An 86-year-old bicyclist sustained severe injuries in a Los Angeles car accident the afternoon of March 1, 2010 in Torrance. The Daily Breeze reports that the bicyclist was hit in the 2900 block of Sepulveda Boulevard, near Maple Avenue. He was apparently riding his bicycle north across the street and was not in a crosswalk when an eastbound car hit him. The bicyclist was transported to an area hospital and is said to be in critical condition.

I hope and pray that this elderly man makes it through his serious injuries and makes a complete recovery. Please keep him and his family in your prayers.

Bicycle Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there was one fatality and 47 injuries involving bicycle accidents in Torrance. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 33 deaths and 3,315 injuries were reported in 2008 as a result of bicycle accidents. Also, countywide, car accidents claimed 667 lives and injured 52,229 people during the same year.

Fault and Liability

Based on this news report, it appears that the bicyclist may have been at fault. If the details of this news report are accurate, the bicyclist rode across lanes of traffic when he was hit. However, if I were a member of the victim's family, I would want to find out whether the driver of the vehicle was impaired, distracted, speeding or driving recklessly at the time of the collision.

Under California law, bicyclists are subject to the same rights and responsibilities as the driver of any other vehicle on the roadway. California Vehicle Code Section 21200(a) states: "Every person riding a bicycle has all the rights and is subject to all the provisions applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this division."

If there is any reason to believe that this accident was caused by a dangerous condition on the roadway, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway could also be held liable. Please remember that any claim against a governmental agency in California must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury. An experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, in such cases, will be able to advise victims and their families about their legal rights and options. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive claim evaluation to injured victims and their families.

We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.

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