California Personal Injury Attorneys

A 54-year-old man has been critically injured in an Orange County car accident after he was hit by a car while riding his bike on an Anaheim street. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the man, who has not yet been identified, was heading west on Broadway between Atchinson and Kroeger streets the evening of November 2, 2009 when he rode around a parked car. A vehicle that was also headed west on Broadway struck the bicyclist. Anaheim police said the motorist drove away leaving the injured bicyclist lying on the street.
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Edelgard Owens, 80, was killed in an Orange County car accident after her bicycle was struck by a pickup truck the evening of October 21, 2009. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, Owens was riding on East Imperial Highway when she got in the crosswalk in an attempt to cross Prospect Avenue in Yorba Linda, Brea police officials said. At the time, a pickup truck was turning left from Imperial on to Prospect and crashed into Owens. She was taken to a local hospital where she died.
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A man was seriously injured in an Orange County truck accident after a big rig struck his bicycle near the 91 Freeway off-ramp on Kraemer Boulevard the morning of October 8, 2009 in Anaheim, California. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the bicyclist was riding southbound along the west curb of Kraemer approaching the eastbound off-ramp of the 91 Freeway. The semi-truck was stopped at the off-ramp, Anaheim police said.
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A 7-year-old boy was seriously injured in a Ventura car accident after he was struck by a car while riding his bicycle across the street. The hit-and-run accident occurred the night of September 9, 2009 when the boy was riding his bike across the intersection of Seneca Street and Cameron Street, according to a news report in the Ventura County Star. A man and a woman in a blue Volkswagen Beetle that hit the boy stopped briefly to ask about the boy's health after the crash and then drove away, Ventura police officials said. A neighbor, who recognized the child, offered to walk him home. The boy began "feeling sick" after he got home and was taken to a local hospital where he is being treated for serious internal injuries. He was apparently not wearing a helmet, police said. Read the rest of this entry »

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.
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A person crossing the northbound 5 Freeway off-ramp suffered from a Irvine bicycle accident the morning of June 11, 2009, The Orange County Register reports. California Highway Patrol officials say the accident occurred at the 5 Freeway off-ramp on southbound Jeffrey Road at Roosevelt. The injured victim was taken to an area hospital with injuries. Orange County Sheriff's Department's officials say the person may have been walking across the off-ramp.

I hope this injured Orange County bicycle accident victim was not seriously injured. I wish this victim the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Read the rest of this entry »

A 10-year-old boy was hospitalized with serious personal injuries he suffered in a San Diego bicycle accident the afternoon of June 2, 2009, 10 news reports. According to San Diego police officials, the bicycle accident occurred in the 1000 block of Catalina Boulevard. The boy was apparently riding his bicycle on a sidewalk when a motorist who was pulling out of a parking lot hit him. The boy suffered a broken hip, leg and ankle. Alcohol or drugs did not appear to be a factor in this San Diego bicycle accident, authorities say.

I'm relieved this child did not suffer catastrophic or life-threatening injuries in this Southern California bicycle accident. His personal injuries are, however, serious and I wish him the very best for a speedy and complete recovery from his injuries. Read the rest of this entry »

A woman was killed the afternoon of June 1, 2009 in a Los Angles bicycle accident after she was struck by a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) truck. According to a CBS News report, the woman bicyclist, who has not yet been identified, was hit by the truck, which apparently belonged to a contractor working for the DWP. The fatal Reseda bicycle-truck accident occurred in the 7400 block of Louise Avenue. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. DWP officials say the truck belongs to a private contractor, who was carrying out power system work on behalf of the department,

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of this bicyclist for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were 10 bicycle accident fatalities and 1,291 injuries involving bicycle accidents in the city of Los Angeles. In Los Angeles County, in 2007, 27 deaths and 2,902 injuries were reported as a result of bicycle accidents. Read the rest of this entry »

Bisnar | Chase recently filed a lawsuit on behalf of Julie Farris, a 21-year-old graphic designer, who suffered severe brain injuries after she was hit by a trolley car on Foothill Boulevard on February 19, 2008, while riding her bicycle to Azusa Pacific University. This personal injury accident may not have occurred if an area of Foothill Boulevard near Azusa Pacific University's campus were better constructed. Farris underwent two brain surgeries, a seven-month hospital stay and a two-month coma. She also suffered damage to her nervous system and what most certainly is permanent brain damage. Our lawsuit names both the city of Azusa and the university in the lawsuit. We believe that both these parties are liable for Farris' trolley-bicycle accident and resulting personal injuries.

But Azusa city officials blame our client for the bicycle accident. They told the San Gabriel Valley Tribune that they believe the conditions on the street were safe and adequate. They call the accident "tragic and unfortunate," but state that it happened because Farris was "operating her bicycle unsafely." Farris was riding on the opposite side of the street toward oncoming traffic. But as our Senior Partner Brian Chase points out, Farris was forced to do that because of overcrowded pedestrian traffic and lack of sidewalk. By poorly designing that roadway, the city created a dangerous condition there.

Farris was caught between the cars and an Azusa Pacific University trolley and suffered massive personal injuries. We also believe that the university trolley driver was inattentive and Azusa Pacific owed a special duty to its students to provide them with a reasonably safe method to travel between the east and west campuses. In just a year and three months, our client is looking at more than $1 million in medical bills. We are also seeking future potential wages and compensation for emotional damage on Farris' behalf.

California’s Government Code section 835 provides that a public entity or governmental agency is liable for damages to an injured person because of a condition of public property when the injured person proves that:

The city and the university should have had better safety measures in place for pedestrians and bicyclists in that area. The street and campus design lacks crosswalks, bike paths, traffic signals and parking, causing a dangerous roadway condition. This was an unfortunate bicycle accident waiting to happen. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the issue of this dangerous roadway has come before the city and university officials in earlier incidents.

A woman was critically injured in a Glendale car-bicycle accident the afternoon of May 2, 2009 after she was hit by a driver suspected to have been driving under the influence of a controlled substance, the Glendale News Press reports. The bicycle accident occurred when Herbert Davis, who was driving his sport utility vehicle westbound on West Los Feliz Road veered off, jumped a curb and struck the bicyclist. The woman suffered broken bones and serious personal injuries, but is expected to survive, Glendale police officials say. Davis apparently struck a telephone pole, sideswiped another vehicle and barreled through five newspaper stands before coming to a stop.

Investigators are still trying to figure out when and where Davis struck the cyclist and also whether she was riding the bike, walking or standing next to it at the time of the car collision. Police have arrested Davis on suspicion of driving under the influence of a controlled substance and took him to the hospital for evaluation.

My heart goes out to the woman who was injured in this horrific DUI car accident. At this point it seems as if this could have been a bicycle accident or a pedestrian accident depending on the victim's actions at the time. I trust that the driver, Davis, who officials say was under the influence of a controlled substance, will be held civilly and criminally responsible for causing this bike-car accident and resulting personal injuries.

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 traffic accident statistics, there were two alcohol-involved fatal car accidents and 60 car accidents involving alcohol or drugs in Glendale.

California law prohibits drivers from operating under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a): "It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle."

The family of this injured bicyclist would be well-advised to consult with a California personal injury lawyer who will pursue the negligent party here and obtain fair compensation for her injuries and loss. Reputed California car accident lawyers who have experience pursuing DUI cases will be able to help this bicycle collision victim. The best California personal injury lawyers will offer a free and comprehensive initial consultation.