Collision Illustrates Dangers of Bikes & Big Rigs

David Rosenthal

Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 576

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Safety considerations come in all shapes and sizes, especially when using public highways. Take for instance two vehicles that frequent the roadways, bikes and big rigs. The consequences of a meeting of the two were tragic Thursday when an elderly Yuba City man riding a mountain bike on Highway 99 in Sutter County was killed in a collision with a big rig.

The conflicts that often occur on roadways between motorists and bicycle riders are well documented. Under California Vehicle Code §21200, bicyclists have all the same rights and are subject to the same rules of the road as any other vehicle. However, the drivers of cars and trucks often complain that bike riders don't follow the rules. For their part, bicyclists feel that motorists don't give them adequate respect. One thing for certain is that the bike rider is usually the biggest loser in a collision due to their exposure.

Big rigs and motorists have also had their run ins. Obviously, trucks pose special problems because of their size, needing more time to stop and more room to turn. Truckers rightfully complain that many car drivers are in too much of a hurry to be considerate of their need for space, while many a car driver has had a bad experience with a tractor trailer operated by a bully or a road weary trucker. When it comes to an auto versus big rig collision, the auto is usually the loser because of its size and weight disadvantage.

Safety on our highways is everyone's responsibility. That includes accounting for the unique characterstics of bikes and big rigs.