Bradley Rofer Died In Orange County Car Accident With Pickup Truck While Riding A Bicycle By Oso Parkway and Coto de Caza Drive —> GoFundMe Created To Support Victim’s Family
ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA (September 4, 2022) – An 8-year-old bicyclist identified as Bradley Rofer has tragically died in an Orange County car accident by Oso Parkway and Coto de Caza Drive.
Orange County police officials are saying that the accident took place around 7:25 a.m. on Thursday. Bradley Rofer was on a bicycle crossing the roadway when he was hit by a 1999 Ford F-150 turning left onto north Coto de Caza.
Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim. The young bicyclist was taken to the hospital with critical injuries.
Police interviewed the driver of the pickup truck who remained at the scene. Family members said that Bradley Rofer was taken off life support on Saturday afternoon.
You can help support the victim’s family through GoFundMe. According to the fundraiser, “Bradley’s love and kindness will live on as he will be donating his organs to save the lives of several others in need. Bradley was always thinking of others and his beautiful smile was so contagious.”
A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability In Orange County Car Accidents
Thousands of bicyclists are killed or seriously injured every year. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Nearly 1,000 bicyclists die and over 130,000 are injured in crashes that occur on roads in the United States every year. People ages 10-24 account for nearly one-third of all bicycle-related injuries seen in US EDs.” There are a number of factors that could potentially contribute to a bicycle accident.
- Drivers may be distracted.
- Drivers may be speeding.
- Drivers may be intoxicated.
- Drivers may be fatigued.
Every driver has a legal obligation to exercise due care in order to avoid hitting pedestrians and bicyclists. Bicyclists have the same rights and obligations as drivers of motor vehicles under California Vehicle Code 21200. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 21801, the driver of any vehicle intending to turn left must yield the right of way to any vehicle or bicycle traveling from the opposite direction close enough so as to pose a hazard. If a driver hits a bicyclist while making a left turn, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
Pickup trucks are often used for commercial purposes such as landscaping and construction. If a pickup truck driver was working at the time of a collision, the company that they worked for could be held at fault. In general, companies are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees who were performing work duties. For example, a truck driver may have been delivering materials prior to a crash. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any bicycle accident.
- Surveillance footage of the accident should be taken.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- A thorough investigation should be conducted.
When a driver is negligent and kills a bicyclist, they can be held responsible through a civil claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover many of the expenses that can come with the sudden death of a loved one. Sadly, though, drivers will often do everything in their power to deny responsibility for a crash. This is why it is so important that all evidence is preserved after a crash.
Investigating An Orange County Truck Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of Bradley Rofer. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be a thorough investigation for the sake of the victims family. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to make this intersection safer so that other tragedies can be prevented.
Do you need more information about an Orange County car accident? Our team of bicycle safety advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free investigation into an accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
