Harold “Wade” Brent, 52, of Murrieta, was killed in a motorcycle crash after he collided with a sedan, fell off his motorcycle and was struck by another vehicle. According to a news article in The Temecula Patch, the crash was reported early morning on March 27, 2013 on the southbound 15 Freeway, just north of Rancho California Road.

California Highway Patrol officials say Brent was riding a 2006 Yamaha Venturo between the number one and two lanes at about 40 mph when traffic slowed ahead. He was unable to avoid hitting a Mazda 3 in front of him. On impact, he lost control of his motorcycle and was ejected onto the roadway where another motorcycle ran him over.

Motorcycle Crashes

One fatality and 34 injuries were reported in Temecula due to motorcycle crashes in 2010, according to CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Also, during the same year, 38 people died and 481 were injured in motorcycle collisions in Riverside County as a whole.

Lane-Splitting Legal in California

Based on this news report, officials say Brent was splitting lanes when he collided. California is the only state in the country where lane-splitting is legal. Lane-splitting is when motorcyclists pass vehicles in adjacent lanes by driving between them. According to the California’s Office of Traffic Safety 87 percent of California motorcycle riders reported that they split lanes. CHP recently issued guidelines for motorcyclists on how to split lanes safely.

Liability Issues in Motorcycle Crashes

In this particular case, I trust officials are looking into what caused Brent to crash into the sedan. In such cases, the at-fault party can be held liable for the injuries, damages and losses. If a defective motorcycle part caused or contributed to the incident, the manufacturer of the vehicle or defective part can also be held liable.

Where negligence is involved, an auto crash victim’s family can file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation for damages such as medical expenses and funeral costs, lost future income and loss of love and companionship. Families of deceased crash victims would be well advised to contact an experienced Riverside personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all aspects of the incident and ensure that the negligent parties are held liable.