Charged with felony hit and run with injury, a Durham driver turned himself in to police after initially fleeing the scene of the accident Jan 14.
Kirk Brown, of Ridge Road in Durham, told ABC11 he didn’t know he had hit anyone.
The injured was Steve Saltzman, a bicyclist who was riding about 7 a.m., when the mirror on the right side of Brown’s car struck him near the intersection of Pickett and Structure House roads Monday.
Saltzman told the news station he was hugging the right side of the road when Brown’s car hit him because he was driving his car too closely to the cyclist.
As a result of the accident, Saltzman suffered a concussion and a sprained shoulder. A Duke doctor who was driving by the scene stopped to assist the victim.
ABC11 talked to Brown when he was leaving the Durham County jail. He received a $2,500 unsecured bond.
This bicycle accident brings up the issue of negligent driving. Even when cyclists do everything they can to protect themselves and their families while riding, negligent drivers can cause serious accidents and injuries.
Bicycle accidents involving motor vehicles can result in serious injuries such as broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputation injuries and more. These accidents can also result in broken equipment and other property damage.
If you are hit by a negligent driver while riding your bike, you should try and use your cell phone to record as much of the scene as possible. Take pictures and video if possible and get the names and contact information from any witnesses to the accident. If the vehicle flees the scene, try to write down as much detail about the car and driver as possible.
Bicycle riders are no match for heavy vehicles. If you are injured by a car while riding your bike, you should talk to an attorney as soon as possible to find out if you grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit to seek compensation for your injuries. A prompt and thorough investigation is needed to determine liability.
To speak with a personal injury lawyer in Raleigh or a surrounding community, contact the North Carolina personal injury law firm of Kelly & West today.
Source: http://apnews.fimc.net/showarticlewptf.asp?id=1309571&url=www.wptf.com&site=wptfam&catg=Triangle&headlines=1&show=50&w=500
