Bakersfield Bicycle Accident Lawyers
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Our Award-Winning Bakersfield Bicycle Accident Lawyers Offer Determined And Relentless Representation
The popularity of bicycling keeps growing as more people turn to eco-friendly transportation options. Considering the traffic problem, it is more convenient and inexpensive. However, drivers often disregard or even violate cyclist’s rights, causing bicycle accidents. If someone else’s negligence causes your injury while riding a bike, you may be able to recover compensation with the help of our Bakersfield bicycle accident lawyers. Call Arash Law today at (888) 488-1391 for a free initial consultation.
In the United States, California has the fourth-highest number of bike commuters. However, this number also reflects the high rate of bicycle-related injuries and fatalities. In fact, the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) reports more than 150 cyclist deaths per year. Due to the lack of protection and vulnerability of cyclists, bicycle accidents frequently lead to severe injuries and significant financial losses.
Arash Law has helped victims of bicycle accidents get maximum compensation for years. Our team, headed by esteemed Arash Khorsandi, Esq., ensures quality legal assistance for anyone. Contact our Bakersfield bicycle accident attorneys for a free case evaluation or fill out our “Do I have a case?” form. Our legal team will assess your situation and reach out to you as soon as possible.
Settlement in a bicycle versus taxi cab company accident; client suffered lower leg injuries– JUDD ROSS ALLEN
Why Do You Need Experienced Bakersfield Bicycle Accident Lawyers For Your Claim?
In traffic accidents, when a vehicle collides with a cyclist, the vehicle always wins. When you suffer injuries or lose a loved one in a vehicle-bicycle collision, you need experienced bicycle accident lawyers in Bakersfield to handle your case and ensure a favorable outcome. Without legal representation, you may not be able to get fair compensation that covers all your damages and more.
By talking to a personal injury lawyer specializing in bike accidents today, you can help ensure your rights to just compensation are protected. Your legal representative can also help you avoid doing or saying anything that could affect your case.
Insurance companies are aware of your injuries and losses after an accident. But, instead of compensating you, they might pin the blame or part of it on you to protect their business interests. Alternatively, they may offer you a settlement right away and make it seem attractive so you’ll bite. However, these offers are often not enough for the extent of your injuries. Worst, if you accept their offer, you won’t be able to pursue further compensation.
A lawyer can tell you when an offer is too low. They can also quantify your case so you know how much your claim is worth. You can use this number to make informed decisions when it comes to further negotiations and subsequent offers.
How Can Arash Law’s Bicycle Accident Lawyers In Bakersfield Help You Win Fair Compensation?
Aside from physical injuries, you can suffer financial losses after an accident. Fortunately, by holding the parties responsible for your injuries accountable, our Bakersfield bicycle accident attorneys can help you obtain the maximum financial reparation you deserve.
Bicyclists and their families are often unaware of their rights after a traffic collision. The truth is accident victims may be entitled to more compensation than they realize. If you or a family member is injured in one, Arash Law will help you get a fair settlement amount. We will prove negligence and negotiate hard by building a compelling case for you.
Our bicycle accident attorneys in Bakersfield have extensive knowledge and a proven track record of successfully winning bicycle accident and other personal injury cases. Moreover, we have won over $750 Million in compensation for our clients. Let us handle the negotiation with insurance companies to get you the maximum compensation you are entitled to.
Common Injuries In Bicycle Accidents In Bakersfield, CA
A bicycle is no match for a two-to-three-ton motor vehicle. Bicyclists are always at risk of severe injury in vehicle collisions due to the lack of protection. Common injuries sustained in bicycle accidents in California include:
Broken Or Fractured Bones
Fractures can range from minor to severe. In some cases, they require immediate medical treatment and can be life-threatening. It is also possible to develop chronic pain when you suffer from fractured bones. In addition, some fractures may affect nearby nerves, soft tissue, and internal organs.
Road Rash
A road rash is a friction wound, and bicycle accidents often result in this type of injury. It happens when your skin gets scraped off by a hard surface. Cyclists do not have the same level of protection as vehicle owners do, so they get these abrasions easily.
Head Trauma & Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Collisions with cars can cause traumatic brain injuries, especially when the bicyclist doesn’t use high-quality helmets. This kind of injury can be life-threatening. It’s crucial to seek medical attention right away if you or someone you know suffered a head injury. Since TBIs often lead to permanent damage, your bicycle accident attorneys in Bakersfield must ensure your future medical needs are included in your settlement.
Knee Injuries
When a rider’s knee breaks in a traffic crash, they are likely to suffer painful knee injuries. As a weight-bearing structure of the leg, injuries to the knee can result in long-term problems.
Spinal Cord Injuries
A bicycle accident involving a motor vehicle increases the risk of spinal cord injury. Spinal injuries result in severe and lifelong consequences, including paralysis to one or more parts of the body and even death.
