Just last week a man was killed in a bicycle accident outside in Malibu, California when he was hit by a man driving a vehicle. The victim was riding a bicycle with his son peddling alongside him on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. The father and son team were returning home after taking part in the Los Angeles Wheelmen Grand Tour that occurs in the area every year within both Ventura County and Santa Barbara County. The father was a mere 45 years old, while his son is only 14 years old. The boy sustained serious injuries which included a number of broken bones. His father, who was thrown from his bicycle when the vehicle struck him, incurred such severe injuries that he died at the scene of the accident. People involved in injuries such as this should contact a Los Angeles personal injury attorney to help with their case. His son was immediately taken to a nearby hospital where he is currently in stable condition.
Without giving any regard to the two bicyclists which he hit, the driver of the vehicle sped away from the scene of his crime. He was found by police only a mile or so away from where he hit the father and son duo. It is suspected that the man was planning to ditch his vehicle to avoid taking responsibility for his crime. However, the police found him shortly after the accident next to his vehicle. He was apparently drunk. Police arrested him immediately for hitting the father and son and leaving the scene of the accident. It is against the law in California to leave the scene of a vehicular accident, and it is unspeakable that he would leave a dying man and his injured son on the side of the road without so much as calling for help. He is now being held for a bail of $100,000.
There are hundreds of Los Angeles bicycling accidents happening every year in California. As residents of this sunny state are biking to reap its many health benefits and save money on gasoline, the number of bicycle injuries caused by vehicles is increasing significantly. Many factors can contribute to the injuries being incurred by bicyclists. Many times, as was the case in Malibu last week, motorists are often reckless in their driving or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Sometimes bicyclists are difficult to see on the road at night. This can often be linked to the lack of street lights or other visibility variables, leading to serious accidents. There are also a number of bicyclists who are injured by vehicles each year because there are often no bicycle lanes available for their use. In instances such as this, local city and county governments may be to blame for not taking the responsibility of making our roads safer for all who use it, including bicyclists.
If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident, you should seek a reputable personal injury lawyer to handle your claim. Your lawyer will be able to help you determine who is most likely to blame for the injuries you’ve received. It may be the driver of the vehicle that hit you, but it could potentially be another source altogether.