Mark Howell, 50, was injured in a San Francisco car accident after a driver struck Howell's bicycle the afternoon of August 30, 2009. The driver apparently took his eyes off the road to look at a nearby Sonoma County sheriff's patrol car when he hit Howell, Santa Rosa police said. The driver then abandoned his 1999 Ford Windstar van leaving the keys in the ignition and fled the scene of the accident. Police are reportedly, still looking for the hit-and-run driver.
I hope the victim, Mark Howell, did not suffer life-threatening injuries in this hit-and-run bicycle accident. I wish him the very best for a quick and complete recovery. Please keep him in your prayers. I trust police will soon apprehend the hit-and-run suspect and prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law.
Bicycle Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there was one fatality and 59 injuries involving bicycle accidents in Santa Rosa. In Sonoma County as a whole, in 2007, one fatality and 167 injuries were reported as a result of bicycle accidents.
Leaving the scene of an accident is a serious crime in California. In this bicycle accident case, based on the newspaper report, it appears that the driver of the Ford van was distracted by something and did not see the bicyclist on the road. The driver of the van should have stopped and helped the injured bicyclist. He should have stopped at the very least. But he did not. He ran away from the scene abandoning his van and despicably left the injured victim on the roadway.
California Car Accident Law
California Vehicle Code section 20001 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."
In such cases, the injured victim would be well-advised to consult with an experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all aspects of the accident and make sure the negligent parties are held liable. In this case, the hit-and-run driver should be held civilly and criminally liable for his actions. A skilled car accident lawyer should determine if the victim in such car accidents is eligible to seek compensation through the uninsured/underinsured coverage of his auto insurance policy in the event the at-fault party lacks insurance or is inadequately insured.
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 source for the facts 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, please contact us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. Most of the best law firms will provide accident victims a free consultation.
We cannot fully inform any party or family member about their rights, options or the economic viability of any claim for compensation without a full investigation and consultation. We will not be conducting an investigation into this matter unless we are retained by a party. We will provide a free, confidential consultation to any, not at fault, person named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.
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