A motorcycle accident in El Cajon the night of May 23, 2010 proved fatal for 38-year-old Nathaniel Joseph Camacho. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that a Toyota Camry that was making a U-turn on Greenfield Drive hit Camacho's motorcycle. Camacho was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police are investigating the cause of this fatal motorcycle crash.

I offer my heartfelt condolences to Camacho's family members and friends for their terrible loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

San Diego Car Accidents

According to CHP's traffic accident statistics, there were nine deaths and 555 injuries involving car accidents in El Cajon in 2008. In San Diego County, during the same year, 246 people died and 13,527 were injured as a result of car accidents.

Car Accident Laws

In this particular case, it appears that the driver of the Toyota Camry was attempting a U-turn when the collision occurred. It is not clear whether the driver made a legal U-turn. I trust officials are looking into that issue as well as whether the driver was under the influence, distracted or otherwise negligent at the time. If that is determined to have been the case, then the driver of the Camry could face criminal charges as well as civil liability for Camacho's wrongful death. California Vehicle Code section 21801 states that the driver of a vehicle making a U-turn must yield right-of-way to approaching vehicles and must not make the turn until it is reasonably safe to do so.

Liability Issues

In such cases, families of deceased victims would be well-advised to seek the counsel of a reputed San Diego personal injury lawyer, who will stay on top of the official investigation and make sure that their rights and best interests are protected. A skilled car accident lawyer will also be able to determine whether a dangerous roadway condition caused or contributed to the crash. If that was the case, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining this roadway could also be held liable. Please remember that any claim against a California governmental entity must be filed within six months of the accident or injury.

What precautions do you take as a motorist to prevent collisions with motorcyclists?

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.