Police in Orange County are looking for a hit-and-run suspect -- a bicyclist who fled the scene after hitting and injuring another bicyclist. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the injury collision occurred the afternoon of September 13, 2010 on Los Alisos Boulevard, near Muirlands Boulevard, in Lake Forest. Two bicyclists were riding near each other, when one bicyclist pulled closer to the bike ahead and struck the rider from the left.

The collision caused the other bicyclist to fall off and break his shoulder blade and ribs. He also suffered cuts to his face and legs. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Although the bicyclist fled the scene, a witness managed to take a photo. The suspect is described as a man with dark hair in his 40s.

My heart goes out to the injured bicyclist. I wish him the very best for a quick and complete recovery. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 35 fatalities and 805 injuries involving bicycle accidents in Orange County. Also, during the same year, 17,158 hit-and-run collisions that resulted in fatalities or injuries were reported in California. There were a total of 247 deaths in 2008 involving hit-and-run collisions statewide.

The Law Relating to Bicyclists

The rights and duties of bicycle riders are clearly stated under California law and were written with the intention of keeping bicycle riders safe while sharing the roads with cars and other motorized vehicles. California Vehicle Code Section 21200 (a) states: "Every person riding a bicycle has all the rights and is subject to all the provisions applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this division."

Anyone who operates a vehicle in California is required to stop at the scene of an injury accident and wait until authorities arrive. California Vehicle Code Section 20001 (a) states: "The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person, other than himself or herself, or in the death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident."

Hit-and-Run Reward Website

As an Orange County personal injury lawyer who represents accident victims and their families, we firmly believe in the need for accountability and taking responsibility. It is this belief that prompted us to start a hit-and-run reward program with the goal of eradicating hit-and-run incidents in California. For more information about this program, to leave an anonymous tip about a suspect or to find out how you may be eligible for a $1,000 reward, please visit www.hitandrunreward.com.

Do you think it's fair that bicyclists are subject to the same rights and responsibilities as drivers of other vehicles?

a The law firm that sponsors this blog has agreed to provide a free, confidential consultation to any of our readers who were injured in this or a similar accident. The offer applies to the family of the accident victims as well. Call 866-456-5235 for assistance.

At the time this article was posted, none of the parties mentioned in this article were represented by any of our sponsoring law firms. The source of our information is cited in the article. No independent investigation was conducted unless specifically mentioned in the article. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein; get a comprehensive consultation with a reputable law firm.