A teenager was injured in a bicycle accident the afternoon of August 9, 2010 after he was struck by a vehicle near Exeter High School. The Foothills Sun-Gazette reports that the collision happened close to the intersection of Rocky Hill Drive and Kaweah Avenue. The bicyclist was westbound on Rocky Hill while a Chrysler PT Cruiser was heading north on Kaweah. The teen was injured, but he is expected to survive. An investigation is ongoing.

It is indeed fortunate that this boy did not sustain catastrophic injuries in this car accident. I hope and pray that he will have a swift and complete recovery.

Car Accident Statistics

One fatality and 11 injuries were reported involving car accidents in Exeter in 2008, according to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In Tulare County as a whole, 65 people died and 1,724 were injured as a result of car accidents in 2008.

Laws and Liability Issues

California Vehicle Code section 21800(a) states: "The driver of a vehicle approaching an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle which has entered the intersection from a different highway." Based on this news report, it is not clear who was at fault for this collision. If the driver of the Chrysler was at fault, then he or she could be held financially responsible for the accident and injuries caused to the teen.

I'm certain this teen victim's family has many unanswered questions at the moment. They surely deserve to know who or what was responsible for this injury crash and if someone else's negligence played a part. If this accident was the result of a dangerous roadway condition, then, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could also be held liable.

Under California Government Code section 911.2, any personal injury claim against a public entity must be filed within six months of the accident or injury. The best California personal injury lawyers will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive claim evaluation to injured victims and their families.

Do your children wear helmets when they ride their bikes at all times?

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.