A motorcyclist was struck by a car and killed on the 5 Freeway near the 10 Freeway interchange in Los Angeles on Saturday.
The accident happened at about 9:45 a.m. According to the California Highway Patrol, a vehicle struck the motorcycle, sending the motorcyclist crashing into a wall.
Further details on the accident were not available.
Advice to Motorcyclists: Purchase High Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Because severe injuries and death often result when a motorcyclist is hit by a car, the lawyers at McGee, Lerer & Associates, a Santa Monica personal injury law firm, strongly encourage motorcycle riders to buy uninsured motorist coverage with high limits. The uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage on a motorcyclist's policy will kick in and apply to an accident that was caused by another motorist's negligence if the at-fault driver had no auto insurance or not enough auto insurance.
Example of Uninsured Motorist Claim: Motorist makes a negligent lane change and hits motorcycle rider, who is killed. Motorist has no auto insurance. (Even though California law requires that every driver carry auto insurance, a significant population of motorists carry no car insurance.) Family of deceased motorcycle rider can make an uninsured motorist claim under the motorcyclist's own insurance policy if the motorcyclist carried uninsured motorist coverage.
Example of Underinsured Motorist Claim: Motorist makes a negligent lane change and hits motorcycle driver, who is killed. Motorist has auto insurance, but has a minimal policy of only $15,000 in bodily injury coverage. The family of the deceased motorcycle rider can make an underinsured motorist claim under the motorcyclist's own insurance policy if the motorcyclist carried uninsured motorist coverage (which is the same as underinsured motorist coverage) and if the motorcyclist's policy limit is greater than the at-fault driver's policy limit. If the motorcyclist's uninsured/underinsured motorist policy limit is equal to or less than the at-fault driver's policy limit, no underinsured motorist claim can be made.
Our motorcycle accident attorneys recommend that every motorcycle rider carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage of at least $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident. Better still: $250,000 per person/$500,000 per accident.