Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Bicycle Accident Injury Lawyer Serving Los Angeles, San Jose, Oakland, Napa, and All of California and Arizona

Los Angeles is generally considered to be the most dangerous city in America for bicyclists. Since 2014, more than 180 bicyclists lost their lives in collisions with motor vehicles in and around the streets of Los Angeles, according to Bicycling.com. Nationally, more than 50,000 bicyclists suffer serious injuries in collisions with motorists, yet only a tiny fraction of bicycle accidents are reported to police, according to the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center. In addition, more than 700 bike riders were killed nationwide in accidents involving motor vehicles. This equates to approximately two percent of all vehicle-related deaths in the country.

Los Angeles is generally considered to be the most dangerous city in America for bicyclists. Since 2014, more than 180 bicyclists lost their lives in collisions with motor vehicles in and around the streets of Los Angeles, according to Bicycling.com. Nationally, more than 50,000 bicyclists suffer serious injuries in collisions with motorists, yet only a tiny fraction of bicycle accidents are reported to police, according to the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center. In addition, more than 700 bike riders were killed nationwide in accidents involving motor vehicles. This equates to approximately two percent of all vehicle-related deaths in the country.

How a Bicycle Accident Injury Can Turn Your Life Upside Down

Getting injured in a serious bicycle accident can be a life-altering experience. If you were hit by a car while riding a bicycle, there is a strong likelihood that you’re struggling with major bodily injuries that will requires long-term physical therapy. This is because the disparity in weight, propulsion, and protection between someone in a motor vehicle and someone on a bicycle is so disproportionate that the operator of the bicycle usually endures the brunt of the damage.

If you or a loved one suffered a major injury in a bike accident in Los Angeles, San Jose, Napa, San Francisco, Oakland, or elsewhere in California and Arizona, you need an experienced personal injury attorney on your side. Why? Because establishing fault in a bicycle accident injury case can be quite challenging, especially when liability factors such as crosswalks, multiple vehicles, and/or bicycle paths are unclear. 

Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, San Jose and Elsewhere in California and Arizona

Some of the most common causes of bicycle accidents include the following:

• A bicyclist gets rear-ended by a motorist – Just like motor vehicles can be involved in rear-end collisions, bicyclists can be rear-ended by motor vehicles. This usually happens when the driver is not paying attention to the road or to what a bicyclist is doing. A bicyclist could follow all of the appropriate bike laws concerning wearing the proper reflective gear, having appropriate lights attached to their bicycle, or using the appropriate hand signals to communicate with other drivers. But if a driver is not paying attention, it can result in the bicyclist becoming a victim in a rear-end accident all the same.
• A bicyclist gets hit by a motorist making a right turn – This happens all too frequently when a driver fails to check for or acknowledge that a bicyclist is sharing the roadway. A vehicle could pull out from a side street or parking lot and crash right into the side of a bicyclist who is obeying the traffic laws. Bicyclists are also involved in accidents where a driver and a bicyclist are sharing a road going the same direction and then the vehicle makes a right-hand turn without checking for a bicyclist. Drivers who fail to check their surroundings for bicycles sharing the roadway could be held negligent if they cause harm to a bicyclist.
• A bicyclist gets shit by a motorist making a left-hand turn. There are plenty of bicycle accidents that are caused because a vehicle is making a left-hand turn and they fail to see an oncoming bicyclist. Traveling in opposite directions when the vehicle makes the left-hand turn, it is possible that the bicyclist was too far away for the driver to see the bicyclist. Because the bicyclist has too much momentum, and no time to stop, the bicyclist can run right into the side of the left-turning vehicle, or could get severely hurt by trying to swerve out of the way of the left-turning vehicle.
• A motorist opens a door and a bicyclist hits the open door – This is commonly referred to as “dooring.” It occurs when a driver exits their vehicle parked on the side of a road and does not check for oncoming bicyclists, as the driver negligently opens his or her vehicle door, it can catch an unsuspecting bicyclist. The bicyclist crashes into the open car door because the bicyclist had no warning that the driver was about to open the door. This a particularly common type of bicycle accident in the city.

