A motorcyclist sustained fatal injuries in a truck accident after he collided head-on with a tractor-trailer on Highway 79 the morning of January 19, 2010, the North County Times reports. The accident occurred on the southbound lanes of the highway near Vail Lake Road just east of Temecula. The motorcyclist, only identified as a 62-year-old Encinitas man, was traveling south on the two-lane road when he crossed into the northbound lane to pass two slower-moving vehicles. He then crashed head-on into the big rig, California Highway Patrol officials said. The truck driver was uninjured. A third vehicle was also hit by debris sent flying from the crash, but no other injuries were reported.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of this deceased motorcyclist. My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved this man. Please keep them in your prayers.

Accident Statistics

According to CHP's 2007 traffic accident statistics, 12 injuries were reported as a result of motorcycle accidents in Temecula, California. In Riverside County as a whole, 41 fatalities and 562 injuries occurred due to motorcycle accidents during the same year. Also, countywide, there were 279 deaths and 9,925 injuries in 2007 involving traffic accidents.

Causes and Liability Issues

Based on this news report, it is not clear what exactly happened here. There are still several unanswered questions in this fatal incident. What caused the motorcyclist to continue in opposing lanes of traffic? Why did the motorcyclist not see the oncoming big rig before he passed the two other vehicles? Was he simply inattentive? At what speed was the driver of the big rig traveling at the time? Did a dangerous or defective roadway contribute to this tragic accident?

In accident cases where serious injury or death is involved, it would be in the best interests of the victims or their families to contact an experienced California personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all aspects of the case and determine if any negligence or wrongdoing was involved. A skilled car accident lawyer will also be able to establish if a dangerous or defective roadway caused this accident. If that was the case, the governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway could be held liable. Please remember that any claim against a California governmental entity 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.

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