A motorcyclist was injured in an Irvine car accident the morning of July 13, 2010, The Orange County Register reports. California Highway Patrol officials say the injury collision occurred on the westbound lanes of Sand Canyon Road at Irvine Center Drive, when a Jeep Cherokee and a Kawasaki motorcycle collided. The motorcyclist sustained injuries. However, they were not life-threatening. An investigation is ongoing.

I sympathize with the injured victim in this case. I wish this rider the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

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Motorcycle Accidents

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were three fatalities and 42 injuries involving motorcycle accidents in Irvine. In Orange County as a whole, 35 fatalities and 801 injuries involving motorcycle accidents were reported during the same year.

Street Intersection Collision

Based on this news report, it appears that this motorcycle accident occurred at a street intersection, in this case, at the intersection of Sand Canyon Road and Irvine Center Drive. There are several questions that are still unanswered here. Who was at fault for the accident? Did the motorist or the motorcyclist fail to yield right-of-way? Did the collision occur when the motorist was turning at the intersection? Did either of the vehicles run the red light? Was one of the drivers impaired, speeding, distracted or otherwise negligent? I trust officials are looking at these and other factors in order to determine how or why this incident occurred.

California law requires all motorists to yield right-of-way to vehicles that are already in a street intersections. According to California Vehicle Code section 21800 (a): "The driver of a vehicle approaching an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle which has entered the intersection from a different highway."

Liability Issues

If the driver of the SUV is determined to have been at fault for this crash, then, he or she could be held liable for the injuries caused to the motorcyclist. In such cases, injured victims could seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of earnings, cost of hospitalization, physical therapy and other related damages.

An experienced Irvine personal injury lawyer will be able to advise injured victims about their legal rights and options. A skilled car accident lawyer will also be able to determine whether a dangerous roadway caused or contributed to the incident. 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 agency must be properly filed within 180 days of the accident or injury.

What are some of the most dangerous intersections or roadways in your city?

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.