California Injury Blog
Ryan Turner, 24, of Corona was killed in a Garden Grove motorcycle accident the afternoon of October 3, 2013. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal crash occurred near Orangewood Avenue and Monarch Street. Police say Turner was riding eastbound on Orangewood when he tried to pass a FedEx vehicle on the right.
As Turner tried to pass the vehicle, the driver of the FedEx truck began to make a right turn into the driveway of a business that was located at the intersection. Turner collided with the FedEx truck, struck a tree and was thrown from the motorcycle, landing several feet away. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the FedEx truck was not injured. No arrests or citations were reported pending an official investigation.
I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of Ryan Turner for their tragic loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Motorcycle Crash Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2010 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were no fatalities, but 34 injuries involving motorcycle accidents in the city of Garden Grove. In Orange County as a whole, 19 people died and 750 were injured as a result of motorcycle collisions during the same year
Laws and Liability Issues
Based on this news report, it appears that the truck driver was making a turn into private property when the collision occurred. Drivers pulling in or out of public or private driveways must yield right-of-way to pedestrians and oncoming vehicles. According to California Vehicle Code Section 21804 (a): “The driver of any vehicle about to enter or cross a highway from any public or private property, or from an alley, shall yield the right-of-way to all traffic.” Vehicles entering traffic “shall continue to yield the right-of-way to that traffic until he or she can proceed with reasonable safety.”
If the truck driver is determined to have been at fault, both the driver and his or her employer can be liable for the victim’s wrongful death. In cases where negligence or wrongdoing is involved, families of deceased victims can file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation for damages including medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income and loss of love and companionship. An experienced Garden Grove personal injury lawyer will be able to advise victims or their families regarding their legal rights and options.