Bicycle Injuries
Hit and Run Suspect Finally to Face Prosecution for Bicycle Death, But What Will Help Take Care of The Family?
Posted by: Claude Wyle
November 19, 2009
The San Francisco Bay Area cycling community suffered a tragic loss last November when Mark Pendleton, a loving husband and father to two sons, was struck by a car while riding his bike. The driver of the vehicle did not stop and Pendleton died along the side of a road. As Bay Area bike attorneys, we've supported local law enforcement in their efforts to find and prosecute the motorist responsible for the serious bike accident.
Just over six months after the accident, the suspected driver of the vehicle, Harold Brown, was arrested by the CHP. Brown was booked on charges of felony hit-and-run as well as vehicular manslaughter. The arraignment is scheduled to take place within the month. Let's support Mark Pendleton's family, friends and cycling teammates by attending the arraignment. Details will be posted on a designated website: www.findmarkskiller.com.
As happy as we are that the suspect has been apprehended, we never want to overlook the financial consequences to the family. As bicycle accident attorneys we often represent bicycle riders injured by hit and run drivers. Most people are not aware that a bicycle rider injured by a hit and run motorist can make a claim for a under the uninsured motorist provision of their own auto policy? This is another good reason to carry the highest limits you can afford on your own auto policy. Your auto insurance is there to protect you in case of at fault accidents and in case someone without adequate insurance hurts you. The family of Mr. Pendleton should have by now hired a bicycle accident attorney and made a uninsured motorist claim. Even if the hit and run driver goes to jail, this will not help to take care of the killed biker's family.
Also, the Mark Pendleton Memorial Ride will take place this weekend, November 22nd 9am in Danville
Mark Pendleton's family, friends and teammates will be honoring him by inviting those who would like to celebrate his life to join his team at the Danville Peet's Coffee & Tea at 9am for a moment of reflection before setting off on a three-hour memorial ride. Information about this ride is posted to the team's home page www.c4racing.org.
Santa Clara County Agrees To Pay $800,000 for Wrongful Death of Bicyclist
Posted by: Claude Wyle
November 16, 2009
As bicyclists, all were shocked in March 2008 to learn the horrible news that Santa Clara Sheriff's Deputy James Council had crashed into several innocent bicyclists, causing the wrongful death of two riders, and badly injuring a third. As a bicycle accident attorney who handles many cases for riders against public entities, I was surprised and pleased when Santa Clara County actually accepted responsibility for this tragic bicycle crash. In tough economic times, it seems even more rare for individuals or institutions to accept liability, and extremely rare for them to make themselves financially accountable.
We reported last month that Santa Clara County did the right thing and agreed to pay $1.2 million to Karen Clarkson, the mother of one of the cyclists killed. Now I am equally pleased to report that the County has entered a settlement with the family of Kristy Gough, another injured cyclist.
We once again thank the County for accepting liability immediately, although it took over a year and a half for the County to reach this settlement. Please join me in sending prayers and condolences to Kristy Gough's family for their loss.
Bicycle Safety
Posted by: Claude Wyle
November 05, 2009
Sacramento ranks high in auto accidents, drunk driving
I was dismayed earlier this week when the California Office of Traffic Safety [OTS] released its yearly ranking of 13 cities of similar size, including Sacramento, Oakland and San Francisco, for collisions by daily vehicle miles traveled and average population.
The numbers for 2008 are not yet available, but for 2007, our great state's capital, Sacramento, ranked No. 1 in many categories related to auto collisions and drunk driving deaths and, extremely disturbing to us, bicycle injuries and fatalities. As Sacramento and Northern California personal injury attorneys, we hope that accountability will help deter this bad driving behavior and strive to make those guilty of causing drunk driving injuries fully accountable.
- For collisions with alcohol involved, Sacramento ranked first with 478 victims killed and injured.
- For collisions where the driver had been drinking (HBD) both under age 21 and ages 21 to 34, Sacramento came in first with a combined 214 victims killed and injured.
- Sacramento ranked first by population for total fatal and injury collisions with 4,404 victims killed and injured.
- Sacramento also ranked first for collisions involving bicyclists by population, speed-related collisions by population and nighttime collisions by population. Nighttime collisions were defined as occurring between 9 p.m. and 2:59 a.m.
