In an earlier blog post, we mentioned the tragic Utah bicycle crash that ended with the death of 62-year-old bicyclist Leroy Martinez. Initially, police believed Martinez had made a sudden U-turn on his bike in the middle of a crosswalk, leading to the crash with an automobile. However, the Salt Lake Tribune reports that police now believe Martinez had just entered the crosswalk at 1357 West and 830 South when he was struck by a Mazda. Police are still investigating the crash to determine if they will make any charges against the Mazda’s 23-year-old driver.

This is a perfect example why accident victims or their families should never fully rely on the police report or investigating officers opinions when determing fault. Police officers do their best to find the cause of every accident, but the officers are at a disadvantage since they do not witness the accident. If my law firm represented the Martinez family we would request 911 calls, contact witnesses, and even hire an accident reconstructionist.

We have learned that Martinez cracked his head and suffered from internal bleeding. If you are every riding your bicycle, we strongly urge you to wear a helmet. Statistics show that in 2006, 95% of bicyclists who died in an accident were not wearing helmets. Helmets can reduce the chances of severe brain trauma by 85%. For more statistics and information on bicycle safety measures, visit our website’s library.