The city of San Francisco and surrounding Bay Area is a beautiful place to ride a bicycle. However, as enjoyable as the sport is, it also comes with its share of dangers. There a lot of hazards that can cause a bicycle crash, like: roadway hazards, potholes, reckless automobile drivers, reckless bus drivers, and problems with the bicycles themselves. When one of these factors causes a bicyclist to get into an accident, the injurious consequences can be life altering and deadly to say the least.
Berkeley, CA (October 5, 2016) – A bicyclist was left with serious injuries after a vehicle collided with the bicyclist in Berkeley on Tuesday, October 4, 2016. The bicyclist was heading west on Allston Way and the vehicle was traveling northbound on Sacramento street when the crash took place. A witness to the aftermath of the crash was Michael Yamamoto who reported that the cyclist “was on the ground on the median. The car had a smashed windshield when I drove by.” Other witnesses reported that they saw the bicyclist in the median of the street after the crash.
WINDSOR, CA (September 12, 2016) – A a 55-year-old Sebastopol resident, was on a bicycle ride west of Windsor in the morning of Saturday, September 10, 2016, when she was tragically killed after apparently colliding with an oncoming, passing vehicle. The crash occurred on Eastside Road near Windsor River Road after 11 a.m.
Tamika from the Lower Haight asks, “Who is responsible when a bicyclist is killed by a car in a hit and run?”
Tamika, I assume your question is triggered by the shocking and senseless deaths last Wednesday in San Francisco of Heather Miller and Katherine Slattery. Both cyclists were observing and obeying the traffic laws when they were struck and killed. I offer my condolences to their families and friends.
Two different forms of liability exist for the offending drivers: criminal and civil. Criminal charges can result in a sentence of prison time while a civil case can lead to a monetary judgment imposed against the defendant.
Who can be held liable for a bicycling accident? In many cases, it’s motor vehicle drivers who are not wary of a bicyclist’s right to be on the roads. Liability for biking injuries comes down to negligence in many situations, so proving that the driver involved was negligent is key to your case.
Every year about 30 people lose their lives and over 200 more are seriously injured while traveling on San Francisco streets. Yet, San Francisco is determined to be a safe place for walkers and bikers. The City’s Vision Zero initiative carries with it the goal to eliminate all fatal traffic accidents by 2024, including those involving pedestrians and bicyclists.
Matt G from Mill Valley asked the following question: “I am a bicyclist. It was wet on the roadway the other day and as I was coming down Market, near 11th Street, there are a series of railroad tracks in the road which my wheel got caught in causing me to fall and get serious road rash and significant bruising in my shoulder. This is really dangerous. Isn’t the City responsible to keep the roadway safe from these types of hazards? Can I sue Muni to try and get this changed?”
This morning began with another bike accident, this time at one of the worst intersection for cyclists in the city.
Reports indicate that a vehicle making an illegal right turn struck a cyclists while trying to enter the Central Freeway entrance. The cyclist was riding on Market Street when the car, which was traveling the same direction turned in front of him, according to a witness. The crash sent the cyclist flying over the hood before landing on his back, where he remained until an ambulance arrived. It was not immediately clear whayt the extent of the cyclist’s injuries were.
It may have been the case that the driver just didn’t see the cyclist. The intersection has been one of the most dangerous for cyclists in San Francisco, as cars making right turns often times collide with cyclists. Last year a push was made to have a camera installed at the intersection to catch cars making illegal right turns, but the bill was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger. Until a permanent solution is made, the intersection remains a hotspot for bike accidents.