Open Accessibility Menu

Our Results

Bicyclist Killed After Suspected DUI Accident

Casper, Meadows, Schwartz & Cook

A 55-year-old California man riding a motorized bicycle was killed on Sept. 1 in an accident also involving a 51-year-old driver. Authorities detained the driver of the car on suspicion of DUI and were continuing to investigate the collision one day after the incident, which took place around 6:30 p.m. at an intersection in Huntington Beach.

According to preliminary investigative results, the bicycle and car were both traveling southbound when the car hit the bicycle. The bicyclist suffered critical injuries in the collision. Bystanders were attending to the man when authorities responded, and he was later transported to UCI Medical Center, where he died from his injuries. Police officers interviewed the driver of the car and later arrested him.

Bicyclists are particularly susceptible to the dangers that drunk drivers pose. With little to no protection against the force of an impact with an erratically driven motor vehicle, bicyclists may suffer fatal injuries such as brain damage, crushed bones, excessive blood loss and other catastrophic bodily harm.

Although a criminal verdict has no direct impact on civil proceedings, information brought to light in a criminal court might prove useful to an attorney seeking compensation via a wrongful death claim for the family members of a person killed in a car accident. Usable information in a civil case might include details from a police interview with the defendant, witness reports and the findings of the crash reconstruction team. A successful claim may allow the victim's family to recover compensation for hospital bills, funeral costs and any other accident-related expenses.

Source: KTLA, "Officials Identify Huntington Beach Bicyclist, 55, Killed in Suspected DUI Crash", John Moreno , September 03, 2014

Categories: