SONOMA VALLEY – Two Sonoma bicyclists were seriously injured Monday afternoon when they were struck by a car on Highway 29, the Sonoma Valley Patch reported. The women, 67-year-old Beatrice McIntosh and 72-year-old Jean Behse, were riding southbound on Highway 29 when a Pontiac entered into the bike lane and struck the women from behind. The women were taken to Queen of the Valley Hospital in Napa with injuries ranging from moderate to major. Fault & Liability The cause of the October 8th bicycle accident remains under investigation by the CHP. If the investigation reveals that the negligence of the driver caused the collision, the injured cyclists may be entitled to compensation for their injuries, including damages for medical care and treatment, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other accident-related expenses. Following this car vs. bicycle accident, the injured victims or their family members may benefit from speaking to an experienced and knowledgeable personal injury attorney, who can help them understand and protect their legal rights, should they wish to pursue a claim.
On September 25, 2012, Specialized Bicycle Components Inc. issued a recall for approximately 12,000 of its Globe model bikes because the front fork can break, posing a fall and injury hazard to riders. Specialized has received four reports of the front fork breaking and causing a fall. The falls resulted in riders sustaining head injuries, facial fractures, shoulder injuries, and cuts. The recall includes some 2008 and 2009 men and women’s Globe model bikes, including Globe Elite, Globe Sport Disc, and Globe Comp. The bicycles with defective forks manufactured by Kinesis, were sold at Specialized retailers nationwide from July 2007 to July 2012 for $500 to $1,100. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Specialized are advising consumers to stop using the bikes immediately until a replacement fork is installed. For a complete list of affected Globe bike models, please visit the CPSC website. Do not wait to Contact a Product Liability Attorney If you or someone you know was injured while riding a Specialized Globe bicycle, please do not wait to get legal help. Your legal rights may entitle you to financial compensation and you do not want to risk your one chance to recover funds for medical bills, lost earnings and wages, and pain and suffering. Waiting to seek the counsel of competent product liability (area of law defective products fall under) attorney [...] Read more »
ORANGE COUNTY – A driver who police believe was responsible for a hit-and-run accident that resulted in the death of a bicyclist Saturday was arrested Tuesday morning, reports The Orange County Register. The tragic September 15, 2012 bicycle accident happened at about 9:45 a.m. as the cyclist, identified as Cathy Ritz, was traveling north on Newport Coast Drive between Ocean Vista and Vista Ridge. Police believe the driver of a black pickup struck Ritz from behind. The driver did not stop to assist Ritz and fled the scene of the accident. Ritz was taken to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, where she was pronounced dead. The driver of the black pickup was arrested on suspicion of vehicle manslaughter with gross negligence and booked into Newport Beach Police Jail. Although the hit-and-run driver was located and criminally charged, criminal charges do nothing to help the victim’s family members with the expenses associated with a tragic loss. Taking Legal Action The victim’s family members may be able to pursue funds for the damages associated with an unexpected death in the civil court system and should speak to an experienced California bicycle accident attorney at Estey Bomberger as soon as possible. We can quickly determine surviving family members eligibility to take legal action and advise them of the best legal path. If a claim can be filed, [...] Read more »
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY – A San Luis Obispo doctor was tragically killed in a collision with a semi-truck Wednesday morning, reports kyby.com. The doctor, identified as 39-year-old Damian Horstman, was part of a 20-person anesthesiologist team at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center in San Luis Obispo. Reportedly, Horstman was riding his bike near the Higuera Street off ramp on the southbound side of Highway 101 when a semi-truck struck and killed him. Both the San Luis Obispo police and the California Highway Patrol were investigating the cause of the tragic September 12, 2012 crash. Seeking Justice While authorities conclude their investigation, the victim’s family members would be well advised to seek the counsel of a competent California bicycle accident attorney at Estey Bomberger. One of our founding partners is an avid bicyclist whose knowledge of cycling can be used to our clients’ advantage. Our team of attorneys also has extensive experience handling commercial truck accident claims. We understand the emotional, physical, and financial damages associated with a heartbreaking loss, and will not rest until our clients have been given the funds they need to begin putting the pieces of their life back together. We have helped surviving family members obtain compensation for funeral and burial expenses, final medical bills, loss of victim’s future earnings, loss of victim’s savings, and loss of love, care, [...] Read more »
On August 28, 2012, eecycleworks announced it is recalling approximately 400 of its “eebrake” models because the bridge of the brakes can crack, posing a fall hazard to bicyclists. The affected brake models were sold between September 2008 and March 2011 at specialty bicycle retailers nationwide and on the eecycleworks website for use on adult road racing bicycles. The recalled brakes feature a white “ee” on the front of the brake and a five-digit serial number beginning with either 80 or 09. Consumers should stop using the defective bicycle brakes immediately and discontinue use until a replacement bridge is installed. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), one injury caused by the defective brakes has been reported. For more information about the recalled bicycle brakes, please visit the CPSC website. Defective Bike Part Liability If you or a loved one were seriously injured by a defective bicycle brake, spoke, handlebar, seat or any other defective bicycle part, you would be well advised to seek the counsel of a trusted California defective product attorney at the law firm of Estey Bomberger. Not all personal injury lawyers are the same. We have successfully represented thousands of victims in complex personal injury and wrongful death cases and as a result, have garnered both local and national recognition from those in the legal community. The sooner you contact [...] Read more »
