A bicyclist was killed in a San Francisco car accident after he was struck by a Chevy Blazer SUV the morning of February 1, 2010. The San Jose Mercury News reports that the fatal bicycle accident occurred on Lark Avenue near Garden Hill Drive in Los Gatos. Officials said the Chevy Blazer SUV rolled over during the collision. Both the SUV and the bicycle were traveling east on Lark Avenue at the time. The bicyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Chevy Blazer was taken to an area hospital. The extent of his injuries is not known.
I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved this deceased victim. Please keep him in your prayers.
Bicycle Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 12 injuries were reported as a result of bicycle accidents in Los Gatos. In Santa Clara County as a whole, four fatalities and 584 injuries occurred involving bicycle accidents in 2007.
What Caused this Fatal Collision?
Based on this newspaper report, it is not exactly clear how or why this fatal bicycle accident occurred. There are several unanswered questions here. Where was the bicyclist riding at the time of the collision? Was the driver impaired, distracted, speeding or driving negligently at the time? Was there a dangerous condition on the roadway, which caused or contributed to this accident?
Auto Product Liability Issues
I would also be curious to find out whether this accident was caused by a vehicle defect or mechanical malfunction in the Chevy Blazer SUV. There are not many bicycle versus SUV collisions that result in the larger vehicle rolling over. Something doesn't quite add up here and I trust traffic investigators are considering that issue as well, as they move forward with this investigation.
In such cases victims' families would be well-advised to contact an experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer, who will carefully evaluate the incident and determine whether there was any negligence or wrongdoing involved. If an auto product defect is suspected, the vehicle involved must be preserved in tact so it can be examined by an expert for malfunctions, product defects and other evidence.
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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