California Injury Blog
Santiago Aguilar, a 27-year-old man, was killed in a bicycle versus big rig accident on November 14, 2008 in La Puente, the Pasadena Star News reports. The 11/14/08 crash occurred at the intersection of Valley Boulevard and 7th Avenue, California Highway Patrol officials said.
Aguilar was riding his bicycle eastbound on the sidewalk on the south side of Valley Boulevard before the crash. The Peterbilt truck was eastbound on the street as well.
Eyewitnesses told CHP officials that Aguilar was riding through the intersection on a green light about the same time the driver of the big rig made a right turn from Valley Boulevard on to 7th Avenue. Aguilar hit the back of the truck’s trailer and was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. CHP officials are asking that anyone with more information about this crash call their Baldwin Park office at 626-338-1164.
My heart goes out to the family of Santiago Aguilar for their tragic loss. Please keep them in your prayers.
The latest data available from the California Highway Patrol shows there were no fatal bicycle accidents in La Puente in 2006, but seven bicycle related injury accidents occurred that year. In all of Los Angeles during the same period, there were 29 bicycle-involved fatalities and 2,906 injuries reported. This information is from the 2006 California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System (SWITRS).
Big rig accidents can result in catastrophic injuries and death, especially when they involve smaller passenger cars, motorcycles and bicycles. In this case, it seems as if the big rig driver, simply did not see the bicyclist going through.
The family of Santiago Aguilar would be well-advised to consult with an experienced Southern California bicycle accident attorney, who will help them get all the answers in this fatal street intersection collision. It is important to determine who was at fault in this accident and who should be held accountable. If it is determined that the driver of the big rig was at fault then he and his employer could be held liable for the accident and the fatal injuries. A skilled personal injury attorney will also closely examine accident reports to see whether the truck driver was impaired or distracted in some way. Where there is negligence or wrongdoing involved, families of deceased victims are entitled to file wrongful death claims. Such claims usually compensate family members for medical or funeral expenses, personal loss and loss of wages.