A motorcyclist died Monday night after suffering critical injuries in an intersection collision in Taft, the Midway Driller reported. The Kern County accident occurred at the intersection of Kern Street (West Side Hwy / CA-33, and 8th Street, at about 8 p.m. According to news reports, a motorcycle was travelling eastbound on Kern Street, while at the same time an SUV was making a left turn from northbound Eighth Street to westbound Kern Street.
The motorcycle and the SUV collided at the intersection. The driver of the SUV was not hurt; the motorcyclist suffered major injuries and was rushed to Kern Medical Center, where he died at 9:29 p.m. The Kern County Sheriff-Coroner identified the victim as Steven Mason, 22, of Bakersfield. Mason was wearing a helmet, authorities reported.
Cause of the Crash
Based on the news reports, it appears that the driver of the SUV pulled out into the path of the motorcyclist. The motorcyclist did not have a stop sign at the intersection, while the driver of the SUV did. However, the official cause of the accident is still under investigation.
Motorcycle Accidents Involving Left-Turns
This type of collision involving a motorcycle with the right of way and a vehicle making a left turn is fairly common. On June 28th, a motorcyclist died in a Butte County motorcycle accident when a teen made a left turn in front of him. In May, a motorcyclist died in a similar motorcycle crash in Madera County involving a pickup truck making a left turn on Highway 41. While these failure-to-yield motorcycle accidents are common, unless excessive speed is involved, they are almost always the fault of the driver of the vehicle making a left turn.
Wrongful Death Liability Considerations
If the driver of the sport utility vehicle is determined to have caused this fatal Taft motorcycle accident, he may be liable for the wrongful death of the motorcyclist. While this collision remains under investigation by law enforcement, the family of Steven Mason would be well-advised to contact an experienced Taft personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to discuss their legal rights in holding the driver accountable for this crash. The family may be entitled to financial compensation for their loss, including final medical expenses, funeral and burial expenses, anticipated lifetime future earnings and wages, and loss of love and companionship. An attorney who has represented families of victims of motorcycle accidents involving left-turn collisions can advise the family of their best course of action to protect their legal rights going forward if they are interested in pursing a claim.
Sources: Taft Midway Driller July 12, Taft Midway Driller July 13
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