Bike Friendly Los Angeles Witnesses a Surge In Hit-and-Run Auto v. Bicycle Accidents

The number of bicyclists is slowly growing in Los Angeles, according to new federal data. In fact, in the last five years, Los Angeles has added more than 120 miles of bicycle lanes to accommodate the number of Angelenos who are commuting by bike.

However, the rise in the use of bicycles, as both a mode of transportation and recreation, also means the rise in accidents involving bicyclists. Even more concerning is the troubling rise in hit-and-run collisions involving bicyclists, which surged 42% between 2002 to 2012.

One Tragic Example: The Sad Case of Paul Livingston

The case of Paul Livingston is one of thousands of examples involving hit-and-run auto versus bicycle accidents. In June 2011, a car slammed into Paul at a red light in Beverly Hills, throwing him from his bike. The musician, then 35, spent more than three years struggling to recover and to seek accountability from the driver who hit him and drove away.

Paul is one of 5,600 bicyclists who were injured between 2002 and 2012 by drivers who fled the scene of the accident. Federal data shows that approximately one-fifth of hit-and-runs involving bicycles occur in five Southern California neighborhoods: Long Beach, downtown Los Angeles, Van Nuys, North Hollywood and Santa Monica. The majority of the victims are age 18 or younger.

Call an Experienced Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Attorney

If you or someone you love was injured in an accident while riding a bicycle, you may be entitled to compensation. To ensure that you get the full extent of the money damages that you are entitled to, you should consult with a Los Angeles bicycle accident attorney who handles bicycle accidents.

Call Us Today!

For more information or to schedule a complimentary consultation with an experienced Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyer, please call the Law Offices of Samer Habbas at 1-888-848-5048.