[08-23-2023] Merced County, CA – 35-Year-Old Male Motorcyclist Killed Following Two-Vehicle Head-On Collision in Hilmar

A 35-year-old male motorcyclist was killed after a two-vehicle head-on collision in Hilmar, Merced County, on Wednesday night, August 23, 2023.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the incident occurred in the area of Highway 165 and August Road, south of Oslo Road, at around 10:22 p.m.

The motorcyclist from Hilmar was riding a 2005 Harley Davidson in the northbound lanes of the highway at 45 to 50 mph, while a 33-year-old Newman woman was driving south in a 2013 Audi SUV on the same highway at around 55 mph.

The woman drove in the opposite lane to pass a semi-truck with a trailer and a pickup truck in front of her. The motorcyclist saw the Audi ahead of him and swerved right to avoid it. However, the Audi also swerved left, resulting in a head-on collision on the east shoulder of the highway.

The rider was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver and her 12-year-old male passenger were uninjured.

Drugs or alcohol were not believed to be a factor in the crash.

No information was released regarding the identities of the people involved.

Respected Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Hilmar, Merced County

Motorcyclists suffer physical, emotional, and financial hardship due to vehicle collisions. These incidents entail various expenses that need to be considered.

A motorcycle accident victim or their loved ones may be entitled to compensation for their injuries or death. Our seasoned legal team will thoroughly review each case before taking legal action.

You can rely on our dedicated Merced County motorcycle accident lawyers at Arash Law, led by Arash Khorsandi, Esq., to help you with the insurance claim or effectively represent you in court proceedings.

Our firm has recovered over $750 Million for California clients and is widely acknowledged for its expertise and reputation as one of California’s leading personal injury law firms.

If you want to speak with one of our lawyers, please call (888) 488-1391 or fill out the “Do I Have a Case?” form.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident

Motorcyclist accidents are distressing and debilitating. You should seek legal counsel if you are injured as a motorcyclist or have lost a loved one due to an accident. Follow these steps to protect your interests:

• Keep calm and do not admit fault.
• Check your body for injuries. Examine the condition of the other individuals involved.
• Wait on the side of the road or in a safe place until the authorities arrive.
• Do not try to resolve the conflict with the other driver. Inform the police of the collision and request a copy of the official report.
• Gather information such as the other driver’s name and insurance provider.
• Take pictures of everything you think is essential, including the scene, the road, your injuries, the other car, and your motorcycle.
• Seek medical attention as soon as possible.
• Keep a file with all accident-related paperwork and information.
• Discuss your accident with an experienced California motorcycle accident lawyer.

I HAD AN ACCIDENT

Fatal Motorcycle Accident Statistics

A significant number of traffic-related deaths involved motorcycle crashes in 2021, accounting for 14% of all traffic fatalities and 17% of fatalities of occupants. Additionally, 3% of occupant injuries were attributed to motorcycle accidents.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were over 5,500 reported motorcycle fatalities in the United States in 2020 alone. Furthermore, more than 180,000 motorcycle accidents resulted in injuries requiring emergency department treatment.

When comparing 2020 to 2021, there was an 8% increase in motorcycle fatalities. Over the past decade, motorcycle-related deaths have risen by 19%, and the death rate has increased by 29%. The death rate is 5,932, translating to 30.05 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles.

In 2020, California had approximately 785,000 registered motorcycles, making it one of the two states with the highest rates of motorcycle fatalities. With an average of around 500 motorcycle fatalities yearly, motorcycle accidents have significantly impacted the state.