David Verweyst Jr. ID'd as Motorcyclist Killed in 405 Freeway Crash near Cherry Avenue in Long Beach
Long Beach, California (October 28, 2021) – The Los Angeles County coroner's office has identified the motorcyclist who died early Thursday morning following a traffic collision in Long Beach as David Verweyst Jr., 41. His city of residence was unknown.
The California Highway Patrol said the deadly crash happened at around 4:38 a.m. in the southbound lanes of 405 Freeway near Cherry Avenue.
A party called authorities reporting that a male rider was run over by a vehicle.
Police officers, firefighters and Caltrans responded to the scene.
The motorcyclist, now identified as Verweyst Jr., was pronounced dead at the scene.
Southbound 405 Freeway in the crash area remained closed for an unknown period following the collision.
CHP is investigating the incident.
Motorcycle Accidents in California
It is almost impossible to escape injuries in motorcycle accidents. According to a report released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in December 2019, Long Beach was ranked the 17th U.S. city with the most speeding-related traffic fatalities. The study, that based its statistics on NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System from 2013 to 2017, found that 39% of traffic fatalities involved speeding, which is above the national average of 27%. The city recorded 148 fatalities in that period, with 59 of those being speeding-related. Statistics show that the leading cause of most of these motorcycle accidents is human error. This includes dangerous acts such as;
- Lane splitting – Lane splitting happens when a motorcycle drives between two lanes of stopped or slow-moving traffic. Lane splitting may lead to motorcycle accidents due to: the close proximity of the vehicles to the motorcycle, limited space for the motorcycle to maneuver, the presumption by other motorists that no cars or motorcycles will be passing them in slowed or stopped traffic.
- Unsafe turns – Vehicles making turns usually collide with motorcycles when the bikes are: going straight through an intersection, passing the car, or attempting to pass the vehicle. When these types of accidents happen, the drivers of the involved vehicles may be held accountable for the crash. However, it is good to note that the motorcyclist may also be partly to blame if, for example, they were speeding or riding in the wrong lane.
- Speeding – Riding at high speeds reduces the rider's ability to slow or stop safely in case of a hazard or slowed or stopped traffic. The rider ends up crashing into other cars or loses control of the motorcycle after applying emergency brakes.
Riders are therefore encouraged to wear helmets and safety gear all the time. Helmets save lives by reducing the severity of head injuries in the event of a collision. Should you be involved in a motorcycle accident, you are encouraged to notify the authorities as soon as possible.
Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in California
When you are involved in a traffic collision, you and your family may be forced to spend tens of thousands of dollars on medical bills, property damages, and maybe funeral services, while also enduring endless mental and emotional suffering.
Victims of traffic accidents have an enforceable right under law to full and fair compensation for the costs and losses they suffer. Whether they receive what the law provides for them or whether they receive any compensation at all depends on how well their attorneys can pursue their claims through the intricacies of the state civil legal processes.