California Injury Blog
Toshio Hirai, 34, a 12-year-veteran and lead member of the Gardena Police Department’s SWAT team, was killed in a motorcycle accident the morning of Nov. 14. According to a KABC news report, Hirai was riding his motorcycle in Los Angeles near 238th Street and Western Avenue when he was struck by a 17-year-old driver. Officials said she had a driver’s license and stopped at the scene to cooperate with officials. Police say alcohol or drugs were not factors in the collision and no arrests were made. The officer leaves behind his wife and 2-year-old son.
We offer our deepest condolences to the family members, friends and colleagues of Toshio Hirai for their terrible loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Motorcycle Accident Statistics
There were 48 fatalities and 1,778 injuries involving motorcycle accidents in the city of Los Angeles, according to California Highway Patrol’s 2015 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Countywide, 128 people died and 3,851 were injured due to motorcycle accidents during the same year.
What Caused This Crash?
Based on this news report, it is still unclear as to how this tragic collision occurred. The driver of the vehicle that struck Hirai’s motorcycle was clearly a young woman, very likely inexperienced. There are still many unanswered questions here. What caused this fatal crash? Did the driver of the vehicle fail to yield the right of way at the intersection to the officer? Did the driver make an unsafe turn in front of the motorcycle? Did distracted driving play a part in this crash? Did speed or recklessness cause this collision? We trust officials are examining these and other factors in order to determine precisely what occurred here.
Justice and Compensation for Families
In such cases, at-fault drivers can be held financially responsible for the injuries, damages and losses caused. Families of deceased victims can seek compensation by filing a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for damages such as medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income, pain and suffering and loss of love, care and companionship. In addition, if the victim was on the job at the time of the crash, he or she may also be able to seek workers’ compensation benefits from his or her employer. An experienced Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyer will be able to help victims and their families better understand their legal rights and options.
Source: https://abc7.com/vigil-held-for-gardena-officer-killed-in-motorcycle-crash/4703174/