A bicycle accident in the Lane County area of Oregon has led to the third cyclist fatality of the year for the state. The cyclist was riding along the road on the shoulder when he apparently attempted to cross the street, leading to the bicycle accident. He was struck by an oncoming truck that was towing a trailer. It is not indicated if the cyclist properly signaled before crossing or if he saw the oncoming traffic.
Oregon law enforcement has not indicated if the truck driver could be at fault for the accident for any reason. There are a number of factors that often contribute to this type of accident, including distracted driving or failure to see a cyclist. Additional details of the accident have not been released, but it is known that the man on the bicycle died despite the fact that he was wearing a helmet.
The other fatal bicycle accidents that occurred this calendar year emphasize the importance of drivers exercising caution when in the vicinity of bicycles. Many of these types of accidents could be prevented simply by driving cautiously and vigilantly. Drivers of larger vehicles carry the burden of responsibility to be aware when there is a bike in the area.
If a person is injured or killed in a bicycle accident that is related to the actions of another driver, it is possible that he or she could be eligible for a type of financial compensation. Victims or the family of a victim could explore the possibility of personal injury or wrongful death compensation sought in a civil lawsuit. This monetary recompense is granted when there is substantiating evidence proving that the victim has needlessly suffered because of a preventable reason.
Source: oregonlive.com, “Bike rider killed in Lane County after crossing in front of pickup, state police say“, Andre Meunier, June 4, 2014
