Motorcycle Officer Injured in Riverside Car Accident

A police officer was injured in a Riverside car accident, after a vehicle that changed lanes in front of him, hit his patrol motorcycle, The Press Enterprise reports. The officer, who has not been identified, sustained abrasions and a broken wrist. The accident occurred on Cactus Avenue near Graham Street the morning of December 15, 2009. The officer crashed his motorcycle after he was clipped by a PT Cruiser. Riverside County Sheriff's officials said that the female driver of the PT Cruiser just did not see the officer on his motorcycle. California Highway Patrol officials are investigation. It is not clear whether the driver was cited.

I'm relieved to hear that this officer did not suffer major injuries as a result of this accident. I wish him the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. This accident certainly, could have been a lot worse.

Motorcycle Accidents in Riverside County

There were three fatalities and 32 injuries involving motorcycle accidents in Moreno Valley, according to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In Riverside County as a whole, 41 deaths and 562 injuries were reported as a result of motorcycle accidents in 2007. Also, in Riverside County, 279 people died and 9,925 suffered injuries in car accidents during the same year.

Lane Changes and Blind Zones

Based on this news report, it appears that the driver of the PT Cruiser completely missed noticing the officer. This may have happened because he was in her blind zone. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has estimated that there are 630,000 Lane Change/Merge crashes with 225 fatalities annually. They also found that about 60 percent of drivers involved in such crashes did not see the other vehicle, and about 30 percent of drivers misjudged the position or speed of the other vehicle. Although every crash cannot be blamed on blind zones, this is a factor in every lane change/merge maneuver.

I trust CHP investigators are looking into whether the woman was negligent or reckless at the time of her lane change. If that is found to be the case, then, she could very likely get a citation and also, be held financially responsible for the officer's injuries. The officer will also be entitled to workers compensation benefits because this incident occurred on-the-job. In addition, he could file a separate claim against the at-fault driver. An experienced California personal injury lawyer will be able to better explain the victim's legal rights and options, in such cases.

We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.