A motorcyclist sustained serious injuries in a Los Angeles car accident the afternoon of March 16, 2010, after a three-vehicle collision on the 605 Freeway in Whittier. According to a news report in the Whittier Daily News, the collision occurred in the northbound lanes of the freeway, near Whittier Boulevard, as a Toyota Camry initially failed to stop for slowing traffic. The Camry then swerved, struck the center divider, and went back on to the roadway and into the path of a motorcycle. The motorcyclist fell and his bike hit a Honda Civic. The rider was transported to a local hospital with major injuries. The Camry's driver, a 20-year-old Fontana woman, has not been cited pending an official investigation.

I sympathize with the motorcyclist who has apparently sustained severe injuries because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I hope he has not suffered any catastrophic injuries. I pray for his speedy and complete recovery.

Motorcycle Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were no fatalities, but 19 injuries involving motorcycle accidents in Whittier. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 114 fatalities and 2,934 injuries were reported as a result of motorcycle accidents during the same year.

Speed Law Violation?

If the details of this news report are accurate, it appears that the driver of the Toyota Camry may have been driving at an unsafe speed at the time, given the slowing traffic. California Vehicle Code Section 22350 requires that "no person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, the traffic on, and the surface and width of, the highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property. "

Claim for Compensation

If the driver of the Camry is determined to have been at fault for this motorcycle crash, she could be held liable for the accident and resulting injuries. The injured motorcyclist can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, hospitalization and surgery costs, rehabilitation and physical therapy expenses, and other associated costs.

An experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, in such cases, will be able to better explain to victims about their legal rights and options. A skilled motorcycle accident lawyer will also be able to tell victims how the uninsured/underinsured clause in their own car insurance policy applies to an incident where the at-fault driver lacks auto insurance or does not have sufficient coverage.

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.