Bicycle Accident in Los Angeles Causes Injuries
A bicycle accident at a Whittier street intersection caused serious injuries to a man who was riding his bike across the street, the Whittier Daily News reports. The pickup truck versus bicycle accident happened on May 11, 2010 at the intersection of Lambert Road and Coachman Avenue. The driver of the pickup told officials he stopped at the stop sign at the intersection. But he hit the bicyclist who was crossing Coachman as he did not see him attempting to cross the road.
I hope the bicyclist in this case has not suffered any catastrophic injuries. I pray that he recovers quickly and completely from his serious injuries.
Accident Statistics
There was one fatality and 358 injuries involving car accidents in Whittier, California. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 667 people died and 52,229 were injured as a result of car accidents during the same year.
Who was at Fault?
In this particular case, it is not clear who had the right-of-way at the time. It appears that the truck driver was attempting to make a turn at the intersection when he struck the bicyclist. Police say the pickup truck driver stopped at the intersection (stop sign), but just did not see the bicyclist coming. This is a common occurrence especially at intersections where drivers of larger vehicles fail to consciously look out for smaller vehicles (motorcycles, bicycles) or even pedestrians.
Liability Issues
If the pickup truck driver failed to yield right-of-way to the bicyclist, then he or she could be held liable for the accident and injuries caused. If a dangerous roadway condition caused or contributed to this collision, then the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining this roadway could also be held liable. Under California Government Code section 911.2, any claim against a California public entity must be filed within 180 days of the incident. The best Los Angeles personal injury lawyers will always offer a free and comprehensive consultation to injured victims and their families.
What steps do you think cities and governmental agencies can take to make roadways safer for bicyclists?
None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.
I'm actually the driver the hit this bicyclist. The rider was riding on the sidewalk (which is illegal) and was also riding against traffic (which is illegal). There was no way I could have avoided hitting this guy. Once even more sad, is that the city just installed a paved walk way for bikers and pedestrians directly across the street.