A car accident in San Diego resulted in injuries for a woman who was riding a bicycle the evening January 31, 2012. U-T San Diego reports that the injury collision occurred at the intersection of Girard Avenue and Pearl Street in La Jolla. The bicyclist, a woman in her 20s, was struck by a vehicle at the intersection, which had a flashing red light. The victim suffered a broken leg. Officials are looking into the cause of this accident.
My heart goes out to the injured bicyclist in this case. I pray that she recovers quickly and completely from whatever injuries she has sustained in this incident.
Bicycle Accidents in San Diego
There were nine deaths and 972 injuries involving bicycle accidents in San Diego County, according to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In the city of San Diego, six people were killed and 525 were injured in bicycle accidents in 2009.
Causes and Compensation Issues
In this particular case, it is not clear how or why the SUV struck the bicycle. According to California Vehicle Code Section 21200 (a): “A person riding a bicycle or operating a pedicab upon a highway has all the rights and is subject to all the provisions applicable to the driver of a vehicle.” Based on this news report, there was a flashing red light at the intersection as the bicyclist was riding through it. I trust officials are looking into who failed to yield the right-of-way at the intersection or if the driver or bicyclist may have run the red light.
If the driver of the SUV is determined to have been at fault, she can be held liable for the victim's injuries. It would be in the best interests of injured victims to contact a skilled San Diego personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all aspects of the incident and ensure that the negligent parties are held liable. An experienced car accident lawyer will also be able to determine whether a dangerous or defective roadway caused or contributed to the incident. 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 claim against a governmental agency must be filed within six months of the accident or injury.
