A bicycle accident in San Diego resulted in serious injuries for a rider identified as Michael Schaffer. According to a KGTV news report, the injury collision occurred on Smilax Road in San Marcos the evening of August 6, 2010, when Schaffer was cycling across the street. He was struck by a Ford Explorer SUV driven by Charles Martin. Schaffer was thrown onto the SUV's hood and was carried about 35 feet. He sustained serious head injuries. An investigation is ongoing.

I hope Shaffer has not sustained catastrophic injuries in this crash. I wish him the very best for a swift and full recovery.

Car Accidents

There were four fatalities and 271 injuries involving car accidents car accidents in San Marcos in 2008, according to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In San Diego County as a whole, 246 people died and 13,527 were injured as a result of car accidents during the same year.

Causes and Liability Issues

Based on this information, it is not clear how or why this accident occurred. Was the driver of the SUV impaired, distracted or otherwise negligent at the time? Was there a dangerous condition on the roadway which may have caused or contributed to this incident? Did either Shaffer or Martin fail to yield right-of-way or run a red light? If the driver of the SUV is determined to have been at fault here, he could be held liable for Shaffer's serious injuries.

An experienced San Diego personal injury lawyer will be able to advise injured victims about their legal rights and options in such cases. If a dangerous or defective roadway condition caused or contributed to the crash, then, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway could also be held liable. Please remember that any personal injury claim against a public entity in California must be properly filed within six months of an incident.

Are there any roadways in your city or neighborhood that are unsafe for bicyclists?

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.