Accidents that involve a car and a bicycle almost never end without injuries. The weight and size of the car almost always causes the bicyclist to suffer from injuries. In some cases, those injuries can be serious or even fatal. A recent accident at a northbound on-ramp of Highway 65 in California proves how serious the injuries can be when a car and bicycle collide.
The accident happened late last month when a bicycle rider was riding along Olive Avenue. The bicyclist was headed east, going against traffic on the north side of the road. He was entering the intersection of Olive Avenue and Highway 65 when a 42-year-old male driver attempted to turn left onto the highway. It was in the intersection that the bicyclist and the car collided. Police do not think that alcohol or drugs contributed to the crash.
The bicyclist was severely injured in the bicycle accident. He suffered a head injury that caused him to be unresponsive at the scene of the accident. He was taken to Kaweah Delta Medical Center. He was then transferred to Fresno, where he is listed in critical but stable condition at Community Regional Medical Center.
If this bicyclist is able to recover from his injuries, he likely faces a long road filled with medical appointments, therapy appointments and a host of other appointments. All of this, plus time he is missing from work if he is employed, might cause him to suffer financial stress as well.
Any bicyclist who is struck by a car has the right to seek compensation for their injuries and related expenses. Whether such a claim is viable in this case will depend on a variety of factors. Knowing how to seek compensation and understanding the laws pertaining to claims might help to make the process easier for the injured party to go through. Working with a lawyer who handles personal injury matters is usually helpful in this regard.
Source: The Fresno Bee, “Bicycle vs. car crash puts Porterville rider in hospital,” Lewis Griswold, June 30, 2014
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