California Injury Blog
Benjamin Gusenkov, 25, was killed in a Newport Beach motorcycle accident after the motorcycle he was riding collided with another vehicle.
According to a news report in the Daily Pilot, the fatal crash occurred on the night of Nov. 20 near the intersection of 34th Street and Balboa Boulevard.
Ongoing Investigation
Officers arriving at the scene saw a man lying in the roadway unresponsive and attempted to perform life-saving measures. However, the motorcyclist, later identified as Gusenkov, a Laguna Niguel resident, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police officials say the cause of the crash is under investigation. No arrests or citations were reported.
We offer our deepest condolences to the family members of Benjamin Gusenkov for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Motorcycle Accidents
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 5,014 people died in motorcycle accidents in 2019 in the United States, which was down slightly from 5,038 in 2018. In 2019, motorcyclists were nearly 29 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash per vehicle miles traveled.
The federal safety agency also talks about how cooperation from all road users will help reduce the number of motorcycle accident-related fatalities. It is important for drivers to understand the safety challenges faced by motorcyclists such as size and visibility, and motorcycle riding practices like downshifting and weaving in order to know how to anticipate and respond to motorcyclists.
Liability Issues
Based on this news report, it is not very clear how this fatal motorcycle accident occurred. There are a number of unanswered questions here. Did the motorist fail to yield the right of way to the motorcyclist? Was excessive speed a factor in this crash? Did alcohol or drugs play a part in this incident? We trust officials are looking into these and other factors in order to determine who caused this accident.
In cases where negligence or wrongdoing is involved, families of deceased motorcycle accident victims may be able to file 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. An experienced Newport Beach motorcycle accident lawyer will be able to advise families regarding their legal rights and options.
Source: https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/story/2021-11-22/laguna-niguel-man-dies-in-traffic-collision-in-newport-beach-over-weekend