California Motorcyclist Reportedly Injured by DUI Driver
The streets can be dangerous, and one Bakersfield motorcyclist recently learned it the hard way. Bakersfield Now is reporting that Daniel Joseph Ryel, 19, suffered major injuries when his Suzuki motorcycle was hit by an oncoming motorist near the corner of Fairfax Road and Avondale Drive in Bakersfield.
The motorist, 33-year-old David Guzman, is believed by law enforcement to have been under the influence of alcohol when he turned into Ryel's path, causing the cyclist to crash into the side of Guzman's Ford Explorer. The California Highway Patrol stated that Ryel suffered severe injuries, but it is not known if Guzman, the motorist, suffered any injuries. No specific injuries were reported.
Riding a motorcycle can be a dangerous ordeal. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that cyclists are 25 times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than drivers of passenger cars. Fortunately, Ryel's accident did not prove fatal, but it does serve as a reminder about the need for motorcyclists to be extremely cautious on the road. Not all drivers are safe drivers, and you can't always predict when another motorist will be under the influence of alcohol or distracted by text messages on a cellular phone.
Bakersfield, specifically, has seen its share of motorcycle incidents in recent months. Back in April, a motorcycle rider was killed after being rear-ended by a pickup driver. In 2011, a rider was killed and his passenger severely injured after the bike was cut off by a 72-year-old man. Incidents like these are, unfortunately, common throughout California and the United States.
Here are some more unsettling statistics to consider. In 2006, almost 5,000 motorcyclists were killed in road accidents, and it is estimated that about 11 percent of all roadway accidents in the U.S. involve motorcycles. Additionally, more than half of all motorcycle accidents involve a second vehicle, and quite often, the passenger vehicle motorist is at fault.
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, or if someone you loved has been killed in a motorcycle accident, you need the most qualified and experienced California motorcycle attorney to assist you in winning the best recovery possible. You may be entitled to monetary compensation, but you need to act quickly. There are statutes of limitations that must be heeded.
The Law Offices of Nadrich & Cohen has been helping motorcycle accident victims for years, and we have recovered millions of dollars for our clients. Call us for a free consultation at 1-800-722-0765. We will give you a free, confidential consultation and we will stand by you every step of the way. Call us now.
The Nadrich & Cohen personal injury blogs are sponsored by Nadrich & Cohen, LLC. This blog features news stories, personal cases and analysis of current events, all of which are intended for illustrative purposes only. Each case is different, and legal authority is constantly changing and evolving. Therefore, nothing on this site should be viewed as a guarantee or prediction of a similar future outcome. The information on this site should not be treated as authoritative, and readers should always consult with legal counsel before making any important legal decisions. Lastly, Nadrich & Cohen, LLC is not responsible for any comments contributed by visitors to this website.
