Pasadena Bicycle Accident Attorneys

Providing Experienced Legal Guidance

Riding a bike is an excellent way to get exercise while commuting. Unfortunately, because cars and bicycles must share the road, dangerous accidents can occur. When a motor vehicle hits a bike, the bike rider can sustain serious injuries that will impact them for the rest of their life. If you’ve been in a bicycle accident, you deserve compensation for your injuries, lost wages, emotional suffering, and more.

At-fault motor vehicle drivers need to be held accountable for their actions. Most drivers escape from bike accidents unscathed, while bike riders can spend weeks, months, or even years in recovery. At Thon Beck Vanni Callahan & Powell, A Professional Corporation, we care about our clients and are dedicated to fighting for their right to payment.

Please don’t feel like you must navigate this challenging legal situation on your own. For a consultation about your case and to learn more about our team, call us today at 626-208-9906.

What Are the Most Common Types of Bicycle Accidents?

Accidents between motor vehicles are often relatively minor, resulting in property damage or small injuries. Unfortunately, those same accidents can be severe when they involve bicycles.

The most common types of bike accidents are:

Dooring

Cars often park on the side of the road, opening their doors into the bike lane. If a driver opens their door without checking behind them first, they can open a door into a biker, throwing them onto the ground.

Right Turns

When a driver speeds ahead of a cyclist to make a right turn, they can cause a collision. This is especially true if the driver fails to use a turn signal.

Distracted Driving

Drivers who text, talk, eat, or otherwise fail to pay attention while driving can cause dangerous crashes.

Road Rage

Unfortunately, some drivers will drive erratically on purpose when near a bicycle. Following too closely, swerving, and braking excessively can cause a rider to crash.

Failure to Yield

Some drivers believe cyclists always have to yield to cars, which isn’t the case. Drivers who fail to yield to others can cause accidents.

What Injuries Are Most Common After a Bicycle Accident?

Being hit by a vehicle while riding a bike is a traumatic experience. Depending on the kind of bicycle accident, riders can experience devastating injuries. Some of these injuries cause life-long symptoms, leading to thousands of dollars in medical bills.

The most common injuries bicycle accident victims suffer from include:

• Broken bones
• Skull fractures
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Spinal cord injuries
• Road rash
• Lacerations
• Internal injuries
• Scarring and disfigurement

Catastrophic injuries, like paralysis and brain injuries, can impact the rest of your life. Psychological and emotional injuries can also be difficult to treat. If you have been injured in a bicycle accident, contact an experienced bike accident attorney in Pasadena today.

What Should You Do After a Bicycle Accident?

When you get hit by a car, you’re likely feeling confused, scared, and overwhelmed. Taking the right steps immediately will protect your health and safety and help you file a personal injury claim later to recover compensation.

If you’ve been hit by a vehicle while riding a bike, take the following steps:

Get to a Safe Location

If you are in the middle of the road, walk over to the sidewalk or shoulder if you’re able to. The driver of the car may also need to move their vehicle out of the flow of traffic.

Contact Emergency Services

Call the police to create a paper trail, and ask for emergency services if you or anyone else is injured. Write down your police report number if you are given one.

Get the Driver’s Information

Ask for their name, telephone number, driver’s license number, and insurance company information. Also, ask for contact information from witnesses who saw the accident.

Take Photos of the Accident

Use your phone to snap pictures of the accident scene and any injuries you sustained. You can also get your medical records and the police report to use as evidence.

Contact Your Insurance Company

Call your insurance company right away to report the accident. You can also call the driver’s insurance provider and file a claim.

Call a Pasadena Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Working with an attorney right away gives you the highest chance of success in your bicycle accident claim. Call our team today to begin building your case.

What Kinds of Damages Can You Seek in a Bicycle Accident Case?

Bicycle accidents have the potential to cost you thousands of dollars. In general, any financial losses that you sustained because of the accident can be claimed and recovered. The losses can be economic, meaning they have a set price tag, or non-economic, meaning they must be calculated.

Many injured victims seek the following damages:

• Medical bills, both present and future
• Lost wages from taking time off work
• Loss of future income or earning capacity
• Property damage repairs or replacement
• Disability costs
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium

If your loved one was hit and killed in a bicycle accident, you may be able to pursue a wrongful death case. In a wrongful death claim, you can seek compensation for things like loss of companionship, funeral costs, and more. The payment will go to any surviving family members of the deceased. If you are interested in a wrongful death case, contact a bicycle accident attorney on our team for more information.

What is the Statute of Limitations for a Bicycle Accident Case?

All personal injury cases are subject to a statute of limitations. Once the statute of limitations expires, you won’t be able to seek compensation in court anymore. There are some exceptions to this rule, but they are rare.

In general, the statute of limitations for bicycle accident claims in California are:

• Bike accident injury claim: Two years from the date of the accident.
• Delayed injuries: Two years from the date the injuries should have been reasonably discovered.
• Injured minors: Two years from the minor’s 18th birthday.
• Property damage: Three years from the date of the accident.
• Claims against the government: Six months from the date of the accident.
• Wrongful death cases: Two years from the date of death.

Who is Liable in a Bicycle Accident Case?

Winning a bicycle accident case hinges upon being able to assign liability to another party. The party that caused your injuries will be on the hook for any damages you accrued as a result of the accident. While some personal injury cases are straightforward, others may involve multiple parties or parties that were not immediately relevant.

Most of the time, the driver of the car is responsible for your injuries. However, road hazards like potholes and cracks may have caused your crash. In this case, the government could be held liable for poorly maintained roads. Similarly, you may have been injured by a bicycle malfunction. In that case, the manufacturing company could be held responsible. If you need help assigning liability in your personal injury claim, contact a Pasadena bicycle accident attorney today. We can examine the facts of your case to determine who is responsible and how to get the most compensation.

Should You Consult a Bicycle Accident Lawyer?

Anyone who has been injured in a bike accident deserves compensation for what they have gone through. Unfortunately, insurance companies and liable parties are unlikely to give you that compensation without a fight. Working with a bike accident lawyer allows you to focus on your recovery while advocating for your rights.

Our team at Thon Beck Vanni Callahan & Powell, A Professional Corporation, is here to help you through your entire personal injury case. From determining liability to pursuing payment in court, we are dedicated to getting the outcome you deserve. To learn more about your case and how we can help, contact us today by calling 626-208-9906.