Bicycle Accident Injures 2 Pedestrians in South Lake Tahoe
I’m Ed Smith, a South Lake Tahoe Bicycle Accident Lawyer. A man hit and injured two pedestrians in a crosswalk last week while riding a motorized bicycle.
What Happened?
Two unidentified pedestrians were waiting at a crosswalk on Rufus Allen Boulevard and Lake Tahoe Boulevard to cross the street at around 7:25 p.m. When the crosswalk signal indicated it was safe to cross the pair stepped out onto the street and started across the roadway. At the same time, Patrick Bryan Baker was riding along Lake Tahoe Boulevard on a motorized bicycle. Baker was inebriated at the time and could not react quick enough to avoid the two people crossing in front of him and struck both of them with his bike.
The South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue and Police departments sent responders to the scene along with JPA paramedics to tend to the two injured pedestrians. Police Sergeant David Stevenson reported that upon arrival of the police to investigate, 41-year-old Patrick Baker tried to walk away from the scene of the accident. He was arrested and taken to El Dorado County Jail. Police discovered his blood alcohol level to be above the legal 0.08% and is now charged with driving under the influence, hit and run, and a misdemeanor obstruction charge. His bail was set to $103,000.
We send our hope for a full and speedy recovery for the injured pedestrians.
Bicycles as Vehicles
In California, bicycles need to follow the same rules as other motor vehicles when it comes to accidents. If the accident takes place on a street or parking lot then the person riding the bicycle has all the rights and responsibilities as drivers of motor vehicles. This includes rules about driving under the influence and staying at the scene of an accident until it is resolved.
Earlier this year a man was hit by a bicyclist while jogging and was severely injured. The man hopped right back onto his bike after the collision and fled the scene as witnesses came to the aid of the victim. The cyclist left his cell phone in his hurry to leave which was given to the police. The incident occurred on a running/bike path and was not defined as a road or highway. Police later found the man responsible but could not charge him with any felonies because the law only applies to clearly marked streets and highways, whereas the cyclist named in the story above was charged just as if he were driving a car.
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South Lake Tahoe Bicycle Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a South Lake Tahoe Bicycle Accident Lawyer. If you or a loved one were involved in or affected by a bicycle accident please call my office for free, friendly advice at 530-392-9400 or 800-404-5400. You can reach me online at AutoAccident.com. My website is one of the most informative sites covering Northern California personal injury accidents. I post new articles, news, and information daily.
I have thirty-five years of experience helping people from South Lake Tahoe and Northern California. See how I have helped others with bicycle, and other accident cases on my previous verdicts and settlements page.
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I am also listed on the milliondollaradvocates.com, a site that names trial attorneys who have won cases of a million dollars or more.