California Injury Blog
Xavier Desasia, 20, was killed in an Orange County motorcycle accident when he lost control of his Yamaha and crashed, the night of April 14, 2012. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal motorcycle crash occurred inside a gated community on Tuolumne Way in Aliso Viejo. Officials say Desasia lost control while negotiating a turn and his motorcycle struck the garage of a home. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision.
My heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Xavier Desasia following this tragic motorcycle accident. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Orange County Motorcycle Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were no fatalities, but three injuries reported due to Aliso Viejo motorcycle accidents. Throughout Orange County, there were 17 fatalities and 735 injuries reported as a result of motorcycle accidents, during that same year.
Single Vehicle Crashes
Based on this news report, the victim lost control of the motorcycle while making a turn. There are several unanswered questions here. Was he exceeding the speed limit? Was he riding distracted or carelessly? Was there some type of auto defect or mechanical malfunction, which caused or contributed to this crash? Does the turn where this accident occurred have a history of similar incidents? Was another vehicle involved? I trust officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine precisely what occurred here and why.
Liability Issues
In such cases, it would be in the family’s best interests to preserve the vehicle in its current crashed condition so it can be carefully examined by an expert for defects, malfunctions and other evidence. If a defective product or part caused the accident, the motorcycle manufacturer or the manufacturer of the defective part can be held liable.
If a dangerous or defective roadway contributed to the accident, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway can be held liable. Under California Vehicle Code Section 911.2, any personal injury or wrongful death claim against a governmental entity must be properly filed within 180 days of the incident. An experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer will be able to better advise victims or their families in such cases about their legal rights and options.