Category: Bicycle Accidents

Bicycling is becoming increasingly popular among adults in the Valley, yet many motorists continue to ignore the rights of cyclists to ride in the roads. This can lead to dangerous situations where a collision between a cyclist and a vehicle can occur, often resulting in serious or even fatal injuries to the cyclist.

When an accident leaves an injured victim, whether that victim is in a car, on a bicycle, or walking as a pedestrian, the victim may be entitled under Phoenix and Arizona laws to bring a claim against the responsible person for their damages. Often, this includes any medical bills incurred by the victim and any pain and suffering that results from injuries. Lawyers in the Valley can help victims determine whether they may be able to bring a claim after a bicycle accident.

It appears that one such tragic bicycle accident occurred in Scottsdale on Tuesday where a bicyclist and a car collided. Police are still investigating the incident but at this time, it appears that the car and the cyclist were traveling in the same direction on Thomas Road in the area of 58th Street when a collision occurred. Police suspect that the driver of the car may have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of impact in violation of local and state laws.

It is not clear whether the driver of the car was injured but the bicyclist was critically hurt and was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries. The accident halted traffic in the area for several hours.
Continue reading “Scottsdale Bicyclist Critically Injured After Being Hit by Car”

Most people who have spent time in Tucson realize that bicycling is a popular activity and that the town is well-designed to accommodate cycling by those of all ages. Daily ridership makes up a large portion of all rides of the year but special events draw much of the attention. One of these, El Tour de Tucson, has been popular with riders across the state for years.

Annually, El Tour de Tucson draws over 9,000 bicyclists of all ages to participate in the activities. The main race is 107 miles long though shorter routes of 87, 57, and 38 miles are also available. The event requires riders to bike in the street but local police are present at all intersections to make the trip as safe as possible for all cyclists involved and those drivers that happen upon the race.

In the history of El Tour de Tucson, only a few incidents between riders and motorists have occurred and prior to this year, only one was fatal, leading to little need for riders to be concerned about their safety and the need for a bicycle accident lawyer. However this may no longer be the case as another tragic incident occurred that left a cyclist dead in this year’s race.

Authorities believe that a 59-year-old Tucson resident was participating in the race and was riding in a designated bicycle lane marked for El Tour de Tucson on Saturday afternoon when a car driven by an elderly man began to approach. For an unknown reason, the car was traveling in the lane marked for bicycle traffic only and was rapidly gaining on the rider.

The driver collided with the rear of the bicycle ridden by the Tucson man, throwing the bicyclist to the ground and fatally injuring him along a frontage road to Interstate 10 near Sunset. It does not appear that the driver of the car, reported as a Nissan Leaf, was impaired at the time of the collision but there has been no explanation as to why the man was driving in a bicycle lane designated and enclosed by cones.
Continue reading “Bicyclist Killed While Riding in El Tour de Tucson”

Bike share programs have been popular and successful overseas for some time now but only recently have they been cropping up around this country, landing in large, urban markets and bringing non-motorized transportation to millions. The prime example of this has been Capital Bikeshare, the bike sharing program in Washington, D.C. that has been widely used by residents and tourists alike seeking another way to get around town without the expense of a taxi, inconvenience of a car, or limitations of public transit.

Yet as bike accident lawyers in Arizona and across the nation know, Washington D.C., once the outlier in this segment, is starting to become the norm. In fact, Denver, Colorado was the first large city to install a bike share program back in April of 2010. Since then, bike shares have put down roots in New York City, Chicago, Miami Beach, Boulder, Boston, Minneapolis, Columbus, and Salt Lake City, to name a few. This list is growing every year and come 2014, Phoenix will add its name to the metropolitan areas offering bike shares.

Before you can understand the implications of a Phoenix bike share program, it is important to grasp the basic concepts of what a bike share program is and how it functions. In its simplest terms, a bike share program is a group of bicycles available for public rental, either by the hour, day, week, or year, depending on where you live and what subscription you use. The bikes are generally found at unmanned docking stations that also serve to “lock” the bikes when not in use, preventing theft or damage to the equipment. Anyone who wants to rent a bicycle can do so through the use of a debit or credit card and can ride the bike as they please until they no longer need it, returning it to the same docking station it was found or to any other participating docking station. The check-out time and check-in time are used to calculate any charges which are billed to the card on file.

Phoenix’s bike share program is set to function in a similar fashion. Named Grid Bike Share, the bikes will initially be present in Phoenix and will then expand to offer locations in Mesa and Tempe as well. The bikes can be located and rented using a smart phone app or by going online to the bike share’s website once the program officially begins. By spring of 2014, approximately 1,000 bikes should be available for rental at $5 per hour, $30 per month, or $79 dollars per year.
Continue reading “Plans in Place for a Valley Bike Share Program”

The man charged with hitting and killing a neurologist had pleaded guilty to the offense, according to local authorities. The plea stems from an October incident in Fountain Hills where a 38-year-old neurologist was riding his bicycle in a bicycle lane of Shea Boulevard. A driver in a Chevrolet pickup truck approached the bicyclist from behind and struck him, then the truck driver fled the scene.

