California Injury Blog
A 27-year-old sailor was killed in a San Diego car accident after his bicycle was hit by a van in Camp Pendleton. According to a news report in the Navy Times, the sailor was riding his bike along Vandergrift Boulevard near the Wire Mountain housing area the evening of May 25, 2010, when he was struck by a van. He was airlifted to a San Diego hospital where he died later that night.
I offer my deepest condolences to this young victim’s family and his fellow sailors for their tragic and devastating loss. Apparently, this sailor was assigned to the 1st Marine Logistics Group at Pendleton at the time of this fatal accident. The incident is being investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
Bicycle Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were no fatalities but 58 injuries involving bicycle accidents in Escondido, California. In San Diego County as a whole, seven fatalities and 959 injuries were reported as a result of bicycle accidents during the same year. Also, countywide, car accidents claimed 246 lives and injured 13,527 in 2008.
What Caused this Fatal Accident?
This news reports leaves a number of questions unanswered. How did this collision occur? Where was the bicyclist at the time of the crash? Was he crossing the street? Was he riding on a sidewalk or in the bike lane? What caused the van to strike the bike? Was this accident the fault of the driver? Was the driver impaired, distracted, negligent or reckless at the time of the crash? Was there a dangerous condition on the roadway, which may have caused or contributed to this fatal accident? I trust investigators are examining these and other issues in order to determine what occurred here.
Fault and Liability
If the driver of the van is determined to have been at fault, he or she could be held liable for the wrongful death of this bicyclist. If there was a dangerous condition on the roadway, which caused this crash, the governmental entity responsible for maintaining that roadway could also be held liable. Any claim against a governmental agency must be filed within 180 days of the incident, under California Government Code section 911.2. An experienced San Diego car accident lawyer will be able to advise victims’ families about their legal rights and options in such cases. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free and comprehensive consultation to injured victims and their families.
What are some precautions bicyclists should take to be safe on the road? We would like to hear your comments and opinions.
The Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.