LOS FRESNOS — A man who was riding his bicycle is in critical condition after being hit by a car January 10 in Los Fresnos.
According to a Los Fresnos Police Department news release, the man was riding north on FM 803 when he was struck by an SUV shortly before 6:00 p.m. The collision happened in front of the Los Fresnos United 9th and 10th Grade Campus, according to police.
The statement indicated that the driver of the SUV did stop to render aid. The cyclist was transported to a local hospital, and at last report he was in critical condition. The names of the victim and the driver had not been released as of this writing.
The investigation was still ongoing at the time of this report.
Auto-Bicycle accident liability
Under Texas law, bicyclists are expected to follow most of the same rules of the road as automobile drivers do. Additionally, there are regulations specifically applied to cyclists. Under these rules, cyclists must:
- ride in designated bike lanes or on the far right-hand side of the road
- use hand signals to announce turns and stops
- use only bicycles with the required lights and reflectors when riding at night
- obey local ordinances governing bicycles on sidewalks
- not carry another person while cycling
Cyclists can still qualify for compensation even if partly to blame
Texas has a modified comparative negligence law in personal injury cases. That means a cyclist must be less than 51 percent responsible for the collision in order to be eligible for compensation. Any award or judgment will reflect the rider’s percentage of culpability.
Get legal advice
Establishing liability in these cases is often complex, which is why you should contact the personal injury lawyers at the J. Gonzalez Law Firm. They have years of experience handling bicycle personal injury cases, so they know if qualify for compensation and what it will take to win your case.
Remember, cyclists have a legal right to pursue available compensation even if they are partly to blame for an accident, and regardless of any criminal charges brought against the driver. Seeking recoverable compensation is a separate, civil action. Texas statutes allow you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit.
So call the J. Gonzalez Law Firm today at 1-800-CAR CRASH, or set up an appointment via this website.
