Potter County, TX — June 4, 2024, Benny Troedel was injured in a motorcycle versus car accident just after 9:00 a.m. along Interstate Highway 40.

According to authorities, 51-year-old Benny Troedel was traveling on an eastbound Harley-Davidson motorcycle on Interstate Highway 40 service road near an on ramp east of Coulter Street when the accident took place.

Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, an eastbound Buick Encore made a lane change at an unsafe time. A collision consequently occurred between the back-left of the Buick and the front-right of the motorcycle.

Troedel reportedly sustained serious injuries over the course of the accident. He was transported to a local medical facility by EMS in order to receive necessary treatment.

Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When someone is badly hurt in a crash involving a motorcycle, the focus often lands on what was seen at the scene—but that’s not always enough. These types of incidents can turn on small moments: a hesitation, a blind spot, a missed signal. If those aren’t closely examined, real answers can be lost.

1. Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash?
A sudden lane change by a car in close proximity to a motorcycle raises serious questions. Did the investigating officers gather enough data to understand how fast each vehicle was going? Did they check for signs of signaling, blind spot issues, or evasive action? Motorcycle collisions can be especially difficult to reconstruct due to the size and positioning of the bike. Without detailed scene mapping or trajectory analysis, critical context may have been missed. And depending on who handled the case, the level of crash training could vary significantly.

2. Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash?
An unexpected lane shift might point to driver error—but it might also involve a mechanical problem. Was the Encore’s blind spot system functioning correctly? Could there have been a steering or sensor issue that triggered the movement or caused a delayed response? On the motorcycle side, even small failures—like brake problems or throttle hesitation—can play a major role in how a rider responds to a sudden threat. Without a mechanical inspection, those answers stay off the table.

3. Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?
Modern vehicles often carry black-box-like recorders that capture pre-collision behavior. Did the Buick’s data show a turn signal, speed at the time of the lane change, or any evasive maneuvers? Was there camera footage from the roadway or nearby businesses that could add clarity? Riders often have helmet cams or phone-based apps running that can record ride data. These kinds of records are increasingly important in clearing up moments of uncertainty.

It’s not enough to ask who hit whom. In cases where injuries are serious, it’s about asking whether every layer of the incident was actually explored. That’s how the full picture comes into focus.

Key Takeaways:

• Unsafe lane change crashes need more than basic reporting—they need scene analysis.
• Mechanical failures, including blind spot systems or braking issues, can shift how fault is understood.
• Electronic records from vehicles, cameras, or devices can fill in missing context.