CALIFORNIA BICYCLE NEWS AND CYCLING SAFETY TIPS BLOG

Is California Dangerous for Cyclists?

Posted on November 12, 2014 by Dudek Law Firm

On Monday, October 27, the Governors Highway Safety Association released a report saying that most fatal bicycle accidents happen in California and Florida. Between 2010 and 2012, cycling deaths increased 16 percent nationwide. Automotive fatalities only increased 1 percent during that time. During that period, 338 cyclists were killed in California and 329 were killed in Florida. Those states also had the largest increase in fatality rates of any other state. A top scientist at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety noted “remarkable changes” in fatal accident victims. For example, men aged 20 and older made up 84 percent of rider deaths in 2012. In 1975, only 21 percent of cyclists who died matched that description. Some argue that more cyclists means more accidents, and cycling participation has increased in recent years. However, others believe that commuter cyclists may actually be to blame, because they ride at peak times with…
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How Can I Stay Safe Riding in the Dark?

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Dudek Law Firm

As winter arrives, more and more cyclists will ride home from work in the dark, especially with daylight-saving time ending this past Sunday. Low visibility is one of the leading causes of bicycle crashes, and distracted drivers can miss cyclists in the dark. Most accidents happen during the day, but nighttime collisions are more dangerous. Only 22 percent of all injuries occur at night, but more than 45 percent of those injuries were fatal or permanently disabling. Do I Need Lights to Ride My Bike at Night? Visibility is the key to staying safe while riding in the dark. The state of California has laws requiring cyclists to use lights and reflectors while cycling at night, which are highlighted in the diagram below. We also have much more information available about the California cycling laws if you click here. A white headlamp that lights at least 300 feet into the front…
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Cyclist Suffers Brain Injury in Hit-and-Run Accident

Posted on October 29, 2014 by Dudek Law Firm

The father of an injured cyclist is asking the public for help identifying a hit-and-run driver. On October 12, a 23-year-old San Diego woman was riding down West Point Loma Boulevard on her way home from work. Around 1:20 a.m., an unidentified vehicle struck her and fled the scene, leaving the critically injured rider alone on the side of the road. The victim was eventually found alive and rushed to the UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest, but she suffered a severe brain injury in the crash. Doctors had to remove part of her skull due to brain swelling, and she remains in intensive care. Her father and various other family members came to visit her in the hospital, but they were reportedly “horrified” by her condition. Her father told reporters that no one “[was] really prepared” to see her like that. He also stated that the victim moved to San…
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