A 27-year-old San Pablo man was killed Friday morning when the driver of a Chevy Astro van owned by Sky Chefs made a left turn in front of his bike, the Oakland Tribune reported. The accident was reported at Hegenberger Road and Leet Drive at 5:58 a.m. According to news reports, the motorcyclist, Robert Adams, 27, of San Pablo was riding southbound on Hegenberger Road, while at the same time a Chevy Astro van owned by Sky Chefs (an airline catering and in-flight services provider) was travelling northbound.
The driver of the Chevrolet Astro van, Jose Rodriguez, 46, of Stockton made a left turn onto Leet Drive to head back to company offices. The van collided with Adams' motorcycle. According to police, Adams tried to apply his brakes but collided with the van. He was ejected from the bike and taken to Highland Hospital, where he later died. Rodriguez was not injured in the collision.
Cause of the Oakland Motorcycle Accident
The cause of the accident remains under investigation. Investigators are asking anyone with information or who witnessed the collision to contact traffic Officer Peter Hubbert at (510) 851-2127. If news reports are accurate, it sounds as though the driver of the Sky Chefs van may be responsible for this accident for making an unsafe left turn into the path of the motorcycle. The state law pertaining to left turns is found in California Vehicle Code Section 21801: "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."
Left-Turn Motorcycle Accidents and Wrongful Death Liability
This accident has a number of unique legal issues, especially since the van that struck the motorcyclist was a company-owned vehicle. In situations such as this September 24th Alameda County motorcycle accident, the family members of the victim may benefit from speaking to an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer. A motorcycle accident attorney who understands the unique legal issues of left-turn accidents can help the family understand and protect their legal rights to pursue compensation against the at-fault party and advise them of their best course of legal action. Damages awarded in a wrongful death claim may include damages for funeral and burial expenses, anticipated lifetime lost earnings of the decedent, and loss of love, care and companionship.
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