A 24-year-old woman suffered serious injuries in a San Diego car accident after she was hit by a vehicle at a street intersection. According to a news report in The San Diego Union-Tribune, the major injury collision occurred the afternoon of April 17, 2010 at the intersection of Genesee Avenue and La Jolla Village Drive close to the Westfield University Towne Centre. A 2004 Infiniti sedan heading west on La Jolla Village Drive struck the bicyclist as she rode north on Genesee. The woman suffered major head injuries, but she is expected to survive. Police say alcohol was not a factor.


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I sympathize with this victim and hope she did not suffer any catastrophic injuries in this bicycle accident. I truly hope she makes a speedy and complete recovery from her injuries. She will be in my thoughts and prayers.

San Diego Bicycle Accident Statistics

There were three fatalities and 512 injuries involving bicycle accidents in San Diego in 2008, according to California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In San Diego County as a whole, 51 deaths and 1,081 injuries were reported as a result of bicycle accidents during the same year.

Who Had the Right-of-Way

Based on this news report, the bicyclist was northbound on Genesee and the car driver was going west on La Jolla Village. It is not clear at this point who had right-of-way. One of the two apparently did not yield right-of-way here. I trust traffic investigators are looking into whose fault this accident was. Who had the right-of-way at this intersection? Did one of them run the red light? There are several questions here.

Fault and Liability

If the driver of the other vehicle was at fault, he or she could be held liable for the accident and serious injuries caused to the bicyclist. Injured victims in such cases could seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and even long-term care.

Victims or their families in such cases would be well-advised to contact an experienced San Diego personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all aspects of the accident and make sure that the negligent parties are held responsible. A skilled car accident lawyer will also be able to determine whether a dangerous condition on the roadway or at an intersection 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 as well. Please remember that any claim against a governmental entity in California must be properly filed within 180 days of the accident or injury.

Do you believe that a majority of bicycle accidents occur because the roadways are too dangerous for bicyclists and present too many hazards?

The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is 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 us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.

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