Teen Injured after Bicycle Hits Truck in Surprise
Did you know that pedalcyclist fatalities in 2009 reached up to 630 deaths nationwide? Twenty-five of these deaths were from Arizona. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety (NHTSA), bicyclist fatalities was almost 2 percent of the total road fatalities in 2009. As compared to other motor vehicle fatalities, 2 percent is not that high, however, it still posed a huge threat to each and every bicyclist on the road.
Bicyclist fatalities in Arizona have increased from 19 deaths in 2008 to 25 in 2009. This is equivalent to a huge 31.58 percent change, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. Meanwhile, bicyclist injuries slightly decreased with 1,643 injuries in 2009.
Nowadays, not only adults are at risk when it comes to fatal motor vehicle accidents. In fact, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of deaths among teens. Injuries from motor vehicle accidents killed eight teens aged 16- to 19-years-old in 2009.
In Surprise, a teenage girl was riding her bicycle on the crosswalk along 175th Avenue and Surprise Farms Road when she struck the side of a truck Thursday morning (08/18/11). Police reports said that the teen darted out into the intersection and hit the side of the truck while it was passing through the intersection.
Crossing along intersections in crosswalks is not an assurance that we can be safe from road accidents. In Arizona, the light patterns allow for cars to still make turns when the crosswalk is lit, signalling to pedestrians it is safe to cross. As Arizona pedestrians, it is important to always cross with caution, and never assume a driver sees you, or you may be putting yourself at risk for serious injury.
For victims of fatal car accidents in Surprise, don’t hesitate to call our free consultation hotline at (480) 753-4534. As Arizona bike accident attorneys, we are ready to assist you in getting what you deserve.