An eye witness saw the crash and saw the truck driver stop near 134th Street, exit his truck and examine it, as if he was looking for damage. The driver re-entered his car and continued on his way without ever checking on the cyclist or without calling authorities. Fortunately, the eye witness noted the truck’s make, model, and license plate number and called 911. Police officers were able to track the truck driver by the license plate and arrested the 33-year-old man who was behind the wheel at the time of the crash. The defendant was charged with felony leaving the scene of a fatal traffic crash and on Friday, he pleaded guilty. He is awaiting sentencing which is currently set for September 6.

Initially, after his arrest, the defendant told police officers that his truck was damaged in a parking lot where he worked. He later said that he thought he hit a barricade on the way home. The victim died at the scene of the accident from his injuries, and police later disclosed his identity as a well-respected neurologist at St. Joseph’s Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. He is survived by a wife and other family members.

Arizona law makes it a crime to leave the scene of an accident before speaking with police. Doing so it not only illegal but it can be deadly. If another person is injured in a crash to the point that they cannot call for help, a fleeing driver may leave that victim with no chance at medical attention until it is too late.
Continue reading “Guilty Plea from Man Who Killed Doctor on Bicycle, Fled Scene”

Residents and visitors to Phoenix may soon have a new option to travel around the city. Reports indicate that Phoenix is planning to start a bike share program locally and hopes to launch it by December.

Bike shares have become increasingly popular across the nation. With major programs in some of the biggest cities, it is not surprising that Phoenix is showing an interest as well. With a focus on alternative transportation as well as low-cost travel, a bike share program may be a great option for many in Phoenix.

Bike sharing allows people who want to borrow a bicycle to check one out or rent one from a designated location. Most use docking stations that operate automatically so that there are no labor costs associated with the individual stations. A bicyclist is usually required to pay with a debit or credit card so that the user can be tracked in the even a bicycle is lost or damaged. The rider checks out a bicycle from one station, rides to their desired location, and returns the bicycle to another station. Some cities charge a fee based on an individual ride while others offer unlimited rides for a monthly or yearly subscription.

Phoenix plans to begin with about 500 bicycles but hopes to expand to around 2,000 bikes. Pricing information has not yet been released but city officials have suggested that it will be an affordable option for many in the valley.

In addition to providing cheap and efficient transportation, bicycles provide an option to get physical exercise while traveling. Additionally, one of the biggest benefits may be the lack of pollution produced by bicycles when compared with other means of transit, specifically private cars. While the mountains surrounding the valley create a picturesque view, unfortunately they trap smog and other pollutants in the valley’s air, lowering the air quality. Experts believe that cars, trucks, and vans contribute significantly to this problem and that reducing these vehicles is an effective way to improve air quality.
Continue reading “Phoenix To Get a Bike Share Program”

Mesa and Gilbert will see hundreds of cyclists take to the streets tonight for Ride of Silence, an international movement to highlight those injured and killed while cycling. The silent ride will begin at 7:00 p.m. at Mountain View Park in Mesa and will follow an 11 mile route south to Freestone Park in Gilbert before finishing back at Mountain View.

Ride of Silence began in 2003 in Dallas, Texas after a cyclist was killed by a passing bus. The ride is open to the public and free to join with no registration needed. Cyclists all over the globe are encouraged to band together for a silent ride in honor and memory of those bicyclists who have been injured or killed in accidents.

The idea behind Ride of Silence is to draw attention to the cycling community so that motorists are more aware of cyclists and their use of the roads. If more motorists are aware of bikes and are actively alert for riders, the belief is that fewer collisions will occur, resulting in fewer bicyclists being injured or killed in Arizona and across the world.

Organizers have several rides throughout Arizona scheduled all for 7:00 p.m. tonight as May 15 has been the designated date for northern hemisphere rides. Participating groups in the southern hemisphere are preparing for rides to take place on Saturday which is also used for northern cities that experience inclement weather tonight.

As the goal of the ride is to increase awareness and safety, all participants are encouraged to wear bicycle helmets and to follow all local laws during the ride. As the name suggests, there is no chanting, shouting, or even quiet talking during the trip – riders are encouraged to remain silent so their presence as a unified group makes the statement as opposed to individualized words from the riders themselves.

Bicycle safety is a major concern in Arizona where 1,910 bicycle crashes occurred in 2011. Of those collisions, 1,586 resulted in injuries and 23 crashes proved fatal. The most common causes of death among bicyclists are head and brain injuries but broken bones, internal injuries, cuts and scrapes, and puncture wounds are also relatively common. The best way to avoid crashes is to ride defensively and always wear a helmet. The fact is that even though motorists should always be cautious of cyclists, many are not and collisions often occur.