Nicholas Joseph Knoth, 20, was killed in a motorcycle accident the morning of May 8, 2010 in Westminster after being run over by a big rig, The Orange County Register reports. Knoth was riding his motorcycle north on Edwards Street near the intersection of Homer Street, when he seems to have lost control of his motorcycle and went in front of the 18-wheeler. Westminster police say Knoth was run over. Official are looking for any eyewitnesses who may have seen if the motorcyclist was cut off. Anyone who saw this accident or has information is asked to contact Westminster police at 714-548-3220.

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I offer my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Nicholas Joseph Knoth for their profound loss. Please keep this grieving family in your thoughts and prayers.

Motorcycle Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were no fatalities, but eight injuries reported in Westminster as a result of motorcycle accidents. In Orange County as a whole, 35 people died and 801 were injured due to motorcycle accidents during the same year.

Accident Causes

This news report suggests that police are still investigating this truck accident in order to determine how or why Knoth lost control of his motorcycle and moved in front of the big-rig. There are many questions here at this point. Was another car involved in this accident? As police suspect or surmise, was Knoth cut off by another vehicle? Is that what caused him to go into the path of the large truck? Was there a vehicle defect or a mechanical failure in the motorcycle, which caused Knoth to lose control? Was there a dangerous condition on the roadway, which led to the crash? I trust officials are looking into these and other factors in order to determine precisely what occurred here.

Liability Issues

In such cases, families of deceased victims would be well-advised to contact an experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer, who will stay abreast of the official investigation and make sure that the negligent parties are held accountable. A skilled car accident lawyer will also be able to determine whether a dangerous roadway condition caused or contributed to the crash. If that was the case, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could also be held liable. Please remember that any claim against a California governmental entity must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury.

What tips would you offer to motorcycle riders for being safe on the road?

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.