A San Diego motorcyclist was killed Saturday morning, Jan. 16, about 7:20 am while headed southbound on Interstate 5 near the Mission Bay area, according to San Diego News 10. Robert L. Jensen, 79, was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors tried to save him, but he passed away due to pacemaker complications involving a heart attack, leaving behind his wife.

CHP officers responded to reports of a car fire on Interstate 5, when they saw the fatal motorcycle accident occur. As officers arrived, they discovered the rider had collided with the center divider wall, propelling him into the concrete divider, and causing the man to land among the oleander bushes unconscious.

The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet.

Jensen was riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle – heavy, but not substantial enough to prevent him from being ejected from the bike. As he was rushed to a local hospital, complications with his artificial pacemaker may have contributed to his reported heart attack, resulting in the man’s death about 9:45 am on Sunday.

The actual cause of the motorcycle accident is still unknown.

3 most important rules for maintaining safety on a motorcycle

Knowing your motorcycle and feeling comfortable on the road are two of the most proactive ways to avoid a San Diego motorcycle accident. It’s never been more important to follow these 3 important rules for maintaining motorcycle safety.

1. Know your surroundings

Motorcyclists should always drive defensively so others can see them. And, it goes without saying, but a good rider should know the motorcycle laws, and drive with a valid license at all times.

When a motorcyclist is equipped with defensive driving skills, s/he will know his or her surroundings well and how to react to them. This includes reacting properly to possible road and traffic hazards, and proper techniques to avoid an accident.

2. Know your motorcycle & it’s limits

A good motorcyclist must know his or her own limits, considering his or her own skill level and the motorcycle itself. For instance, a lighter motorcycle will react differently than a heavier one, causing a maneuver to vary greatly from bike to bike. An overcorrection can be fatal if you’re an inexperienced rider on a new motorcycle. Getting used to your bike and its limitations is one of the most proactive measures a motorcyclist can take to prevent accidents.

3. Do not overcorrect when approaching road hazards

Overcorrection is one of the most common causes for motorcycle accidents. A proactive motorcyclist will know his or her bike well enough to determine the appropriate action and avoid an overcorrection, which can cause the bike to fall and slide.

If you feel uncomfortable riding in traffic or a freeway, then you most likely won’t be prepared if you approach a potentially dangerous situation on the road. Worse, you’ll most likely fall victim to overcorrection. Know your bike intimately, and only ride when you feel 100% comfortable with your motorcycle’s nuances.

If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, San Diego attorneys at the Law Offices of Michael Pines can evaluate your case confidentially. Call us at 1-800-655-6585 or contact us online for your free case review.

For more information on our sources and bike safety, visit the Motorcycle Safety Foundation at www.msf-usa.org/

About Michael Pines

Michael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.