California Injury Blog
A man was fatally injured in a Huntington Beach bicycle accident after he was struck by an SUV. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal collision occurred near Yorktown Avenue and Vasile Circle the night of April 2. Officers arrived on the scene and found a man on the street, unresponsive. He suffered major internal injuries and was pronounced dead.
A silver Honda Pilot with front-end damage was found parked near the crash site and the 46-year-old driver, a resident of Huntington Beach, remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation. The driver was not injured. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash. Anyone who saw the crash is asked to contact Huntington Beach police at 714-536-5670.
We offer our deepest condolences to the family members and friends of the deceased bicycle accident victim for their tragic loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Bicycle Accident Statistics
According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2017, there were 783 bicyclists killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes in the United States, a decrease from 852 in 2016. Bicyclist deaths accounted for 2.1 percent of all motor vehicle traffic fatalities. The numbers also showed that 75% of bicyclists who died in motor vehicle crashes in 2017 died in crashes in urban areas. Alcohol was involved in roughly 37% of fatal bicycle accidents in 2017, NHTSA reports.
Potential Liability Issues
Based on this news report, it appears that the vehicle may have collided head-on with the bicyclist. However, there are a number of questions here. How did this crash occur? Who was at fault? Was the driver distracted, impaired, speeding or otherwise negligent? Did the driver fail to yield the right of way to the bicyclist? We trust officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine precisely what occurred here and why.
In such cases, if negligence or wrongdoing is a factor, families of deceased victims can file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for damages such as medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income, pain and suffering and loss of love, care and companionship.
In addition to the at-fault driver, family members may also be able to seek compensation from a governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway, particularly if a dangerous roadway condition caused or contributed to the fatal collision. An experienced Huntington Beach bicycle accident lawyer will be able to advise victims’ families regarding their legal rights and options.
Source: https://www.ocregister.com/2020/04/02/bicyclist-fatally-struck-by-suv-in-huntington-beach/