A 17-year-old boy riding his bike was injured in a car accident after he was hit by a vehicle the afternoon of August 9, 2010. According to a news report in The Foothills Sun-Gazette, the injury collision occurred at the intersection of Rocky Hill Drive and Kaweah Avenue near Exeter High School in Exeter, California.

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The boy was riding his bicycle west on Rocky Hill Drive when a Chrysler PT Cruiser traveling north on Kaweah Avenue struck him. The PT Cruiser was going at about 35 mph. The teenager was knocked unconscious, rolled onto the hood of the PT Cruiser and cracked the front windshield. His injuries, however, were not life-threatening. No arrests have been made in connection with this incident pending an official investigation.

My thoughts and prayers are with this bicycle accident victim. I'm relieved to hear that his injuries were not life-threatening. I sincerely hope he recovers quickly and completely from his injuries.

Bicycle Accidents

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were no fatalities, but one injury involving bicycle accident in Exeter. In Tulare County as a whole one person died and 90 were injured as a result of bicycle accidents during the same year.

Right-of-Way Issues

It is unclear from this report what caused this bicycle accident. Who had the right-of-way at that intersection? It appears that one of the vehicles, either the PT Cruiser or the bicycle may have failed to yield-right-of-way. According to California Vehicle Code section 21800(a): "The driver of a vehicle approaching an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle which has entered the intersection from a different highway." I trust officials are also looking into whether the motorist was impaired, distracted, speeding or otherwise negligent at the time of the collision.

Liability Issues

If the driver of the PT Cruiser is determined to have been at fault, then, he or she could be held liable for the victim's injuries. Victims or their families in such cases would be well-advised to contact an experienced California personal injury lawyer, who will stay abreast of the investigation and make sure that their legal rights are preserved. A skilled car accident attorney will also be able to determine if there was a dangerous condition on this roadway, which led to this injury collision. If that was the case, the city or school district could also be held liable for allowing such as dangerous condition to exist. Please remember that any personal injury claim against a governmental entity in California must be filed within 180 days of the incident.

Do your children wear helmets when they ride their bikes at all times?

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.