Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Broadway Law

Bicycle Accident Lawyer

A bicycle accident attorney from Broadway Law Firm can help you obtain maximum compensation if you are injured in an accident. Keep in mind that cyclists are among the most unprotected people in transit. If you ever suffer an accident while riding a bike, you might expect expensive medical bills and economic losses. An accident claim by an experienced lawyer can help you recover from such high expenses.

Broadway Law provides personalized service, 24/7 availability, and a free case evaluation. Call 866-845-1350 to discuss your bicycle accident and the next steps.

How Can a Bicycle Accident Attorney Help You

When it comes to your bicycle accident claim, choosing the right legal representation is crucial. At Broadway Law, we understand the unique challenges cyclists face in the legal system. Our extensive experience and unwavering commitment to client rights make us a perfect fit for your case.

Our dedicated lawyers and experts have in-depth knowledge critical to your claim’s success. This includes a thorough understanding of bicycle traffic laws, your bicycle’s various components and functionality, and how to obtain an accurate replacement value for any damaged property. We are skilled negotiators when dealing with insurance companies and will fight for the compensation you deserve. If necessary, we can represent you confidently in court.

Beyond our legal expertise, we can connect you with leading specialists in bicycle accident reconstruction. These experts will meticulously analyze the details of your accident, providing valuable evidence for your case. We can also collaborate with licensed forensic bicycle engineers who can offer a comprehensive technical analysis of the accident, further strengthening your claim.

What to Do Right After a Bicycle Accident

In the confusing moments after a bike crash, taking some fundamental actions to protect yourself is essential. These steps can affect your chances of getting financial help from insurance. Here’s a rundown of what to do if you’re able:

• Check for Injuries: Get yourself and anyone else hurt in the accident to a safe spot and call for medical attention if necessary.
• Report the Accident: Contact the police or paramedics to report the crash. Remember to write down the police report number.
• Get Driver Info: Collect information from the driver involved, passengers, and witnesses who saw what happened. Avoid saying you were to blame or apologizing.
• Gather Evidence: Take pictures of the scene before you leave. Later on, get copies of the police report and your medical records.
• Contact a bicycle accident attorney from Broadway Law Firm: 866-845-1350.

Most Common Bicycle Accidents

Sharing the road with larger vehicles can turn even small crashes involving bicyclists into major injuries or worse. Unfortunately, these accidents happen in many ways, such as:

Car Door Surprises

AKA ‘dooring’; a parked car suddenly opens its door, knocking the cyclist off balance and causing a fall.

Whose Fault Is It When a Cyclist Gets ‘Doored’?

Dooring is clear-cut when a driver does this without checking for bikes, but it is trickier when a passenger is involved. Regardless, the person opening the door is usually to blame. It’s careless for both drivers and passengers not to be careful.

In some cases, the car occupant might not be fully responsible. For instance, if a cyclist admits they weren’t paying attention and hit an open door, the person who opened it could argue the cyclist shared some blame for the accident. This could mean shared fault, affecting how much money the cyclist gets in a personal injury claim.

Right turn wrecks

A driver cuts off a cyclist by turning right without signaling, causing a collision.

Right of way Roulette

Drivers unsure of who has the right of way act unpredictably, creating dangerous situations.

Eyes off the Road

Distracted drivers using phones or fiddling with controls miss seeing cyclists altogether.

Road Rage

Aggressive drivers vent their anger at cyclists by crowding or forcing them off the road.

Yielding misunderstandings

Drivers who believe they always have the right of way might drive recklessly around cyclists.

Cyclists share the road but lack the protection of a car. We understand this unfair situation and can help you fight for your rights.

Most Common Reasons

Bicycle accidents can happen for many reasons. Some of those reasons include:

Drivers Not Giving Way to Bike Lanes

The number one reason for these crashes is drivers not yielding to cyclists in bike lanes, which are becoming increasingly common and are meant to be shared by cars and bikes.

While bike lanes help drivers see cyclists, many drivers don’t understand they must give way to them. This can cause serious accidents when drivers don’t yield.

Hard or Bad Visibility

One big reason cycling can be dangerous is that bikes are sometimes hard for drivers to spot. Even though many cyclists wear reflective gear, it only sometimes helps during the day.

Unfortunately, many drivers get used to driving and need to check carefully enough for all hazards. They might glance to see if the lane is clear for cars but miss a bike because it’s much smaller.

If drivers don’t see cyclists, they might pull out in front of them or turn right into them, causing a collision and injuries.

Most Common Injuries

Serious bike accidents can leave riders with devastating, life-altering injuries. Without the protection of a car, even a collision at low speed can cause significant harm. Cyclists are especially vulnerable and more likely to experience severe trauma. A bicycle accident attorney from Broadway Law can represent clients with all types of serious injuries, including:

• Head trauma: This can range from mild concussions to debilitating brain damage.
• Fractures: Broken bones are common, especially in the arms, legs, and collarbone.
• Skull fractures: These can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.
• Spinal cord injuries: These can cause paralysis and permanent disability.
• Lower body injuries: This includes damage to the hips, legs, knees, and ankles.
• Cuts and scrapes: These may require stitches and can leave permanent scars.
• Road rash: This is a painful injury caused by scraping against pavement.
• Internal bleeding: This can be life-threatening and may not be immediately apparent.
• Scarring and disfigurement: Serious accidents can leave permanent marks on the body.

