California Injury Blog
A man sustained a head injury in a Newport Beach bicycle accident after an SUV struck him near a street intersection. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the injury crash occurred the night of February 20, 2017 on Westcliff Drive just before Rutland Road. Police said both vehicles were traveling eastbound on Westcliff near Rutland when they collided for unknown reasons. The bicyclist, a man in his 40s, was hospitalized with head trauma. However, the nature and extent of his injuries is not known. No citations or arrests were reported. The investigation is ongoing.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to this injured bicyclist. We wish him the very best for a speedy and complete recovery and hope his injuries were not severe.
Bike Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2013 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were two fatalities and 37 injuries reported in the city of Newport Beach. In Orange County as a whole, 30 people died and 989 were injured due to bicycle accidents during the same year.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents
Based on this news report, it is unclear as to how or why this injury accident occurred. We trust officials are looking into who was at fault in this particular case. Bicycle accidents often occur due to the negligence of motorists. Here are some of the most common causes of bicycle accidents:
• Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
• Driving while distracted by an electronic device.
• Intruding into the bike lane.
• Driving while fatigued or exhausted.
• Driving at an excessive rate of speed or at an unsafe speed.
Fault and Liability
In cases where the motorist is determined to be at fault for an accident, injured victims can seek compensation from the at-fault driver for damages including medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, rehabilitative treatment, permanent injuries, disability, pain and suffering and emotional distress. Injured victims would also be well advised to contact an experienced Newport Beach personal injury lawyer who can help determine whether a dangerous condition on the roadway caused or contributed to the incident and injury.
If that was the case, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway can also be held liable. Any personal injury claim against a governmental agency must be filed within 180 days of the incident, under California Government Code Section 911.2.