Personal Injury Q and A

Michael Askin, 55, died in an Anaheim motorcycle accident after he lost control of his motorcycle and crashed the evening of May 22, 2009. According to an article in The Orange County Register, Askin was riding a motorcycle near Nohl Ranch Road and South Scout Trail when he lost control and careened into a concrete pole. Askin was taken to an area hospital where he died shortly afterward.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Michael Askin for their tragic loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 traffic accident statistics, there were three deaths and 118 injuries involving motorcycle accidents in Anaheim. In Orange County, in 2007, there were reports of 24 deaths and 752 injuries involving motorcycle accidents.

This newspaper article does not provide much information about how or why this fatal Anaheim motorcycle accident occurred. Based on this report, there is no indication that Askin was speeding at the time of the motorycycle crash. There are several unanswered questions here. Why or how did Askin lose control of his motorcycle? What brand or model motorcycle was he riding? Was there a dangerous condition on the roadway such as debris or potholes that caused Askin to lose control of the motorcycle and crash? Was there a product defect or mechanical malfunction in the motorcycle?

Askin's family would be well advised to contact experienced Orange County motorcycle accident attorneys who will determine the facts of the case and hold any and all negligent parties accountable. If the motorcycle accident was caused because of a product defect, the manufacturer of the motorcycle could be held liable. If the motorcycle collision was caused by a dangerous roadway, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could be held responsible. In cases where an accident was caused because of negligence or wrongdoing, families of deceased accident victims may be able to file wrongful death claims. Such claims usually compensate these families to cover medical/funeral expenses, loss of wages and other related expenses.