A 45-year-old woman died in Richland County after a car struck her bicycle.
According to the North Dakota Highway Patrol, the fatal accident happened in the afternoon on a county road. Police said that the woman on the bicycle was dead at the scene. The woman driving the car that struck the bicycle suffered injuries law enforcement described as minor.
The Highway Patrol indicated that they were continuing to investigate the tragic accident.
Drivers need to be on the lookout for pedestrians, bicyclists
Even so, this tragedy serves as a good reminder for drivers to make sure that they are looking for bicyclists and pedestrians and operating safely when around them.
At a minimum, drivers need to be attentive and reduce their speed, especially when bicyclists and pedestrians are in the area. Drivers need to adjust their speed and behavior when the weather is poor or visibility is limited, including at nighttime.
Even if they have a backup camera and other technology, drivers need to look carefully for pedestrians and those on bikes. This is true even if a person is driving on a rural road.
Victims of pedestrian and bicycle accidents may have legal options
Drivers have an obligation to follow traffic laws and to watch out for pedestrians and bicyclists. The fact that both pedestrians and bicyclists are much lighter than a full-sized vehicle and relatively unprotected makes them especially prone to serious injuries.
Those who live in or around the Fargo area who have been injured in a pedestrian accident or bicycle accident by a negligent driver may have legal options. They may be able to obtain compensation for their medical bills and lost income as well as for their non-economic damages.