California Injury Blog
A 29-year-old man was killed in a Los Angeles motorcycle accident after the driver of a van made an illegal U-turn in front of him, police said. According to a KTLA news report, the fatal crash occurred the morning of Dec. 7 when the driver of a van made an illegal U-turn in front of the motorcyclist on Glendale Boulevard just south of Reservoir Street in Echo Park.
Fatal Injuries
LAPD officials released video surveillance that showed the motorcycle trying to slow down, skidding and striking the rear of the van. The impact caused the van’s bumper to fall off. The driver stopped briefly and reversed before continuing south, the video shows. The driver did not stop to assist the victim and continued south.
The motorcyclist was taken to a hospital in critical condition but died shortly after arriving. The hit-and-run van has been described as a maroon or red late 1990s to early 2000 Chevy Astro. Police don’t have a description of the driver. Officials are offering a reward of up to $50,000 to residents who can provide information leading to the driver’s identification, apprehension and conviction.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of this motorcycle accident victim. We offer our deepest condolences to them.
The Law Relating to U-turns
California law requires drivers to exercise caution while making a left turn or a U-turn. A number of motorcycle accidents in Southern California occur because drivers turn left in front of motorcyclists or make an illegal U-turn in their path.
California Vehicle Code Section 21801 (a) states: “The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left or to complete a U-turn upon a highway, or to turn left into public or private property, or an alley, shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching from the opposite direction which are close enough to constitute a hazard at any time during the turning movement, and shall continue to yield the right-of-way to the approaching vehicles until the left turn or U-turn can be made with reasonable safety.”
The report also states that the van driver broke the law by leaving the scene of a major injury crash. In such cases, families of deceased victims would be well advised to reach out to an experienced Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyer who also helps victims of hit and run cases. A knowledgeable attorney can also advise family members about how their own auto insurance policy might apply to a case where the hit-and-run driver has not been found or in a case where the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.
Source: https://ktla.com/news/local-news/motorcyclist-killed-in-echo-park-hit-and-run-crash/