Yichao Wang, a 26-year-old visiting scholar at Stanford University, has died of injuries sustained in a San Francisco car accident. Wang was bicycling home on February 3, 2010 to his Palo Alto apartment when he was struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Palm Drive and Museum Way. California Highway Patrol officials are still investigating this incident and have not released any findings, according to a news report in the San Jose Mercury News.
Family Faces Mountain of Medical Bills
My heart goes out to the family of Yichao Wang for their tragic and devastating loss. Apparently, Wang was their only child and under China's one-child law, his aging parents had all their hopes set on Wang and his promising career. Now, they are faced with a mountain of medical bills to deal with. Wang also leaves behind his wife, who is a student in Singapore. This grieving family will certainly be in my thoughts and prayers.
Wang's $300,000 health insurance policy can only cover a portion of the expenses as his bills have exceeded that limit. The news report states that so far, more than $1 million has been spent for his care at Stanford Hospital. Wang is not insured by the Chinese government because he left the country without a job there. This is truly a terrible predicament for the Wang family.
Bicycle Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, there was one fatality and 30 injuries reported in the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County. In Santa Clara County as a whole, bicycle accidents claimed five lives and injured 698 people in 2008. Stanford police officials received reports of an average of 49 bicycle accidents each year over the last four years.
Accident Causes and Liability Issues
If I were a member of Wang's family, I would want to know how this fatal bicycle accident occurred. Was the driver of the other vehicle under the influence at the time of the accident? Did the driver fail to yield right-of-way to the bicyclist? Was the driver distracted, speeding or driving negligently? Was there a dangerous condition at the intersection, which may have caused or contributed to this accident? I trust the results of the CHP investigation will help shed some light on what happened here.
If the driver of the other vehicle is determined to have been at fault, he or she could be held liable. If the accident was caused by a dangerous condition on the roadway, the governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could be held liable. If it falls under the university's jurisdiction, Wang's parents could file a wrongful death claim against the university as well. Wang's family would be well-advised to contact an experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer who will help them pursue their legal rights and obtain fair compensation in this case.
The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm 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.
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