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Cyclist Tragically Killed by Dump Truck in Ukiah CA

On Friday, September 14, 2018, a Covelo cyclist was in a collision with a dump truck on Talmage Road in Mendocino County.

Ukiah Police have been investigating the crash. According to the Ukiah Daily Journal, a flagger cleared the dump truck to turn onto Hastings Road  when the crash occurred.

We are deeply saddened to learn that the cyclist, only in his 30s, was killed in this collision. The article also notes that Wipf Construction owns the dump truck and a Wipf Construction dump truck was involved in a fatal bicycle crash back in 2012 as well.

Help After a Fatal Bicycle Crash

Family members should be made aware of their ability to file a wrongful death claim. You can read more here about wrongful death claims for cyclists. While these claims do not end the pain of losing a loved one, these claims are for seeking compensation for damages suffered as a result of the untimely death of the decedent. This is generally the very last thing on people’s minds, however, insurers begin working to minimize claims before the dust even settles. That’s why it is indeed important to at least speak to an experienced attorney. In California, attorneys who focus on injury law provide free consultations.

Also, a GoFundMe has been set up for this cyclist. Anything helps in a time like this. If you’re interested in donating, please visit this page to make a donation: http://www.gofundme.com/in-memory-of-xamuel-lara

Determining Fault

Dump trucks have large blind spots and are prone to rearending and sideswiping cyclists, but the trucker isn’t always at fault – sometimes it’s the trucking company, truck owner or a third party. Only a qualified attorney can tell you who they think is at fault. While Ukiah PD is eventually going to generate a police report, that report will mean very little if anything to who may be held liable for a crash like this. Insurers of trucking companies are also very likely to show up at the crash scene and quickly place blame on whoever they feel was at fault. In many cases, there are multiple parties at fault. And, while it’s not necessarily relevant to the crash above, cyclists should know that they can still pursue injury claims even if they contributed to the crash!

Contact Us after any Bicycle Crash in Mendocino County.

Mendocino cyclists choose us because our attorneys have extensive experience working on bicycle crash cases. By devoting our careers to this niche, we can guarantee superior service.

Bay Area Bicycle Law is the only law firm in focused exclusively on representing northern California’s cyclists and their families. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation after any bicycle crash.