San Francisco news reports that a 54-year-old man died in a motorcycle crash after the rider collided with a car while driving through San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. The accident occurred as the motorcyclist was negotiating a curve in the road and hit the car next to him. The man was thrown from his motorcycle and was killed. While the accident remains under investigation, the driver of the car is not expected to be charged in connection with the crash.
According the US Department of Transportation, in 2006 more than 100,000 motorcycle accidents occurred in the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that over two-thirds of motorcycle fatalities involve a motorcycle and another vehicle. Often another car on the road doesn't see the motorcycle at all, or is unable to avoid a crash once they do see the motorcyclist. Further, crashes often occur as the result of car and motorcycle drivers responding to the same road conditions in different ways, making it difficult for each to anticipate the other driver's actions.
This weekend's tragic accident serves as a reminder about motorcycle safety and the need to take precautions to avoid serious accidents. Motorcycle accidents may occur for a myriad of reasons including, but not limited to, driver error, roadway negligence and defective motorcycle design. If you have been in a motorcycle accident, it's important to seek the advice of an experienced Sacramento motorcycle lawyer right away. In many instances, it may be possible to recover damages for your injuries. In the event of a wrongful death, a family may be able to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering.
Driver error may include actions such as a reckless or drunk driving on the part of the motorist, or the motorcycle driver. It's important to remember that even if a motorcyclist is partly at fault for his or her injuries, if another party is also responsible, the injured party may still be able to recover damages.
Roadway negligence refers to defective or faulty roadway design. This may be the lack of appropriate signage, too tight of curves in the road, too steep inclines, or the failure to have sufficient shoulder room. Negligent roadway design refers to any situation where how a road is designed or maintained contributes to an accident.
Another potential sources of motorcycle accidents is the existence of a faulty or defective motorcycle part. In these instances you may be able to file a product liability lawsuit against the motorcycle dealer or manufacturer. For example, if the brakes or other motorcycle part doesn't function correctly, and this leads to a serious accident, you may be able to recover damages from the responsible party.
For more information about motorcycle accidents or to learn about motorcycle safety tips to prevent motorcycle accidents, please contact the top California motorcycle accident lawyers at the Law Office of Frederick J. Sette for an immediate consultation.