Martin E. Simon, 47, was killed in a Los Angeles motorcycle accident the morning of March 7, 2010 after he lost control of his bike while traveling on a Newhall roadway. According to a news report in The Signal, Simon was northbound on Bouquet Canyon Road on a 2006 Suzuki motorcycle when he lost control and fell in the southbound lane along with his motorcycle. Another driver, 46-year-old Douglas Ross, who was heading south in a 1998 Nissan Sentra tried to avoid Simon but couldn't, and ran over his legs. Simon was removed from under the Sentra. His injuries proved to be fatal. Ross was not injured.

My heart goes out to Simon's family and friends for their tragic and untimely loss. I offer my deepest condolences to them. Please keep this grieving family in your prayers.

Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were five fatalities and 44 injuries involving motorcycle accidents in Santa Clarita. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 114 people died and 2,934 were injured as a result of motorcycle accidents in 2008. Also, countywide, 667 deaths and 52,229 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents during the same year.

Causes and Liability Issues

Based on this news report, it is not quite clear what caused this fatal motorcycle crash. The report does not state Simon was traveling at a high rate of speed or driving recklessly at the time. Was there a vehicle defect or mechanical malfunction in the motorcycle which caused the crash? Was there a dangerous condition on the roadway or debris on the roadway, which caused Simon to lose control of the motorcycle? I trust officials are looking into exactly what led to this tragic accident.

In such cases, families of victims may be well-advised to contact a reputed Los Angeles personal injury lawyer experienced in handling motorcycle accident cases. If an auto product defect is suspected, the vehicle must be preserved carefully in its current, damaged condition, unaltered, so it can be carefully examined by an expert for evidence of product defects or malfunctions. If this accident was caused by a dangerous or defective roadway, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could also be held liable. Please remember that any such claim against a governmental agency in California must be 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.

Bookmark and Share