Tommy Cockerham, 24, suffered major injuries in a San Bernardino motorcycle accident after his motorcycle ran into a duffel bag on Highway 62 in Twentynine Palms and crashed. According to a news report in the San Bernardino Sun, Cockerham was riding a 2009 Harley-Davidson east on the highway the evening of November 11, 2009 when he ran into the large duffel bag whose contents were spilled on to the road. Cockerham lost control of his motorcycle when he struck the bag and other items. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment of serious injuries.
My heart goes out to this young motorcyclist, Tommy Cockerham, and his family who must be dealing with his hospitalization and serious injuries. I hope and pray that he makes and quick and complete recovery. Cockerham and his family will be in my prayers.
San Bernardino Motorcycle Accidents
According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were five injuries involving motorcycle accidents in Twentynine Palms. In San Bernardino County as a whole, 28 deaths and 627 injuries were reported as a result of motorcycle accidents in 2007.
Based on this news report, it seems to me that this serious injury accident was caused by the debris that was dropped on the roadway. There is no question that Cockerham is now in the hospital with major injuries because some negligent individual dropped this large bag on the highway possibly, because it was not properly secured. Roadway debris, is unfortunately, a common cause of fatal and injury car accidents in California. According to the California State Department of Transportation, 140,000 cubic yards of debris is dumped on our roadways and 155 people died between 2006 and 2008 as a result of roadway debris.
California Car Accident Laws
Under California law, drivers can be penalized for dropping anything other than live bird feathers or water from their vehicles on to the roadway. If the debris causes injury or death to others, these negligent individuals can be held civilly and criminally responsible. The personal injury lawyers at BISNAR | CHASE have successfully handled many injury and fatality accident cases caused by highway debris. I sincerely hope that the driver who dropped this duffel bag will be found and held accountable for this horrific accident.
Victims of an auto accident caused by highway debris have a right to be compensated for their injuries from the person who dropped the debris on the roadway. But if the responsible party is never identified or found, the uninsured motorist provision of an auto insurance policy may compensate the injured victim or the family of a deceased auto accident victim. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer will be able to explain their legal rights and options as well as how the victim's car insurance policy would apply to a roadway debris accident.
The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.
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