As more members of our community bicycle to work, school, and for exercise, there’s been an unfortunate increase in fatalities and serious injuries to bicyclists. Many motorists do not realize that bicyclists have the same rights under the California Vehicle Code to occupy the roadway as does a motor vehicle. Further, many motorists are inattentive and even unaware of the presence of bicyclists on the roadway.
A recent bicycle injury case handled by Michael Crowley of the Janssen Law Firm illustrates the problem. Mr. Crowley represented a 46-year old apartment complex maintenance worker who was riding her bicycle home from work on Union Street between Henderson and Harris Streets in Eureka when she was struck by a flatbed-semi driven by a trucker employed by a commercial trucking company. The driver left the scene of the accident, and was later found by the police, stating he was unaware that he had struck anyone.