Huntsman Drive Intersection Site of Collision Between Vehicle and Bicycle Rider
An accident that caused an injury to a bicyclist happened in Sacramento on September 11 after a collision with a passenger vehicle. The accident occurred around 8:34 a.m. at the intersection of Huntsman Drive and Kiefer Boulevard, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP). Sacramento Fire Department emergency responders arrived at the scene, where it was determined the injured bicyclist had suffered trauma to their lower extremities.
Injured Bicyclist Taken to a Hospital With Major Injuries
That individual was transported to a local hospital for additional treatment. An investigation into the cause of the collision is underway by the CHP to find out how the accident happened and to assign fault.
Bicycle Accidents and Injuries
Due to the vulnerability of a bicyclist, when they are involved in a collision with a motor vehicle, the rider often suffers severe injuries or becomes another fatality statistic. One of the problems is that motorists are attuned to watching out for other drivers but not for pedestrians, motorcyclists, or bicycle riders. Some common injury locations for pedestrians include:
- Injuries in crosswalks: Although crosswalks are supposed to be safe havens for people on foot or on bicycles to cross, they are frequent locations for injury accidents. Negligent drivers who run a red light or are speeding or distracted are a common cause of an injured bicyclist at an intersection.
- Ignoring the three-foot distance law: California enacted a law requiring motorists to maintain a three-foot distance from bicycle riders to improve their safety.
- Entering the bike lane without looking: It’s common for a motorist who wants to make a right turn to pull over into the bicycle lane. However, some motorists pull over into the lane far too soon or don’t look for bicyclists in the way before they do so.
- Speeding leads to all types of accidents: Because a speeder has difficulty controlling their vehicle and can’t stop quickly, they are responsible for a number of accidents resulting in an injured bicyclist. Just as with pedestrians, the increase in speed in a vehicle causes worse injuries and a higher risk of fatalities in collisions with bicyclists.
- Distracted driving is responsible for many accidents. Usually, the driver is texting, chatting on a cell phone, checking their GPS or another activity that takes their focus, hands and vision away from the roadway. It takes only about five seconds to send a text, but that’s plenty of time to cause an injured bicyclist.
Types of Injuries in a Bicycle Accident
Bicyclists often suffer the same types of injuries in accidents as a pedestrian. They include:
- Broken bones often occur in the legs and happen in more than half of all bicycle collisions with motor vehicles.
- Road rash occurs when the bicyclist lands on the ground after being struck by the vehicle.
- Head injuries occur in around one-third of all bicyclist collisions with motor vehicles. Wearing a bike helmet while riding can reduce the risk of traumatic brain injuries from concussions to skull fractures and facial trauma.
- Facial and neck trauma is reported in one out of three bicycle accidents with passenger vehicles.
Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento personal injury lawyer. When you’ve been injured by a negligent driver, you may face hospitalization, high medical bills, lost wages, and more. Call us for our free and friendly advice about whether you can place a claim to recover those losses at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. We can also be reached by sending us a message online.
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Helpful information about our law firm and how we’ve assisted others in getting fair compensation for their injuries can be found at the links that follow:
My legal team and I have helped people since 1982 in recovering fair compensation for bicycle accidents, all types of car collisions, claims involving wrongful deaths, and others.
Photo attribution: Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay
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