I’m Ed Smith, a Davis personal injury lawyer. A UC Davis cyclist is currently in recovery after she sustained major injuries in an accident involving a motor vehicle on Wednesday, February 14, 2018.
Collision Details
California Highway Patrol (CHP) Officer David Harvey indicated that the collision occurred just southeast of the nearby community of Winters just before to 9:00 a.m. Harvey said that Marisa Paquette, a UC Davis senior and a member of the college’s women’s cycling team, had been riding her bike west along Sievers Road near the intersection of Halley Road when she was struck from behind by a Ford F150 that had also been heading west on Sievers Road.
The impact of the collision allegedly caused Paquette to be thrown from her bicycle. We extend our hopes for a full recovery to Ms. Paquette.
Response and Injury
Responding officers reported that Paquette was found with serious injuries before she was transported by medical ambulance to the Kaiser Hospital in Vacaville for treatment. Statements from friends of Paquette indicate that she suffered vertebrae, collarbone, and leg fractures as well as a shattered pelvis.
Officers said that the driver of the Ford, a 59-year-old man from Winters, remained at the accident scene after the collision.
Investigation
Official reports indicate that, while the incident is under active investigation, neither alcohol nor drugs are believed to have been involved as causal factors. Causal factors remaining under investigation may include distraction on the part of the driver, a faulty vehicle part that left the driver unable to avoid the collision, driving while under serious fatigue, a dangerous defect in the roadway, and more.
Officer Harvey indicated that, as of Sunday, February 18, 2018, no criminal charges had been filed against the driver.
Bicycle Accidents
The City of Davis estimates that around 6,000 of its 65,622 residents are commuters who use bicycles as their primary mode of transportation. Although the city is a leader in biking infrastructure, a high number of cyclists still increases the chance of a vehicle/cyclist accident occurring.
Bicycle collisions can be caused by negligence on the part of bicyclists, motorists, or a combination of the two, but bicyclists usually walk away with more severe injuries. In general, state law allows injured cyclists to claim compensation from parties who are at-fault, even if the cyclist is found to be primarily at-fault for the crash. To learn more about recovering financially from a bicycle accident, you can visit my website.
Intersections and Bike Accidents
The majority of bicycle accidents happen at intersections, where traffic is compounded by vehicles traveling in all directions. Reports from the City of Davis suggest that nearly three-quarters of bicycle crashes occur at intersections.
In order to avoid these accidents, cyclists should be aware that collisions are commonly caused by vehicles failing to yield to opposing bicyclists while performing a left-hand turn, vehicles that fail to follow the directions of traffic lights or stop signs, and vehicles that change lanes inside of intersections or without adequate signaling.
More Blogs by Ed Smith, Davis Personal Injury Lawyer:
Davis Bicycle Accident & Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Davis personal injury lawyer. People injured by negligent drivers are often able to claim payments for their damages. If you have been injured significantly during a crash, contact me for free, friendly advice. I’m available at AutoAccident.com and at either (800) 404-540 or (530) 392-9400.
For 35 years, I have helped Davis residents to claim just recompense for their personal injury and wrongful death claims.
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I’m part of Million Dollar Advocates Forum, the national forum for trial lawyers with million-dollar verdicts and settlements.
View my Prior Verdicts and Settlements here.
AutoAccident.com is the web’s best place for Northern California auto accident and personal injury news, information, and more.
pic: “bicycleaftercrashwithcar” by Turelio via CC-ASA3.0Unported
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