Fresno, CA – According to ABC30, on the night of Saturday, February 10, 2024, a hit-and-run driver killed a bicyclist in his 30s, Paul Sanchez, known as “Pablo” to friends and family.
Liza Barnet, Sanchez’s mother, said that he was only feet away from home when, around 10 PM, witnesses saw Sanchez struck by a driver in a dark-colored car on Clinton Avenue, near Van Ness Boulevard.
The car fled the scene, and Sanchez received transportation to Community Regional Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries.
Hit-And-Run Bicycle Accidents
Cyclists are owed a “duty of care” from drivers no matter where they meet. Motorists are legally obligated to monitor the roads ahead, and all mirrors and blind spots, for any rider who may be nearby. Drivers must hit the brakes to avoid any chance of a collision. This legal responsibility stems from the fact that cyclists travel with little to no protection when alongside heavier and faster cars, trucks, and SUVs.
Drivers must also stop once a collision has occurred to get medical attention for a cyclist as fast as possible. Remaining on the scene, turning on hazard lights, and blocking off traffic also reduce the chances of the victim being struck by approaching motorists who may not be able to see an injured cyclist down in the street.
Wrongful Death Claims
While no amount of money can bring back those who lose their lives in a vehicular fatality, the emotional burden of their loss is often accompanied by a financial burden that falls on their surviving family members.
A wrongful death claim filed with the insurance provider of an at-fault driver can provide compensation to help cover medical expenses, burial costs, and even the loss of support for dependents of the deceased.
However, because insurance companies carry the incentive to reduce the payout for any claim they cannot deny, the services of a skilled personal injury attorney can prove crucial in securing justice for the deceased.