Christopher Alan Winkel, 26, was killed in an Orange County, California bicycle accident the afternoon of November 7, 2009, The Orange County reports. Huntington Beach police responded to reports of an injured bicyclist at the intersection of Brookhurst Street and Banning Avenue. Winkel was found lying unconscious on the sidewalk. He was pronounced dead at an area hospital. Police are still looking into who or what caused this fatal accident. Anyone who witnessed this accident is asked to call Huntington Beach police at 714-536-5666.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Christopher Alan Winkel for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved this young man. They will be in my prayers.

Huntington Beach Bicycle Accidents

There was one death and 105 injuries involving bicycle accidents in Huntington Beach, according to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Countywide, 16 people died and 1,020 were injured as a result of bicycle accidents in 2007. Also, in Orange County as a whole, car accidents claimed 178 lives and injured 14,185 during the same period.

Based on this newspaper report, it is not clear how or why this bicycle accident occurred. This fatal accident happened at a busy intersection in Huntington Beach. It seems to me that another vehicle must have been involved and must have left the scene of the accident, although officials are not yet saying that. There are more questions than answers in this case right now. Where was Winkel riding his bike at the time of the accident? Was he hit by another vehicle? If so, did the driver's negligence cause Winkel's fatal accident? Was that driver impaired, distracted, speeding or negligent in any other way? Was there a dangerous condition at that intersection, which may have caused or contributed to this accident?

Was This a Hit-and-Run Car Accident?

If this was a hit-and-run accident, the driver who left the scene with this injured victim lying on the roadway, must be apprehended and brought to justice. Hit-and-run is a serious crime under California law. California Vehicle Code section 20001 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."

I'm sure the Winkel family has many unanswered questions right now. They deserve to know who or what exactly caused this fatal injury crash and if someone else's negligence played a role in it. Families of victims in such situations would be well-advised to schedule a consultation with a reputed Orange County personal injury lawyer, who has successfully pursued negligent drivers and held them accountable. If a dangerous condition on the roadway caused this accident, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway could also be held liable. Any claim against a governmental entity in California must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury.

We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.