On May 29, a 51-year-old Ramona man was ordered to stand trial for a hit-and-run accident that severely injured a San Diego cyclist.
Back in October, Douglas Lane was traveling down State Route 67 when he attempted to pass two cars on the right, cutting them off in the process. During the maneuver, his side mirror struck Ambika Sundarsan, a bicyclist who was traveling on the right shoulder. Witnesses report that the impact cracked Sundarsan’s helmet and knocked her to the ground.
Lane did not stop, but police located him several miles from the scene, because he pulled over to speak with one of the drivers he cut off. After their investigation, the police took Lane into custody and released him on a $50,000 bond.
Sundarsan was on the road that morning to participate in a bicycle ride for cancer research. As a result of the accident, Sundarsan suffered a fractured vertebrate, fractured clavicle, broken leg and a concussion. The cyclist testified that she spent 10 days in a trauma center and two months recovering at home in a hospital bed.
When Lane was ordered to stand trial on May 29, Judge Charles Rogers said that Lane should not have been trying to pass at all, and that he should have been “aware of the risk” before making such a reckless decision. Lane was charged with one felony count of reckless driving causing great bodily injury. If convicted, he could face up to three years in prison.
San Diego is considered one of America’s most bike-friendly cities, but cyclists still face increased risks for injury and death from reckless drivers. Even when cyclists do everything right, collisions with cars can cause serious physical damage and sometimes death, even at low speeds.
I Need an Attorney for Bicycle Accidents in San Diego
As an avid cyclist with strong ties to the San Diego cycling community, bicycle safety is incredibly important to Attorney Joshua Bonnici. Our attorneys at Bonnici Law Group know what causes cycling accidents and, most importantly, how to hold negligent drivers responsible. If you wish to discuss the details of a cycling accident with any of our attorneys, call us for a free consultation. Together we can help keep the roads safe for every San Diego cyclist.
[Did You Know: In bicycle accidents, almost 30 percent of injuries to cyclists are a result of being struck by a motor vehicle.]
Bonnici Law Group, APC—San Diego bicycle accident lawyer
Source: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Bicyclist-Hit-in-Road-Rage-Accident-Speaks-Out–239002661.html