Who’s Liable in a Bicycle Accident?

If you’re badly hurt in a bike accident, you likely want to figure out who’s legally accountable (or “on the hook”) for your injuries. In California, drivers sometimes only get a small ticket after a bike accident.

For more severe bike accidents, drivers might face criminal charges like reckless driving, ignoring stop signs or crosswalks, leaving the scene, or driving under the influence. While it’s fair for drivers who hurt cyclists to face criminal consequences, those charges don’t help the cyclist pay medical bills or if they can’t work because of the accident. That’s where civil courts come in.

Are Drivers Always at fault in Case of Accidents?

Car vs bike accidents don’t always mean the car driver is to blame. Cyclists also have rules to follow. If it’s unclear who caused the accident, a judge will look at all the evidence and decide how much each person is at fault.

Most people assume the car driver is to blame when a car hits a cyclist, but that’s not always true. Sometimes, the cyclist might break the rules and cause a crash. If you’re a cyclist hurt in an accident, a lawyer who knows about bike accidents can help you prove the car driver was at fault.

What Happens if I Wasn’t Wearing a Helmet or Am Partially Responsible for The Accident?

Even if you are partly responsible for a bicycle accident, you might still be able to get compensation. The police report assigning blame shouldn’t discourage you from filing a lawsuit, and a lawyer can analyze your case to see if you have a claim. Not wearing a helmet can affect your case, depending on the injury. If it’s a head injury, the lack of a helmet might hurt your case more. Regardless, a lawyer can give you a free consultation to assess your situation.

Bicycle Accident Claim, Step by Step

After a bike crash, your top priority should be getting medical care for your injuries. This ensures you get the proper treatment and records the damage for future legal issues. Once treated, you can start a claim against the person who caused the accident.

Here’s the breakdown of the process:

• Filing the Initial Claim: To protect your rights and have someone handle all communication, consult a bicycle accident attorney before talking to the insurance company. If the at-fault driver doesn’t have the required car insurance for California, you can file a claim under your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. This covers medical bills, lost wages, and emotional stress in car accidents where the negligent driver has no insurance or flees the scene.
• Your Case Gets Assigned: The insurance company will review your initial filing and assign an adjuster. This person will assess your claim, decide who’s responsible, and determine how much you owe.
• Case Investigation: The assigned adjuster will investigate what happened. They may ask to see your medical records, look at proof of damage to your bike, and seek other evidence, such as security camera footage or statements from witnesses.
• Post-Investigation Decision: Once the adjuster finishes their investigation, they’ll contact you with a decision. They might deny your claim or offer you a settlement amount. The amount provided depends on your medical bills, the cost to fix or replace your bike, and other damages. It might also be limited by the insurance policy’s maximum coverage and how much fault they place on you.
• Final Resolution: If the insurance adjuster offers you a settlement, you can accept it as is, try to negotiate a higher offer, or reject it. A lawyer specializing in bike accidents can advise you and help you negotiate a better offer or even take legal action on your behalf if necessary.

How Long Do I Have to File My Claim?

Filing deadlines can vary with the circumstances of a bicycle accident. An attorney can review which deadlines apply to your claim and help protect your opportunity to pursue compensation.

How Much Can I Get For My Bicycle Accident?

In California, bicycle accident settlements typically fall into minor cases and severe injuries. Some settlements reach very high amounts. The compensation for your case will vary depending on many factors, like the seriousness of the injuries, the material losses you’ve suffered, the impact of the accident on your personal life, and many others. Your lawyer will be able to determine how much damages you received and, thus, how much your case is worth.

How Long Will It Take to Receive My Compensation?

How long it takes to settle a bicycle accident claim can differ greatly depending on several things. Straightforward cases where the apparent fault might be resolved in just a few months, but trickier situations could take over a year.

Insurance companies might start discussing settlement within a few weeks or months of the accident. But the process can take much longer if things go to court.

Things like collecting evidence, bargaining with insurance adjusters, and maybe even going to trial all affect the time it takes. Talking to a lawyer is your best bet for getting a better idea of a timeframe for your specific case.

How Much Does Hiring a Bicycle Accident Lawyer Cost?

When you hire Broadway Law Firm, you don’t pay for our service out of your pocket. Instead, we obtain our payment from a percentage of the final arrangement we land for you. This arrangement is called “contingency fee” and provides clients with peace of mind, allowing them to focus on recovering while lawyers start working on their cases.

Make a Free Consultation With a Bicycle Accident Attorney

A bicycle accident attorney from Broadway Law can help you pursue compensation for losses such as medical bills, damage to your bicycle, and lost wages.

Let us help you recover from your injuries and make the aftermath of your accident more manageable. Call 866-845-1350 for a free consultation and take the first step toward a better path after your accident.