Malfunctioning Bike Chain Leads to Cyclist Being Fatally Struck by Car
At the very end of July, an accident was reported in Daytona Beach involving an individual on a bicycle and a car. As is often the case in such incidents, the cyclist died as a result of the crash. Reports from the Daytona Beach Police Department stated the cyclist, who was later identified as a 37-year-old, was on a bicycle and riding it along International Speedway Boulevard at close to 3:00 in the afternoon. It is believed that the cyclist was riding in one of the speedway’s outside lanes.
It is not clear exactly what happened, but an individual who was biking alongside the 37-year-old stated that it appeared as though the chain on the bicycle either loosened or became disconnected from the bike’s gears. We do not know if the cyclist was aware that something drastic had occurred to the chain or if they were simply of the opinion that the bike had slipped into a higher gear. Either way, rather than stop the bike, they stood up, attempting to use more power to maintain their speed.
Unfortunately, it was in the process of doing this that the cyclist lost control of the bike. This is not a truly strange turn of events as it is hard to maintain balance on a bike if the pedaling, which hinges on resistance, undergoes a sudden and unexpected change. Before the cyclist could regain control of the bike, they fell, tumbling into the road.
At this same time, a Chevrolet Traverse was driving in the same outside lane. When the cyclist fell from their bicycle, the driver of the Traverse was not able to adjust their course in enough time. It was reported that the fallen cyclist was struck by the Traverse’s front bumper and sustained fatal injuries as a result.
The driver of the Traverse stopped immediately and, along with a passenger of the vehicle and an off-duty police officer who happened to be in the area, tried to administer first aid to the injured cyclist. Despite their efforts, as well as the efforts of the EMTs and paramedics who rushed to the scene after the crash was reported, there was nothing that could be done to aid the biker. They were declared dead at the scene.
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James O. Cunningham
Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.
