2 Tragic Bicycle Accidents in and Around Hermosa Beach — and How to Stay Safe
Cycling accounts for 1% of all commutes in America. While it is an excellent way of exercising and can help reduce your carbon footprint, cycling can also be dangerous to cyclists and other road users.
According to the CDC, approximately 1,000 cyclists die yearly on American roads. Some states have a higher prevalence of bicycle accidents, with subtropical and tropical regions having a higher prevalence of tragic cyclist incidents because of their fair cycling-friendly weather all year round.
Tragic Cyclist Accidents around Hermosa Beach, CA
Hermosa Beach is a popular beachfront city along the Los Angeles County coast. Thanks to its fair weather, it is perfect for bicycle lovers allowing them to ride their bikes any day of the year.
As bicycle friendly as the city is, it still gets a significant share of bicycle accidents, some of which are tragic, with some gaining notable attention from local news outlets. Some of these include:
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The Rolling Coal Kid Incident
In September 2021, a 16-year-old boy ran into four cyclists training for an event going down that weekend. The intention of the boy was to coal roll the riders. Unfortunately, he rammed into four cyclists.
Rolling coal can seem fun, but it can sometimes cause tragedy, including accidents and health problems for people inhaling this smoke. It is also a criminal offense, but surprisingly, the 16-year-old was not ticketed or arrested for the crime.
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A 13-Year-Old Redondo Beach Girl Killed by a Bus.
In May 2017, 13-year-old Ciara Smith was riding her bicycle with a friend along one of the city’s highways when she strayed into the wrong lane and was struck by a bus.
According to the police report, Ciara Smith died at the accident scene. The police report did not point to any wrongdoing by the metro bus driver.
According to the company contracted to operate the bus line, the girl hit the bus’ right side, a theory supported by video footage from nearby businesses.
Getting Compensation if Your Bicycle Is Hit by a Car
In the two incidents mentioned above, the one involving the 16-year-old boy should have seen the boy held liable for the accident. In the second case, the bus driver or the company may not be at fault because the evidence points to the girl hitting the bus, not the other way around.
When a cyclist gets into a collision with a car, the odds of surviving the crash can be significantly low. Even when they survive, the injuries sustained can be life-altering. The good news is that you can recover damages if someone else is to blame for the accident.
The first step in recovering compensation would be filing a claim with the driver. Before filing your injury claim, it is best to discuss your legal rights with a bicycle accident lawyer who can also help you determine if your case is worth pursuing or not.
How to Stay Safe on the Road
While you could receive compensation for damages suffered after an accident, no level of compensation can bring back the old you. So it’s best to avoid getting into an accident in the first place.
The first thing you want to do when riding on the road is obey the traffic rules like other road users. If an accident occurs while you violate traffic rules, you may lose out on compensation and be held liable for damages to the other party.
Also, wearing bright-colored clothes can help improve your visibility which is a significant factor in bicycle accidents. Riding in the dark is not advisable and should only happen when unavoidable. If you must, ensure that you have installed lights on your bike to improve visibility. If your city has bike lanes, stick to them to avoid sharing roads with cars.