Bakersfield Couple Killed In Motorcycle Accident

A popular Bakersfield couple was killed over the weekend, in a head-on accident involving their motorcycle and a car in Kernville.

Jim and Debbie Harmon were riding their Harley Davidson motorcycle at abut 9:45 in the morning when they were struck by a Buick. The car was being driven by 74-year-old Hazel Halloran. The Buick drifted off the roadway and when Halloran tried to correct the car she ended up overcorrecting and lost control. The car hit the Harmon's motorcycle head-on. Both husband and wife sustained serious injuries. Ironically, according to family members, Jim and Debbie were on their way to a motorcycle safety conference.

Jim was rushed to the hospital, but suffered a cardiac arrest on the way. His wife was transferred to the Kern Medical Center where she died. Halloran did not suffer any injuries in the accident.

The two were very popular in the local Bakersfield motorcycling community. Jim served as president of the Bakersfield Toy Run, the largest toy run in California, which was organized to collect toys and food for needy families. According to friends of the couple, the two were very active in local charities, and did more than simply pay lip service to charitable works.

Many motorists believe that motorcycles are unsafe, and that these riders should be aware of the dangers they place themselves in when they ride bikes. However, the fact is that motorcycling by itself does not have to be a dangerous activity. Typically California motorcycle accident lawyers notice that crashes are caused because of careless or negligent driving by motorists or by driving errors made by motorists. Traveling at excessive speeds, drunk driving, tailgating, cutting off a motorcyclist and other driving behaviors can have deadly consequences. In many of these cases, motorcyclists are doing nothing wrong and are following all traffic rules, riding safe, properly functioning bikes, and wearing approved helmets, as they are required to do. Yet these riders are subjected to the risk of serious accidents from the carelessness of other motorists.

Motorcycle accidents can also be caused because of malfunctioning motorcycles. Another major contributing factor to motorcycle safety is dangerous roads. Many of our roads were designed for motorist traffic, and can be very unsafe for motorcyclists. Sharp curves, steep turns and other factors may cause a motorcyclist to lose control of his vehicle. It's not just the design of the road that can raise the risk of an accident. Motorcyclists can also be in danger from poor maintenance of roads. Road surfaces that are conducive to skidding, for instance, can increase the risk of a motorcycle accident. Motorcyclists may also suffer from lack of adequate barriers or signs, warning them of dangerous roads ahead. Motorcyclists riding at night may have a heightened risk of an accident if there is insufficient or inadequate lighting.

Persons who are injured in a motorcycle accident, like others, may also be eligible for compensation for injuries. Besides, survivors of these victims can also claim wrongful death damages.