A man sustained major injuries in a car accident after his motorcycle was struck by a vehicle in Palermo, California. According to a news report in the Chico Enterprise Record, the motorcyclist was driving a Harley Davidson south on Lincoln Boulevard the morning of January 13, 2010, when a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck driven by 70-year-old Bill Watkins, made a left turn ahead of him. California Highway Patrol officials said the motorcyclist believed the truck was making a right turn and attempted to pass to the left. However, he then noticed that Watkins had the left turn signal on and was unable to prevent the collision. The motorcycle struck the driver's side of the pickup, but Watkins was uninjured.

I deeply sympathize with the injured motorcyclist and his family. I hope that he makes a quick and complete recovery from his serious injuries. Please keep him in your prayers.

Motorcycle Accident Statistics

There were three fatalities and 45 injuries involving motorcycle accidents in Butte County, California, in 2007, according to CHP's traffic accident statistics. Also, countywide, car accidents claimed 36 lives and injured 832 people during the same year.

Causes and Liability Issues

Based on this news report, both the pickup truck and motorcycle were headed in the same direction. Watkins told police that he had the left turn signal 40 to 50 yards before actually making the turn. It is puzzling why the motorcyclist in this case thought that the Tacoma was going to turn right when Watkins had the left-turn signal on. Something doesn't quite add up here. I trust CHP investigators are talking to eyewitnesses who may be able to tell them exactly what happened and how it all occurred.

In such accident cases, it is in the victim's best interests to seek the counsel of a reputed California personal injury lawyer, who will keep abreast of the investigation and make sure that their legal rights are protected. In cases where serious injuries occur due to someone else's negligence, the victims may seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost earnings, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, surgery, physical therapy and other damages.

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.

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