A man who was taken to the hospital after colliding with an open car door while he was riding his bicycle May 14 has died, Honolulu police said.
The man, 66, was riding his bicycle in the eastbound bike lane on Kalakaua Avenue when he hit the rear passenger door of a car that had stopped to let out a passenger.
The victim was in serious condition when he was transported to the hospital for treatment, but his condition slowly deteriorated, and the Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office notified police Friday that he had died as a result of his injuries.
The victim’s death is the 12th traffic fatality of the year on Oahu, compared to 25 at this point in 2023. Police have not yet determined whether speed, drugs or alcohol were contributing factors in the accident.
“My heart goes out to the family of the victim who was out riding his bicycle,” said Paul Starita of Singleton Schreiber. “It’s devastating to lose a loved one under any circumstances, and even more so in such an unexpected way.
“In the aftermath of a tragic accident like this, families have enough to deal with in terms of managing their grief and loss without also having to worry about whether medical bills, funeral costs, or other expenses will throw them into financial limbo. That’s where personal injury attorneys come in — we are there to fight for your legal rights so you have time to focus on what’s most important.”
Preventable bicycle deaths have been on the rise for years in the U.S.
Nearly 1,000 bicyclists were killed in motor vehicle crashes in the United States in 2021, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, with over 41,500 additional cyclists injured in crashes. And the National Safety Council found that preventable bicycle deaths have spiked by more than 35% since 2012.
Roughly 85% of bicyclist traffic deaths happen in urban areas, which is likely driven in part by increased bike traffic sharing the roads with automobiles in those areas. Data from the American Community Survey found that bicycles were one of the fastest-growing transportation methods for commuters since 2000.
If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident while on your bicycle, please contact Singleton Schreiber by email at info@singletonschreiber.com or call at 808-582-8062.
