Edgar Toledo, 23, was killed in a Long Beach car accident after his motorcycle collided with a vehicle the evening of August 5, 2010. According to a news report in The Press Telegram, Toledo was riding a 2009 Yamaha motorcycle south on Santa Fe, when he collided with a 2002 Mitsubishi Galant that was making a left turn onto Columbia Street. Toledo died at the scene. The driver of the car, 21-year-old Miguel Encisco, and three of his passengers were also injured. Police are investigating this fatal motorcycle crash.


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My heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Edgar Toledo. My thoughts and prayers are also with those injured in this tragic accident.

Motorcycle Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were eight deaths and 100 injuries involving motorcycle accidents in Long Beach. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 114 people died and 2,934 were injured as a result of motorcycle accidents during the same year.

Laws and Liability Issues

Based on this news report, it is not clear how or why this fatal collision occurred. Some witnesses apparently told investigators that Toledo may have been involved in a street race with another motorcycle. The important question in this case is who was at fault. Was Toledo racing? Did another rider challenge him to a race? Did the driver of the Mitsubishi turn left in front of the motorcycle, failing to yield right-of-way? I trust officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine who was at-fault.

Street racing is illegal under California Vehicle Code section 23109 (a). Also, California law requires drivers to yield right of way to oncoming vehicles before making a left or U-turn at an intersection. 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."

Toledo's family, as well as the injured victims in this case, would be well-advised to consult with an experienced Long Beach personal injury lawyer, who will stay abreast of the investigation and make sure that the negligent parties are held accountable.

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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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