On February 18, 2020, a motorcyclist died from injuries after the rider lost control and crashed his bike on the MacArthur Boulevard on ramp to the northbound SR-73 Freeway near Newport Beach, CA at approximately 10:15 PM.
Orange County firefighter paramedics that were first responders to the motorcycle accident performed life saving measures at the scene of the accident, but were unable to save the man’s life, and he was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
Authorities did not immediately release the identity of the adult male operating the motorcycle. The on-bound ramp to the 73 toll road in Orange County, CA was closed for several hours as police officers investigated possible causes of the motorbike accident.
Our heart felt condolences go out to the family and friends surviving the deceased motorcyclist.
Unfortunately this is not an isolated incident as hundreds of motorcyclists are injured, and many are killed, while riding in Orange County, CA each year. The Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System data reveals that motorcyclist fatalities in California continue to climb each year. The increase in fatal motorcycle accidents is a stark contrast to the overall gains in other areas of traffic safety as reported by the same database.
To combat motorcycle fatalities in the state of California, the California Highway Patrol has established the CMSP California Motorcyclist Safety Program, a program that helps educate and train motorcyclists in California.
The website provides up to date information related to motorcycle safety, and changes in the laws. For example, the website provides information on lane splitting, a commonly misunderstood area of the law when it come to riding a motorcycle.
On January1, 2017, section 21658.1 was added to the California Vehicle Code, which code section defines lane splitting. Section 21658.1 reads as follows:
21658.1 (a) For the purposes of this section, “lane splitting” means driving a motorcycle, as defined in Section 400, that has two wheels in contact with the ground, between rows of stopped or moving vehicles in the same lane, including on both divided and undivided streets, roads, or highways.
(b) The Department of the California Highway Patrol may develop educational guidelines relating to lane splitting in a manner that would ensure the safety of the motorcyclist and the drivers and passengers of the surrounding vehicles.
(c) In developing guidelines pursuant to this section, the department shall consult with agencies and organizations with an interest in road safety and motorcyclist behavior, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(1) The Department of Motor Vehicles.
(2) The Department of Transportation.
(3) The Office of Traffic Safety.
(4) A motorcycle organization focused on motorcyclist safety.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, you need a experienced Orange County Motorcycle Accident Attorney to assist you. Working with insurance companies, doctors, and property damage adjusters can be overwhelming, especially while you are recovering from an accident.
Contact Chudleigh Law P.C for a free, no obligation, legal consultation. Chudleigh Law P.C. may be able to preserve your rights, and will fight to get you full and fair compensation for your injuries. You can also call to talk to a personal injury lawyer today at (949) 877-9140.
