Firm Is Committed To Ensuring Safety and Justice for Bicyclists

Ride smart and stay safe--the mantra of many bicycling enthusiasts. But even the most cautious cyclists can find themselves on the losing end of an encounter with a motor vehicle.
 
"There are a variety of factors that account for bicycle accidents," says Howard Krepack, avid cyclist and attorney for Gordon, Edelstein, Krepack, Grant, Felton and Goldstein. "To begin with, even though California law clearly entitles bicyclists to the same rights to the road as motorists, paved roads were not constructed with bicycles in mind, and transportation laws have not evolved to protect bicyclists adequately. Add to this the insufficient amount of designated bike lanes and the oftentimes contentious relationship between bicyclists and motorists, and you have a tragedy waiting to happen."
 
Tragedy struck on July 4, 2008 on Mandeville Canyon Road when a physician, Dr. Christopher Thompson, deliberately slammed on his car's brakes in front of two cyclists, causing one to fly face-first into the rear windshield of the doctor's car and the other to be hurtled to the sidewalk. Thompson, who told police he slammed on his brakes "to teach them a lesson," was recently found guilty of mayhem, assault with a deadly weapon and other serious charges.
 
"Hopefully something positive will come out of this tragic incident," says Krepack. "Maybe it will shed some much-needed light on the fact that bicyclists and motorists share not only the same rights to the road, but also the same responsibilities to obey traffic laws."
 
Krepack is a member of Velo Club La Grange, one of the state's largest cycling clubs, and serves on the group's Public Policy Committee, which works toward making California's roads safer for bicyclists, drivers and pedestrians.
 
"Statistics show a steady rise in the numbers of bicycle riders--from commuters to recreational enthusiasts--so the need to respect each other's presence on the road is only going to increase. By joining together, motorists and bicyclists could make their voices heard by policy makers in a position to effect change, making roads safer for everyone."
 
Enhancing the bicycling lifestyle in California through enhanced safety, advocacy and much more was the catalyst behind the expanded bicycle pages on Gordon, Edelstein, Krepack, Grant, Felton & Goldstein's website, according to Krepack. 
 
However, he is well aware that the need for enhanced road safety extends beyond bicyclists and motorists. "Policy makers must take the 'Dangerous by Design' report very seriously. The results of this recent study, which outlines how road design has resulted in tens of thousands of pedestrian deaths over the last several years, makes it clear that Congress must pass the Complete Streets Act to make our communities more livable for everyone--motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians and the disabled."
 
Krepack knows of what he speaks, having spent decades representing people who have suffered catastrophic injuries. He leads the team of attorneys who represent individuals who have been seriously injured in bicycle collisions. These accidents often involve a bicyclist who has been:

• Struck by another bike
• Hit by a car or other motor vehicle
• Hit by the opening of a car door
• Forced into traffic because of an obstruction in the pathway
• Injured as a result of road hazards and faulty/unsafe roadway maintenance or design

The result of these bicycling accidents can be broken bones, torn ligaments, spine and neck injuries, and even wrongful death. 
 
Gordon, Edelstein, Krepack, Grant, Felton & Goldstein has a successful track record representing those harmed in bicycle accidents.  If you have been injured in a bicycle accident and would like to speak with one of our attorneys, please click here.