A 26-year-old Aliso Viejo man who was killed in a motorcycle accident in Riverside County has been identified as Matthew Davies. The Orange County Register reports that the accident occurred the morning of November 26, 2009 on the Ortega Highway in Lake Elsinore when Davies lost control of his motorcycle, went off the roadway and landed in a ravine. Davies was pronounced dead soon after the accident.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of young Matthew Davies for their tragic, heartbreaking and untimely loss. I offer my deepest condolences to him. His loved ones will certainly be in my prayers.

Riverside County Motorcycle Accidents

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), one fatality and 11 injuries were reported in Lake Elsinore as a result of motorcycle accidents. Countywide, motorcycle accidents claimed 41 lives and caused 562 injuries in 2007.

It's not very clear based on this news report how or why this fatal motorcycle accident occurred. Apart from rider error, motorcycle accidents may be caused by a variety of factors including vehicle defects, mechanical malfunctions, dangerous roadways, weather conditions or another negligent driver. According to a commenter on the Register's Web site, on this particular day, there was debris on the highway where Davies was riding. Specifically, the commenter says, there were several opened cement bags that were strewn on the highway.

Who Should be Held Liable?

If this is indeed what caused Davies' fatal accident, the individual or entity that dropped this debris on the roadway may be held liable for the accident and resulting death. California law prohibits anyone from throwing or dumping matter on the highway. California Vehicle Code section 23112 (a) states: "No person shall throw or deposit, nor shall the registered owner or the driver, if such owner is not then present in the vehicle, aid or abet in the throwing or depositing upon any highway any bottle, can, garbage, glass, nail, offal, paper, wire, any substance likely to injure or damage traffic using the highway, or any noisome, nauseous, or offensive matter of any kind."

In cases where car accidents are caused by debris on the freeway, the negligent parties that were responsible for dropping the debris on the roadway can be held responsible. In such cases, victims would be well-advised to contact a reputed California personal injury lawyer who is experienced in handling such cases. In cases involving roadway debris, a knowledgeable injury lawyer will help secure compensation from the uninsured/underinsured motorist clause of the victim's own car insurance policy. A skilled car accident lawyer will also inform victims and their families how their car insurance policy will apply to accidents involving roadway debris.

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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