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.
The truck then started to accelerate and turn right on Kraemer as the bicyclist pedaled in front of it. The bicyclist did not have head lights and was struck and knocked on to the ground. A person who saw the collision yelled to the truck driver to stop and he did, officials said. The bicyclist was pinned under the front bumper of the big rig. He was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries. Anaheim police traffic investigators are continuing the investigation.
I'm relieved that this bicyclist did not sustain catastrophic or fatal injuries in this big rig accident. This could've been a lot worse. I wish him the very best for a quick and complete recovery.
Orange County Bicycle Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there was one fatality, but 96 injuries involving bicycle accidents in Anaheim. In Orange County as a whole, 16 fatalities and 1,020 injuries were reported in 2007 as a result of bicycle accidents.
Based on this report, it is not clear why the bicyclist pedaled in front of the big rig. In such accidents, there are many questions to be asked? According to California Vehicle Code, a bicycle is treated like any other vehicle. Bicyclists are required to yield right-of-way just like, say, a passenger car. However, if I were a family member of this injured bicyclist, I'd want to know if there was any negligence on the part of someone else that led to this accident. Who had the right-of-way here? Was the driver of the big rig intoxicated, distracted or negligent in any other way? Was there a dangerous condition on the roadway that prevented the truck driver from seeing the approaching bicyclist?
Truck Accident Liability Issues
The victim in this case would be well-advised to consult an experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer, who will analyze every facet of this injury accident and determine whether there was any negligence involved. If the big rig driver is found to have been at fault, the driver and his employer – the trucking company– could be held liable for the accident and the bicyclist's serious injuries.
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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