A bicycle accident on Highway 101 in Sonoma County left a 50-year-old Petaluma man with serious injuries, the Petaluma Argus Courier reported. The accident occurred on northbound Highway 101, south of Kastania Road, at 7:24 a.m. on Friday.
According to news reports, the cyclist, whose name was not released, was riding northbound on the right shoulder of Highway 101 (in an area where cyclists are permitted) when a GMC van going about 60 mph veered off the road and onto the right shoulder and struck him. The cyclist, who was unconscious at the scene of the accident, was rushed by ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.
The driver of the Chevy van, Nicolay Pokornyy, 63, of Walnut Creek, reportedly told investigators that he was trying to determine where his exit was when he struck the cyclist.
Cause of the Accident
If news reports of this incident are correct, the bicyclist had no way of avoiding this collision. It appears that the driver of this Chevy van violated the right of way of the cyclist by not paying attention to where he was going and allowing his vehicle to enter the bike lane.
Bicycle Accident Liability
If it is determined that the driver of the van caused this accident, he may be cited and possibly face criminal charges for negligent driving. Additionallly, regardless of whether he is ticketed or arrested, he may be held civilly liable for the serious injuries of the Petaluma cyclist. While this northern California bicycle accident is under investigation, the family of the victim may benefit from talking to a personal injury attorney about this accident and the unique legal issues involved. A skilled lawyer can review the facts of the accident, and advise the victims' family of their best course of action to protect their legal rights in regards to this serious injury accident.
Sources: Petaluma Argus Courier, Santa Rosa Press Democrat
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