Category Archives: Cycling Accidents

Information about cycling accidents in and around San Diego with emphasis on bike law and bicycle safety from an experienced cyclist and bicycle crash attorney.

Chula Vista Couple Advocates for New Laws After Son’s Death

Posted on September 1, 2014 by Dudek Law Firm

A Chula Vista couple is advocating for a new law that would change how drivers pass cyclists on the road. The current law states drivers should “maintain a safe distance,” but it does not specify how far. The new law would mandate that drivers have three feet of “buffer” space when passing a cyclist. If there is not enough room, they have to wait until passing “would not endanger the cyclist’s safety.” The couple is motivated by grief, as well as their passion for change. They lost their son in a cycling accident earlier this year. On August 8, the 33-year-old cyclist was hit by a teenage driver in a pickup truck while biking down a fairly quiet road. The teen was hauling a horse trailer at the time, so he may not have been familiar with the weight or movement of the larger vehicle. Could New Laws Help Protect…
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Cyclist Paralyzed After Drunk Driver Crashes Into Group Ride

Posted on August 25, 2014 by Dudek Law Firm

Several members of the San Diego Bicycle Club were seriously injured after a wrong-way driver collided with a group of cyclists on Fiesta Island. On Tuesday, August 12, the club was finishing their weekly ride when a car traveling against traffic plowed into the group head-on. The impact injured at least 10 cyclists and left one rider paralyzed. A 49-year-old father of two was riding close to the front of the group when he saw the car heading their way. He managed to push at least one cyclist out of the way but suffered critical injuries in the process. The La Jolla father was the most seriously injured of all the cyclists, suffering two punctured lungs, the loss of one kidney, a lacerated spleen and six broken vertebras. Doctors at UCSD Hillcrest Hospital are focusing on healing the man’s lungs so he can undergo spinal surgery, but they believe the…
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Are Distracted Drivers A Threat to Cyclists?

Posted on July 21, 2014 by Dudek Law Firm

The chances for a collision increase greatly when cyclists and motorists are forced to travel in the same lane of traffic. Studies have shown that cyclists are safest when they travel on their own bike trails or in designated bike lanes. Cyclists can face numerous road hazards even in their own lane, but their biggest threat comes from drunk and distracted drivers. Cyclists travel at low speeds and are less visible than motorists, so reckless drivers may easily miss a bicyclist on the road. The most common contributing factor in collisions between a bicycle and another vehicle is “failure to look properly,” especially at junctions. “Failing to look properly” was attributed to the car driver in 57 percent of serious bicycle accidents. What Counts As Distracted Driving? Texting and driving is the most commonly cited distracted driving activity, but other distractions can include changing radio settings, eating, looking into a…
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