Fatal Hit and Run Accidents in Cupertino
Bicyclists should be ensured a safe trip no matter when they choose to take their ride. Yet, statistics show there are safer times to be on the road and potentially more dangerous times.
After dark is always a hazardous time for a ride. There’s usually much less traffic, but if motorists claim they have trouble seeing cyclists during the day, then the problem will only multiply after sundown.
Bloomberg cited statistics that illustrate the hazards that continue to grow for defenseless bikers. Between 2017 and 2018, the number of nighttime fatalities (between 6 PM and 6 AM) rose 4.6 percent for pedestrians and 9.2 percent for cyclists.
These nighttime collisions can inflict severe injuries on someone riding a bike and even cost the victim his or her life. The anguish left behind for the families of those victims only intensifies when the driver who caused the accident decides to take off to escape blame.
Cupertino Fatal Hit-And-Run Bicycle Accident
A man has died after a bicycle accident over the weekend in Cupertino. CBSN-TV reported the accident happened early Sunday morning at the intersection of North Wolfe Road and Interstate 280 on August 16, 2020.
Deputies with Santa Clara County responded to the scene just before 3 am and found the man lying in the road. The victim, believed to be in his fifties, was pronounced dead a short time later.
Investigators believe the incident was part of a hit-and-run accident but they had no description of the driver or the vehicle involved. The investigation continues. Anyone with information about the collision is asked to call the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department.
Compensation After a Bicycle Fatal Hit-And-Run Accident
In tragic bicycle accidents, a family will be understandably devastated by the loss. They may wonder how closure can ever be found when the driver responsible for the accident remains unidentified.
The last thing relatives should have to think about are financial issues in the wake of a tragedy. Unfortunately, bills from the fatal hit-and-run accident and the funeral will start arriving. What’s even more painful, is that the family will be without the financial support the victim was providing when they were alive.
If the driver responsible isn’t found, a family can still get compensation for the loss if the victim had an insurance policy that included coverage for uninsured/underinsured motorists. The victim may also be covered if someone living in their household had the coverage.
The policy will allow the family to file a claim with the insurance company to recover costs like funeral expenses and hospital bills. The insurance company may try to offer a family as little as possible for their losses, so it’s important to know how to handle their agents and adjusters to get full compensation.
If the driver is found and charged, the family is allowed to file a wrongful death claim against the driver and his or her insurance company. A close family member, usually a spouse or domestic partner or children of the deceased, can represent the family in a civil case. An attorney working for the family can also act as a representative.
A family is allowed up to two years after the death of a loved one to file a claim.
Cupertino Bicycle Accident Lawyers
Bay Area Bicycle Law works on bicycle accident cases all over the State of California and is one of the state’s only personal injury law firms working exclusively for injured cyclists and their families.
We handle cases in your area, and there are many benefits to working with a specialist.
Years of advocacy for bicycle crash victims have seasoned our attorneys with the necessary skills to handle bicycle accident cases with the utmost level of professional expertise. We will always offer you legal advice which is in your best interest. Contact us today for a free consultation.