Santa Maria has installed bike lanes in several parts of the city. But these lanes still provide spotty protection from careless drivers who travel local streets. A large truck is especially hazardous for bicyclists to be traveling around. Special care must be taken to keep the larger dimensions of a truck out of bike lanes.
A small distraction can leave a driver veering out of a lane and into the path of a bicycle without realizing it. A defenseless cyclist might suffer broken bones and other life-threatening injuries in an impact with a vehicle.
Bicyclist Struck by Truck in Santa Maria
A man on a bicycle was hit by a truck Tuesday afternoon in northern Santa Maria. KSBY-TV reported on the accident that occurred near the intersection of Donovan Road and North Broadway on January 31, 2023.
Santa Maria responded to the accident sometime around 3 p.m. They found a male victim whose bicycle had been struck by a truck along Broadway. Photos from the scene show a damaged bicycle on the sidewalk near a northbound bike lane.
An update on the rider’s condition has not been released. Santa Maria Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision.
Finding Assistance for Bicycle Accident Victims and Their Families
Riders can make themselves visible and follow all traffic laws and distracted drivers can still make an error in judgment and endanger a bicyclist. A lane switch without checking a mirror or even a driver looking at a phone can unknowingly veer over into a cyclist’s lane.
People on bikes travel unprotected and defenseless and that’s why motorists are required to show them due caution no matter where they encounter them. When drivers cause collisions, victims or their families are permitted to file a claim for damages against their insurance company. This claim can help bicyclists pay for hospital bills and help keep them afloat financially while they have to miss time at work.
People hurt in bicycle accidents have up to two years to file this claim over their injuries, but it’s not advised that you wait that entire time to file. The sooner an attorney knows about what happened to you the easier it will be to gather evidence, secure witnesses, and request important documents. These details will all be necessary when you prove that a driver’s negligence was completely to blame for your injuries.
Contact a Santa Maria Bicycle Accident Lawyer
If you are the victim of a reckless driver, you deserve time to heal and work towards getting back on your bike without the stress of mounting hospital bills on top of your normal monthly bills. At-fault drivers and their insurance providers should be front and center to provide anything you need as you recover.
Contact an experienced Santa Maria Bicycle Accident Lawyer such as Martin Gasparian for a free consultation and case evaluation. Mr. Gasparian, the founder of Maison Law, takes a hands-on approach to every case. There’s no obligation, but if you feel Maison Law can help you get more for your bicycle accident injury claim, you don’t have to worry about having the money to hire a lawyer. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for you.
