Biker and Motorcycle Related Legal Articles

City of Industry, California - A motorcyclist was killed Friday after being struck and dragged by a big rig truck, authorities said.

The crash occurred about 6:40 a.m. on Turnbull Canyon Road, just north of Gale Avenue, in The City of Industry, said California Highway Patrol Sgt. Robert Headden.

The victim was initially described only as a local man in his late 30s or early 40s, Headden said. His name was not released pending notification of family members.

The rider was northbound on Turnbull Canyon Road on his Harley-Davidson Softail motorcycle when the collision occurred, Headden said.

A big rig fully loaded with gravel was southbound on the road and made a left turn into a parking lot, Headden said.

The motorcycle collided with the passenger side of the truck, and the rider fell of his motorcycle and became wedged beneath one of the truck's tires, Headden said.

The truck continued forward, dragging the motorcyclist about 100 to 200 feet before coming to a stop in the parking lot, CHP and fire officials said.

The rider's arm was severed in the crash, and his leg was nearly severed, said Los Angeles County Fire Department Firefighter Ray Montanez.

"(The truck driver) didn't know he was dragging him," Montanez said. The truck only stopped after bystanders flagged it down and told the driver about the man lodged under his truck, authorities said.

The victim suffered traumatic injuries to much of his body and was pronounced dead at the scene, Montanez said.

The damage to the motorcycle was minimal, he said.

The truck driver had not been cited or arrested Friday afternoon, Headden said. The cause of the crash remained under investigation, he said.

Although the crash is under investigation it appears to me that if the truck was making a left turn, and the motorcycle rider hit the passenger side of the truck, the truck most likely turned in front of the motorcycle rider and was therefore at fault. However, I must state that I am making simple deductions. I am sure more facts will come to pass as the investigation is completed in this case.

You MUST watch out for idiots who will turn in front of you when riding your motorcycle, even big rig trucks!

God be with the victim in this fatal motorcycle accident.

City of Industry Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Oakville, California-

A 49-year-old Oakville man lost his life Sunday evening when his motorcycle crashed on Oakville Grade north of Yountville, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Stephen Lloyd Ogle was westbound on Oakville Grade on his 2006 Big Dog Custom motorcycle when he crashed for an unknown reason into a fence at approximately 8 p.m., CHP Sgt. Jason Cavett said Monday. Ogle was alone.

The victim lost control of his motorcycle as he approached a left curve on the roadway, approximately half a mile west of Highway 29, Cavett said.

A passerby called for help but no witnesses saw the collision, he said.
Ogle sustained fatal injuries and was declared dead at the scene, Cavett said.

It is unknown if alcohol or drugs were a factor in the collision, he said. The crash remains under investigation.

Sunday’s weather was clear and dry at the time of the accident, unlike Saturday’s, when the CHP responded to a dozen road crashes in Napa County during the day.

As of late Monday afternoon, Ogle was the only road casualty in Napa County over the three-day Memorial Day weekend, according to the CHP.

I have said it here many times on the Biker Law Blog; do not ride beyond your limits, and take it easy in turns. As you approach a curve or turn make sure you slow your motorcycle down appropriatley before entering the turn.

God be with Mr. Ogle and his family.

Oakville, California Motorcycle Accident Center

This morning, May 5, 2008, I will be in trial in the San Francisco Bay Area. As I sit here, getting ready to fly up to San Francisco with my partner in a couple of hours, my thoughts are of adversarial conflict in a Court of Law, i.e. a jury trial, and making sure everything is ready.

Only a trial lawyer knows this feeling. It is the culmination of months or sometimes years of preparation. You think of the first time you met your client, you think of how they were injured, and then you do the best that you can to get them the most compensation possible. Conducting a jury trial takes years of expertise and experience.

There are some lawyers out there who advertise and sign up cases, yet they have never done a bench trial or jury trial. All they try to do is settle cases. If they cannot settle they either drop you or get you to find another lawyer. I cannot fathom that!

So here I am, looking at exhibit lists, evidence, witness lists, notes, deposition transcripts, discovery, jury instructions, subpoenas, demonstrative evidence, oppositions to motions in limine, and finally my trial brief and short statement of the case. I am ready for trial. If the opposing side has done their homework they will also be prepared.

Two lawyers are on the eve of battle; a jury trial. A battle of intellect, a battle of theories, and a battle of wills, all in attempt to get to the truth and win our case for our respective clients!

A trial is the most stressful experience a lawyer goes through in his or her practice, unless they don’t actually do trials.

Before I start a trial I look over at my client knowing that it is up to me to convince a Judge or Jury of the merit of their case, and that they should give my client a judgment.

So there it is; the thoughts of a biker lawyer about to engage in battle.

By Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq., © 2008