Articles Posted in Bicycle Accidents

At the Brod Law Firm, we are strong supporters of Northern California’s bicycle riders. Attorney Greg Brod is a member of both the San Francisco and Marin County Bicycle Coalitions and our team has San Francisco bicycle injury law firm helped many injured riders recover compensation from those who put them at undue risk. While we are dedicated to pursuing those whose negligent decisions harm (or even kill) riders, we also urge riders to make every effort to keep themselves safe in the event of a crash. One step every rider should take is wearing a bicycle helmet for every two-wheeled trip.

Riders Split Over Helmet Requirement for Adult Bicycle Riders

This weekend’s San Francisco Chronicle reported on a conflict among California riders regarding a potential change in the state’s helmet laws. Currently the law requires minors to wear bicycle helmets but State Senator Carol Liu has introduced a bill that would require adult riders to don a helmet or face a $25 fine. If approved, the legislation would make California the first state to require helmet use by riders over age 18. The pending bill would also require the use of reflective clothing at night.

Bicycling can be a fun hobby, an alternative to the gym for the fitness-minded, a wallet and environment friendly commuting method, or a combination of the above. While it is usually health-positive, bicycle accidents can range in severity from simple bumps and bruises to a fatal crash. We have written numerous posts addressing the dangers posed by drivers on auto-pilot who fail to pay attention to travelers on two wheels instead of four. This danger is real and is probably the source of the majority of serious bicycle collisions. It is not, however, the only threat to riders. Bike-on-bike collisions are dangerous on their own and can also be the first incident in a chain reaction that includes a motor vehicle crash. In some bike versus bike cases, according to our Oakland bicycle accident lawyer, an injury lawsuit may be appropriate.

Rider Killed During Group Bicycle Ride in Livermore

A Saturday morning bicycle ride turned tragic, claiming a rider’s life in the Livermore area last weekend. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that fifty to sixty cyclists were riding east on Highland Road near Manning Road. Two riders collided and a third, an unidentified cyclist riding towards the middle of the group, attempted to avoid the crash by crossing over the double-yellow lines into the opposing lane of traffic. In this attempt, the third rider, identified by other cyclists as Dublin resident and high school administrator Herman Shum, was thrown from his bike and landed in the road. At the same moment, a westbound truck driver noticed the collision and braked while veering to avoid the incident. Tragically, this happened at the very moment Shum fell and the truck hit the cyclist who was later pronounced dead at the scene. In addition to the fatality, one rider suffered major injuries and one incurred minor injuries. CHP Officer Eric Anderson told reporters that both crashes, the bike-bike and truck-bike collisions, are under investigation. Police do not believe alcohol or drug use was a factor.

The Brod Law Firm has long been dedicated to protecting bicycle riders in Northern California. Attorney Brod is a member of the Marin County and San Francisco Bicycle Coalitions and he has many years’ experience representing bicycle accident victims. Throughout the years, much has changed…the phrase “texting while driving” would have elicited confused stares when Attorney Brod passed the Bar in 1996…and yet much has remained the same…distracted drivers remain one of the greatest threats to bicycle riders’ safety. Our firm changes our approach and strategies over the years, adapting to current times, but our commitment to being a top-notch law firm for bicycle riders in Oakland and throughout the Northern California region remains.

Study Identifies Increase in Bicycle Fatalities and Changes in Rider Profiles

The Oakland Tribune reported this week on the findings in a report released by the Governors Highway Safety Association. Among the most distressing statistics — bicycle fatalities in the U.S. increased by 16% from 2010 (621 deaths) to 2012 (722 deaths). This far exceeded the rate of increase in other forms of motor vehicle deaths which rose by just 1%. Focusing on California reveals even more troubling numbers. California had more bicycle deaths than any other state in the study period, 338 cyclists killed between 2010 and 2012. While this might be attributed to population and climate, California was also (along with Florida) one of the states with the highest increase in annual rider fatalities growing from 100 deaths in 2010 to 123 in 2012. Nationally, bicyclist deaths are about 2% of the all motor vehicle related fatalities. In California, the percentage is just over 4%.

It is a shame that so many people abandon their bicycles the day they get their first driver’s license, putting two wheels aside in favor of four and leaving their bicycle behind as a piece of childhood. Bicycling as an adult can advance the rider’s physical and emotional well-being, reduce commuting costs, and benefit the environment. Sadly, riders face danger every time they set out on the roads and bicycle accidents can cause serious injury or even death. Our Berkeley bicycle accident lawyer stands ready to represent injured riders, a practice that we believe helps the victims of careless drivers while also helping make the roads a little safer for everyone.

