Collisions on the highway tend to be more devastating than others due to the speed of the vehicles involved. This is perhaps especially true when it comes to motorcycle accidents, as even riders who are outfitted with all of the necessary safety equipment are not as protected as drivers of larger motor vehicles. A recent motorcycle wreck ultimately took the life of a man who formally served with the California Highway Patrol.
The 63-year-old retired officer was traveling northbound on Highway 41 at the time of the accident. Although he was apparently maintaining his lane at a presumably safe speed, he was unable to avoid a collision with an oncoming wrong-way vehicle. The driver of a southbound pickup truck suddenly swerved into the northbound lanes and struck the motorcycle head-on.
The driver of the pickup truck was transported to an area hospital via helicopter, although it was reported that he received only minor injuries. Unfortunately, the former officer suffered fatal injuries and died while apparently still at the scene of the wreck. No arrests have been made yet, but it is possible that police could file charges against the pickup driver in the future.
Fatal motorcycle accidents affect not only the victims but their loved ones and the community as well, and California families often struggle to cope with the emotional and financial aftermath of these deaths. Wrongful death suits are designed to help grieving families achieve compensation on behalf of their loved one's estate. While the financial recourse can address the unexpected cost of a funeral and other damages, the sense of justice from successfully settling a claim against a negligent driver is often even more appreciated.