A bicyclist was injured in a Riverside car accident involving a SuperShuttle van on Highway 111. According to a news report in The Desert Sun, the injury collision occurred near Gateway Road the morning of February 11, 2010. The van driver told police that he was headed north in the right lane of the highway when he saw the bicyclist on the right shoulder, also traveling north. When the cyclist made a "sudden left turn" into the travel lanes, the van driver said he slammed on the brake and swerved. He however ended up hitting the bicyclist with the front passenger side of the van. The van then collided with a car. The driver of the SuperShuttle and two people in the other car where not injured. Police said the bicyclist seemed to have a significant head injury.
I hope the bicyclist in this case did not sustain catastrophic injuries. I wish him the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep this injured victim and his family in your prayers.
Bicycle Accident Statistics
There were 13 injuries involving bicycle accidents in Palm Springs in 2008, according to California Highway Patrol's traffic accident statistics. Countywide, bicycle accidents caused nine fatalities and 362 injuries during the same year.
Importance of Eyewitness Reports
Based on this news report, it is not clear why the bicyclist made that sudden movement. If I were one of this injured victim's family members, I would want to speak with a person who actually the saw the incident occur. Eyewitnesses can provide valuable information in accident cases and often times, eyewitness accounts will give a lot of significant detail that the parties involved in the crash may not be able to provide.
Fault and Liability
In this case, if the driver of the SuperShuttle van is determined to have caused the accident, he and his employer could be held liable for the accident and injuries. According to the news report, the van driver was on-the-job at the time of the collision. If this accident was caused by a dangerous or defective roadway, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could also be held responsible. Please remember that any claim against a California governmental agency must be properly filed within 180 days of the accident or injury. The best Riverside personal injury lawyers will always offer a free and comprehensive consultation to injured victims and their families.
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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