California Injury Blog
A man in his 30s suffered fatal injuries in a bicycle accident after he was struck by a sedan. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the incident occurred when the man was riding his bike along La Palma Avenue just west of Moody Street the night of March 13, 2017. The 18-year-old driver of the sedan stopped and called 911.
It is not clear if the bicyclist was using a crosswalk at the time of the accident. Police don’t believe alcohol or drugs were factors. The female driver was not cited or arrested. The bicyclist died from his injuries at an area trauma center. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to contact La Palma police at 714-690-3368.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family members and friends of this deceased bicyclist. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Bicycle Accident Deaths
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), when a crash occurs between a motor vehicle and a bicycle, it is the bicyclist who is most likely to be injured or killed. Bicyclists accounted for 2 percent of all traffic deaths and 2 percent of all crash-related injuries in 2014 nationwide. Bicyclist deaths occurred most often between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. (20 percent) and in urban areas (71 percent). The vast majority of bicyclists who were killed in collisions with motor vehicles were male (88 percent) and the largest number of males who were injured in bicycle accidents were between 20 and 24 years old.
Fault and Liability Issues
Based on this news report, the circumstances of this fatal bicycle accident are not clear at this time. Police are still looking into what caused this accident and there are a number of unanswered questions. Was the young driver distracted at the time? Who had the right of way at the time of the crash? Was the driver speeding, driving recklessly or otherwise negligent at the time? We trust officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine precisely what occurred here and why.
If the driver is determined to have been at fault, she could be held liable for the victim’s wrongful death. In such cases, survivors may file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for medical and funeral costs, lost future income, pain and suffering and loss of love and companionship. An experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer will be able to advise victims’ families in such cases regarding their legal rights and options.