California Car Accident Reports

A 9-year-old boy sustained fatal injuries in an Orange County car accident after he was struck by a vehicle while attempting to ride across the street. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the boy was riding his bike home from school the afternoon of December 3, 2008 at the intersection of Orangewood Avenue and Loara Street in Anaheim. The driver of a raised Ford F-250 truck was headed westbound on Orangewood Avenue and stopped at the stop sign, at the intersection, Anaheim police said. Seeing the truck stop, the boy attempted to get across the street. But the driver of the pickup truck failed to see the boy, started driving and hit him. The child was taken to an area hospital in critical condition, but died shortly afterward. The boy was wearing a helmet.

My heart goes out to the family of this child for their heartbreaking loss. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved this boy. Please keep them in your prayers.

Bicycle Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), one death and 96 injuries were reported as a result of bicycle accidents in Anaheim, California. In Orange County as a whole, 16 fatalities and 1,020 injuries were occurred involving bicycle accidents in 2007. Also, according to a group called Safe Kids, more than 70 percent of children between 5 and 14 years old ride bicycles. In 2001, 134 children ages 14 and under were killed in bicycle accidents. In 2002, nearly 288,900 children ages 14 and under were sent to emergency rooms for bicycle accident related injuries.

Police are calling this an "ugly, ugly accident." The driver of the truck apparently told police that he "never saw the boy on the bike." The driver has not been cited pending a police investigation. There's no doubt that this is a tragic accident.

What Caused the Fatal Accident?

However, the question here is why did he not see the boy. He was in a large pickup truck and very often, drivers of passenger vehicles fail to watch out for smaller vehicles such as motorcycles, bicycles and also, pedestrians on the roadway. I trust officials are looking into whether there was any recklessness or negligence on the part of this motorist.

In any car accident case that involves serious injuries or fatalities, victims and/or their families would be well-advised to consult an experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer, who will follow up with the official investigation and make sure that the family's legal rights are protected. A skilled car accident lawyer will also be able to determine whether there was a dangerous condition on the roadway, which may have caused or contributed to this fatal injury accident. If that was the case, the city of Anaheim could be held liable for the boy's death as well. Any claim against a city or governmental agency must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury, according to California Government Code.

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.