Chuck Jaffee, 60, of Nevada City was injured in head-on collision involving a U.S. Postal Service truck on Tuesday afternoon. At about 12:15 p.m., Mr. Jaffee was riding his bicycle west-bound down a hill on Pasquale Road when the mail truck, driven by Kaci Large, 24, of Colfax, was heading the opposite direction. According to police, Mr. Jaffee, was making a sweeping turn and did not see the oncoming truck. Ms. Large swerved the right in an unsuccessful attempt to avoid the collision.

Mr. Jaffee may not have been wearing a helmet and sustained an open scalp wound.  He was transported to Sutter Roseville Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

California Bicycle Accidents

According to the California Highway Patrol, 11,390 bicyclists were in injured in accidents in California in 2008.  Obviously, bicyclists are much more exposed than occupants of a vehicle and much more likely to sustain serious injury or death in an accident.

Bicycle Accidents & Liability

The cause of this collision remains under investigation.  Witness accounts are important, but there may be other information that can ultimately influence who will be deemed responsible, in whole or in part, for a collision.  If the driver of a vehicle injures a bike rider while violating a Vehicle Code section or while failing to use due care while driving, he or she can be held civilly liable for monetary damages in the amount of all medical expenses, lost income and pain and suffering.  If the driver of the vehicle is also working at the time, the employer can also be held liable for the damages.  In most cases, it is vital to conduct investigation immediately so evidence is not lost due to the passage of time.

Hiring a Reputable Sacramento Personal Injury Attorney

Anyone injured in a bike versus auto collision is urged to consult with an experienced Sacramento Personal Injury Attorney. It is always important to act quickly so that all legal rights are protected. A knowledgeable Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer will investigate the circumstances of the collision and evaluate all factors that may have contributed to an injury accident.

The Demas Law Group personal injury law firm is not currently representing anyone mentioned in this article at the time it was posted. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your legal rights and options, call us or another well recognized and respected personal injury law firm. Please do not rely or act solely upon the information provided in this article. Please consider getting a consultation immediately. The best personal injury law firms will provide a free consultation. Demas Law Group will provide a free, confidential consultation to the persons who were not at fault named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.