Examples of Injuries Suffered in Bicycle Accidents

As mentioned, bicycle accidents can be quite serious and often leave victims struggling with serious bodily injuries, such as:

• Broken bones
• Lacerations
• Spinal cord injuries
• Neck injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Paralysis
• Amputations

Someone who suffers one, or more, of the injuries listed above is likely going to encounter thousands of dollars in medical expenses and weeks or months of rehabilitative care.

Bicyclists Have the Same Rights and Protections as Motor Vehicle Operators in California and Arizona

Motorists are required, by law, to treat bicyclists the same as they would treat other motorists on the road. Nevertheless, motorists who are involved in accidents with bicyclists often claim that they could not see the bicyclist. Due to bicyclists’ small size compared to motor vehicles, there is little to protect bicyclists from serious harm, or even death, during a collision. For their own safety, bike riders need to be prepared for drivers not to see them. Nevertheless, that does not mean that motorists are free from liability when they cause an accident that seriously harms someone on a bike. Drivers who injure bicyclists should be held accountable for their negligent actions, or inaction. If you have been injured by a motor vehicle driver, you need to seek compensation from the driver who is liable for your injuries and property damage.

What To Do If You Are Involved in A Bicycle Accident in Los Angeles, San Jose, Napa, Oakland or Elsewhere in California and Arizona

If you were seriously injured in an accident with a motor vehicle while riding a bicycle, it is extremely important that you seek medical attention right away. Do not worry about anything else before you seek medical treatment for your injuries. Even if you think that you were not hurt or you tell yourself that “the pain will go away with some ice” you should make a point to be checked out by a medical professional. It is quite common for someone to neglect seeking medical treatment and their injuries only get worse.

Next, contact the police and report the accident. If you are not injured too badly, and you have a camera phone, you should take as many pictures of the accident, your bike, and your injuries as possible. These photos can be useful evidence later down the road. Finally, as soon as you are able to do so, you need to speak with an experienced Los Angeles & San Jose bicycle accident injury attorney with RS Law Offices about your situation.

Contact RS Law Offices to Schedule a Free, Confidential Case Review

If you or a family member was harmed in a bike accident caused by a careless driver, you deserve the opportunity to pursue financial restitution for your harms and losses. The legal team with RS Law Offices is here to help. We offer many benefits to bicycle accident victims. For example, we work on a contingency fee basis. This means we do not get paid unless and until you get paid. Additionally, when you hire one of our experienced injury attorneys, you will never have to wonder what comes next. We will guide you through the steps of pursuing the best payout for your injuries, while advising you of potential problems or practices to avoid while your case is being reviewed and worked on. Take action now by contacting our office online or calling 1-323-651-0560 or 1-510-560-6086.

How a Bicycle Accident Injury Can Turn Your Life Upside Down

Getting injured in a serious bicycle accident can be a life-altering experience. If you were hit by a car while riding a bicycle, there is a strong likelihood that you’re struggling with major bodily injuries that will requires long-term physical therapy. This is because the disparity in weight, propulsion, and protection between someone in a motor vehicle and someone on a bicycle is so disproportionate that the operator of the bicycle usually endures the brunt of the damage.

If you or a loved one suffered a major injury in a bike accident in Los Angeles, San Jose, Napa, San Francisco, Oakland, or elsewhere in California and Arizona, you need an experienced personal injury attorney on your side. Why? Because establishing fault in a bicycle accident injury case can be quite challenging, especially when liability factors such as crosswalks, multiple vehicles, and/or bicycle paths are unclear. 

Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, San Jose and Elsewhere in California and Arizona

Some of the most common causes of bicycle accidents include the following:

