Another Northern California Bicyclist Has Died in a Crash With a Vehicle
Here in San Mateo and throughout the Bay Area, the roadways are dangerous places for bicyclists. Statewide, the number of bicyclists killed on the road during the period of 2016-18 was the highest it had been in 25 years. Each year, more than 1,300 bicycle accidents occur in San Mateo County, with locations in Menlo Park, Redwood City, and Burlingame serving as particular "hot spots" of danger. Many times, these accidents inflict serious, catastrophic, or even fatal injuries on the bicyclist involved. If that's happened to you or a loved one, get in touch with a knowledgeable San Mateo bicycle accident lawyer right away to discuss your circumstances.
To our south, a recent
intersection accident claimed the life of a bicyclist. The fatal accident occurred at an intersection of Almaden Expressway and Foxworthy Avenue south of San Jose. Witnesses and video of the incident seemed to indicate that the driver of a sedan headed southbound on Almaden had a green light, and the bicyclist was moving westbound inside the marked crosswalk, according to KPIX.
The bicyclist died at a nearby hospital, making the incident the 12th traffic fatality in San Jose so far in 2022.
Bicyclists and Vehicle Driver's Negligence
When a bicyclist is hurt as the result of a vehicle
driver's negligence, there are certain errors that often are the cause. They involve things like the vehicle driver failing to yield the right of way, making an improper turn, speeding, driving on the wrong side of the road, or failing to yield at stop signs and/or red lights.
Even with proper safety gear, such as an appropriate bicycle helmet, bicyclists are still at very high risk when a car, truck, or SUV collides with them. Traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, paralysis, and loss of limbs often occur. Even if you avoid those kinds of outcomes, you may experience broken bones or ligament and/or tendon damage that forever alters how you live and how you work.
In the San Jose case, the evidence seemed to point toward a bicyclist who entered the intersection when he should have yielded the right of way. This evidence, however, may not tell the whole story. Perhaps the bicyclist entered the crosswalk while the car's light was still red (and the bicyclist was permitted to cross.) That might mean that the sedan driver violated his obligation to yield the right of way.
The Importance of a Driver's Duty to Maintain a Proper Lookout
Alternately, it's important to keep in mind that all drivers have a legal duty to maintain a proper lookout at all times and to "see what should be seen." That includes keeping a lookout for pedestrians and bicyclists using the crosswalk. Too many times, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians are hurt or
killed because a car, truck, or SUV driver simply didn't maintain a proper lookout for anything smaller than a coupe. If the sedan driver reasonably should have seen the bicyclist in front of him and crashed into the bicycle anyway, then the driver might possibly be liable for negligence, even if his light was green the entire time.
Contact a San Mateo Bicycle Accident
If you or a loved one have been hurt in a
bicycle crash, please reach out to one of our top-rated
San Mateo bicycle accident attorneys as soon as possible. There is no financial risk and the gain could be crucial for your family's future financial security. The team at Galine, Frye, Fitting & Frangos, LLP has the knowledge, the experience, and the determination to fight for you and your family. To set up a free consultation,
contact us at
650-345-8484 or through our website.
