Co-Host of HGTV’s “Curb Appeal” Killed in San Francisco Motorcycle Accident

Bill Beckwith, a carpenter and co-host of the hit HGTV home improvement show, “Curb Appeal,” died from injuries suffered in a San Francisco motorcycle accident. According to a Reuters news report, the 38-year-old Beckwith died after his motorcycle collided with another vehicle at the intersection of Oak and Steiner streets in the city’s Lower Haight neighborhood the night of December 2, 2013. The circumstances of the crash are still not clear. Police said the driver stopped and cooperated with officials.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family members, friends, co-workers and fans of Bill Beckwith. They will be in my thoughts and prayers. Reuters reports that Beckwith, the founder of BBDesignBuild, a construction company, co-hosted “Curb Appeal” for two seasons.

San Francisco Crash Statistics

There were five fatalities and 376 injuries as a result of motorcycle collisions in San Francisco, according to California Highway Patrol’s 2010 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Citywide, during the same year, 29 deaths and 3,679 injuries were reported due to traffic accidents.

Ongoing Investigation

Based on this news report, it appears that the intersection where this fatal crash occurred was monitored by traffic lights. There are several questions that still remain here. How did the collision occur? Was either the driver or the motorcyclist running the red light at the time? Who had the right-of-way? Was speed or reckless driving a factor? Did alcohol, drugs or distracted driving play a part in this crash? I trust officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine precisely what occurred here and why.

Fault and Liability

If the driver in this case is determined to have been at fault, he or she can be held liable for the victim’s wrongful death. In such cases, a knowledgeable San Francisco personal injury lawyer can help determine whether a dangerous roadway or intersection caused the accident. If that was the case, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway can also be held liable. Under California Government Code Section 911.2, any personal injury or wrongful death claim against a governmental agency must be filed within 180 days of the incident.