Fatality Reported in Merced County Motorcycle Accident
I’m Ed Smith, a Merced wrongful death attorney. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), a motorcyclist was found deceased in an area west of Los Banos on August 1, 2018. At approximately 4:40 in the morning, emergency crews responded to separate reports of a grass fire along the east shoulder of Interstate 5 in the vicinity of Highway 152. When crews arrived at the scene, they discovered a motorcycle and a man in the grass fire. Unfortunately, the man was pronounced deceased at the scene. Officials have withheld his identity from the public due to pending notification of next-of-kin.
I would like to extend my sympathies to those grieving the loss of their loved one involved in this accident.
Accident Investigation
Preliminary reports released by CHP suggested that the man was riding his Kawasaki motorcycle northbound along Interstate 5 when the bike veered off the roadway and struck a dirt embankment. The impact of the collision is believed to have ejected the man off his motorcycle, causing him to suffer fatal injuries at the scene. Authorities have not yet decided a cause of the motorcycle accident as an investigation is ongoing.
Motorcycle Accidents
Riding a motorcycle has higher risks of traumatic injury or death compared to driving a vehicle due to their lack of physical protection. Following are national statistics surrounding the incidence of motorcycle accidents:
- Approximately 4,586 parties lost their lives in motorcycle accidents in 2014. This number represented a motorcycle fatality occurring 27 times more often than deaths in other motor vehicles (according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
- The risk of a fatal motorcycle accident is significantly reduced when the bike is equipped with an antilock braking system with 31 percent compared those without this system (according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Helmets are arguably the most essential gear a motorcyclist can use. Wearing this protective headgear can be useful in preventing roughly 37 percent of fatal injuries for bikers and approximately 41 percent of life-threatening injuries for passengers (according to the National Safety Council)
- Motorcycle accidents cost $16 billion in damages such as medical expenses, emergency services, lost wages, and insurance claims including defense attorney fees in 2012, the year for which comprehensive data is available (according to the United States Government Accountability Office)
How a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Help
There is a wide array of contributing factors in fatal motorcycle accidents. Although a traffic collision report usually lists who is at fault in these types of accidents, they can sometimes be inconclusive or contain errors, which can leave surviving family members with many, unanswered questions. When this happens, it is crucial to contact an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in Merced. A skilled attorney knows what factors should be considered when determining an exact cause of a fatal accident. This can include gathering facts and evidence at the scene of the crash, studying the sequence of events leading up to the collision and utilizing crash reconstruction experts to make a difference in an outcome of a case.
Merced Wrongful Death Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Merced wrongful death attorney. When a loved one’s death was caused by the negligent actions of another, the surviving family members of the decedent may be left with financial distress. If a motorcycle accident has claimed the life of your loved one, I am genuinely sorry for your loss. Please feel free to contact me any time at (209) 227-1931 or toll-free at (800) 404-5400 for compassionate, free and friendly advice.
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