Miguel Ledezma, 37, was killed in a Riverside car accident after a U.S. Postal Service truck hit the bicycle he was riding. According to a news report in The Press Enterprise, the two vehicles were involved in a head-on crash, which occurred in a left-turn lane that was being shared by traffic from both directions along Florida Avenue. The fatal bicycle accident occurred the night of November 30, 2009 and Ledezma was pronounced dead later that night. Hemet police say the bicycle did have a light, but it was a small flashlight taped to the bike’s frame and pointed backward. The mail truck was apparently traveling at about 20 mph.
I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Miguel Ledezma for their terrible loss. Please keep them in your prayers.
Riverside Bicycle Accidents
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there was one fatality and 26 injuries involving bicycle accidents in Hemet, California. In Riverside County as a whole, eight fatalities and 325 injuries were reported as a result of bicycle accidents in 2007. Also countywide, car accidents claimed 279 lives and injured 9,925 people during that same year.
Based on this newspaper report, it seems as if the driver of the USPS truck simply did not see the bicyclist. There are still some questions here that need to be answered. Was there a dangerous condition on the roadway, which caused or contributed to the accident? Has that left turn lane been the scene of previous accidents, especially in the evening or night time? Was the mail truck driver negligent in any way? For example, was he distracted, impaired or reckless at the time of the collision?
Liability Issues in Accidents
If the mail truck driver’s actions caused this accident, then he and his employer could be held accountable for Ledezma’s wrongful death. If a dangerous or defective roadway caused this fatal accident, then the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could be held liable. Any claim against a California governmental agency must be filed with 180 days of an accident or injury. In such cases, an experienced California personal injury lawyer will be able to help victims or their families exercise their legal rights and options.
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.