Posted on Friday, March 17th, 2017 at 11:52 pm
A tragic bicycle accident in the Foothill Farms area has left a family devastated. Last month, a 13-year old boy from Sacramento was riding his bicycle with two other boys when a car struck and killed him. As reported by The Sacramento Bee, The Foothill Ranch Middle School student, Muheebullah Rajabi, was riding on the southbound sidewalk along Hillsdale Boulevard near the intersection with Palm Avenue. A vehicle pulling out of a 7-Eleven struck Rajabi as it was turning right out of the parking lot.
The driver tested negative for drugs and alcohol. A CHP spokesman said that the child was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. Chad Hertzell, CHP spokesman, is quoted in the article as saying, “I would emphasize not wearing a helmet likely led to this boy’s death. If he was wearing a helmet, he would likely to be alive today.” We are sure this is of very little comfort to the grieving family, and we extend our sympathies to the family.
What Is the Bicycle Helmet Law in California?
Under California’s bicycle helmet law, all persons under the age of 18 years are required to wear a bicycle helmet. Adults 18 years and older are not required by law to wear a bicycle helmet, even though helmets have been shown to reduce the risk of serious injury and head traumas in bicycle accidents.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, there was a 12.2 percent increase in pedalcyclist fatalities from 2014 to 2015. Fatalities for this demographic are the highest they have been since 1995. During 2015, 818 pedalcyclists were killed, and 45,000 were injured in traffic crashes.
A very revealing fact in the report regards the use of helmets for motorcyclists. In states without universal helmet laws, 58 percent of motorcyclists killed in 2015 were not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash compared to eight percent in States with a universal helmet law. This statistic highlights the importance of wearing a helmet whenever you are riding a bicycle, moped, motorcycle, or any other vehicle where you are not protected by an enclosed vehicle.
Bicycle Safety Tips for Children and Adults
Sacramento is a great place to ride bicycles, but all cyclists must use caution when riding. Distracted, reckless, drunk, speeding, drowsy, and negligent drivers don’t pay enough attention to bicyclists. Therefore, you must protect yourself.
You can find information about bicycle safety and resources from the following sources:
- Centers for Disease Control
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Kids Health
- Safe Kids
- AAA Exchange
Call A Sacramento Bicycle Accident Attorney for Help
If you are injured in a bicycle accident caused by a driver, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your injuries. The law provides compensation for damages including medical bills, lost wages, physical pain, property damage, emotional stress, and permanent disability. However, you must act now to protect your right to recover full compensation.
The Sacramento bicycle accident attorneys of the Tiemann Law Firm can be reached by telephone at (916) 999-9000 or by visiting our website. Our personal injury law firm serves clients in Sacramento, Folsom, Roseville, El Dorado Hills and other communities in the greater Sacramento area.
Source: “Middle school student killed in Foothill Farms area while riding bicycle” by Nashelly Chavez, The Sacramento Bee, February 14, 2017
