Los Angeles Injury Attorney Blog

LONG BEACH - The Long Beach Press-Telegram reported a 27-year-old Norwalk man tragically died Monday night in a crash at the intersection of Long Beach Boulevard and Home Street. The accident occurred shortly after 9 p.m., and involved a 1999 Yamaha motorcycle and a 1995 Chevy pickup truck. According to news accounts, Josue Corado of Norwalk was riding his motorcycle northbound on Long Beach Boulevard, when the pickup truck, driven by Josue Avalos, 24, of Long Beach, made a left turn into the path of Corado's motorcycle. The impact caused Corado to be ejected from his motorcycle. He was rushed to a local hospital where he died of his injuries. Multiple news outlets reported a criminal charge is pending against the driver of the pickup. It is unclear if alcohol or speed were factors in the fatal collision. Anyone with information about the fatal crash is asked to call Long Beach Police Department Accident Investigations Detective Sirilo Garcia at 562- 570-7355.

Left-Turn Accident Liability

Based on the information provided in news reports, it appears the driver of the pickup truck should have yielded to the right-of-way of the motorcyclist. Under California Vehicle Code Section 21801 (a), "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 Accident Wrongful Death Liability

Motorcyclists are especially vulnerable to catastrophic injury or death in left-turn accidents such as this one. If news reports are accurate and the driver of the pickup truck is determined to be responsible for the accident, he may be liable for the wrongful death of the motorcyclist, in addition to any criminal charges he may be facing. While this fatal Long Beach motorcycle accident is under investigation, the family members of the victim may benefit from speaking with a knowledgeable and experienced California wrongful death attorney. A lawyer who specializes in representing victims of motorcycle accidents can advise the victim's family of their legal rights and options to hold the driver accountable for their loss.