California Injury Blog
Patrick Ellis, 54, was killed in a March 8, 2009 motorcycle accident in Apple Valley after he crashed into a horse trailer on Central Road. According to the Inland Empire & Inland Valley Breaking News report, Ellis was riding north on Central at Nisqually Road when he struck the trailer, which was being towed by a truck. Ellis was thrown from the motorcycle on impact. He was flown to an area hospital where he died a few hours after the motorcycle accident.
I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Patrick Ellis for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your prayers.
According to the California Highway Patrol’s 2006 Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there was one fatality and six injuries involving motorcycle accidents in Apple Valley. In San Bernardino County as a whole, in 2006, 39 deaths and 507 injuries were reported as a result of motorcycle accidents.
In this case, it is not clear why the motorcyclist, Patrick Ellis, struck the horse trailer. There are a number of unanswered questions here. Did the truck towing the horse trailer secure the trailer properly? Did the horse trailer come loose or was it partially unhitched? Did the truck towing the horse trailer come to a sudden stop? There is also the possibility that the motorcyclist was going too fast or the motorcycle had some type of product defect or mechanical problem that prevented Ellis from stopping his motorcycle in time to prevent the collision.
Patrick Ellis’ family would be well-advised to consult an experienced California motorcycle accident attorney, who will analyze the incident, determine the facts of the case, identify the negligent parties and hold them accountable. If the collision occurred because this horse trailer was not secured properly, then the truck driver could be held liable for this fatal motorcycle accident. If a product defect or a mechanical malfunction in his motorcycle caused Patrick Ellis to lose control of his motorcycle, then the auto product manufacturer could be held liable for the defective product. A skilled California personal injury lawyer who has experience with auto product defect cases will advise Ellis’ family to preserve the motorcycle in its current crashed state so it can be thoroughly examined by an expert for product defects, mechanical problems and other evidence.