Advocacy & Safety - Bicyclist Killed in Long Beach Truck Accident

Gustavo Ramirez, 30, was killed the morning of January 5, 2010 in a Long Beach truck accident after his bicycle was struck by a big rig. According to a news report in The Press Telegram, the accident occurred at the intersection of Shoreline Drive and Shoreline Village Drive. Ramirez was riding east on the south sidewalk of Shoreline when he entered the crosswalk on the south side of the street. That was when he hit the big rig as it turned right from eastbound Shoreline onto Shoreline Village Drive. Police are still looking into what exactly caused this fatal accident. Ramirez crashed into the right side of the trailer just behind the cab. Investigators are looking into whether Ramirez might have been distracted or if he simply misjudged his speed.

I offer my deepest condolences to everyone who knew and loved this avid bicyclist. Apparently Ramirez was an experienced rider. My heart goes out to his family as well as the cycling community in Long Beach that is grieving his loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

Increase in Bicycle Accidents

There was one fatality and 186 injuries involving bicycle accidents in Long Beach in 2007, according to California Highway Patrol's traffic accident statistics. However, Long Beach officials say that between from 2007 to 2008, the city saw a 21 percent increase in bicycle versus vehicle accidents. They attribute this increase to increased ridership possibly because more people were riding to work to save money and get fit.

Was this a Dangerous Intersection?

While an investigation is still ongoing, the accident is drawing attention once again to Shoreline Drive, which does not have bicycle lanes. The city is now apparently examining this intersection and looking into the possibility of putting in a bike lane along Shoreline. City officials point out that a majority of bicycle versus vehicle accidents occur when drivers are turning right. Sometimes, this occurs because bicyclists are not paying attention and other times, it happens because drivers are negligent or inattentive. In these types of accidents, either party could be at fault.

That's exactly why victims of such accidents or their families would be well-advised to consult with a reputed Long Beach personal injury lawyer, who has a successful track record of representing bicycle accident victims. If the big rig driver was at-fault in this case, both he and his employer – the trucking company – could be held liable. A skilled car accident lawyer will also be able to look into whether the city allowed a dangerous condition to exist on Shoreline Drive or at this particular intersection. If that was the case, the city could be held liable as well. Any claim against a California governmental agency must be properly filed within six months of the accident or injury.

http://www.californiainjuryblog.com/2010/01/bike-accident-personal-injury-long-beach-010810.html

Sad. I ride by that intersection all the time. While there are no bike lanes along Shoreline on that stretch, there is a wide shoulder.

An article from the local paper about it: Press Telegram (http://www.presstelegram.com/california/ci_14134646).

Yeah, like bike lines would help... I ride on a bike line and cars and trucks turn in front of me all the time, the bike line means little to them, I have to watch for them or I'd be squashed. Poor dude wasn't paying attention :(

Adam

Do away with RTOR and require vehicle operators to take annual defensive driving courses to keep their licenses. Once you have a certain number of moving violations, no more license.

Infrastructure is only part of the solution.

Aaron:)

Gustavo Ramirez, 30, was killed the morning of January 5, 2010 in a Long Beach truck accident after his bicycle was struck by a big rig. According to a news report in The Press Telegram, the accident occurred at the intersection of Shoreline Drive and Shoreline Village Drive. Ramirez was riding east on the south sidewalk of Shoreline when he entered the crosswalk on the south side of the street. That was when he hit the big rig as it turned right from eastbound Shoreline onto Shoreline Village Drive. Police are still looking into what exactly caused this fatal accident. Ramirez crashed into the right side of the trailer just behind the cab. Investigators are looking into whether Ramirez might have been distracted or if he simply misjudged his speed.

I offer my deepest condolences to everyone who knew and loved this avid bicyclist. Apparently Ramirez was an experienced rider. My heart goes out to his family as well as the cycling community in Long Beach that is grieving his loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

Increase in Bicycle Accidents

There was one fatality and 186 injuries involving bicycle accidents in Long Beach in 2007, according to California Highway Patrol's traffic accident statistics. However, Long Beach officials say that between from 2007 to 2008, the city saw a 21 percent increase in bicycle versus vehicle accidents. They attribute this increase to increased ridership possibly because more people were riding to work to save money and get fit.

Was this a Dangerous Intersection?

While an investigation is still ongoing, the accident is drawing attention once again to Shoreline Drive, which does not have bicycle lanes. The city is now apparently examining this intersection and looking into the possibility of putting in a bike lane along Shoreline. City officials point out that a majority of bicycle versus vehicle accidents occur when drivers are turning right. Sometimes, this occurs because bicyclists are not paying attention and other times, it happens because drivers are negligent or inattentive. In these types of accidents, either party could be at fault.

That's exactly why victims of such accidents or their families would be well-advised to consult with a reputed Long Beach personal injury lawyer, who has a successful track record of representing bicycle accident victims. If the big rig driver was at-fault in this case, both he and his employer – the trucking company – could be held liable. A skilled car accident lawyer will also be able to look into whether the city allowed a dangerous condition to exist on Shoreline Drive or at this particular intersection. If that was the case, the city could be held liable as well. Any claim against a California governmental agency must be properly filed within six months of the accident or injury.

http://www.californiainjuryblog.com/2010/01/bike-accident-personal-injury-long-beach-010810.html

So the rider was in a crosswalk going from a sidewalk, it's likely the truck didn't see him, because the driver was looking for slow pedestrians, not a fast person zooming along on a bicycle. It's likely that if he was on the road, he would have been in front or behind the truck, and would not have been hit. A bicycle lane, may not have helped, because few drivers know how to properly turn right when a bicycle lane is present. Due to the size the way of treating a bicycle lane in a car and a large truck are different.

Three Public Service Announcements are needed, one for drivers, that teaches them how to deal with a bicycle lane, one for drivers that teaches them how to deal with bicycles without a bicycle lane, the third for cyclists that teaches them, never pass on the right side of a truck that has his right turn signal on.

I am very familiar with that intersection.
When riding a bicycle, the first priority is to stay alive. I cannot imagine a truck there making an unexpected move. Any time I approach an intersection, I slow and turn my head to be sure that there is no car/truck/motorcycle about to turn right without seeing me. I only proceed if they indicate that they will allow me to pass first. It does no good to refuse to yield to a driver in the wrong, but with several tons of metal with him.
I have no idea what happened to this young man.
But it emphasizes how one must pay attention 100% of the time.
dc