Hit-and-run accident leaves Fort Worth cyclist with a concussion

Fort Worth cyclist Zac Ford holds the saddle from his broken bicycle along the road where an unidentified vehicle hit him and left him unconscious / STAR-TELEGRAM/RON T. ENNIS

On the evening of August 9th an unidentified vehicle struck Fort Worth cyclist Zac Ford from behind on Camp Bowie Blvd. near Crestline Road. His bike was found scattered in pieces and Ford is left with scars resembling burns all over his body and face. The 26 year old has also felt lingering effects and memory loss sustained from the concussion that followed.

According to Fort Worth’s comprehensive bicycling plan bikers have the same rights and duties as motor vehicle drivers. Ford was biking in the middle of the right lane, with all recommended safety and visibility equipment, going at approximately 20mph when he was struck. Ford explains it is actually much safer to bike in the middle of the lane, as swerving cars pose more danger to the bicyclistsThe accident couldn’t come at a worse time, as Fort Worth is pushing to increase the amount of bicycling residents to three times its current amount. Ford was found in a bush when a neighbor who heard the crash came out to see what happened and called 911. Ford hasn’t owned a car in over 9 years, and lives off a modest waiter’s income. He can not bike again until he is fully recovered.

Ford admits this is not the first time he has had a near death experience on his bike involving a motor vehicle. According to data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2009 51,000 cyclists were injured on the roads in the United States. 630 of these accidents resulted in a fatality, and bike accidents accounted for approximately 2 percent of all traffic fatalities of that year. Although riding a bike is considered a safe, even recommended practice, bicyclists face special dangers when sharing the roads with motor vehicles. Limited visibility and drunk or distracted drivers could prove deadly for the bicyclists nearby.  If you or someone you love was injured in a bicycle accident  you may have grounds for a lawsuit to compensate for your injuries and loss of income. A Fort Worth bike accident attorney at Parker McDonald may be able to help you recover and seek justice for your injuries.