The San Francisco Almanac reports two riders were seriously injured in a California motorcycle accident that happened the afternoon of October 11, 2009. California Highway Patrol officials said the two men were traveling in opposite directions on state Highway 84 near Old La Honda Road when their motorcycles struck each other head-on.

A 54-year-old San Francisco man on a 1973 Norton motorcycle was riding east on the highway when an oncoming white 2009 Ducati motorcycle with its 23-year-old rider crossed traffic lanes and hit him causing both riders to be thrown from their bikes. Both men suffered major injuries and were transported to a Bay Area hospital. The 54-year-old man sustained a broken right leg while the 23-year-old Alameda man suffered serious head injuries.

I offer my sympathies to these injured accident victims and their families. I'm thankful they were not catastrophically injured. My prayers go out for their speedy and complete recovery.

Auto Defects Cause Motorcycle Accidents

This news article does not mention what exactly caused the rider of the Ducati to veer across the lanes of the highway. It also does not say whether there was any alcohol or drugs involved in this collision. It is possible the younger rider was distracted and/or negligent in his driving. If that was the case, then he could be held liable for the other rider's injuries. However, as car accident lawyers, we've seen numerous instances of auto product defects that lead to disastrous crashes causing serious personal injuries. The question that I'm sure, is presently in the minds of the two victims and their families here would be - Did a mechanical failure, a malfunction or any other sort of vehicle defect cause the rider to lose control? If an auto product defect caused or contributed to the motorcycle crash, then the manufacturer of the defective product could be held liable.

Motorcycle Accident Liability Issues

In these types of accidents, it is always in the best interest of the victims to seek a consultation with an experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer, who will help establish the exact cause for the accident. A skilled lawyer should also look into the condition of the road where the accident occurred to determine if a pre-existing and unsafe road condition was a factor here. In such a case, the governmental entity in charge of maintaining the roadway may also be held liable. Any claim against a California governmental agency must be properly filed within 180 days of the accident or injury.

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.