California Injury Lawyer Blog

A car turning left into a business entrance struck and seriously injured a Santa Rosa man riding a bicycle Monday afternoon, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported. The car vs. bicycle accident occurred around 3:10 p.m. on Monday August 9th on River Road, west of Fulton Road. According to news reports, the cyclist, William Brown, 63, of Santa Rosa, was riding westbound on the right should of River Road, while Clements Boylan, 74, of Freelan, was driving a 1994 Lexus eastbound. Boylan began turning left into the parking lot of the Fruit Basket fruit stand when he struck Brown on his bicycle. The impact threw Brown onto the hood of the Lexus. He suffered serious injuries but is expected to survive. Boylan told drivers he did not see Brown until it was too late.

This bicycle accident occurred not far from the location of a fatal accident on River Road earlier this year. A man died and three people were injured in a chain reaction crash at River Road and Sommer Street on April 27th.

Cause of the Bicycle Accident

If news reports are accurate, it appears that this crash was caused by the driver of the Lexus making the left turn. The state law pertaining to left turns is found in California Vehicle Code Section 21801 (a) "The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left or to complete a U-turn upon a highway, or to turn left into public or private property, or an alley, shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching from the opposite direction which are close enough to constitute a hazard at any time during the turning movement, and shall continue to yield the right-of-way to the approaching vehicles until the left turn or U-turn can be made with reasonable safety." In this situation, the bicycle would be considered a vehicle.

Bicycle Accident Injury Liability

If the driver of the Lexus is determined to have caused this bicycle accident, he may be liable for the injuries the cyclist sustained. While this crash remains under investigation, the family of the victim may benefit from speaking to an experienced northern California bicycle accident lawyer about this accident and the legal issues involved. An attorney who is also a cyclist and who has represented numerous victims of bicycle accidents can help the victim protect his legal rights and recover the maximum financial compensation he may be entitled to following this accident.

Continue reading "Cyclist Struck by Car Making Left Turn in Santa Rosa " »

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.

Continue reading "Petaluma Cyclist Struck by Van, Seriously Injured on Highway 101 " »

A male cyclist suffered very serious injuries Saturday night after being struck by a Toyota Corolla in Merced, police reported. The bicycle accident was reported around 9:10 p.m. just east of the intersection of West 16th Street and Canal Street. According to reports in the Merced Sun Star, the cyclist was riding his bike southbound across West 16th Street when he was struck by the 1999 Corolla travelling eastbound on 16th street. The unidentified cyclist suffered numerous injuries, including a fractured leg and internal bleeding, and was taken to a trauma center in Modesto. The driver of the Corolla was not hurt.

Cause of the Accident

The cause of the May 8th bicycle accident is still ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Merced Police Sgt. Jay Struble at (209) 385-4739 or the Merced Police department's automated tip line at (209) 385-4725. Based on the news reports of this accident, it is not clear who was at fault. Where was the bicycle in relation to the vehicle? Was the cyclist crossing the road legally? Was the driver distracted, impaired or driving recklessly? At this point there are more questions than answers as to why this crash occurred. Hopefully, the investigation by law enforcement will yield answers as to what exactly happened.

Bicycle Accident Liability Issues

While this Merced bicycle accident is still under investigation, the family of the man injured would be well-advised to speak with a California bicycle accident attorney. A skilled bicycle accident lawyer will be able to review the report by law enforcement, and identify any legal issues relevant in this case, and explain the victim's legal options and rights following this accident. If the driver of the Corolla caused the accident, he may be liable for the cyclist's injuries, including all medical expenses, lost earnings, and pain and suffering.

Continue reading "Cyclist Critically Injured After Being Struck by Car in Merced " »

A 23-year-old Sacramento man tragically died early Sunday morning after he was struck by an SUV while riding his bicycle on Howe Avenue. The accident happened on the Highway 50 overpass at around 3:40 a.m. Sunday, April 18th. According to reports by News 10, the driver of the SUV told authorities she didn't see the victim, who has been identified by the Sacramento County Coroner as Todd Christopher Mendon. The driver reportedly pulled over thinking that she had possibly struck something in the road.

Officers who arrived at the scene moments after the crash performed CPR but were unsuccessful. Mendon, who had been riding north on Howe, died at the scene of the crash. The cause of the accident is ongoing, and authorities do not believe that the driver was under the influence of alcohol. It is not clear whether the cyclist was wearing a helmet or any reflective gear in this early morning accident.

Fault and Liability Issues

Based on the news reports, authorities have not determined if the driver of the SUV was at fault for this accident. Simply because she did not see the cyclist does not mean she was not or could not be found at fault. If it is determined that she was driving her vehicle in the bike lane, or speeding, or for any other reason should have seen the cyclist, she may be found responsible. Hopefully the investigation by law enforcement will reveal exactly how this tragedy occurred.

If the driver is found at least partially at fault, the family of the young man on the bicycle may be entitled to compensation for their loss in a wrongful death claim against the driver. While this accident is still under investigation, the family of the victim may benefit from speaking to a California bicycle accident lawyer who is experienced in handling wrongful death claims involving fatal bike accidents, especially accidents like this one that occur at night, when visibility is greatly reduced.

