Huntington Beach: Van Struck 11-Year-Old Bicyclist

Some time around 8:30 this morning, a van struck an 11-year-old bicyclist in Huntington Beach. The accident occurred at the intersection Brookdale Lane and Sunridge Drive. Despite wearing a helmet, the boy sustained head injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital, explains an Orange County bicycle accident attorney. 

When collecting accident statistics, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration classifies bicyclists and the riders of two-wheeled nonmotorized vehicles, tricycles, and unicycles as pedalcyclists. Nationwide, this group suffered 716 fatalities and 52,000 injuries in 2008. The states that accounted for the highest number of deaths were Florida (125) and California (109). Fatal accidents occurred more frequently in urban areas (69%), at non-intersection locations (64%), between the hours of 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. (28%), and during the months of June (9%) and September (12%). 

 

The NHTSA attributed the majority of fatal bicycle-verses-vehicle accidents to five causes:

• Driver distraction.
• A driver turns left into the lane in which the bicycle rider is traveling. 
• A driver passes a cyclist and slows down before making a right turn. 
• A bicycle rider attempts to cross an intersection before a vehicle that has the right of way.
• A driver pulls away from a parking space or exits an alley or driveway without first checking for bicyclists. 

Many accidents result from driver neglect: the driver fails to watch for bicyclists. In such cases, the driver may be held liable for any property damage, medical bills, and lost wages the bicycle rider incurs. 

Everyone at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to wish the 11-year-old bicyclist injured this morning in Huntington Beach a full recovery.

The Orange County Register originally reported this van-verses-bicycle accident. 

Additional information, including articles on bicycle safety tips and accident victims’ rights, is available to the public free of charge. 

To request an article or a book, or to speak with an Orange County bicycle accident attorney, feel free to call 866-981-5596.