A man died in an Orange County motorcycle accident the morning of September 30, 2009 on the 405 Freeway near the Goldenwest Street exit in Westminster, The Orange County Register reports. California Highway Patrol officials said the motorcyclist, who has not been identified, was riding a white Suzuki sport bike and hit the center divider. It is not known whether he swerved to avoid debris on the freeway or another vehicle before striking the divider. A white Volvo was also apparently involved in the crash. The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene.

My heart goes out to this motorcycle accident victim's family and friends for their very sudden and tragic loss. I offer my deepest condolences to everyone who knew and loved this man. Please keep them in your prayers.

Motorcycle Accidents in Orange County

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were two fatalities and 37 injuries reported in Westminster as a result of motorcycle accidents. In Orange County as a whole, 24 deaths and 752 injuries occurred in 2007 involving motorcycle accidents.

Based on this newspaper report, it's not quite clear how or why the motorcyclist ended up hitting the freeway divider. There are more questions than answers at this point. How did he lose control? Was there a vehicle defect or mechanical malfunction that caused the crash? Was there a roadway defect such as a pothole or uneven pavement? Was there debris on the freeway that he was trying to avoid? Did he get cut off by another vehicle? The answers to these questions should help determine whether there was any negligence involved here.

Motorcycle Accident Liability Issues

If another vehicle was involved and its driver is determined to be at fault, then that driver could be held liable. If there was debris on the roadway that was spilled by a negligent driver, he or she could be held responsible for this accident and resulting fatality. If a dangerous condition on the roadway caused the accident, the governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could be held liable as well. Any claim against a California governmental agency must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury. If an auto product defect caused the crash, the manufacturer of the defective product could be held liable.

This accident victim's family would be well-advised to retain the services of a reputed Orange County personal injury lawyer, who is experienced dealing with motorcycle accident cases. A skilled car accident attorney will look into all aspects of the case including product liability issues, dangerous roadway and involvement of other vehicles. The best personal injury lawyers will always offer a free initial consultation to the families of deceased accident victims.

The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.

Bookmark and Share