New Jersey High Court Clears County in Bicyclist’s Death

January 23, 2012

  • January 23, 2012 at 1:32 pm
    reality bites says:
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    Sanity prevails! Seriously, a 1.5″ deep hole? Tragic consequences indeed, but hardly an unnegotiable road hazard. Had it been a 1.5″ bump, would the injured party taken a flier and the plaintiff still have had a cause? I’ve seen roads in Essex County which could be improved if the holes were this small.

  • January 23, 2012 at 2:14 pm
    Brad says:
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    As a cyclist, I’ve come across many road hazards. While a 1.5″ depression doesn’t sound like a big deal, if you hit the edge just right, it can throw you down. Would like to know if the shoulder of the road was a dedicated bike lane. I’ve dropped my wheel all the way down to the hub in deep, parallel cracks in the pavement twice now, one causing a crash and injuries. These road defects are hard to see sometimes. I think cities and counties should make every effort to fix the areas where cyclists ride. Particularly grievous are street storm drain grates that have no cross bars to prevent your wheel from slipping through, an absolutely ridiculous safety hazard.

  • January 24, 2012 at 9:44 am
    Jim says:
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    The premature loss of life is always tragic, not always compensable. As a cyclist, I know all to well the hazards we face everyday. While there is by no means enough detail in this brief account of all the facts, one wonders if the deceased was the lead rider of her group or if she was following. Is it possible she was distracted, by the beauty that is often found in NJ or by a fellow rider? Why was she on the shoulder? As NJ roads are fairly well maintained, the shoulders are not always. They often hold a multitude of debris and probably do not receive the same attention as the roadways themselves. Let this be an opportunity not only for the state to review its road maintenance procedures, but also a time for each of us cyclist to review our riding habits to see if there is room for improvement. I know which is within my control and can be achieved sooner.

  • January 24, 2012 at 11:58 am
    wudchuck says:
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    problem i have, if we want to make sure the roads are fixed every time and every day, then they should be for every pothole in the road. it is a tragedy that she lost her life, but like any driver on the road, you are responsible for those hazards in the road. your insurance company looks as that as an af-fault accident… would not the same for a bicycle? would that be like that accident w/the motorcycle who had the same problem because mother nature had taken out part of the road? it was not the county’s problem that mother took it out… i think sometimes we as drivers think that everyone else is responsible for any actions i might do in my car even though i have my hands on the wheel and eyes on the road… when do you finally take ownership of your actions….again, it is a tragedy, and my heart goes out to the family…



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