According to a report from Pleasanton Weekly, details are emerging regarding a tragic motorcycle crash that took the life of Carlos Campo, a 30-year-old man from Stockton. The collision occurred on Interstate-580 in a rural stretch of Alameda County. It marks another heartbreaking motorcycle accident fatality in the region. In this article, our Stockton motorcycle accident lawyers explain what we know about the crash and discuss the risks that motorcyclists face on our state’s busy highways.
Law Enforcement: Lane Splitting Contributed to Fatal Motorcycle Accident
A preliminary investigation from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) assessed that the motorcyclist was traveling at a speed of around 50 miles per hour on a busy highway. The motorcyclist was lane-splitting—meaning he was going in between two lanes of traffic. Suddenly, the flow of traffic slowed to about 25 miles per hour. Tragically, the motorcyclist did not immediately recognize the quick change in highway traffic flow. He collided with the rear end of a van and was then struck by a tractor-trailer. The truck was in another lane that was still moving at more than 50 miles per hour when it struck the motorcyclist. Neither drugs nor alcohol is believed to have been a factor in the accident. The fatal motorcycle accident is still under a more comprehensive investigation.
Motorcyclists Face Disproportionate Safety Risks on Highways
With limited built-in safety protections, motorcyclists are at inherent risk. Alarmingly, an estimated 80 percent of motorcycle accidents result in an injury to the rider. The faster a motorcycle is traveling, the more likely a rider is to be seriously injured in a crash. Motorcyclists face a highly disproportionate safety risk on California’s ever-busy highways. It is imperative that all riders take proper safety precautions. While lane-splitting is legal in California, it is generally recommended that riders avoid lane-splitting when traffic is moving at a relatively high rate of speed.
Motorcycle riders also face some significant safety risks from every other vehicle on the road. On California’s highways, one of the main areas of concern is lane changes. Sadly, too many motorists simply fail to recognize the presence of a motorcycle. As a consequence, they could make an unsafe lane change, thereby striking a motorcycle that is already occupying the lane. It is crucial that motorcyclists take the proper safety precautions on California highways. Among other things, this includes: 1) Wearing a helmet, 2) Limiting speed, and 3) Keep adequate distance from other cars.
Call Our Stockton Motorcycle Accident Lawyer for a Free Personal Injury Consultation
At Redkey Gordon Law Corp, our Stockton motorcycle accident attorneys are relentless advocates for injured victims. If you or your loved one suffered a significant injury after a motorcycle accident on a highway, we are here to help. Call us now or contact us online for your free, no-obligation case evaluation. We represent motorcycle accident victims in Stockton and throughout Central California, including in San Joaquin County, Sacramento County, and Stanislaus County.