Bicyclist Killed in Oceanside
A bicycle rider was killed along California State Route 76 in Oceanside on August 31 when the rider was struck by a car. I would like to extend my prayers and sympathy to the victim’s family and friends in their time of sorrow.
What Happened
The accident occurred around 11:00 in the morning when the driver of a Honda automobile and a bike rider were heading west along the road close to East Vista Way and collided. According to a member of the Police Department in Oceanside, officers at the scene attempted to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the rider pending the arrival of paramedics. He was airlifted to a hospital with serious trauma but was pronounced dead there. The name of the bicycle accident victim has not been released as of the time of this report.
Driver Arrested
The driver of the Honda was Felix Ruizbazan, an Oceanside resident. He was taken into custody following the incident for driving with a license that was suspended and for an outstanding warrant that is a misdemeanor, according to a police representative. The highway was closed down on the side heading west for authorities to conduct an investigation into the crash.
Sharing the Road
Motorists share the road with bicycle riders, and despite precautions, cyclists are injured and killed annually. In 2014, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety, 55 bicyclists were injured or killed in Oceanside. This places the city at 22 out of 57 similar cities. San Diego County had 1,059 injuries and fatal encounters with bicyclists in the same time period. This places the county at a rank of 33 out of 58 similar counties in California. Nationwide, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that bicyclists account for 2 percent of those injured and killed in traffic accidents.
Statistics
Twenty percent of fatal bicycle accidents happen in the evening between the hours of 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm and over 70 percent in urban areas, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Males were killed most often by a factor of 88 percent. Twenty percent were impaired with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or higher. The most common age of riders in fatal accidents was 20-24.
Things Motorists Need to Know About Sharing the Road With Bicyclists
Motorists need to understand that they share the road with bicycle riders. In fact, in California, bicyclists have the same responsibility to ride safely and the same rights as motorists. It is important to know:
- Bicycle riders are more vulnerable to accidents
- Always signal when making a right turn
- Don’t underestimate a cyclist’s speed
- Keep a three-foot distance from the bicyclist when passing
- Check for a bicyclist before opening your car door to avoid injuring a passing biker
Injuries in Bicycle Accidents
Bikers often suffer traumatic and catastrophic injuries due to their vulnerability. Such injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Broken bones
- Spinal injury
- Internal injuries
- Concussion
- Facial lacerations
Related Information by Oceanside Bicycle Accident Lawyer, Ed Smith ~
Oceanside Bicycle Accident & Wrongful Death Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, an Oceanside bicycle accident lawyer. A bicycle accident caused by a negligent driver can leave you or your loved one facing serious injuries. The worst scenario is when you lose a member of your family to someone else’s careless actions or a hit and run driver. If you have suffered a loss or face high medical bills and recuperation from a bicycle accident due to negligence, please call me at (760) 509-8818. I am here to offer you my advice, and it is free and friendly. In areas outside the listed area code, I can be reached through (800) 404-5400.
As an injury lawyer, I have worked exclusively in the personal injury field of law for 35 years, obtaining fair compensation for Californians, including the Oceanside area, who are victims of traumatic injuries or who have lost a family member through wrongful death.
The web pages here at Avvo, Yelp, and Google contain reviews by our clients and their comments. For more information about my practice, visit Settlements and Verdicts.
Million Dollar Advocates, of which I am a member of California, allows admission to their forum only from trial lawyers with a record of $1 million or over in settlements or verdicts for clients.
Autoaccident.com, which I own and found, is Northern California’s premier resource for information about personal injuries and motor vehicle collisions.
Photo by Jonny Kennaugh on Unsplash
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