California Injury Blog
Navpreet Singh, 19, was killed in an Orange County motorcycle accident after he was struck by a vehicle that veered off its lane. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal crash occurred on Santiago Canyon Road near Silverado Canyon Road on July 18, 2016. California Highway Patrol officials said Singh was traveling south on Santiago Canyon Road approaching School Road when a Honda Accord driven by 25-year-old Jose Briseneo going north on Santiago Road veered right into Singh’s path.
Singh was ejected from his motorcycle, which was traveling at about 50 mph and landed in a dirt patch on the highway’s shoulder. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Briseneo’s vehicle continued driving until it struck another vehicle, a southbound Nissan. No citations or arrests were reported.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to Singh’s family members and friends for their terrible loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Other Recent Motorcycle Accidents
This is the third fatal motorcycle accident in the area over 10 days. On July 16, 58-year-old Michael Hogan of La Habra died after colliding with a veering truck near Santiago Canyon Road. In that case, the driver was arrested on suspicion of DUI. And on July 11, 65-year-old Christopher Carlson of Mission Viejo was killed when his motorcycle collided with a pickup truck near Falcon Street. Excessive speed was said to have been a factor in this case, where officials are still looking for witnesses.
Fault and Liability
Based on this news report, it appears that the driver swerved and struck the motorcyclist who was traveling in his lane. What caused the driver to swerve? Was he driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs? Was he driving at an excessive rate of speed? Did distracted or inattentive driving cause or contribute to the incident? We trust officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine precisely what occurred here and why.
If the driver is determined to have been at fault, he could be held liable for the victim’s wrongful death. In cases where negligence or wrongdoing is a factor, families of deceased victims can file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation for damages including medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income, pain and suffering and loss of love and companionship. An experienced Orange County motorcycle accident attorney who has handled wrongful death cases successfully will be able to help victims’ families in such cases best understand their legal rights and options.