California Personal Injury Lawyers Blog
On Monday January 7, 2019, around 12:08 p.m., a collision at the intersection of Lakewood Boulevard and Willow Street in Long Beach caused the death of 25-year-old Corey Haggerty of Lakewood. The motorcyclist and a driver of a 2018 Ford Explorer made contact as the motorcycle changed lanes to make a left turn onto Willow Street. The Ford Explorer had just exited the 405 freeway.
The Press Telegram reports that Long Beach firefighters responded to the scene, but were unable to save Haggerty, who was thrown from his 2012 Honda CBR 600 to the southbound lane. Haggerty was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Ford Explorer driver, a 49-year-old woman from Torrance, stopped at the scene and cooperated with officers. She and her fellow passenger were uninjured. At this point, “Detectives do not believe the driver of the SUV was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the collision.” The collision and investigation closed the southbound and northbound ramps to the freeway for about 4 hours. Officers will continue investigating the incident to determine the cause.
In a case like this, it is important that the cause of the accident is determined. If police determine that the driver of the Ford Explorer caused the accident because of negligence or intentional careless acts, the family of Corey Haggerty can bring a Long Beach wrongful death claim against the driver. His family should reach out to a wrongful death attorney immediately—an experienced wrongful death attorney can assist the family in the investigation to determine the cause of the accident and assist in filing the claim.
While riding a motorcycle can be an adrenaline-charged experience, many of the reasons it feels so freeing are the same reasons why it can be quite dangerous. Risks inherent in driving can be far more dangerous to a motorcyclist than a person driving an automobile because motorcycles lack many of the safety features of cars have. One of the most obvious differences is the lack of a barrier between the motorcyclist and the road. However, a riding a motorcycle can also be more dangerous than driving a car because a motorcycle is less stable, it lacks safety features such as airbags and seatbelts, and because it is less visible on the roads. Because motorcycles are so much smaller than cars, other drivers have a harder time spotting them in traffic. Drivers of automobiles are more likely to accidentally hit a motorcyclist when switching to another lane or turning at an intersection, like what happened in this case.
The sudden loss of a loved one in an unexpected motorcycle accident is devastating. If you are facing this situation, reach out to Walch Law today. We have years of experience representing families who have gone through the heartache of losing family members in car accidents and motorcycle accidents in Long Beach and throughout California. We offer a free consultation to give you the advice you need as you face this challenge. Contact us via our online form or by phone at 866-465-8792.