A 20-year-old man who was killed in a motorcycle accident in Bakersfield the afternoon of May 18, 2010 has been identified by authorities as Brock Kleeman. ABC News reports that Kleeman was riding a motorcycle west on Niles Street when a Ford Aerostar van turned directly into this path. The van's driver has been identified as 33-year-old Calvin Stepney. Kleeman then lost control of the motorcycle and crashed into the van. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he died.

My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved Brock Kleeman. I offer my deepest sympathies to them. Please keep them in your prayers.

Bakersfield Accident Statistics

There were seven fatalities and 57 injuries involving motorcycle accidents in Bakersfield, according to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Also, in Bakersfield, 29 people died and 1,111 were injured as a result of car accidents during the same year.

Who Had the Right-of-Way?

Based on this news report, it appears that Stepney, the driver of the van, may have turned in front of the motorcyclist. Very often, such crashes at street intersections occur because someone either failed to yield right-of-way or ran a red light at the intersection. In motorcycle accident cases, it is very often because the other drivers do not consciously look for a smaller vehicle such as a motorcycle or a bicycle at street intersections. Most of the time, they are watching out for cars, trucks or SUVs.

Liability Issues

If the driver of the van was at fault here, then he could be held liable for Kleeman's wrongful death. Wrongful death claims are usually filed by the deceased victim's immediate family members against the negligent parties. Families of deceased car accident victims could seek compensation to cover medical or funeral expenses, lost future earnings, loss of love and companionship, and other related damages.

A skilled California personal injury lawyer will also be able to determine whether there was a dangerous condition at this intersection, which may have caused or contributed to the accident. If that was the case, the governmental entity responsible for maintaining that roadway could also be held liable. Claims against public entities must be filed within 180 days of the incident, under California law.

Based on your observations, what do you believe are the most common causes of street intersection accidents?

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.