What to Do When a Car Turns Left in Front of You

Cars turning left abruptly in front of motorcyclists are among the most common causes of a severe or fatal motorcycle accident. Automobile drivers often have difficulty determining the speed of a motorcyclist, and in some cases, those drivers simply do not see bikers at all. How can you avoid being involved in such a collision?

The key to avoiding a “left turn” accident is to pay attention. If you can see an accident coming and can predict that a car or SUV will turn in front of you, you can adjust your speed and direction in order to avoid a crash. Some signs that a driver might turn in front of you include but are not limited to:

• Car at an intersection waiting to turn left; and
• Gap in traffic around an intersection or a parking lot.

If you can see the potential for an accident to happen, you can apply both brakes and give yourself an opportunity to avoid a serious injury. As the fact sheet emphasizes, “even if you only have time to lose 10 or 20 mph, that could be the difference between going home with bruises and going home at all.”

What to Do When You Hit an Unexpected Rough Patch in the Road

For motorcyclists, the risk of a rough or uneven area of road is a well-known danger. To be sure, if you attempt to round a corner and hit a patch of gravel, leaves, sand, or ice, you can risk wiping out and being thrown from your motorcycle.

How can you avoid this kind of accident? In short, it is essential to approach curves in the road slowly. If you can see a rough patch of highway, you can avoid it. And even if you do not notice a patch of sand or a bump in the road (normally, highway signs will alert you to a bump or uneven area), riding slowly and abiding by the speed limit can help to prevent an accident.

What to Do if a Car Cuts You Off in Your Lane

When cars unexpectedly change lanes and do not put on their turn signals, they can cause severe motorcycle accidents. You can help to prevent such an accident by always paying attention to drivers’ blind spots and avoiding them as much as possible. If you are able to see a driver in her mirror, then it is most likely that she can see you, too. And if you notice a car’s turn signal come on or see the vehicle veering toward another lane, slow down and ensure that you remain outside the driver’s blind spot.

Most importantly, motorcycle riders should always complete a basic safety course and should wear protective gear. You might feel as though you are invincible while you are on your bike, but a distracted automobile driver can unexpectedly cause a deadly collision. If you or someone you love suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident, you should learn more about your options from an experienced San Diego motorcycle accident attorney. Do not hesitate to contact the Walton Law Firm to discuss your case.

Photo Credit: Andrew Wong MPLS via Compfight cc See Related Blog Posts: Preventing Motorcycle Accidents with Better Technology Deadly Motorcycle Accidents and Safety Measures

Motorcycle accidents can be extremely serious, and in many cases they result in fatal injuries. According to a recent article in U-T San Diego, a 46-year-old man from Fallbrook died in a motorcycle crash late last month. What happened? Based on testimony from the group members with whom he had been out riding and the California Highway Patrol officer who responded to the accident, the motorcyclist rode ahead of the others and “entered a curve at high speed, braked, and lost control of his motorcycle.” The rider “was thrown from the bike and hit his head [on] the metal guard rail.”

The force from the collision was so extreme that the motorcyclist’s helmet was knocked off, and the other riders found him “lying in the road, unconscious.” The accident occurred around 11:20 p.m. The motorcyclist was rushed to a hospital in Escondido by emergency responders, but he later died from the traumatic head injury he sustained in the crash.

What caused the crash? The initial California Highway Patrol report suggests that aggressive driving—speeding, specifically—led to the deadly accident. This crash, as with numerous other motorcycle accidents, likely could have been prevented. What do you need to know to prevent fatal motorcycle injuries?

Motorcycle Safety: Preventing Deadly Accidents in Southern California

According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motorcycle crashes result in more than 4,500 deaths each year. Thousands more produce debilitating injuries, making motorcycle accidents “a growing public health concern.” To be sure, the financial cost of motorcycle collisions has grown in recent years, totaling about $12 billion annually. It’s more important now than ever to take note of these facts, given that “motorcycle ownership is at an all-time high,” particularly in sunny California. What can you do to ensure that you or someone you love avoids a devastating motorcycle crash?

