A 21-year-old man was injured when his motorcycle collided with another vehicle in a Chico intersection, the Enterprise-Record reported. The accident, which involved a BMW 650 motorcycle and a Honda Civic, happened Monday, November 29, 2010, just after 12 p.m. at the intersection of West Fifth and Walnut Street (California State Route 32). According to news reports, the driver of the Honda Civic, an 18-year-old Corning man, reportedly attempted a left turn in front of the motorcyclist, Ryan Clemensen, 21. The driver of the Honda Civic told police he did not see the bike.
Cause of the Butte County Accident
Chico Police are continuing to investigate the cause of the collision. However, based on the news reports, it appears that this accident may have been caused by the driver of the Honda Civic making an unsafe left turn into the path of the motorcyclist. Under 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
The left-turn motorcycle accident is unfortunately a common type of accident is a common type of accident caused when the driver of a passenger vehicle does not see a motorcyclist (but should have). Young and inexperienced drivers are frequently involved in these accidents. On September 27th, an Oakdale couple was injured in a left-turn motorcycle accident on Highway 4 in Calaveras County involving a 17-year-old driver. On September 6th, a Paradise man suffered severe injures in a left-turn crash on Pentz Road in Butte County involving a 17-year-old driver.
Motorcycle Accident Personal Injury Liability
When accidents such as this November 29th motorcycle accident occur, the family members of the injured victims would be well-advised to contact an experienced northern California motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible. A lawyer who is also an avid motorcyclist and who has represented a number of left-turn accident victims can advise the victim of their best course of action to protect their legal rights following a serious injury accident.
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