Pickens Man Charged With Felony DUI After Collision That Killed Motorcyclist

When a rear-end collision involves two cars, the driver of the front vehicle is at greater risk of injury than the driver of the rear vehicle, but it is still possible for both of them to avoid serious injury.  If there are not many other cars nearby, and the rear car was not going very fast at the time of the crash, then your biggest worry might be getting the insurance company to pay for vehicle repairs.  This is especially true if the cars have airbags, and if all of the occupants of both vehicles are wearing seatbelts.  When a car rear-ends a motorcycle, though, it is a different story.  Even a low-speed collision is enough to cause catastrophic injuries.  If you suffered severe injuries when a car collided with your motorcycle, contact a Columbia motorcycle accident lawyer.

Car Collides With Motorcycle That Slowed Down to Make a Turn

Just after sunset on Thanksgiving Day, Jodah Mullinax was riding his motorcycle in Pickens County, just outside the city of Pickens.  He was not wearing a helmet, and there were not many other cars on the road.  Barney Louis Trotter was driving behind him in the same lane of traffic.  When Mullinax slowed his motorcycle speed down in anticipation of making a turn, Trotter failed to reduce his own driving speed enough to avoid a collision.  Therefore, Trotter’s Dodge Charger struck Mullinax’s motorcycle from behind.

The impact of the collision caused Mullinax’s motorcycle to hit an embankment and Mullinax to become airborne.  When first responders arrived, they pronounced Mullinax dead at the scene.  He was 40 years old.

Trotter, 33, now faces criminal charges of felony DUI resulting in death.  The New Canaan Advertiser website did not indicate whether Trotter took a breathalyzer test at the scene of the accident and, if he did, what his BAC was.  It also did not specify whether a judge set a bond amount for him, and if so, whether he posted bond.

The Legal Issues

Felony DUI resulting in death is a serious criminal charge, and a conviction can result in a long prison sentence, even if the defendant gets a plea deal.  Even if Trotter does not get convicted of any crimes in connection to Mullinax’s death, Mullinax’s family has the right to seek damages in a wrongful death lawsuit.  The fact that Mullinax was not wearing a helmet may reduce the amount that the court awards them, but it will not prevent them from getting a ruling in their favor.  In South Carolina, it is legal for people 21 years and older to ride motorcycles with or without wearing a helmet.

Reach Out to Us Today for Help

The motorcycle accident injury lawyers at the Stanley Law Group can help you stand up for your legal rights after suffering 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:

ncadvertiser.com/news/article/South-Carolina-man-charged-in-fatal-DUI-as-16656923.php