Bicycle Accidents

Police: Driver identified in fatal League City collision

Houston-area residents may have recently seen a circulated video showing a woman trying to get a security guard to help her repair her damaged vehicle.

After conducting an accident reconstruction and interviewing numerous people, police believe that the woman pictured in the video was the driver in a hit-and-run collision that took the life of a League City man.
The 45-year-old man was on a bicycle when he was hit by a vehicle at about 2:30 a.m. on March 13. He suffered head injuries and was taken to a hospital, where sadly he passed away. His family was left hoping that police would find the person responsible for their loved one’s death.

The woman believed to be the hit-and-run driver has been charged with a felony. She was identified after police used news outlets and social media to disseminate the video clip, which was reportedly seen by more than 100,000 people.

In addition to the criminal charge against the driver, family members of the victim also have the option of bringing a claim of wrongful death. Accident reconstruction and evidence used in a criminal case can bolster such a claim.

Few roads in Texas are safe for bicyclists, but drivers nonetheless have a responsibility to exercise reasonable caution and avoid collisions. Leaving the scene of an injurious bicycle accident is especially egregious, and victims or their families may need to explore legal options beyond criminal court to see justice fully served. The penalties handed down in criminal cases often seem minimal when compared to the pain of losing a loved one because of a driver’s negligent or reckless actions.

Source: Houston Chronicle, “Nurse arrested in fatal hit-and-run of bicyclist,” Craig Hlavaty, March 19, 2014