This preception of biking, while cool, does not equate with the reality that comes when bikes lose control and end up hurting someone. Or taking their life.
For the friends and family of Encinitas resident John Anderson, 62, that realization hit home when Anderson lost his life in a fatal head-on motorcycle accident in Temecula earlier this week. It was not until today that authorities released his name to the public.
If you were to ask one of our motorcycle accident attorneys in Temecula what was probably one of the most dangerous and deadly types of accidents to be on with a bike, they would likely tell you that it is a head-on crash with a much larger object. Unfortunately for Anderson, his wrongful death was caused by his direct collision with a big-rig truck, giving him very little chance of surviving the accident. Were he able to, though, he might have physical disabilities for the rest of his life if he suffered brain injuries.
Anderson was traveling south on state Route 79 when he decided to pass up traffic ahead of him and merged into the northbound lane, into on-coming traffic, and was hit directly by a big-rig truck that was coming right for Anderson, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The Riverside County coroner’s office pronounced Anderson dead at the scene of the motorcycle accident.
A third vehicle was struck in the accident by the pieces of property damage from the initial accident, but no personal injury claims where reported.
We wish that it were possible to tell motocyclists to obey the laws of the road like everyone else, but we know that there is a thrill-seeking aspect to biking and that the need for speed sometimes overtakes people’s best intentions. That said, motorcycle accidents like these should be proof that when motorcycles try to cruise through traffic, weaving in and out, or crossing into a lane with on-coming vehicles it can be a fatal mistake.
Our motorcycle accident attorneys want to remind you that if you are a motorcycle rider, always follow the rules of the road as if you were in a car and make sure that you wear a helmet. In 2009, reports indicated that there was an increase in the number of motorcycle accidents, forcing the CHP to name a “motorcycle safety awareness” month and teach California bikers proper safety techniques for driving a two-wheeled vehicle.
Save the glamor and the stunts for television because in life, there are no re-runs.
What do you think about this story? Do you think that motorcyclists tend to be more reckless on the road than car drivers? What other motorcycle safety tips would you suggest?
If you or a loved one have been injured because of someone else’s negligence, then we urge you to contact our bilingual offices as soon as possible at 1-800-655-6585 or please click here for a free consultation with an experienced motorcycle accident attorney. We handle all cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that you owe us nothing until we recover money on your behalf.
About Michael PinesMichael 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.
Thank you for all your help