Bike Accident Overview

Bicyclists in Los Angeles, California have the same rights and responsibilities as other motorists. This is always expected, given that bicyclists share the road with them. However, they often face a lot of dangers, even if the city itself is filled with designated bike lanes that are located on the sides of roadways. Apparently, the likelihood of a bicycle accident in Los Angeles is high, especially since not all motorists are aware of the presence of bicyclists on the road. If you were injured in a bicycle accident in the city, let it be known to you that you are entitled to recover damages from the negligent party who caused the mishap. You must be able to enforce your legal rights immediately by seeking the legal expertise of a personal injury attorney who handles bicycle accidents claims.

Major Causes of Bike Accidents

The possibility of a bicycle accident in Los Angeles lies on how motorists driving their own vehicles act when they encounter bicyclists on the road. Situations that cause collisions between bicycles and automobiles in California often involve:

• Changing lanes;
• Not having enough distance between the motorist and the bicyclist whenever the former passes by the latter;
• Failure of the motorist to watch out for passing bicycles, especially when backing up or making a turn, especially at intersections;
• Opening vehicle doors without regard to passing bicyclists, especially in and around bike lanes; and
• Road hazards that could cause injuries to riders.

Most of the time, these collisions are due to some motorists disregarding the presence of bicyclists, especially at intersections, bike lanes, or traffic lanes. Despite the prevalent mandatory helmet laws and the use of important safety equipment, from elbow pads and proper clothing to bicycle components such as lights and reflectors, a bike accident would very much likely result in personal injury.

Injuries associated with bikes include the following:

• Common closed head injuries such as concussions;
• Bone fractures, especially on arms and legs;
• Spinal cord injuries;
• “Road rash” or skin abrasions; and
• Internal bleeding and organ injuries.

Why Hire a Bicycle Accident Lawyer?

If you have been injured in a bicycle accident, or a loved one of yours who is an avid cyclist died because of the same circumstances, then it is a must that you hire the best bicycle accident lawyer who is highly-knowledgeable and experienced when it comes to California traffic laws, as well as being effective and aggressive in pursuing bicycle accident claims. You will know that you truly have a bicycle accident case and that the lawyer you consult will represent you if your claim is supported with enough evidence that will prove that negligence was the cause of your injuries.

Your personal injury lawyer will help you obtain pieces of evidence, from the photos of the accident scene, medical documents of your treatment, accounts from witnesses, to accident reports from the police. Your legal counsel will also help establish the fault of the liable party, which could be the other driver involved or a government entity, if in case road hazards contributed to the mishap.

More importantly, your attorney will protect your interests of recovering damages by aggressively and respectfully negotiating with the liable party’s insurance provider. Without any legal representation from a lawyer, it would be impossible for you to collect compensation, especially since most insurance companies deny claims from injured parties as a way to avoid liability.