A man was injured in a Brea car accident when a vehicle changed lanes in front of his Honda motorcycle. According to The Orange County Register, the motorcycle accident occurred in the southbound lanes of the 57 Freeway, near East Lambert Road in Brea, the morning of June 12, 2012. Officials say the motorcyclist was splitting lanes between the carpool and the fast lanes when it struck a Toyota Corolla that was exiting the carpool lane. The motorcyclist was thrown into the back of a Honda Civic that was in front of the Corolla. The motorcyclist was treated at the scene and taken to a nearby medical center. His condition is unknown.
My thoughts and prayers are with the victim injured in this Orange County car accident. I wish him the very best for a complete and speedy recovery.
Orange County Motorcycle Accident Statistics
According to the most recent statistics available from the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were no fatalities, but 10 injuries reported as a result of motorcycle accidents in Brea in the year 2009. Throughout Orange County, there were 17 fatalities and 735 injuries reported as a result of motorcycle accidents, during that same year.
What Caused This Motorcycle Accident?
Based on this news report, the motorcyclist was traveling at a high rate of speed while lane splitting. Motorcyclists may legally split lanes in California. I trust investigators are looking into whether one of the drivers cut the motorcyclist off or failed to yield the right-of-way, while making a lane change. California Vehicle Code Section 21658 (a) states that whenever a roadway has been divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic in one direction the vehicle “shall be driven as nearly as practical entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from the lane until such movement can be made with reasonable safety.”
Liability Issues
If it is determined that a motorist’s negligence contributed to the accident, then, he or she can be held liable for the motorcyclist’s injuries. Injured victims in such cases can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related damages. Motorcycle accident victims would be well advised to contact an experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all facets of the incident and ensure that the negligent parties are held liable.