Police are trying to find the motorist responsible for seriously injuring a 55-year-old Anaheim bicyclist close to the Anaheim Convention Center on Friday night. As of yesterday, the cyclist is reportedly in grave condition and he may not recover.
The man was driving on South West Street when a Chevrolet El Camino hit him from behind and kept moving. The cyclist sustained serious head injuries and was unconscious when paramedics arrived.
Just a few minutes after the catastrophic Orange County, California bicycle accident, police found the El Camino in some bushes. Its windshield had been shattered.
2007 Pedalcyclist Facts from the NHTSA:
• 698 pedalcyclists died in traffic accidents.
• 44,000 were injured.
• Average age for pedalcyclist killed is 31.
• Average age of pedalcycists injured was 30.
• Of the 3,974 traffic deaths in California that year, 109 were pedalcyclists.
Some examples of common collisions that result in injuries to bicyclists:
• A motor vehicle turns in front of a bicyclist, blocking his or her path.
• A driver fails to yield the right of way.
• A driver fails to look left and right after stopping at a stop sign.
• Drunk driving.
• Driver inattention.
• Hit and run accidents.
• A motorist opens the door of a parked vehicle, striking a bicyclist.
• Roadwork and potholes can result in bicycle accidents.
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California bicyclists, like motorcyclists, car drivers, and truck drivers, are entitled to the same rights and privileges when riding on state roads. A bicycle accident can result in life threatening injuries.
Bicyclist in 'grave condition' after hit-and-run in Anaheim, OC Register, April 25, 2009
Bicyclists and Other Cyclists, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Related Web Resources:
Bicycle Rules and Safety, DMC.Ca.gov
Contact our Anaheim bicycle accident lawyers to request your free case evaluation.