Continue reading "Cyclist Killed in Early Morning Accident on Howe Avenue in Sacramento " »

The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Major Accident Investigation Team is investigating a fatal accident between a car and a cyclist Thursday morning in Highland. According to reports, the cyclist was riding along the west shoulder of southbound Greenspot Road, about ½ mile east of Santa Ana Canyon Road. A car that had been going northbound on Greenspot Road crossed over into the southbound lane at approximately 70 mph and fatally struck the cyclist. The accident happened just before 10 a.m. April 8th. Illegal street racing is reportedly to blame.

The victim was identified as Jorge Alvarado, 27, of Ontario. According to the San Bernardino County Coroner's press release, Alvarado, originally from Mexico, was a member of the Bahati Foundation Pro Cycling Team and a pro cyclist. He was one of five amateur riders added to the Bahati Foundation team for the 2010 season, and was on a training ride when the accident occurred.

Who Was At Fault?

According to reports in the Press-Enterprise, Alvarado was struck by a white 2002 Honda Accord driven by an 18-year-old Highland resident, Patrick Roraff, who had one passenger, and was following two other Hondas. All three vehicles were occupied by seniors from a local high school. Authorities do not believe that drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash, but it does appear this crash is caused by extraordinarily reckless driving. Hopefully the investigation will yield answers as to what happened, and the teens in the car will be truthful about what happened in the moments leading up to the incident.

Wrongful Death Liability

While this accident remains under investigation, the family of the victim would be well-advised to speak to a California bicycle accident attorney as soon as possible. A lawyer can monitor and closely follow the investigation, and help the family protect their legal rights in a wrongful death claim. Even if the driver is not cited or arrested for reckless driving, the family may still pursue justice in a civil claim for wrongful death.

Continue reading "Pro Cyclist Struck and Killed by Teenage Street Racer in Highland " »

The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission announced today that Hyland Bicycles is recalling about 800 carbon bicycle forks imported by Civia Cycles, of Bloomington, Minn. At least one person has been injured by the fork breaking, resulting in an abrasion on the face and bruised ribs.

The bicycle forks were sold by specialty bicycle retailers nationwide from April 2008 through February 2010 for between $1,675 and $3,500 for Civia Hyland complete bicycles and for about $195 for Civia Carbon forks. According to the CPSC, consumers should immediately stop riding these bicycles with the recalled forks and contact an authorized Civia Cycles dealer for a free replacement fork. For more information, consumers may contact Civia Cycles toll-free at (877) 774-6208 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's Web site at www.civiacycles.com.

Continue reading "CPSC Announces 800 Civia Bicycle Forks Recalled Due to Fall Hazard " »

The wife, son and daughter of a cyclist killed in a bicycle accident last August in Baltimore have filed a civil wrongful death lawsuit seeking $5 million in damages from the driver of the truck that allegedly ran over the cyclist, and his employer. The accident was a hit-and-run, but was caught on camera by nearby surveillance tape.

According to the Maryland attorney representing the victim's family, the truck driver and his employer, a demolition, excavation and equipment rental company, were negligent because the driver turned without signaling or making sure traffic was free of cyclists or pedestrians. The attorney also contends that the victim, John R. "Jack" Yates, 67, was not at fault because he was staying with the flow of traffic, as far to the right as possible. Police investigators contended that Yates was at fault for riding in parking lanes.

An attorney for the truck driver's employer said the vehicle that struck Yates was not a company truck, and that testing of blood and hair found on the truck returned "inconclusive" results. The truck did not stop after the accident, and investigators believed the truck driver was not even aware that he had run over Yates.

Yates' death was a factor in the passing of a law in the Senate requiring motorists to stay three feet away from cyclists in Maryland.

A Palo Alto man was killed after he was struck by a CALTRANS vehicle on a freeway overpass early Friday morning, police reported. The bicycle accident occurred on East Hillsdale Boulevard, on the Highway 101 overpass, just before 6:15 a.m., the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The victim, a 68-year-old Palo Alto resident, died at the scene of the crash. The driver of the Caltrans vehicle was reportedly on duty at the time of the accident.

The overpass of Hillsdale Boulevard is six lanes wide with dual onramps and narrow sidewalks, and notoriously hostile to bicyclists and pedestrians. Based on the facts reported on this accident, it is not clear who was at fault for this accident. An investigation of the accident is underway. The family of the man involved in the crash may benefit from consulting with an experienced San Francisco bicycle accident attorney to determine if the driver of the CALTRANS vehicle is indeed responsible for the accident. If that is the case, the family could file a wrongful death claim against the driver and CALTRANS.

Continue reading "Cyclist Killed in Collision with Caltrans SUV in San Mateo " »

A cyclist suffered serious injuries Thursday afternoon after he was struck by a white Volvo SUV at the intersection of Haight and Pierce Streets, on the Wiggle in San Francisco. The cyclist was travelling south on Pierce, and the SUV was travelling east on Haight, when the collision occurred. The cyclist suffered numerous injuries including possibly a broken leg or ankle, and collarbone or shoulder. The cause of the bicycle accident remains under investigation, and it is not known who was at fault.

"The Wiggle" is a popular bicycle route for commuters in San Francisco. It moves zig-zag throughout the city while staying nearly flat through hilly areas. If you are a cyclist in San Francisco, the Wiggle is a great energy-saving route between Market Street and Golden Gate Park. It connects the eastern and central neighborhoods with the major western neighborhoods, including Golden Gate Park.

Continue reading "Cyclist Struck by SUV Thursday Afternoon on the Wiggle " »