A 40-year-old bicyclist sustained severe injuries in a San Diego car accident after he was hit by a van on an Interstate 8 on-ramp at Fairmount Avenue. According to a 10news report, the Grantville area accident occurred the morning of June 26, 2010. California Highway Patrol officials are still investigating this major injury accident. The cyclist is said to be in critical condition and has been hospitalized with major head injuries.

My heart goes out to this injured bicyclist and his family for what they are going through at this time. I hope this man has not sustained catastrophic injuries and pray that he recovers quickly and completely.

Bicycle Accident Statistics

According to CHP's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were three fatalities and 512 injuries involving bicycle accidents in San Diego. In San Diego County as a whole, seven people died and 959 were injured as a result of bicycle accidents during the same year.

Causes of the Accident

Based on this news report, it is not quite clear how or why this bicycle versus van collision happened. There are still several unanswered questions here. Was the driver of the van that hit the bicyclist impaired? Was he or she distracted, speeding or otherwise negligent at the time of the collision? Based on commenters responding to the news article, it appears sleeping homeless people frequently obstructed this bike path at the onramp, forcing bicyclists to go around them and enter the roadway. I would be interested to know if the city or governmental agency that maintains that bike path and roadway was aware of this situation. If so, what steps did they take to remedy the situation and make the roadway safer for bicyclists?

Claim for Compensation

In this particular case, if the driver of the van is determined to have been responsible, he or she can also be held financially liable for the serious personal injuries caused to the bicyclist. If a dangerous condition on the roadway caused this accident, then the governmental entity responsible for maintaining that roadway could also be held liable. Under California Government Code section 911.2, any such claim against a governmental entity must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury. An experienced San Diego personal injury lawyer will be able to advise victims about their legal rights and options in such cases.

What are some of the most dangerous roadways for bicyclists in your city or neighborhood?

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.