A 50-year-old man sustained serious injuries in a San Francisco car accident after he was hit by a van while riding his bicycle on Highway 101. According to a KTVU news report, the major injury collision occurred the morning of July 23, 2010 near Kastania Road, in Petaluma, when a GMC van driven by 63-year-old Nicolay Pokornyy drifted to the right shoulder and struck the bicyclist.
The bicyclist was riding on a portion of Highway 101 where bicyclists and pedestrians are allowed on the shoulder, California Highway Patrol officials said. The injured bicyclist was transported to an area hospital in serious condition. CHP officials do not believe alcohol was involved in this crash. An investigation is ongoing.
I certainly hope that this bicyclist has not suffered catastrophic injuries here. I wish him the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. He and his family will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Bicycle Accident Statistics
There were no fatalities, but 36 injuries reported involving bicycle accidents in Petaluma, according to CHP's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In Sonoma County as a whole, two people died and 152 were injured as a result of bicycle accidents during the same year.
Accident Causes
Based on this news report, it appears that the driver of the GMC van, Pokornyy, may have been at fault for drifting into the shoulder of the highway and striking the bicyclist. The bicyclist, according to officials, was legally riding on the shoulder. I trust officials are looking into why the van's driver drifted into the shoulder. Was he distracted? Was he speeding or driving recklessly? Was he negligent in some other way?
Liability Issues
If Pokornyy is determined to have been at fault for this injury crash, he could be held accountable for the accident and the serious injuries caused. The injured victim, in this case the bicyclist, could seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of earnings, cost of hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, pain and suffering, and other related damages.
Injured victims in these types of accidents would be well-advised to consult an experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer, who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that the negligent parties are held accountable. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer will also be able to advise the victims and their families about how their own car insurance policy might apply to a case where the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.
What are some of the most dangerous roadways for bicyclists in your city or neighborhood?
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.
SLS Consulting