Last weekend in Valley Center a 35-year-old man was rushed to Palomar Regional Medical Center with serious injuries after his bike collided with a vehicle at the intersection of Woods Valley road and Cool water Ranch road.
The bike accident occurred around 6 a.m. on Sunday morning, when the driver of a Mitsubishi 3000 GT attempted to make a left turn but failed to notice the oncoming cyclist. The driver slammed on his brakes, but was unable to avoid the man, who was thrown from his bike, landed on the car’s windshield and then rolled onto the ground.
Police have not filed any charges against the driver, and do not suspect alcohol or drugs played a part in the incident. Bike awareness is extremely important for all motorists as well as other cyclists and pedestrians, but unfortunately there are times when other factors such as traffic, limited visibility and distracted driving can make it more difficult to avoid unfortunate accidents. In this case the accident occurred in the early morning hours, during a time when environmental light conditions may make spotting a cyclist even more difficult.
Whether or not they have had their morning cup of coffee yet, drivers need to be aware of cyclists, who are relatively defenseless and at risk of serious injury in collisions with cars. Cyclists can take steps such as wearing appropriate visibility-enhancing clothing and abiding by traffic laws, but oftentimes, unfortunately, accidents still occur. A cyclist who has been in an accident may want to contact an experienced personal injury attorney to ask about eligibility for damages when a negligent driver or pedestrian or unsafe condition is the cause of injury.
Source: San Diego Union-Tribune, “Bicyclist suffers major injuries in Valley Center crash,” by Matt Clark, September 16, 2012
