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Jan 27, 2022
June 17, 1994 is a date commonly associated with what is perhaps the most famous police chase in history. O.J. Simpson, having been charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, led Los Angeles police officers on a low-speed chase with an estimated 95 million captivated viewers witnessing the incident on live television.
Since then, as the Los Angeles Times noted in a recent column, television stations have used helicopter cameras to whet the public’s appetite for police car chases. Today, local stations capturing a high-speed police car chase in progress is the norm.
But a recent live broadcast by local KCAL-TV Channel 9 captured a motorcyclist in West Hills dying in a horrific head-on crash, with estimated speeds reaching up to 130 miles per hour. Following the fatal motorcycle accident, many are reconsidering whether filming such high-speed pursuits is in the public’s best interest.
KCAL’s SKY9 helicopter broadcast the motorcycle driver speeding down Roscoe Boulevard live last week. The LAPD was reportedly “tracking” the motorcycle, but officers were not following in pursuit. The LAPD concluded that the driver of the motorcycle had reportedly stolen the bike after running the vehicle’s plates.
KCAL reported that undercover officers with the LAPD noticed “something suspicious about the motorcycle and its rider just after 1 p.m.”
Officers reportedly attempted to pull the motorcyclist over in a parking after identifying the vehicle’s plates as stolen, but he fled the scene.
“When he fled, a decision was made by the supervisors and the incident commanders that we would not pursue this motorcycle,” Los Angeles Fire Department Captain, Andy Neiman, said.
KCAL also reported that at one point the motorcycle rider could be seen standing up on the bike – only moments before crashing head-on into a vehicle making a left turn at Fallbrook Avenue.
The motorcyclist was catapulted into the air upon impact. The L.A. Fire Department declared the man, whose identity has not been released, dead at the scene.
“It’s a very sad day here. Just another example of how reckless driving – regardless of who it is – causes death,” Captain Neiman said to KCAL.
Two other victims were reportedly injured in the high-speed motorcycle crash. Each victim is said to currently be in stable condition.
Nieman also responded to conflicting reports from various local media outlets, some of which had indicated that police had pursued the motorcyclist.
“There were some statements made that we were in pursuit of this motorcycle. I just want to make it very clear, at no time were we in pursuit,” he said to KCAL.
Neiman also told KCAL that “several factors” played into the decision to not pursue the motorcycle including, “The time of day, the level of traffic and the potential danger to the public.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has confirmed the latest motorcycle accident statistics as of September 2021:
If you’re a motorcyclist who has been injured due to another driver’s negligence, you may be eligible to recover financial compensation through a civil lawsuit. Motorcycle accident injuries due to negligence or carelessness may qualify for various damages, including:
Motorcycle accident injury claims may be subject to a statute of limitations. The typical deadline for filing a California personal injury claim is two years from the date of the incident. However, claims filed against government or public entities may be subject to a much shorter window of time – often only six months from the date of the incident.
If you experienced a motorcyclist accident injury, don’t wait to file a claim. Contact our expert attorneys online or by phone for a free consultation today.
Accordingly, motorcyclists who have suffered traffic crash-related injuries may benefit from speaking with an experienced attorney as soon as possible. Additionally, discussing your motorcycle accident claim during a confidential consultation with a personal injury lawyer is recommended before making any type of statement to your insurance company (or accepting any settlement offer).
Dordulian Law Group’s (DLG) motorcycle accident lawyers are standing by to answer any questions you may have and help protect your legal right to financial compensation after an injury. To arrange a free and no obligation consultation with a DLG motorcycle accident lawyer, contact us today at 866-GO-SEE-SAM.
DLG has helped injured motorcycle accident victims like you recover maximum financial compensation for their claims, with over $100,000,000 secured in settlements and verdicts for our clients. And DLG’s No win/No Fee Guarantee means you never pay a penny for our legal services until we’ve recovered a maximum damages award for you motorcycle accident injury claim.
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