An October 12, 2009 Riverside car accident involving a 94-year-old driver has killed motorcyclist Orrin Pierre Casey, 36, CBS News reports. The elderly driver in a Ford Focus was pulling out of the Nexus Towncenter shopping area near the intersection of Indiana and La Sierra avenues when he struck Casey who was heading west on Indiana. The force of the collision threw the rider off his 2002 Suzuki bike and on to the roadway. Riverside police said the driver of the Ford was not injured while Casey died from his injuries shortly after the crash, at a local hospital.

My deepest condolences go out to all those who knew and loved Orrin Pierre Casey. This accident victim's family will certainly be in my prayers for the very untimely and terrible loss they have suffered.

Motorist Negligence in Motorcycle Accidents

In Riverside, California there have been five fatalities and 91 injuries in 2007 from motorcycle accidents. In the same year, 41 deaths and 562 injuries were reported in all of Riverside County, from accidents involving motorcyclists.

This news article does not say whether the unidentified elderly driver made a turn in front of the approaching motorcycle. A great number of motorcycle accidents and the resulting major injuries to its riders are caused when a negligent or distracted driver simply pulls in front of a rider or turns ahead of an oncoming motorcycle. The account says the elderly driver was attempting to go north across Indiana. It seems to me that this driver may have misjudged the distance between the two vehicles or just did not see Casey. In either case, it appears his negligent actions may be responsible for the fatal crash.

Concerns Over Elderly Drivers

As a California car accident lawyer, it is extremely worrying when I study some of the trends based on recently released numbers and information pertaining to senior drivers. Here in California, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) puts the number of re-examination requests filed at 48,000. And that's just for the year 2008. Basically, the request for re-examination (of a driver's ability) is made by a police official, family or anyone who is concerned about a driver's failing skills to operate a car. The most common reason states for re-examination was "lapse of consciousness," filed 13,815 times. "Lack of skill" was cited as a reason for 5,220 re-examinations and "lack of knowledge/skill" accounted for 4,100 re-examinations.

An experienced Riverside personal injury lawyer can help the Casey family receive fair compensation for their terrible loss. They may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim that seeks to recover funeral expenses, loss of wages, loss of love and companionship and other related damages. A skilled motorcycle accident lawyer would also look into the topography of the accident location to determine if a dangerous road condition on a public or private property caused or contributed to Casey's fatal injuries.

We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.