A bicyclist was injured in a San Francisco car accident that occurred at a street intersection, during the early morning hours of January 8, 2012. According to a news report in The San Francisco Examiner, the bicycle accident happened at Ocean and Geneva avenues, near the City College of San Francisco, in the Balboa Park neighborhood. Officials say a car struck the bicycle. But they have not released information regarding how the collision occurred. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital with unknown injuries. It is not clear if the car's driver will be cited for the crash, as an investigation is still pending.

My thoughts and prayers are with the injured bicyclist in this San Francisco accident. I wish the victim the very best for a complete and speedy recovery.

San Francisco Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), San Francisco bicycle accidents caused one fatality and 534 injuries. During that same year, there were 39 fatalities and 3,405 injuries reported due to car crashes in San Francisco.

What Caused This Injury Accident?

Based on this news report, the car hit the bicyclist at the intersection. Was the driver speeding, driving distracted, inattentive or otherwise negligent? Was the driver fatigued? Did the motorist fail to obey the traffic control devices at the intersection? It is common for negligent drivers to strike bicyclists at intersections because such motorists overlook smaller vehicles and pedestrians. Under California law, bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers of other vehicles.

Liability Issues

If the driver of the vehicle is determined to have been at fault in this case, he or she can be held liable for the injuries and damages caused. Injured victims can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related damages. An experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer will be able to determine whether a dangerous intersection may have caused or contributed to the incident. If that was the case, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway can also be held liable. Under California Government Code Section 911.2, any personal injury claim against a governmental entity must be filed within six months of the incident.