Leonardo Antonio Florez, 56, was killed in a Long Beach car accident after he was rear-ended by a van. According to a news report in The Press Telegram, the fatal bicycle accident occurred early morning on March 18, 2011 on Carson Street. Police say Florez was riding his bike eastbound on Carson. A 2009 Ford van, which was also going east, struck the bicycle from behind. Both the bicycle and van were in the number two lane and there was no bike lane on that street. The driver of the van, a 57-year-old Huntington Park resident, stopped and called for help. Anyone with more information about this incident is asked to contact Long Beach police at 562-570-7355.
I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of Leonardo Antonio Florez for their tragic and sudden loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Bicycle Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were three fatalities and 181 injuries involving bicycle accidents in Long Beach. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 33 people died and 3,315 were injured as a result of bicycle accidents during the same year.
What Caused This Bike Accident?
It is not clear from the report why the driver of the Ford van did not see the bicycle. Authorities say it was dark and that the bicycle was not equipped with the light. I trust officials are also looking into whether the driver of the van was impaired, distracted, speeding, inattentive or otherwise negligent at the time of the collision.
Fault and Liability
If the driver is determined to have been at fault, he or she can be held liable for the wrongful death of Florez. In this particular case, the roadway did not have a bike lane. Have there been other bicycle accidents on this roadway due to the lack of a bike lane? If this accident was caused by a dangerous roadway, then, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway can be held liable. Please remember that any personal injury or wrongful death claim against a public entity must be filed within 180 days of the incident, under California Government Code Section 911.2.
In cases where negligence or wrongdoing is involved, the family of a deceased victim can file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation for medical and funeral expenses, lost future income, loss of companionship and other damages. An experienced Long Beach personal injury lawyer will be able to better advise families in such cases about their legal rights and options.
Lost a family member in a Long Beach car accident? Want to know your rights? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation? Want justice? Want to ensure the same thing doesn’t happen to another family?
Call your best friends in the legal industry after a fatal Long Beach bicycle accident. Call 800-561-4887. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.
Call a BISNAR | CHASE Long Beach wrongful death lawyer for a free professional evaluation of your rights by attorneys who have been representing families of deceased accident victims since 1978. You will experience award winning representation and outstanding personal service by a compassionate and understanding law firm in a comfortable environment.
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Derek said:
Hello,
I just saw the ghost bike at the sight and wondered what happened. There are 3 lanes east bound at that point with no street bike lane. The sidewalk however has been made into bike lanes for both east and west bound traffic on that side of the street. I'm not saying the bike has no right to be in the street but it is not where I would have been riding and I ride in this area alot. Don't expect cars to see you especially if you have no light on your bike. I have found that cars notice me more if my lights are in blinking mode. Please be careful out there and assume car drivers are stupid.