Oakland has a responsibility to its tax-paying residents to ensure its roadways are safely maintained. However, in the wrongful death case of Allan Lee, the city failed to make the appropriate repairs to Grizzly Peak Boulevard until after the fatal bicycle accident. For four to five months, several local organizations had alerted the city of the dangerous road conditions on Grizzly Peak Boulevard, but the city neglected to address these concerns, resulting in the death of 53 year old Allan Lee who left behind a wife and two daughters. The accident occurred on Sept 24, 2011, while Lee was traveling with 14 other bicyclists down on Grizzly Peak. According to the reports, Lee was headed downhill, traveling at about 15 mph, when his bike’s front tire became caught in a two-inch deep rut in the middle of the road, causing the bike to suddenly stop and catapulting Lee over his handlebar and into an oncoming vehicle. The driver, who had been driving uphill, did not have sufficient time to react, and despite wearing a helmet, Lee was fatally injured. The lawsuit filed on behalf of Nancy Lee and their two daughters, Monica and Samantha, alleges that the city should be held responsible for the funeral and burial expenses, as well as the lost wages resulting from the Lee’s unexpected death. The grieving family is seeking [...] Read more »
At Estey Bomberger, our San Diego bicycle accident attorneys understand the imminent dangers cyclists face on city roads. One of our founding partners, Mike Bomberger, is an avid cyclist who has experienced the pain and suffering associated with a bicycle accident injury. Mike’s experience as a bicycle accident victim has given him a unique perspective to handling bicycle accident claims and he is passionate about helping victims see justice served. For several decades in San Diego and throughout the state, Mike and his colleagues have helped numerous bicycle collision victims obtain substantial settlements and verdicts for accident-related damages. Types of San Diego Bicycle Accident Injuries Cyclists typically suffer severe injuries when hit by a car, truck, or bus. Examples of severe bicycle accident injuries include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, ruptured organs, muscle and ligament injuries, bone fracture injuries, head injuries, back injuries, paralysis, concussions, coma, amputation (limb loss) injuries, road rash injuries, and fatal injuries. We can make the Legal Process a Smooth One If you or a loved one were seriously injured in a bicycle collision, you may be able to file a personal injury claim to recover damages. At Estey Bomberger, our San Diego bicycle accident lawyers understand the most important task for you is recovery, which is why we strive to make the legal process a smooth one. Upon hiring, [...] Read more »
ORANGE COUNTY – A 32-year-old bicyclist will receive a $6 million dollar settlement for injuries he sustained after being hit by a shuttle bus near John Wayne Airport, reports the Orange County Register. The names of the parties involved are confidential and will not be released due to the terms of the settlement. The cyclist was injured after an airport shuttle bus pulled out in front of him and rolled over him on November 12, 2009. The cyclist’s pelvis was fractured in multiple places and he suffered internal organ injuries in the collision. As a result of the injuries he sustained in the bicycle accident, the cyclist suffers chronic pain in his neck, back and pelvis. The settlement is believed to be one of the biggest bicycle accident lawsuit settlements in Orange County history. In this case, the driver of the shuttle bus admitted to not yielding the right of way to the cyclist. One of the most common causes of bicycle accidents is failing to yield the right of way to a cyclist. Drivers have a duty to keep others from harm, including cyclists. When a driver fails to uphold this duty, they can be held financially liable for accident-related damages. At Estey Bomberger, our California bicycle accident lawyers can help injured victims hold those responsible for an accident accountable for wrongful actions. With [...] Read more »
SEPTEMBER 8, 2009 – The family of a man killed in a northwestern Seattle bicycle accident has filed a lawsuit against the driver of the van that struck him. The bicycle crash occurred at an intersection in Ballard on February 4. Kevin D. Black, 39, died when he was struck by a 2006 Ford Econoline van attempting a U-turn. The family is requesting compensation for Black’s two daughters from the driver, and her employer, Ambient Control, based in Gig Harbor. Neither the driver or Ambient has responded to the suit so far. A trial is set for 2011.
AUGUST 31, 2009 – The Watsonville Police Department is investigating a collision between a bicycle and a Mercedes Benz that critically injured the bicyclist. The unidentified man, who appeared to be in his 50s, was struck as he rode south in the 1400 block Main Street about 3:30 p.m., police said. The victim was hauling several garbage bags full of recyclables and was wearing a straw hat instead of a helmet, investigators said. The man suffered serious head injuries and was airlifted to a San Francisco Bay Area trauma center. The driver of the Mercedes drove away from the scene, leaving a side-view mirror at the accident site. The vehicle was discovered at the driver’s home in an adjacent neighborhood, police said. The driver was not arrested, but police are planning to forward their information to the District Attorney’s Office for any possible charges, authorities said. View Larger Map