Rider in Critical Condition After Berkeley Accident

On Sunday morning, a bicycle and car collided at the intersection of Spruce and Eunice streets near the Berkeley Hills. The Oakland Tribune reported on the crash which occurred at 8:15 A.M. and left the 62 year-old rider facing life-threatening injuries. As of the Monday report, the cyclist remained in critical condition and police had not released a preliminary cause. The car was driven by a 63 year-old from Berkeley who remained on the scene and has been cooperating with the police.

Traveling by bike is a cost effective and environmentally friendly way to navigate through the city of San Francisco. In fact, according to Bicycling magazine, San Francisco is the 8th most bike friendly city in all of America. They claim that to make the list, a city must “‘possess both a robust cycling infrastructure and a vibrant bike culture.” San Francisco must possess these qualities and more to achieve the number 8 spot on this highly coveted list. However, no matter how bike friendly San Francisco may be, it is a sobering fact that bicyclists often suffer from serious injuries due to bicycle accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2011, almost 48,000 cyclists nation wide sustained some type of injury. Therefore, it is good to know that San Francisco is taking special measures to make streets safer for bikers by installing a new contra-flow bike lane on Polk Street.

New Contra Flow Bike Lane Moves Against Traffic on Polk Street

The San Francisco Gate reports that starting today; bicyclists may ride in a new bike lane that that encourages them to ride in the opposite direction of traffic on Polk Street. This new brightly painted green lane is referred to as a “contra-flow” lane and is separated from traffic by a 6 foot wide raised island that is beautifully landscaped. Although this is not the first “contra-flow” lane in the city, it is special because it is the only one that is not only physically separated from the street, but is adorned with greenery. The San Francisco Bike Coalition is especially happy about the new bike lane and their spokesperson exclaimed, “even though it’s just a couple of blocks, it shows what a radical change a small improvement can make.”

Statistics compiled by the National Highway Safety Traffic Safety Administration tell us that 677 bicycle riders were killed in the U.S. during 2011, 114 of them in California. These tragedies have led to many to consider how we can keep cyclists safer on the road. Some efforts come from municipal leaders, such as the move by the Davis city council that we wrote about earlier this week to enforce laws aimed at keeping cyclists and other travelers safe. Other efforts come from individuals, such as the work of a young woman in England to use technology to help prevent bicycle accidents. While television advertisements often focus on automotive safety technology, less attention has been paid to using technology to improve bicycle safety and our San Francisco bicycle accident law firm applauds this effort to do so.

Vehicles Turning, Colliding with Bicycle Riders

According to CNN, Emily Brooke knew the problem she hoped to tackle as a physics student at the U.K.’s Brighton University. Brooke knew that the number of bicycle riders was on the rise in Europe, much like it is in the United States, with an increasing number of people using bicycles for their regular commuting needs. In an interview, she cites the fact that more than 3,000 cyclists had been killed or seriously injured in Britain last year with more than one hundred rider fatalities in London alone. More specifically, Brooke learned that 79% of accidents involving a rider hit by a driver occurred when the bicycle was travelling straight and the driver made a turn and collided with the bicyclist, with the driver usually reporting that he had not seen the rider.

There seems to be a constant tension between travelers who choose different modes of transportation. Pedestrians complain about bicycles, bicyclists rant about drivers, drivers criticize pedestrians. In order to quell tensions, it is important to remember that every traveler is responsible for following applicable rules of the road and keeping everyone safe. When we talk about bicycle accidents, we are often dealing with a driver who injured a cyclist. However, bicyclists have responsibilities too and they can be the ones who caused an injury such as when a rider hits a pedestrian or when a cyclist’s actions cause a driver to swerve into another car. Our Sacramento injury lawyer believes in efforts to improve bicycle safety and also believes in holding all travelers, regardless of mode of travel, responsible when their actions leave someone else injured.

A “Bike Mecca”

In the course of a Sacramento Bee piece, the reporter refers to “the bike mecca of Davis,” cites the statistic that Davis has the most bicycles per capita of any city in the United States, and notes that the UC Davis campus alone is home to an estimated 20,000 bicycles. These details give weight to the article’s discussion of safety efforts and the fact that cyclists in Davis have a reputation for ignoring safety laws and regulations. City police officers have been described, by the police office itself, as hesitant to cite cyclists for violations out of fear of animosity from the community and those who see the fines as excessive. Students at UC Davis have been particularly vocal about finding fines too severe, although getting fined requires being caught first. The Davis community has had a lax attitude when it comes to bicycle laws, with cyclists often adopting a “they can’t catch all of us” mentality.