Mark Hampton Montgomery, 59, was killed in a Huntington Beach motorcycle accident after his motorcycle collided with a car the evening of June 26, 2009. According to an article in The Orange County Register, Montgomery was riding the motorcycle west on Garfield Avenue near Edwards Street. A gold, four-door sedan was traveling east on Garfield. The sedan then turned north onto Edwards ahead of Montgomery, who crashed into the car, Huntington Beach police said. Montgomery was wearing a helmet, but he died from injuries sustained in the motorcycle crash. If you saw this accident, please call the Huntington Beach Police Department at 714-536-5666.
I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Mark Hampton Montgomery for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your prayers.
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were no fatalities, but 55 injuries occurred involving motorcycle accidents in Huntington Beach. In Orange County as a whole, 24 fatalities and 752 injuries were reported in 2007 as a result of motorcycle accidents.
This Orange County motorcycle accident occurred in broad daylight with the sun to the back of the sedan driver on a multi-lane street at a traffic light controlled intersection with clear views in all directions. Based on this news report, the driver of the sedan had no reason not to have seen Montgomery on his motorcycle. At the very least, it seems that the driver of the sedan should have been able to avoid hitting Montgomery.
Regardless of who had the right-of-way in this fatal Huntington Beach motorcycle accident, it was the rider, Mark Montgomery, who paid the ultimate price. Our roadways are extremely dangerous for motorcycle riders. There is no question that motorcycle riders need to be hyper-vigilant. They must be aware that often car and truck drivers, for numerous reasons, just do not see motorcycles on the road and turn right in front of them. In this case, it is most likely that the driver of the sedan will be held civilly, if not criminally, liable for Mark Montgomery’s death.
Just this week, my friend Thomas Kelly, a 30-year motorcycle rider and Boston motorcycle accident attorney, was trying to convince me that loud motorcycle pipes save motorcyclists’ lives. Personally, I don’t like loud motorcycle exhaust pipes. However, since our conversation, I have been aware that loud motorcycle pipes do alert me and make me more aware of motorcyclists on the road when I’m driving — no matter how annoying it is. I’m now wondering if loud pipes would have saved Mark Montgomery’s life.
The family of Mark Montgomery would be well advised to consult with experienced Orange County motorcycle accident attorneys who will fight for their rights and determine whether negligence or reckless driving on the part of the car driver caused this tragic motorcycle collision. The best Orange County personal injury attorneys will always offer a free and comprehensive initial consultation to injured victims and their families. In cases where negligence or wrongdoing is involved, families of deceased victims may also be eligible to file wrongful death claims, which compensate victims’ families for medical or funeral expenses, loss of wages and other related expenses.