The CDC emphasizes that we should know the risk factors for a deadly motorcycle collision:

• Age is a major factor, and the age of many motorcycle accident victims has shifted in recent years. While young people used to be the ones who were most susceptible to a crash—making older drivers, perhaps, consider themselves safer on their bikes—more than 50 percent of all deadly motorcycle accidents in recent years have involved drivers aged 40 and up.
• Helmets are extremely important for motorcycle safety. To be sure, more than 40 percent of motorcycle operators and 50 percent of motorcycle passengers who sustain fatal injuries in accidents weren’t wearing helmets.
• Riding under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs drastically increases your risk of being involved in a deadly collision. Nearly 30 percent of motorcyclists who sustain fatal injuries in accidents have blood alcohol concentrations above the legal limit.
• Believe it or not, the type of motorcycle you ride can be a risk factor for a fatal crash. Most people who suffer life-threatening injuries, according to the CDC, “are riding sport motorcycles with mid-size engines designed to maximize speed and agility.”

If you recently lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident, you may be eligible to file a claim for compensation. Many deadly accidents occur because of another driver’s negligence. Contact an experienced San Diego motorcycle accident attorney today to learn more about how we can assist you with your case.

Photo Credit: itarugra via Compfight cc See Related Blog Posts: More Hit-and-Run Accidents in San Diego Dangerous Motorcycle Accidents in Southern California

Have hit-and-run accidents become a serious problem in the San Diego area? At the beginning of the summer, we told you about recent data suggesting that San Diego County is experiencing increasing incidents of deadly hit-and-run crashes. By June of 2014, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) catalogued more than 17,000 of these dangerous collisions. Those accidents resulted in 60 fatalities, and left more than 7,000 seriously injured.

Are pedestrian fatalities becoming the norm in Southern California? According to a recent story from NBC San Diego, deadly hit-and-run accidents continue to happen in our area.

Marine Dies in Hit-and-Run Accident

The frightening trend surrounding hit-and-run accidents continued over the summer. An active duty Marine suffered fatal injuries after he was struck by a box truck in Oceanside, California. The 22-year-old Marine, Joseph Bizzarro, was riding his motorcycle when the truck hit the back of his bike. Bizzarro “suffered major blunt head trauma,” while the “truck driver fled from the scene,” according to NBC San Diego.

The truck was identified as a “B

udget Rental.” The driver attempted to make an illegal U-turn in front of the motorcyclist; after realizing the truck’s intended movement, Bizzarro was not able to stop in time. Bizzarro was riding his bike to the military base when the accident occurred.

Emergency medical responders arrived on the scene the morning of the accident, and Bizzarro was airlifted to a local hospital, where he was placed on life support. He died as a result of his injuries several hours later.

In Bizzarro’s case, the hit-and-run driver actually “changed his mind and returned to the scene,” according to Oceanside police. The driver, Ezequiel Garcia, was arrested for a felony hit-and-run accident. Later reports indicated that Garcia was driving on an expired driver’s license.

Bizzarro’s wife has mobilized members of the community to remember her husband and to seek justice. In an interview with NBC San Diego, she emphasized that she wants Garcia to receive the maximum punishment for his role in the Marine’s death.

Hit-and-Run Laws in California

In California, an offender can be charged with a misdemeanor or a felony for a hit-and-run offense. Under the California Vehicle Code, one can be charged with a misdemeanor for leaving the scene of an accident without identifying one’s self to those involved in the crash, and if another person’s property sustained damage in the collision.

One can be charged with a felony hit-and-run offense for leaving the scene of an accident without identifying one’s self to those involved in the crash, and if another person sustains an injury, which can run from a minor injury to a fatality. In other words, a misdemeanor hit-and-run offense deals with property damage, while a felony offense applies to situations where a person suffers an injury–the seriousness of the injury does affect the charge.

If you or a loved one has sustained injuries in a dangerous hit-and-run accident, contact a San Diego car accident lawyer as soon as possible. We may be able to help you secure compensation for your injuries.

Photo Credit: Alvimann via morgueFile See Related Blog Posts: Deadly Hit and Run Accidents in San Diego San Diego Crime Stoppers Addresses Hit-and-Run Accidents