A motorcyclist who was killed in an October 25, 2008 collision with a van in Santa Ana has been identified as 26-year-old Cuong Nguyen. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, Nguyen was killed in the 10/25/08 motorcycle accident, which occurred in the 5600 block of West McFadden Avenue in Santa Ana.
Santa Ana police officials said Cuong Nguyen hit the back of the van after weaving through traffic going east on McFadden. Nguyen fell off his motorcycle after the collision and was hit by another vehicle. Nguyen was pronounced dead at the scene.
I offer my condolences to the family of Cuong Nguyen, for their irreparable loss.
According to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System (SWITRS), there were no motorcycle accident related fatalities in Santa Ana in 2006. There were, however, 42 injuries as a result of motorcycle accidents. In Orange County as a whole, there were 26 deaths and 730 injuries as a result of motorcycle accidents.
If I were a member of Nguyen’s family, I would certainly consult a reputed Orange County motorcycle accident attorney to find out the truth about what happened here. Motorcycle accidents occur because of a variety of reasons. This one could have happened because of a product defect or mechanical malfunction. It could have occurred because the driver of the van made a sudden stop for some reason.
If the driver of the van made a sudden stop, which caused the collision, then he or she may be held responsible for the accident and fatal injuries. The members of Nguyen’s family would also be well-advised to preserve the motorcycle in its crashed condition so it can be inspected by an expert for product defects, malfunction or other evidence.
A skilled Orange County personal injury attorney will also look into whether there was a dangerous condition on the roadway. If it is determined that a dangerous roadway condition caused the collision then the City of Santa Ana could be held liable. Please remember that in the State of California, any claim against a government agency must be filed within six months of an accident.
Where there is wrongdoing or negligence involved, families of deceased victims are also entitled to wrongful death claims. Such claims compensate victims’ families for the loss of a family member who has been killed because of someone else’s negligence.