John Meyer, 64, was killed in a car accident in Mission Viejo after officials say a speeding vehicle struck the scooter on which he was traveling. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the Costa Mesa man was driving a 2013 Piaggio scooter in heavy traffic on the 5 Freeway the evening of March 1, 2016 when a man driving a 2006 Dodge rear-ended Meyer’s scooter and another vehicle, causing both of them to hit three other vehicles. California Highway Patrol officials said the driver of the Dodge was going “too fast.”
Meyer was thrown from his scooter and hit the freeway where he suffered head, neck, chest and leg injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Dodge was not intoxicated at the time, but was visibly distraught and received trauma intervention. No one else was injured.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family members of John Meyer for their tragic loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Traffic Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2013 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were five fatalities and 338 injuries reported as a result of car accidents in the city of Mission Viejo. In Orange County as a whole, 165 people died and 13,837 were injured due to traffic accidents during the same year.
Violation of Speed Law
Based on this news report, it appears that excessive speed may have played a part in this fatal collision. California Vehicle Code Section 22350 (Basic Speed Law) states: “No person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, the traffic and on surface and width of, the highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property.” This means that drivers should not only stick to the posted speed limit, but also make sure they are driving at a safe speed given traffic, roadway and weather conditions.
Liability Issues
In such cases, speeding amounts to negligence. When negligence or wrongdoing is involved, families of crash victims can file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault driver seeking compensation for damages including medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income, pain and suffering and loss of love and companionship. They would also be well advised to contact an experienced Orange County personal injury attorney who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected.