A 20-year-old man suffered critical injuries in a San Bernardino motorcycle accident the morning of July 6, 2009 after he crashed into a car that turned in front of him. According to a news report in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, the motorcyclist, whose identity has not yet been released, was traveling north on San Mateo Street in Redlands on his 2008 Suzuki motorcycle, when he collided with a 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass that had made a left turn onto Brookside Avenue. The motorcyclist suffered major injuries, but the driver and passenger of the Oldsmobile were not injured.

I sympathize deeply with this young man who suffered critical injuries in this motorcycle crash. I hope he has a quick and complete recovery. Please keep him in your prayers.

According to California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there was one fatality and 41 injuries in Redlands as a result of motorcycle accidents in 2007. During the same year, in San Bernardino County, 28 fatalities and 627 injuries were reported as a result of motorcycle crashes.

In this case, based on the newspaper report, it appears that the driver of the Oldsmobile Cutlass was at fault. It appears that the driver of the Oldsmobile failed to yield right-of-way to the motorcyclist. California Vehicle Code section 21801 (a) states the following requirements for drivers making a left turn or a U-turn: "The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left or to complete a U-turn upon a highway, or to turn left into public or private property, or an alley, shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching from the opposite direction which are close enough to constitute a hazard at any time during the turning movement, and shall continue to yield the right-of-way to the approaching vehicles until the left turn or U-turn can be made with reasonable safety."

The motorcyclist injured in this Redlands motorcycle accident would be well advised to consult an experienced California motorcycle accident lawyer who will examine all the facts of this case, identify the negligent party and hold them accountable. If the driver of the Oldsmobile is determined to be at fault, the injured motorcyclist may be able to seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of future treatment and long-term care, if applicable. A skilled California personal injury lawyer will also be able to determine whether a dangerous roadway condition may have caused or contributed to this accident. If that was the case, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway could be held liable. Please remember that any claim against a governmental agency in California must be properly filed with six months of the accident or injury.

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