A 42-year-old Oakland motorcyclist died Wednesday afternoon when a 1974 Chevrolet pickup truck turned into the path of his vehicle, the Contra Costa Times reported. The accident occurred at the intersection of Concord Avenue and California Street, at about 12:50 p.m. According to news reports, the motorcyclist, Tschum Boykin, was riding eastbound on Concord Avenue, and the pickup truck, driven by a 20-year-old woman, was travelling westbound. The driver of the pickup truck attempted a left turn from Concord Avenue onto California Street, and collided with Boykin's bike. Boykin was rushed to a local hospital and died a short time later. The driver of the pickup truck was not hurt.
Cause of the October 6th Concord Motorcycle Crash
Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the accident. However, if news reports are accurate, it appears that the driver of the pickup truck may have violated the right of way of the motorcyclist. The law that applies to left turns is located 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."
Motorcycle Accidents and Wrongful Death Claims
A left-turn motorcycle accident is one of the most common and most deadly type of motorcycle accident. If the woman driving the truck is determined to have caused this fatal motorcycle accident, she may be cited for negligent driving. Additionally, she may be held liable for the victim's death in a civil wrongful death claim. In situations such as this accident in Contra Costa County, where a driver is suspected of making a left turn into the path of a motorcyclist, the family of the victim may benefit from talking to an experienced and knowledgeable northern California motorcycle accident lawyer. A skilled lawyer can help the victim's family understand and protect their legal rights, and advise them of their best course of action should they wish to pursue compensation for their loss. Damages awarded in a wrongful death claim may include money for final medical expenses, funeral and burial expenses, anticipated future lifetime earnings of the victim, and loss of love, care and companionship.
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