Injured in a Bicycle Accident?
Our Murrieta Bicycle Accident Lawyer Can Help You Recover Compensation
Unfortunately, riding a bicycle in California can be dangerous. The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute reports that there were 818 bicycle fatalities in 2015. In addition to those fatalities, over 45,000 others sustained bike accident injuries. According to the report, over 70 percent of these bike accidents occurred in urban areas. Urban bicycle accidents have been on the rise partly due to the increased use of bicycles as main modes of transportation in densely populated areas. The increase in bicycle use can be partly attributed to how easy it is to rent one of the dockless bicycles that have started popping up all over California’s metro areas. Many cities have even constructed dedicated bike lanes and bridges in order to promote commuting to work by bike. Unfortunately, bicycle accidents occur more often than you might like to think and matters only get more complicated if the bicycle is rented. Our Murrieta bicycle accident lawyer believes that bicycling is the most rewarding way to experience California and that you have the right to do so safely.
Our Murrieta bicycle accident attorneys know that cyclists have rights. California bike laws exist to protect cyclists. These were established for good reason, as the unprotected nature of bicycles makes riders especially susceptible to catastrophic injury or even wrongful death at the hands of negligent drivers. Additionally, it is not uncommon to see skull fractures, brain aneurysms or other serious head injuries when a cyclist is a victim of an accident. If you have been involved in a bike accident in California, consider contacting an attorney in Murrieta — he or she can help you pursue a personal injury lawsuit for compensation. Our bicycle injury lawyer can scrutinize evidence, reports and witnesses as well as work tirelessly to identify if another party contributed to your bicycle accident. As a result, you can pursue a compensation claim that could help pay for time off work and/or compounding debts.
What Factors Can Contribute to a Bicycle Accident?
No one expects to get into an accident. Unfortunately, it happens every day. If you have been in a bicycle accident, there may be multiple factors that contributed. If this is the case, you may be able to identify another party’s fault and prove that their negligence contributed to your injuries. These factors may play into official reports. For example, a police report could be inaccurate, stating false information that is against your best interests. It will be difficult to prove this without one of our Murrieta bicycle accident attorneys by your side to protect and defend you. We can review the details of your claim and start an investigation.
The following are three contributing factors often present in bicycle accidents resulting in personal injury:
- Product Defect: Brake, wheel, gear or other defective parts can easily result in a bicycle accident. After an accident, be sure to keep as many parts of your bike as possible. Your bike accident attorney can have trusted mechanics inspect your property to identify any defects. If a defect is found, you can pursue compensation from the manufacturer.
- Driver Negligence: If you collide with an automobile going 40 miles per hour while on a bike, it can be deadly. Sometimes motorists misjudge distance, fail to signal, drive under the influence or drive while distracted. Unfortunately, in these cases, motorists often try to blame the cyclist. An experienced bicycle accident attorney can investigate the situation in order to reveal the actual factors that contributed to your tragedy.
- Hazardous Road Conditions: Potholes, oil spills, poorly maintained roads and inadequate or obstructed signage pose great risks to cyclists. If this is the situation you find yourself in, it is highly recommended that you seek professional legal counsel as these cases can be rather complicated and involve several parties. Furthermore, a police report can fail to mention dangerous road conditions. We can investigate all of these details in order to strengthen your claim.
Why Do I Need a Bike Accident Lawyer?
California bicyclists have the same rights as vehicle drivers on public roadways. However, even when riders are observing the rules of the road, drivers often fail to give them adequate space, acknowledge cyclists’ right of way and/or do not see them at all. Collisions, even at relatively low speeds, can result in severe injuries for cyclists. When hit by a negligent driver, bicycle riders in downtown San Diego, Temecula or Murrieta often face substantial and even life-long consequences. For instance, you may have to undergo hospitalization, seek extensive rehabilitative therapy and miss substantial time from work. Since so much is at stake, you should protect your best interests by retaining a bike accident lawyer. Ultimately, an attorney will fight for you to receive compensation for recovery — including pain and suffering for both physical and mental injuries— from negligent parties.
Odds are, when you file a personal injury claim against a driver, that you will be up against a big insurance company or a major corporation. Negotiations with such companies and the people who work for them can be a frustrating and stressful process. As a rule, these companies have more than enough money to compensate you, but they will more often than not vigorously oppose your claim. For example, insurance companies may hire medical experts to dismiss your claim entirely in order to not pay you anything. Further, adjusters may claim that you have pre-existing injuries or the injuries are not severe enough to garner compensation. Additionally, they may claim that the driver’s negligence did not contribute to your injuries. For this reason, our Murrieta bicycle accident attorneys use their own team of professionals to determine liability. If necessary, we call on trusted medical experts who have an understanding of all medical issues involved in personal injury cases.
Injured by Someone Else’s Negligence? Call Our Murrieta Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Have you experienced injuries due to the negligence a motorist? Questions about your rights and how you can protect your best interests? In a perfect world, motorists would always be respectful enough to avoid causing a collision. Regrettably, even if you follow the rules of the road, there is no guarantee that drivers will be attentive. If you or someone close to you has been involved in a bike accident, contact our Murrieta bicycle accident lawyer.
Ultimately, you want life back to how it was before your accident. Our attorneys in Murrieta can help you get there. Through a personal injury claim, we can pursue compensation to help pay your medical bills. In addition, we can work to get you compensation for time off work. With over 25 years of experience, we are well equipped to build a strong case in your favor. Contact us online or by calling 951-370-111 to schedule a free consultation.