Authorities have confirmed that a Mesa City Councilman was the driver involved in a fatal Arizona bicycle accident. According to The Arizona Republic, the bicycle accident occurred on E. McKellips Road in Mesa. The Councilman was driving west when a bicyclist attempted to cross the road. He was unable to avoid the collision and the 55-year-old Mesa man riding the bicycle was killed. The preliminary investigation found that the City Councilman attempted to avoid the collision but was unable to stop in time.
In the year 2009, 25 people were killed and 1,640 were injured in Arizona bicycle accidents. Under Arizona law, bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as the drivers of other vehicles. Drivers must yield the right of way to bicyclists as they would to any other vehicle. Bicyclists are also required under the law to yield right of way to oncoming vehicles.
When a fatal bicycle accident occurs as a result of someone else’s negligence, the family members of the deceased victim can file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation for damages including medical and funeral costs, lost future income and loss of companionship. In cases where a dangerous roadway or intersection is determined to have caused the accident, the governmental entity responsible for maintaining that roadway could also be held liable for the victim’s wrongful death.
The knowledgeable Mesa wrongful death attorneys at The Breyer Law Offices P.C. understand what families go through in the aftermath of a sudden death in the family. If you have lost a loved one as a result of someone else’s negligence, please contact us at 480-389-2463 to obtain more information about pursuing your legal rights.
