Motorcycle Accident Attorney:
Motorcycle accidents can happen at any time, under any conditions and regardless of the skill or care taken by the operator of the motorcyclist. This is because when a motorcycle is involved in an accident, the majority of the time it is with another vehicle and the other vehicle is at fault. Approximately three-fourths of all motorcycle accidents involve another vehicle. Of those accidents, the driver of the vehicle is at fault for the accident two-thirds of the time. Sadly, another crash that proved the statistics played out on Valentine’s Day in Palm Springs, California.
At about 1:30 p.m. on February 14th, William Kaplan and his wife were riding his 2008 Harley Davidson along the eastbound side of Highway 74 near Palm Springs, California. The driver of a 1998 Toyota, heading the opposite direction, apparently drifted off the road, and in an effort to correct the drift, over-corrected and swung sharply back in the direction of oncoming traffic. The vehicle crossed over the center line and struck the Kaplan’s head on before they had time to react to the vehicle. Neither vehicle appeared to be speeding at the time of the accident. Both the driver of the motorcycle and a passenger in the Toyota were killed on impact and the passenger on the motorcycle and the driver of the Toyota suffered serious injuries.
The exact cause of the accident is still being investigated. Clearly, the motorcyclist was not at fault, but beyond that we can only speculate at this point. What made the Toyota veer off the road in the first place? Was the driver falling asleep? Were road conditions to blame? Was the driver intoxicated? Was a defect in the car to blame? If driver error or a defect in the vehicle played a part in the accident, then the survivors may have personal injury and/or wrongful death claims. If the driver of the Toyota was negligent, by operating while intoxicated, driving drowsy, driving while distracted, or any number of other possibilities, then he may be held responsible for the injuries suffered by the surviving victims as well as the death of Mr. Kaplan. Likewise, if a vehicle defect was to blame for the driver losing control of the vehicle, then the manufacturer could be held responsible under the laws of product liability. Unfortunately, this is yet another example of a motorcyclist being injured – or in this case killed – while he was obeying all the rules of the road and operating his bike properly. Even more distressing is that two people had to lose their lives this time.
If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, or have lost a loved on in one, then you need an experienced California personal injury and wrongful death attorney to fight for your rights. Nothing can bring a loved one back, or take away the pain of any injuries you have suffered, but you do deserve to be compensated for those injuries. If someone else was responsible for the death of a loved one or injuries you have personally suffered, then they will be held accountable under the laws of the State of California. Talk to the experienced attorneys at Ledger & Associates at 1800-300-0001 or www.ledgerlaw.com to find out what options you may have to seek compensation.
