An accident involving a motorcycle and a larger vehicle like a car or truck often ends with the motorcyclist suffering serious injuries or even death. Many of these accidents are the result of the other driver failing to yield to the motorcycle because the driver does not see it. Sometimes, however, the cause of motorcycle accidents is less obvious.
Recently, an accident in Huntington Beach claimed the life of a 23-year-old motorcyclist. The accident occurred at about 8:40 p.m. on the Pacific Coast Highway when a Yamaha motorcycle collided with a van. When officers arrived on the scene, they found the rider partially underneath the van. Emergency responders treated the 23-year-old and took him to Hoag Hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
A 59-year-old man was driving the van. He remained at the scene and cooperated with police. Police did not immediately know the cause of the crash. Accordingly, the Major Incident Reconstruction Team began an investigation into the accident; they asked any witnesses to the accident to come forward and help the investigation.
If police determine that the accident was caused by the driver of the van, the family of the deceased motorcyclist may be entitled to compensation. Families who are in this position are often left with significant medical bills, funeral expenses and other costs.
The loss of a loved one in a motorcycle accident is devastating for any family. But it is important that family members act on their legal rights before too much time elapses. While nothing can ever replace a lost loved one, the family should not have to bear the financial costs that result from another person’s negligence.
Source: Orange County Breeze, “Police seeking witnesses of fatal Huntington Beach motorcycle accident,” Oct. 1, 2014
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