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Motorcyclist Killed in Los Angeles Accident Involving Hollywood Producer’s Daughter

The daughter of Hollywood producer Jon Peters was involved in a fatal motorcycle accident in Los Angeles on Saturday. Caleigh Peters was trying to make a turn when a motorcycle crashed into her car. According to police, Peters does not seem to have been at fault in the accident.

This month, the Department of Transportation released preliminary figures that indicate that highway fatality numbers for 2009 are lower than they were in 2008. In 2009, the number of highway fatalities was 9% lower than the previous year. The number of people killed in accidents in 2009 was actually at its lowest level in more than five decades. The last quarter of 2009 was also the 15th consecutive quarter with declining auto accident fatality rates. California injury lawyers and auto safety groups have been very encouraged by these figures

While all of these are impressive figures, the fact is that motorcyclists continue to be at a high risk of death in accidents. Motorcycle fatality rates have been increasing steadily over the past decade. This is even as fatality rates in other kinds of accidents like car and truck accidents, have been declining. The trend has been seen nationwide, with almost all states reporting a steady increase in the number of people killed in motorcycle crashes. Accidents like the one here remind us that there is much to be done in promoting motorcyclist safety.

There are several reasons why motorcycle accident fatalities have increased the way they have.

The biggest factor is that motorcyclists today face increasing risks from motorists who are distracted by cell phones and other devices. While there are fewer fatalities in automobile accidents in the US, the number of accidents involving distracted drivers have actually increased. The National Safety Council estimates that about 28% of accidents every year are caused by cell phone use or text messaging while driving.

Any Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Lawyer consistently sees that other motorist behaviors like speeding and drunk driving continue to be an important factor in motorcycle crashes. This is even as California and other states have managed to bring down the rate of drunk driving accidents through increased law enforcement efforts, stronger laws against DUI and more numbers of sobriety checkpoints and patrols.

Motorist negligence has always been a factor in motorcycle accidents. Motorists who fail to yield to motorcyclists or give him the right of way, are the number one factor in motorcycle accidents, and continue to be so.

The motorcyclist demographic has also undergone major changes in appearance. The numbers of older motorcyclists on the highways is increasing.  These persons may be new to riding motorcycles, and may lack the skills and experience needed to ride motorcycles in California’s congested traffic.

Besides, motorcycles these days are much more powerful than those that were available in the market decades earlier. It’s harder to ride these machines unless you have the right amount of training and expertise. More powerful machines can accelerate to higher speeds, contributing to accidents.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of motorcycle accidents. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not representing any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

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One response to “Motorcyclist Killed in Los Angeles Accident Involving Hollywood Producer’s Daughter”

1. drunk driving writes:
   

   It’s so sad how many people get killed due to drunk driving.

   @ April 8th, 2010 at 10:35