All drivers, especially those in Wisconsin, should be careful on the roads around cyclists. Recently, well-known actor Gene Hackman was involved in a bicycle crash when he was struck by a pickup truck while he was riding a bicycle earlier this month in another state.

While riding on a road around 3 p.m. in a village on the Florida Keys, a pickup truck struck the Oscar-winning actor. According to the state highway patrol, he was thrown to the shoulder of the road. He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. It is not known if any charges were filed.

Hackman was taken to a hospital via helicopter after the collision. Reportedly, he was not seriously injured and only received some bumps and bruises. He was released from the hospital several hours after being admitted.

Hackman was lucky that he was not severely injured. Some bicycle accidents end in a spinal cord injury or brain trauma, both of which can have lifelong effects on the victim. If things had gone worse, Hackman may have been incapable of acting ever again.

The 81-year-old actor has been nominated for five Academy Awards, two of which he won.

The accident is another reminder of the need for Wisconsin drivers to remain vigilant of cyclists. Because of the size disparity, even so much as tapping a moving bicycle can lead to disastrous consequences for the rider, such as serious injury or even death. In this case, Hackman may discover more long-term injuries that were not apparent at the time of the accident. He may be within his rights to sue for monetary damages because of his injuries.

Source: ABC News, "Gene Hackman OK After Fla. Bicycle Accident," Jan. 14, 2012