California Injury Blog
A bicyclist was severely injured in a San Bernardino accident involving a truck driver who left the scene of the crash, the night of September 10, 2011. According to a news report in The Press Enterprise, the hit-and-run car accident occurred on Locust Avenue, near Foothill Boulevard, in Fontana. The authorities responded to reports of a truck with a broken windshield driving erratically. Official subsequently found the victim on the roadway, suffering from head trauma. They were also able to track down and arrest the driver responsible for striking the bicyclist. The report does not specify why the motorist was driving erratically. The truck driver currently faces charges of felony hit-and-run. An investigation is ongoing.
My thoughts and prayers are with the bicyclist injured in this hit-and-run car accident. I wish this victim the very best for a complete and speedy recovery.
Bicycle Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 22 people were injured in Fontana bicycle accidents. During that same year, five fatalities and 279 injuries occurred as a result of San Bernardino County bicycle accidents.
Leaving the Scene of a Crash
Based on this news report, it appears that the motorist was driving erratically during the time of the crash. It is unclear however if that was due to impairment, speed, distracted or reckless driving. Additionally, the driver struck and seriously injured the victim and then left the scene of the accident. Not only is leaving the scene of an injury crash inhumane and irresponsible, but it is also against the law.
California Vehicle Code Section 20001 (a) states: “The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person, other than himself or herself, or in the death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident.” I’m absolutely relieved this driver has been apprehended and charged, and I truly hope he will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Liability Issues
Victims of hit-and-run accidents would be well-advised to contact an experienced San Bernardino personal injury lawyer, who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. A skilled car accident attorney will also be able to advise victims about how their own car insurance policy applies to an incident where the at-fault motorist is uninsured or underinsured.
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