California is a popular state for bikers. The state has the most roads listed in the country’s top 100 choices for motorcycles, and there is no state with more registered motorcycles. Any trip onto a crowded freeway in the Bay Area or elsewhere will convince someone to try a bike.
Motorcycles also pose unique traffic challenges to riders and other vehicles. The slim profile of motorcycles make them more difficult to see from behind a windshield, and this can cause hazards. Bikers are unprotected compared to a driver or passenger inside a car or truck, so even minor collisions can be devastating or fatal.
California has seen four straight years with more than 5,000 statewide motorcycle fatalities, even as deaths fell in 2015. The shear number of bikers in the Golden State make it the second-deadliest state in the U.S. behind Florida.
A 64-year-old man from Orange died when his motorcycle struck the rear of a tour bus on a freeway, according to a recent report by the California Highway Patrol. The accident happened just after 11 p.m., and is under investigation by law enforcement authorities, who are still unsure how the accident occurred.
The force of the collision threw the biker into the back of the truck, causing massive head trauma. Police have yet to report if the rider was wearing a helmet, which can reduce the chances of death in a motorcycle accident by more than 30 percent.
Victims of motorcycle accidents or the loved ones of those killed in collisions may be eligible for reimbursement for medical expenses or compensation for lost wages and other related costs. Legal representation may assist with weighing options and determining the best strategy for settlements or court actions.
Source: Orange County Register, “Orange man, 64, dies in motorcycle collision with tour bus,” Jordan Graham, Oct. 01, 2017
