Hanson Duby, Toronto’s Leading Personal Injury Law Firm, Warns Cyclists to Show Greater Awareness in Wake of Accident Trapping Woman Under a Truck
Toronto, Canada (PRWEB), October 18, 2013 (PRWEB) October 18, 2013 -- Hanson Duby Personal Injury Law, a personal injury law firm serving the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), is warning cyclists to be more vigilant in light of a recent accident in which a woman had her pelvis and legs crushed after being trapped under a truck on Spadina Ave.
A cyclist is in critical condition after suffering life-threatening injuries when she was pinned under a truck the morning of Wednesday, October 16. The 25-year-old cyclist was riding northbound in the bike lane on Spadina Ave. just after 7 a.m. when she came into contact with the trailer and was caught by the rear tires. She suffered serious injuries to her legs and pelvis and was taken to hospital. (Source: Connor, K., “Female cyclist struck by truck,” Toronto Sun web site, October 16, 2013; http://www.torontosun.com/2013/10/16/female-cyclist-struck-by-truck.)
“When cyclists meet with trucks, the results can be tragic,” says Spyros Bekiaris, a lawyer at Hanson Duby Personal Injury Law. “This accident is further evidence that it can be dangerous for cyclists on Toronto roads, even when they’re legally travelling in designated bike lanes. It also illustrates the need for greater awareness for those using high-volume streets.”
Bekiaris joined Hanson Duby Lawyers as an associate in September 2010. He graduated from York University with an Honours BA in political science in 2006 and from the Queen’s University Faculty of Law with a JD in 2009. Bekiaris represents clients in a variety of disputes, including bicycle accidents, motor vehicle accidents, accident benefits, slips and falls, property damage claims, and assault, representing the victims.
Shortly after the collision, Ontario’s coroner renewed calls for mandatory side guards on trucks, but the federal government, citing a lack of evidence it would save lives, has ruled it out. When a similar policy was implemented in the United Kingdom, accident fatalities where cyclists were struck by the sides of trucks fell 61%. In addition to the European Union and Japan, several U.S. jurisdictions, including Washington, D.C., have made side guards mandatory. (Source: Paperny, A.M., “Toronto cyclist accident: Ontario coroner calls (again) for side guards on trucks; Ottawa says no,” Global News web site, October 16, 2013; http://globalnews.ca/news/906314/toronto-cyclist-accident-ontario-coroner-calls-again-for-side-guards-on-trucks-ottawa-says-no/.)
According to a 2012 review of cycling deaths by Ontario’s coroner, of the 129 cyclist deaths between 2006 and 2010, 18 involved trucks—half of which could have been prevented by truck side guards. (Source: “A Review of All Accidental Cycling Deaths in Ontario From January 1st, 2006 to December 31st, 2010,” Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services web site, July 13, 2012; http://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/english/DeathInvestigations/office_coroner/PublicationsandReports/CyclingDeathReview/DI_Cycling_Death_Review.html.)
“The fact of the matter is, the rules of the road apply to everyone, and cyclists are entitled to the same accident coverage as motorists. Unfortunately, most cyclists are not aware of this, but they should be,” Bekiaris concludes. “Cyclists can also sue for pain and suffering, but time is of the essence; people have 120 days to send a notice of intent to pursue legal action to the other party involved in the accident. That’s why it’s important to contact an experienced personal injury law firm as soon as possible after the accident.”
Hanson Duby Personal Injury Law is a personal injury law firm located in the Annex district of Toronto. The firm specializes in helping injured victims obtain compensation due to car accidents, long-term disability claims, life insurance claims, and product liability claims. The firm serves clients from across the Greater Toronto Area and provides service in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Tamil, Greek, and French. The site will soon evolve again and be updated to include pages in Mandarin, Cantonese, Tamil, and Greek to better serve those communities.
More information on Hanson Duby Personal Injury Law is available by visiting the firm's web site or by calling 416-588-9100.
Stacey Cooper, HansonDuby Lawyers, http://www.hansonduby.com/, +1 905-266-0350, [email protected]
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