Des Moines Bicyclist In Critical Condition After Being Hit By Car

Police in Des Moines say that a local bicyclist is in critical condition after being hit by a car while out for a weekday morning ride. According to authorities, 26-year-old Luke Sudbrock was riding his bicycle early Friday morning when he was rear-ended by another vehicle.

Police say that the accident took place on Scott Avenue near 36^th Street. They were able to locate the driver of the vehicle, a 68-year-old who they say was not impaired at the time. According to a police report, the driver says he did not notice the bicycle until it was too late to avoid hitting him.

Police say the accident occurred in low light and the bicyclist in question did not have any flashing lights attached to his bike, making him more difficult to see. Additionally, the accident took place in an area without bike lanes, something that makes it much more difficult for cyclists to safely maneuver. The police were clear that even though there are no bike lanes in the area, the cyclist has a right to be on the roadway. Police say they are continuing to investigate the accident and have not decided whether charges will be filed against the driver.

Though the victim in this case thankfully survived the accident this is sadly not always the case. According to data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 618 bicyclists died in similar collisions involving passenger vehicles in 2010. The recent Des Moines accident is one of the tens of thousands of crashes that occur each year between bicycles and passenger vehicles that often leave cyclists seriously wounded. Government statistics show that 52,000 bicycle injuries occur each year due to accidents involving cars.

Though bicycling can be treacherous, it does not have to be. If other drivers would pay better attention and watch for cyclists then many of these accidents could be avoided entirely. Bicyclists are allowed to be on Iowa roadways and should be given room to maneuver safely. This means that cars should never pass too closely to a bicycle, as a small shift could prove fatal. Drivers should stay alert and avoid other distractions, keeping an eye out for bicyclists who might approach from the sides. Bicyclists can do their part to increase safety by making sure to wear a helmet that properly fits your head. Helmets are the last line of defense for bicyclists and can often be what prevents cyclists from sustaining a debilitating or deadly injury.

Deadly Iowa Car Accident Highlights Dangers Of Failing To Yield

Officials with the Iowa State patrol say that a recent car accident in Afton, Iowa left two people dead and two others seriously injured. The wreck happened just after 5 p.m. last Thursday near the intersection of Highways 169 and 34. Police say that the accident occurred because of one driver’s failure to yield at a stop sign.

According to authorities, the crash happened when a Chrysler Sebring driven by 19-year-old Sierra Peddycoart pulled away from a stop sign on Highway 169 directly into the path of an oncoming Chevy Tahoe. Witnesses say that Peddycoart was unable to see the Tahoe when she pulled away from the stop sign into the other vehicle’s lane of traffic. The driver of the Tahoe, 30-year-old Beth Kulow, saw Peddycoart’s vehicle but was unable to come to a stop before hitting the Sebring.

Police say that the force of the accident was intense and it resulted in the death of both Peddycoart and her passenger. Kulow and an infant passenger were both injured in the crash, but authorities say that the injuries were not life threatening.

So what is a failure to yield accident? A failure to yield accidents refers to those that occur when one driver fails to yield (or give) the road to an oncoming vehicle. This other vehicle is said to have the “right of way” which means the driver has the legal right to be on that stretch of road at that time and other drivers must wait for the driver to pass by before continuing on. Some common examples of failure to yield accidents in Iowa include those, like this one, that happen when a driver fails to remain stopped at a stop sign until the driver with the right of way has cleared the intersection. Accidents involving failure to yield also happen when drivers make left turns into traffic without yielding to oncoming vehicles.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, accidents caused by one driver’s failure to yield are quite common. Of these failure to yield accidents, stop signs are often where the collisions take place, with DOT figures calculating that accidents are 2.6 times more likely to happen at stop signs than at traffic signals. Another instance where failure to yield accidents are especially likely to occur is when one driver must make a left hand turn.

Failure to yield accidents are frequently deadly and represent a leading cause of automotive death. This is because they often involve one fast moving vehicle colliding with another much slower moving vehicle, exerting tremendous force on the occupants of both vehicles. Statistics indicate that every year there are between 800 to 1,000 fatal multi-vehicle failure to yield crashes across the country.

 

Source: “Two killed, two injured in southern Iowa crash,” by Regina Zilbermints, published at DesMoinesRegister.com.

What does Iowa law require a person to do after an accident?

I was in an Accident!  What do I have to do? 

If you were in a car accident today, do you know what Iowa law requires you to do? If you are like any Iowans, you may not know for sure.   Iowa law has a number of very specific legal requirements following a car accident.  This article is meant to inform or remind you of just what those requirements are.  

To begin with, the requirements are different depending on the type of accident. The most stringent requirements Iowa law places on drivers is for accidents where another person has been injured or killed. In those instances, you must do the following:

1.  Immediately stop as close to the scene as possible,

2.  Do not Obstruct traffic,

3.  Provide the driver's name, address, and registration number of his or her vehicle,

4.  Exhibit his or her driver's license only if requested, 

5.  Render reasonable assistance to an injured person,

6.  Transport or arrange for transportation for medical treatment of an injured person if necessary or requested,

7.  In the case of a death, remain at the scene except to seek necessary aid or report the accident to law enforcement and then either return to the accident or inform law enforcement where you can be located.

     * If a driver must leave the scene of an accident resulting in death, they are also required by law to leave  

        his or her driver's license, auto registration receipt or other identification are the scene. 

8. Otherwise report the accident to law enforcement as quickly as is possible 

Ever hear it is the "right thing to do" to leave a note if you hit a parked car?  Well in Iowa, it's not just a moral imperative, it is the law.  If you strike an unattended vehicle, you are required to immediately notify the owner or operator or leave a note with your name and address of the driver and owner of the car that strturck the vehicle in a conspicuous place.

What about if you strike a traffic sign or other property?  If the sign or property is legally situated along side a road in Iowa, the driver must take reasonable steps to notify the owner or law enforcement including the name address and registration number of the driver and vehicle.   

If the accident involves damage likely to exceed $1,500.00, it also must be reported but only within 72 hours if it was not otherwise investigated by law enforcement.  

There are other additional requirements the law places on Iowa drivers depending on the situation (such as those transporting hazardous materials).  this is not meant to be an exhaustive list of every requirement for every situation.  it is only meant to remind Iowa drivers of the primary legal requirements if they find themselves in an accident in  the state.   Laws vary from state to state as well for commercial drivers.  For more information, refer to Iowa Code including sections 321.261-321.273 or contact GRL Law.