Last Tuesday, April 16th, a fatal crash occurred between a motorcycle and a truck in Lakeside, California. The motorcyclist unfortunately died, and was publicly identified on Friday as Jeremy Michael Ponton, 34.
The crash took place shortly after 8 pm, when Ponton was riding his 2005 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R south down Winter Gardens Boulevard in Lakeside. Ponton was driving at a high rate of speed, according to the California Highway Patrol’s (CHP) Medical Examiner.
As Ponton was driving down Winter Gardens Boulevard, a 2013 Ford F-150 backed out of a driveway directly into Ponton’s path. The collision resulted in both the motorcycle and pickup catching fire, according to the CHP spokesperson, Officer Jared Grieshaber.
Paramedics transported Ponton to UC San Diego Medical Center in Hillcrest, where he succumbed to his injuries.
According to Officer Grieshaber, the Ford F-150 driver and a passenger in his truck were unharmed in the accident.
Factors That Contribute To The Severity Of Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents can be deadly, especially when they involve another vehicle, such as a car or a truck due to the stark difference in size and weight. There are several factors that contribute to the severity of motorcycle accidents, including:
- Speed: if either the driver or rider are traveling at excessive speeds, it increases the likelihood of a fatal crash.
- Distracted Driving: both drivers and riders can contribute to accidents by being distracted by their phone, the radio, or other passengers
- Driving Under The Influence: operating any vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol impairs one’s judgment, coordination, and reaction time thus increasing the chances of a serious accident
Legal Avenues Available To Families Who Have Lost Loved Ones In Motorcycle Accidents
If you’ve lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident, you may have grounds for compensation. Depending on the insurance coverage of the motorcyclist, family members may be able to obtain compensation from the rider’s insurance policy.
Additionally, family members may be able to file a wrongful death claim. Even if it seems that the fault of the accident may be shared between two or more parties involved, they may be eligible for compensation under California law. California operates under a pure comparative fault system. This means that each party involved in an accident can recover damages that are proportionate to their degree of fault in the accident, regardless of how much they are at fault. So, even if a party is found to be 99% at fault, they are still eligible to recover 1% of the total damages.
“As a personal injury attorney, I’ve seen first-hand the devastating impact the wrongful loss of a loved one can have on families,” says attorney Gerald Singleton, of Singleton Schreiber, “Motorcycle accidents often result in fatalities. While nothing can take away the pain of losing a loved one, it is important that families of victims like Ponton know they may be eligible to file a claim for compensation to help them cover costs associated with the loss of their loved one.”
If you have tragically lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident, call us today at (619) 771-3473 or by email at info@singletonschreiber.com to learn more about your options.