• A bicyclist gets rear-ended by a motorist – Just like motor vehicles can be involved in rear-end collisions, bicyclists can be rear-ended by motor vehicles. This usually happens when the driver is not paying attention to the road or to what a bicyclist is doing. A bicyclist could follow all of the appropriate bike laws concerning wearing the proper reflective gear, having appropriate lights attached to their bicycle, or using the appropriate hand signals to communicate with other drivers. But if a driver is not paying attention, it can result in the bicyclist becoming a victim in a rear-end accident all the same.
• A bicyclist gets hit by a motorist making a right turn – This happens all too frequently when a driver fails to check for or acknowledge that a bicyclist is sharing the roadway. A vehicle could pull out from a side street or parking lot and crash right into the side of a bicyclist who is obeying the traffic laws. Bicyclists are also involved in accidents where a driver and a bicyclist are sharing a road going the same direction and then the vehicle makes a right-hand turn without checking for a bicyclist. Drivers who fail to check their surroundings for bicycles sharing the roadway could be held negligent if they cause harm to a bicyclist.
• A bicyclist gets shit by a motorist making a left-hand turn. There are plenty of bicycle accidents that are caused because a vehicle is making a left-hand turn and they fail to see an oncoming bicyclist. Traveling in opposite directions when the vehicle makes the left-hand turn, it is possible that the bicyclist was too far away for the driver to see the bicyclist. Because the bicyclist has too much momentum, and no time to stop, the bicyclist can run right into the side of the left-turning vehicle, or could get severely hurt by trying to swerve out of the way of the left-turning vehicle.
• A motorist opens a door and a bicyclist hits the open door – This is commonly referred to as “dooring.” It occurs when a driver exits their vehicle parked on the side of a road and does not check for oncoming bicyclists, as the driver negligently opens his or her vehicle door, it can catch an unsuspecting bicyclist. The bicyclist crashes into the open car door because the bicyclist had no warning that the driver was about to open the door. This a particularly common type of bicycle accident in the city.

Examples of Injuries Suffered in Bicycle Accidents

As mentioned, bicycle accidents can be quite serious and often leave victims struggling with serious bodily injuries, such as:

• Broken bones
• Lacerations
• Spinal cord injuries
• Neck injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Paralysis
• Amputations

Someone who suffers one, or more, of the injuries listed above is likely going to encounter thousands of dollars in medical expenses and weeks or months of rehabilitative care.

Bicyclists Have the Same Rights and Protections as Motor Vehicle Operators in California and Arizona

Motorists are required, by law, to treat bicyclists the same as they would treat other motorists on the road. Nevertheless, motorists who are involved in accidents with bicyclists often claim that they could not see the bicyclist. Due to bicyclists’ small size compared to motor vehicles, there is little to protect bicyclists from serious harm, or even death, during a collision. For their own safety, bike riders need to be prepared for drivers not to see them. Nevertheless, that does not mean that motorists are free from liability when they cause an accident that seriously harms someone on a bike. Drivers who injure bicyclists should be held accountable for their negligent actions, or inaction. If you have been injured by a motor vehicle driver, you need to seek compensation from the driver who is liable for your injuries and property damage.

What To Do If You Are Involved in A Bicycle Accident in Los Angeles, San Jose, Napa, Oakland or Elsewhere in California and Arizona

If you were seriously injured in an accident with a motor vehicle while riding a bicycle, it is extremely important that you seek medical attention right away. Do not worry about anything else before you seek medical treatment for your injuries. Even if you think that you were not hurt or you tell yourself that “the pain will go away with some ice” you should make a point to be checked out by a medical professional. It is quite common for someone to neglect seeking medical treatment and their injuries only get worse.

Next, contact the police and report the accident. If you are not injured too badly, and you have a camera phone, you should take as many pictures of the accident, your bike, and your injuries as possible. These photos can be useful evidence later down the road. Finally, as soon as you are able to do so, you need to speak with an experienced Los Angeles & San Jose bicycle accident injury attorney with RS Law Offices about your situation.

Contact RS Law Offices to Schedule a Free, Confidential Case Review If you or a family member was harmed in a bike accident caused by a careless driver, you deserve the opportunity to pursue financial restitution for your harms and losses. The legal team with RS Law Offices is here to help. We offer many benefits to bicycle accident victims. For example, we work on a contingency fee basis. This means we do not get paid unless and until you get paid. Additionally, when you hire one of our experienced injury attorneys, you will never have to wonder what comes next. We will guide you through the steps of pursuing the best payout for your injuries, while advising you of potential problems or practices to avoid while your case is being reviewed and worked on. Take action now by contacting our office online or calling 1-323-651-0560 or 1-510-560-6086.