A 22-year-old man was seriously injured in a San Diego car accident when the driver of a Toyota sedan hit his bicycle. According to a 10News report, the bicycle accident occurred at the intersection of Fir and Dale streets the afternoon of February 5, 2011. Police believe the bicyclist may have rode through a stop sign before being struck by the Toyota. The victim suffered major injuries including a dislocated shoulder and internal bleeding. Police are currently investigating the cause of the accident.
My thoughts and prayers are with the injured bicyclist in this San Diego accident. I wish him a complete and quick recovery from his injuries.
San Diego Bicycle Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), three people were killed and 512 were injured in San Diego bicycle accidents. During that same year, there were seven fatalities and 959 injuries reported involving San Diego County bicycle accidents.
What Caused This Injury Car Accident?
Based on this news report, police say the bicyclist may have failed to properly stop at a stop sign. Bicyclist must adhere to the same right-of-way laws as motorists, under California law. The law requires all drivers, including bicyclists, to come to a complete stop at a stop sign and proceed with caution. According to California Vehicle Code Section 21802 (a): “The driver of any vehicle approaching a stop sign at the entrance to, or within, an intersection shall stop as required by Section 22450. The driver shall then yield the right-of-way to any vehicles which have approached from another highway, or which are approaching so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard, and shall continue to yield the right-of-way to those vehicles until he or she can proceed with reasonable safety.”
In this particular case, I trust officials are also interviewing other witnesses to look into who failed to yield right-of-way at the intersection. If the driver of the Toyota failed to stop, then he or she could be held accountable. It is also important to look into how fast the vehicle was going at the intersection.
Liability Issues
If the driver is determined to have been at fault or partially at fault, then, he or she could be held liable for injuries and damages caused here. Injured victims in such cases can seek compensation for medical expenses, loss of earnings, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related damages. An experienced San Diego personal injury lawyer will also be able to determine if a dangerous roadway was to blame for the accident. If that was the case, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway can be held liable. Under California Government Code Section 911.2, any personal injury claim against a governmental entity must be filed within six months of the incident.
Seriously injured in a San Diego car accident? Want to know if you have a case? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation for your injuries? Want justice? Want to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen to someone else?
Call your best friends in the legal industry after a San Diego bicycle accident. Call 800-259-6373. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.
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