The City of Richmond and all who knew Darrell Smith are mourning the loss of a resident who loved to ride his bike. On August 5, 2013, Darrell Smith was riding his bicycle along U.S. 40 near Dunreith, Indiana, located in Henry County, Indiana, when he was struck from behind by a vehicle being driven by 28 year-old Jonathan Wright of Knightstown, Indiana. The Henry County coroner pronounced Darrell Smith deceased at the scene of the bicycle crash.
An investigation conducted by the Indiana State Police following the collision determined that Jonathan Wright did not see 58 year-old Darrell Smith, who was operating his bicycle eastbound in the right lane along the white fog line. Wisely, Darrell Smith was wearing a helmet at the time of the bicycle accident; however, he was not wearing any reflective gear nor does it appear that he was utilizing a lamp and/or reflector, which would only be required by Indiana bicycle law under Indiana Code 9-21-11-9 if he had been riding a half hour before sunset and a half hour after sunrise.
Just because Darrell Smith was not wearing reflective gear and/or utilizing a lamp or reflector as required by Indiana bicycle law, does that mean that Darrell Smith is automatically at-fault in this accident? These are issues that the Indiana bicycle lawyers at Caress Law Group tackle on a regular basis, which is why we advise that it is so important to seek advice from an attorney any time you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident, automobile accident, or any other incident that occurs as the result of another’s negligence. Feel free to Contact Us or call us at 317-255-5400 to discuss any issue with Indiana bicycle accident law or any other Indiana personal injury issue.
We send our deepest thoughts and sympathies to the family of Darrell Smith and the resident of Richmond, Indiana who called Darrell Smith a friend. Darrell Smith appeared to be a great man who clearly enjoyed to travel via his bicycle and was an active member of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Richmond, Indiana. Our message to drivers of automobiles and bicycle riders is the same: share the road, be mindful of your surroundings, and take precautions to avoid accidents.