Due to the nature of the vehicle, riding a motorcycle on California roadways is an inherently dangerous activity. Motorcyclists are protected from their surroundings only by the clothes on their body and a helmet should they choose to wear one.
When motorcyclists are injured due to their own mistakes or negligence while driving, although unfortunate, they are not usually able to recover any compensation to help them work through the resulting physical and financial hardship. However, when a motorcycle accident occurs because of another person’s lack of care, the motorcycle accident victim, and at times his or her family, may be able to recover compensation from that negligent party.
A fatal motorcycle crash recently occurred on a California highway. The accident took the life of an off-duty California Highway Patrol officer. The officer was driving his motorcycle westbound down the highway. A pickup truck that was traveling eastbound was trying to turn into a residential area. Seeing a clearing in the westbound traffic he pulled over one lane and then another at which time he saw the officer’s motorcycle. The driver was not able to clear the lane in time to avoid a collision between the two vehicles. The motorcycle collision threw the officer from his motorcycle.
Fire teams and medics were called to the scene of the accident. Unfortunately, it was too late to save the motorcyclist whom officials pronounced dead at the scene.
It is important that those who have become victims of a car crash and suffered injuries because of another person’s negligence receive the compensation to which they are entitled. It is also important that the negligent party is held accountable for his or her actions. This accident is still under investigation, and prosecutors have yet to file charges, if any. However, after the occurrence of an accident, it is always helpful to check into the potential legal action that can be taken to receive compensation.
Source: MercuryNews.com, “California Highway Patrol officer killed in motorcycle accident in Fairfield identified,” Richard Bammer, Dec. 17, 2012