On Monday, October 6, a motorcycle crash led to chaos and confusion, after one rider died in a fiery crash and several fellow riders were arrested.
The California Highway Patrol reported that a group of seven motorcyclists was riding together on State Route 94. As they neared Barrett Lake Road, a GMC pickup truck made a left turn in front of the group, forcing them to brake suddenly.
One rider, a 25-year-old San Diego resident, slammed into the front of the truck. His 2010 Ducati motorcycle burst into flames, and the rider was thrown onto the dirt shoulder. Paramedics arrived at the scene and tried to revive him, but he died from his injuries.
Upon seeing his injured friend, one rider tried to interfere with the paramedics’ activities. He and four other riders were arrested by San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies for interfering and reckless driving.
The riders insisted they did not mean to interfere; they were just reacting with dismay after witnessing the death of a friend. All four were released at the scene.
The driver of the pickup truck was uninjured. The police have not charged him with a crime yet, but the accident is still under investigation.
Motorcycles are fast and fun, but they have very few safety features. Riders are still extremely vulnerable to reckless drivers, who fail to look properly and turn in front of motorcycles far too often.
I Was Injured in a Motorcycle Accident! What Are My Legal Options?
Despite the tragic circumstances of this case, the driver may not face criminal charges. If there is no alcohol or drug involvement, drivers often plead guilty to minor traffic violations, like failure to yield and reckless driving, even in fatal accidents.
Every driver on the road has a duty to be aware of his or her surroundings and fellow motorists. If drivers neglect that duty and someone is injured or killed, the victim’s family could sue the driver in civil court for negligence, reckless behavior and wrongful death.
Attorney Bonnici Law Group is an experienced civil attorney who works hard to be worthy of the trust his clients place in him. Contact Bonnici Law Group to share your motorcycle accident story today. We would love to hear from you.
[Did You Know: More than 40 percent of motorcycle/vehicle accidents are caused by the driver turning left in front of a motorcyclist.]
Bonnici Law Group, APC – San Diego Personal Injury Attorneys