Palmdale Motorcycle Crash Claims Life
A man was killed in a recent motorcycle accident in Palmdale, joining the thousands of motorcycle fatalities and tens of thousands of annual accident victims in Los Angeles County and nationwide. See below to learn about the crash and how it fits in with the annual motorcycle injury and fatality rates in the state and across the country. Call a dedicated Palmdale motorcycle accident lawyer at the Kistler Law Firm if you’ve been hurt in a crash in Los Angeles or the Antelope Valley.
Multi-Vehicle Motorcycle Accident in Palmdale Turns Fatal
On February 4, 2023, tragedy struck Bouquet Canyon Road near Elizabeth Lake Road in Palmdale. According to the California Highway Patrol, at around 4:14 p.m. Saturday, three motorcyclists collided. CHP officials shut down the northbound and southbound lanes of Bouquet Canyon Road after the accident to conduct their investigation.
The investigation into the accident is ongoing, but the information available so far indicates that at least one rider involved in the accident suffered a fatal injury. Officials described the deceased victim as a middle-aged man. Details are sparse at this time about the cause of the accident, the injuries to the other riders, and who may have been at fault.
Motorcycle Accidents Remain a Major Source of Injury and Accidental Death
Motorcycles have always been more dangerous than passenger vehicles, and there’s no indication that that fact has changed in recent years. Motorcycle riders are directly exposed to numerous hazards, and they do not have the protection of a car body to shield them from impact. Motorcycle riders are significantly more likely to get into serious or fatal accidents, when looking at miles traveled per serious accident.
According to federal safety statistics, there were 88,107 motorcycle accidents nationwide in 2020 alone. Of those accidents, 82,528 resulted in injury. Those figures have remained relatively consistent in recent years; there were around 82,000 injured motorcycle accident victims in 2018 and 84,000 victims in 2019.
Motorcyclist fatalities represent an even more alarming statistic. Every year since 2015, more than 5,000 motorcycle riders have been killed in traffic accidents. In 2020 alone, there were 5,579 motorcycle accident fatalities across the country, marking it as one of the deadliest years in history for motorcyclists.
California is especially dangerous for motorcycle riders. In terms of sheer numbers, California is not only the most populous state, but it also has the highest number of registered motorcycle riders. In 2020, 539 people were killed in motorcycle accidents in California alone. California’s motorcycle fatalities were surpassed only by Florida, which saw 600 motorcycle accident deaths.
Although motorcycle crashes do occur on rural roads, most motorcycle accidents occur in populous cities and counties. Los Angeles County saw around 2,900 motorcycle accidents and 123 motorcycle crash fatalities in 2020. Data from 2021 shows a slight drop, with 2,752 motorcycle crashes and 111 motorcycle accident deaths.
If you do ride a motorcycle, make sure to take care to protect yourself. Wear proper protective gear, get enough sleep, avoid heavy-traffic hours, watch out for inclement weather and road conditions, and never get on a bike while intoxicated. Bikers have to be even more alert, aware, cautious, and skilled than other motorists in order to avoid a catastrophic accident. Of course, diligence and skill are not always enough to protect a rider from a negligent, drunk or distracted driver.
Call a Zealous Palmdale Motorcycle Accident Lawyer at the Kistler Law Firm Today
Working with a knowledgeable traffic accident attorney can help you get the compensation you deserve after a crash. At the Kistler Law Firm, our Palmdale motorcycle accident injury attorneys will work with you to assess your case, help you collect evidence, and pursue appropriate legal action on your behalf. Reach out to our team today to schedule a free consultation about your case.
