resulting in severe bodily injury or DUI resulting in death if alcohol or drugs were a contributing factor to the accident.  These crimes are felonies where a conviction can result in a long prison sentence.  Even if the at fault driver does not get criminal charges or is acquitted, the victims’ families or the injured survivors have the right to seek compensation in a civil lawsuit.

Let Us Help You Today

The car accident lawyers at the Stanley Law Group can help you if you have suffered a serious injury in a motorcycle accident.  Contact The Stanley Law Group in Columbia, South Carolina or call (803)799-4700 for a free initial consultation.

Source:

wmbfnews.com/2024/04/10/look-twice-listen-look-again-loved-ones-want-change-traffic-laws-after-motorcyclists-death/