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11 Bicyclists Injured in Los Angeles Drunk Driving Accident

A motorist believed to be driving under the influence rammed into a group of Los Angeles cyclists, leaving at least 11 of them injured.  The bicyclists were a group of about 100 on a midnight ride last week, when a motorist driving a Honda Civic, crashed into the group.  11 riders were injured, and one was critically injured.

The motorist has been arrested, and booked for driving under the influence.  The 27-year-old driver is currently being held on $50,000 bail.  According to them, the Honda slowed down at first, and then picked up speed before plowing into the bicyclists.  Some of the bicyclists were thrown into the air, and at least one was dragged under the car.

Some of the bicyclists have told news media that they saw the driver using a cell phone just before the accident.  According to some other news reports, the driver has admitted to police that she was looking down at her cell phone at the time of the accident.  The cyclists were part of a group that rode every Wednesday night, and they say that they’ve never been involved in an accident like this.

For the bicyclists injured in this accident, there was no safety in numbers.  This was a large group of more than 100 bicyclists, and even though they were bicycling at night, they were likely highly visible.  Not only do police believe that she was driving under the influence of alcohol, but there also seem to be reports that she was texting while driving.

It shouldn’t be so surprising to Los Angeles bicycle accident attorneys that both drunk driving and distracted driving seem to be factors in this accident.  Alcohol use can cloud your judgment, and affect your ability to make responsible decisions.  It can also increase feelings of recklessness, and cause a person to lose his inhibitions.  Such a person is more likely to engage in reckless, negligent and aggressive driving practices.

This accident also underscores the increased risk to bicyclists in California this summer.  They’re going to be many motorists driving under the influence over the next few weeks and months.  Summer is when more vulnerable citizens like bicyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians share California streets with drivers.  Drivers need to be aware of their responsibility to look out for bicyclists, and prevent collisions with them.

A bicyclist can be at serious risk of injuries in an accident.  Even a moderate impact collision with a vehicle can throw a person off his bicycle.  A person in an accident like this can suffer serious injuries including head and brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and fractures and broken ribs.  These injuries can have a devastating long-term impact on a person’s life.  For instance, even a moderate brain injury or spinal cord injury could leave a person with a dramatically reduced quality of life, leaving him unable to participate in activities.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of bicycle accidents in Los Angeles. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire to discuss a personal injury matter,  you can reach us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not representing any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

The Reeves Law Group
515 South Flower Street, 36th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 271-9318

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