A bicyclist was injured in a Riverside car accident after he was struck by a vehicle, near Murrieta, California. According to a City News Service report, the bicyclist was riding near the intersection of Clinton Keith Road and Avenida La Cresta, close to the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve, the afternoon of December 9, 2009, when he was hit. The motorist involved fled the scene of the crash, California Highway Patrol officials said. They say the suspect vehicle was a dark blue Honda Civic, which was last seen heading west on Clinton Keith. The extent of the bicyclist's injuries is not known.

I sympathize with this injured victim. I sincerely hope the bicyclist did not sustain major or catastrophic injuries and has a fast and complete recovery. I trust CHP officials will soon apprehend the hit-and-run driver and bring him or her to justice.

Riverside Bicycle Accidents

According to CHP's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 24 injuries were reported in Murrieta as a result of bicycle accidents. In Riverside County as a whole, eight people died and 325 were injured due to bicycle accidents during the same year. Countywide, 279 fatalities and 9,925 injuries occurred in 2007 involving car accidents.

Based on this news report, it is not clear where exactly on the roadway the bicyclist was at the time of the collision. That said, irrespective of whose fault this collision was, the driver should have remained at the scene. That's exactly what is required under California law. According to California Vehicle Code section 20001: "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."

A Reputed Injury Lawyer Can Help

In such cases, injured victims would be well-advised to seek the counsel of a reputed California personal injury lawyer, who has a successful track record holding negligent drivers accountable for their actions. A skilled car accident lawyer will also be able to look into whether there was a dangerous condition on that roadway, which may have caused or contributed to the accident.

If that was the case, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could be held liable and the victim would have to file the claim within 180 days of the accident or injury, as required by California Government Code. A knowledgeable injury lawyer will also advise victims about how their own car insurance policy applies to a hit-and-run accident or an incident involving an uninsured or underinsured motorist.

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.