April E. Stirton, 26, was killed in a Los Angeles car accident after her motorcycle collided with a pickup truck and a big-rig on the westbound 101 Freeway, in Studio City. According to a CBS news report, the fatal crash occurred on the freeway near Laurel Canyon Boulevard, the morning of April 6, 2010. California Highway Patrol officials said Stirton's motorcycle was trapped under a large commercial truck and dragged more than 100 feet down the roadway before the big-rig stopped. The rear wheels of a 2004 Ford F550 initially hit Stirton, and her motorcycle then slid across two more lanes, before getting stuck under the wheels of the big-rig. An investigation is ongoing.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of April Stirton for their tragic, heartbreaking and untimely loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

Motorcycle Accident Statistics

According to CHP's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 42 fatalities and 1,289 injuries involving motorcycle accidents in Los Angeles. Countywide, motorcycle accidents claimed 114 lives and injured 2,934 during the same year.

What Caused this Fatal Accident?

Based on this news report, it is not exactly clear how Stirton collided with the pickup truck initially. That collision basically triggered the series of events that led to Stirton losing control of the two-wheeler, sliding across freeway lanes and getting wedged and dragged by the big-rig. There are several questions here. Whose fault was this accident? Was the driver of the pickup impaired, driving recklessly or making an unsafe lane change at the time? Was there a dangerous condition on the roadway, which caused or contributed to this crash? I trust officials are examining these and other details in order to determine who or what caused this deadly motorcycle collision.

Liability issues

In such cases, families of deceased car accident victims would be well-advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, who will analyze each and every facet of the incident and make sure that the negligent parties are held accountable for their actions. If the driver of the pickup is determined to have caused the crash, then he or she can be held liable for the accident and the resulting wrongful death. If there was a dangerous condition on the roadway, the governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could be held liable as well. Please remember that any such claim against a governmental agency in California must be properly filed within six months of the accident or injury.

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.

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