Sunny skies and enjoyable year-round temperatures make Alhambra an attractive place for bicyclists. While traveling by bike is good for personal health and the environment, it comes with risks. Collisions or wipeouts can leave cyclists with severe injuries and serious financial losses.
An Alhambra bicycle accident lawyer from Simmrin Law Group can help you cover your bills and recoup your losses if you have been injured in a bicycle accident. By pursuing a personal injury settlement from the party whose negligence caused your accident, you can get yourself back on stable financial ground and closer to recovery.
Bicycle Accident Statistics
Using data collected from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that for the most recent year of data collection, there were 961 cyclists killed in accidents with motor vehicles nationwide, representing about 2% of all traffic accident fatalities. Most bike accident deaths result from head injuries sustained in the crash. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports bicycle accidents cause over 130,000 injuries each year.
California’s statistics on bicycle accidents are also troubling. The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) documents a 60% increase in bicycle accidents over a recent ten-year period, while other traffic deaths increased 4.9%. For the most recent year of data collection, Los Angeles County saw 1819 bicycle crashes and 29 fatalities, as reported by UC Berkeley’s California Active Traffic Safety Information Pages (CATSIP).
For a free legal consultation with a bicycle accident lawyer serving Alhambra, call (310) 896-2723
Causes of Bicycle Accidents
The IIHS breakdown of where fatalities occurred sheds some light on the causes of bicycle accidents:
- 85% occurred in urban areas
- 35% occurred at intersections
- 65% on major roads, not including interstates and freeways
- 32% on minor roads and a higher percentage of cyclists under age 21 were killed in these areas
While motor vehicles are not involved in all bicycle accidents, they are involved in most.
Lack of Visibility
Bicycles are harder for drivers of other vehicles to see when sharing the road. Some accidents occur because a bicycle is not visible to motorists or a driver is not paying close enough attention to who else is on the road.
Ignoring Bike Lanes
In California, cyclists riding in a designated bike lane have full right of way. Some motorists do not respect this space and encroach on the bike lane. Even when making a right turn, motorists cannot cross into the bike lane if a cyclist is present or approaching.
“Dooring”
Sometimes, drivers exit their vehicles without checking for approaching cyclists, causing cyclists to crash into and potentially over the car’s open door and the bicycle’s handlebars.
Distracted Driving and Other Traffic Violations
Distracted driving is not just the cause of accidents among or between motor vehicles. Bicycle riders also face severe and deadly consequences. Whether the driver is texting, attending to an unhappy child, or changing a radio station, their distraction endangers cyclists.
Speeding, running red lights, making unsafe lane changes, and failing to give bicycle riders their legal “three feet” for a buffer zone are other common reasons for accidents.
Intersection Confusion
Right-of-way rules apply to both car and bicycle operators at intersections. Still, cars do not always give cyclists the appropriate right-of-way. Other times, cyclists do not make the full required stop. Either scenario can cause a collision.
Driveways and Parking Lots
When emerging from or backing out of a driveway or parking lots, drivers may not yield to, or see, oncoming cyclists.
Additional Causes
California Vehicle Code 21200.5 makes it illegal to ride a bike while intoxicated, yet according to IIHS data, for 19% of the deaths of those 16 years and older, cyclists had blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) of .08% or higher.
Bike malfunctions, such as brake failures, chain breaks, or loose steering systems, among others, can cause a cyclist to lose control of the bike and experience an accident.
Poor road conditions, such as potholes, ruts, or even hazards created by unattended debris also produce dangerous obstacles for bicycle riders.
Alhambra Bicycle Accident Lawyer Near Me (310) 896-2723
Injuries from Alhambra Cycling Accidents
When involved in a collision, bicyclists do not have the protection provided in a car, such as a metal shell, seatbelts, or airbags. Though they may wear helmets that can protect against some head and brain injuries, this is still no match for an automobile or high-impact collision with a stationary object. Common bicycle accident injuries include:
- Head injuries and brain trauma
- Back injuries
- Dental trauma, such as lost or broken teeth or broken jaws
- Lacerations and road rash
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue injuries
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How a Bicycle Accident Attorney in Alhambra, CA, Can Help
Bicycle injuries can require long rehabilitation or a lifetime of disability. Whether or not a full recovery is possible, your accident will incur costs. An Alhambra bicycle accident attorney can help you recoup your losses and prepare for your future.
In California, when another party’s negligence causes you injury, you can file a personal injury claim and hold them accountable for paying you compensation. To put yourself in the best position to receive a fair settlement, partner with an attorney as soon as possible after your accident. Your attorney will investigate your accident to determine the at-fault party and file an injury claim on your behalf.
Along with filing the claim, your bicycle accident lawyer in Alhambra from Simmrin Law Group will:
- Collect evidence to support your claim by accessing traffic or security camera footage, speaking to witnesses, and working with experts to reconstruct the accident
- Handle all communication with the at-fault party’s representatives
- Protect your interests by handling all insurance negotiations
- Demand a fair settlement for your medical care, income loss, property damage, and pain and emotional suffering
- Provide representation if you must take your case to trial
- Advocate for you at every proceeding
To further protect your claim, you should avoid speaking to insurance adjusters without your lawyer present. Otherwise, you may give them opportunities to intimidate you or trick you into unfair admissions of fault to reduce their payout.
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Simmrin Law Group Is Ready to Fight for You
Your Alhambra bicycle accident lawyer from Simmrin Law Group will not settle for less than you deserve. Insurance companies are not on your side, but we are, and we have the legal skills and experience necessary to ensure those companies treat you fairly.
Visit our contact page to schedule a free consultation with a bicycle accident lawyer in Alhambra. We look forward to working with you.
Call or text (310) 896-2723 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form