An October 14, 2009 San Diego car accident has killed 51-year-old motorcyclist Joaquin De Lara as he was hit by a car, according to a 10News report. The motorcycle-car crash occurred when the driver of an SUV who was headed east on Airway Road made a left turn ahead of the approaching Lara, San Diego police said. Lara died at the site of the crash. The car driver reportedly told officials that the "sun was in his eyes" at the time of the collision.

My heartfelt condolences go out to the Lara family. This must indeed, be a monumental loss for all those who knew and loved Joaquin De Lara. Please keep them in your prayers.

Turning Ahead of Motorcycles

By many accounts, one of the most dangerous and definite causes for a motorcycle to crash and cause serious personal injuries to its rider is when a car driver turns directly in front of its path. This unexpected movement leaves very little time for the rider to react and invariably causes a major collision.

If this news article is accurate, the SUV's driver did not see the oncoming motorcycle before making the left turn on that San Diego road. It is completely possible he was being truthful when he said he had been temporarily blinded. I trust officials are looking into this and also if speed, alcohol or drugs played a role in this crash. While numbers are not readily available for the accidents caused when a driver turns ahead of a motorcycle, it certainly seems to be on the rise. Latest available data from the California Highway Patrol puts the number of motorcycle-related deaths in San Diego County in 2007 at 50. During the same year there were 985 motorcycle accident related injuries in the county.

If I were a family member of Lara, the motorcycle accident victim here, I'd want to know exactly how and why this collision happened and whether there was negligence involved on someone else's part.

California Car Accident Laws

California Vehicle Code section 21801 (a) states: "The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left or to complete a U-turn upon a highway, or to turn left into public or private property, or an alley, shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching from the opposite direction which are close enough to constitute a hazard at any time during the turning movement, and shall continue to yield the right-of-way to the approaching vehicles until the left turn or U-turn can be made with reasonable safety."

If it is found that the SUV's driver had made an illegal turn and is at-fault here, then he could be he held responsible for the accident and the resulting fatality. The Lara family has suffered a tremendous loss. They deserve to be compensated. They deserve to know why this happened.

San Diego Personal Injury Lawyer Can Assist

In these situations, it is always in the best interest of the victim's family to consult with a San Diego personal injury lawyer, who will protect their rights and better explain the legal options available to them. The family of Joaquin De Lara needs a truly reputed car accident lawyer who will help them secure the compensation they deserve while holding the negligent parties accountable for their actions.

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.

Bookmark and Share