California Injury Blog
Duane Parkison, a 15-year veteran of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, was killed in an Irvine car accident after his bicycle was hit by an SUV. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal bicycle accident occurred the afternoon of August 10, 2011 on Shady Canyon, near Quail Hill Parkway. Police say a Mercedes Benz SUV driven by a 35-year-old woman struck Parkison. The woman and an infant in the SUV were not injured. Officials are still looking into what caused this crash and who was at fault. Anyone who witnessed this fatal collision is asked to contact Irvine police at 949-724-7023.
I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of Duane Parkison for their devastating loss. My heart especially goes out to his wife and three children. According to those who knew him, Parkison was good man, a great officer, good friend and hard worker. Tragic! Please keep his grieving family in your thoughts and prayers.
Bicycle Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were no fatalities, but 70 injuries reported due to bicycle accidents in Irvine. In Orange County as a whole, 12 people died and 1,199 were injured in bicycle accidents, during the same year.
How Did This Collision Occur?
Based on this news report, it is unclear where Parkison was riding when the Mercedes struck him. Authorities say alcohol or drugs were not a factor and that the SUV was traveling in the same direction as the bicyclist. We do not know at this point if the driver veered into a bicycle lane. I trust officials are looking into whether the driver of the Mercedes was distracted, inattentive or otherwise negligent at the time. Was there a dangerous condition on the roadway, which may have caused this tragic collision?
Under California law, bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers of other vehicles. At street intersections, bicyclists have the same right-of-way privileges as drivers of other vehicles. Eyewitness accounts will prove invaluable to detectives who are trying to determine what caused this crash and who was at fault.
Compensation Issues
In cases where negligence is involved, the family of a deceased victim can file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation for medical and funeral expenses, lost future income and benefits, loss of love and companionship, and other related damages. Families in such cases would be well-advised to contact an experienced Irvine personal injury lawyer, who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected.
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