Marcia Lewis, 61, was killed in a Los Angeles car accident on the 118 Freeway after she clipped a car and crashed her motorcycle the morning of September 12, 2009, according to a KSEQ news report. Lewis was riding west on the 118 Freeway near Balboa Boulevard in the Granada Hills area of Los Angeles when she tried to change lanes and sideswiped the right rear end of a Toyota Corolla. Lewis was thrown off her motorcycle and hit the roadway, California Highway Patrol officials said. She was transported to a local hospital where she died. No one else was injured.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Marcia Lewis for their tragic loss. Please keep this family in your prayers.

Motorcycle Accident Trends

Motorcycle accident fatalities are apparently reaching a record high in Los Angeles County, according to most recent CHP statistics. CHP officials say 96 people died in motorcycle accidents in 2008 in Los Angeles County compared to 58 deaths in 2001. In 2007, 85 people died in motorcycle accident in Los Angeles County. Statewide, the number of people who are taking to riding motorcycles has increased dramatically over the last five years. About 1.2 million Californians have licenses to drive motorcycles, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles. That's 300,000 more riders than in 2001. And increasingly, we're seeing more baby boomers taking to motorcycle riding.

In this particular fatal motorcycle accident, it is not very clear what caused the rider to strike the Toyota. Typically in motorcycle accidents, many different factors come into play. In some cases, the passenger vehicle might be at fault. The most common motorcycle-car accidents we see is when the car makes a left turn and the driver misses the motorcyclist and collides. Motorcycle accidents may also occur as a result of a vehicle defect or a dangerous condition on the roadway. Such a condition may involve spilled debris on the roadway or it may have something to do with defective roadway design. In some cases, motorcycles may get run off the road by another vehicle. Of course, a lot of motorcycle accidents also occur because of the rider's fault.

Contacting a Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyer

In car accident cases that involve serious injury, it is always in the victims' or their families' best interest to consult with a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer who will help protect their legal rights and determine whether there was any negligence on the part of an individual or entity -- other than the victim. The best personal injury law firms will provide a free and comprehensive consultation to injury victims and their families.

The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our source for the facts is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, please contact us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. Most of the best law firms will provide accident victims a free consultation.

We cannot fully inform any party or family member about their rights, options or the economic viability of any claim for compensation without a full investigation and consultation. We will not be conducting an investigation into this matter unless we are retained by a party. We will provide a free, confidential consultation to any, not at fault, person named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.