An Orange County man who was killed in a bicycle accident in an unincorporated area of Riverside County the afternoon of May 10, 2010, has been identified as 55-year-old Alan Earl Miller. The Daily Pilot reports that Miller was riding his bike on Temescal Canyon Road when the driver of a 2003 Ford SUV veered off the roadway and rear-ended Miller’s bicycle. Miller was ejected from his bike and thrown onto the roadway. He died at the scene. The driver of the Ford SUV has been identified as Scott J. Reis, 42. An investigation is ongoing.
My heartfelt sympathies go out to everybody who knew and loved Alan Earl Miller. This grieving family will certainly be in my thoughts and prayers.
Car Accidents
There were 121 deaths and 2,615 injuries involving car accidents in the unincorporated areas of Riverside County, according to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 traffic accident statistics. Countywide, 220 people died and 8,561 were injured as a result of car accidents in 2008.
What Caused this Accident?
If the details of this news report are accurate, it seems to me that the driver of the pickup truck, Reis, was responsible for the accident. However, we do not know what caused Reis to go off the roadway and hit Miller. Was he impaired, distracted, fatigued, speeding or otherwise negligent at the time? If Reis was at fault, he could be looking at criminal charges as well as civil liability for Miller’s wrongful death in this case. Families can usually seek compensation in such cases to cover funeral expenses, lost wages and other damages.
An experienced Orange County bicycle accident lawyer will be able to analyze all facets of the incident and help determine whether any negligence or wrongdoing was involved. A skilled car accident lawyer will also be able to determine whether a dangerous condition on that roadway may have caused or contributed to this bicycle accident. If that was the case, the governmental entity responsible for maintaining that roadway could also be held liable. Please remember that any such claim against a governmental agency must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury.
What are some of the most dangerous roadways in your city for bicyclists?
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.