Loss Of Limb
A serious bicycle accident can cause traumatic amputation. This is when a part of the body, usually a limb like an arm or a leg, gets cut off by the sheer force of the collision or crash. Amputations are also common if the limb has severe and irreparable tissue damage.
Eye Injuries
Eye injuries can lead to headaches and light sensitivity. They can also cause double vision, blurred vision, partial vision loss, and blindness. A severe eye injury impacts someone’s vision for the worse.
Internal Bleeding
An object that penetrates your flesh during an accident may cause internal injuries. You may also sustain blunt trauma if something slams into you or if you hit something hard. Lastly, the force of a collision may rupture blood vessels.
Wrongful Death
Getting killed is the worst that could happen to anyone in a traffic accident. If a loved one is killed after getting hit by a vehicle while riding a bike, you can recover compensation for hospital bills, funeral expenses, and other damages through a wrongful death claim.
Every accident is different. Bicycle accident victims can suffer a variety of injuries. Our Bakersfield bicycle accident lawyers can help you obtain financial recovery regardless of the type and extent of your injuries. Arash Law’s team of experienced attorneys will gather evidence to ensure your injuries are not undervalued.
Common Causes Of Bicycle Accidents In Bakersfield, California
In most vehicle-bicycle collisions, the driver bears most of the legal responsibility. Whatever the circumstances, our experienced Bakersfield lawyers specializing in bicycle accidents will help you hold negligent drivers accountable. The following are common factors that lead to bicycle accidents:
- Drivers’ failure to look out for cyclists
- Distracted drivers drifting into bike lanes, sidewalks, or highway shoulders
- Opening a car door without checking for clearance
- Drivers who drive aggressively near cyclists out of impatience
- Drivers who drive recklessly (e.g., following too closely or tailgating cyclists)
- Using a phone while driving
- Unsafe turns
- Driving under the influence of alcohol
- Driving while drowsy
- Speeding
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
What To Do After A Bicycle Accident In Bakersfield, CA
If you got in a bicycle accident, the very first thing you should do is get to safety. Your health and safety are the most critical things in such situations.
Here are the steps you must take after an accident to protect your rights:
- See a doctor or medical professional. If you suffer a bicycle accident, seek immediate medical attention. Your health and safety should always be your top priority. Call 911 and wait for the emergency response team to arrive.
- Call the police immediately. They can help manage the situation and do the initial investigation. The police report after your accident is beneficial. When making a police report, make sure the officer includes their name and badge number. If your attorney in Bakersfield needs more information, they will follow up with these authorities.
- Collect evidence. Collecting evidence is another crucial step. It helps build a compelling case for your bicycle accident. You can gather evidence by taking pictures of the accident, your injuries, damage to your property, and your surroundings. Talk to eyewitnesses and get their contact details as well.
- Save receipts & keep medical bills. Medical bills and receipts can also serve as evidence in the future. A thorough documentation will show the extent of your injuries and how they affect your life.
Our Bakersfield bicycle accident lawyers will conduct a thorough investigation of your accident. More evidence will make your case stronger and help establish liability.
Type Of Compensation To Recover After A Bicycle Accident
If a bicycle accident was caused by negligence, you may be entitled to a higher financial recovery than you think. Victims may be compensated for both economic (tangible and measurable losses) and non-economic (subjective and intangible losses) damages.
In rare cases where extreme negligence is found, the court can grant punitive damages, not to compensate the victim, but to punish and deter similar behavior in the future.
- Hospital and surgery bills, including current and future expenses
- Income or wages lost
- Loss of future earnings
- Mental distress, emotional distress, PTSD, etc.
- Disability & disfigurement compensation
- Damage to property
- Other accident-related losses
Any injury or wrongful death claim will have specific damages. These are based on the facts and circumstances surrounding the accident. Our bicycle accident attorneys in Bakersfield can help you recover all the damages caused by these incidents.
December 2016: $22M+ verdict in a mild traumatic brain injury case. The entire details of the case can be found in the public record filings by the defendant entity that sued its defense.– BRIAN BEECHER
Bicycle Accident Liability In Bakersfield, CA
There is an “at-fault” system in California, where liability depends on who is responsible for the accident. This “at-fault” state law generally requires the at-fault driver’s insurance to compensate the injured party for damages. In a bike accident, this applies whether or not you were wearing a helmet or riding in a designated bike lane.
In California, registration and licensing laws for bikers vary from county to county. However, legal protections for cyclists are statewide. The California Vehicle Code (VEH) (21200) lists the regulations for this in detail. It mandates cyclists to follow the same traffic laws as motorists. Simultaneously, it grants them the same legal rights and protections as motorists.
To prove your claim, you need our experienced Bakersfield attorneys specializing in bicycle accidents by your side. They will analyze your case to determine the liability of the at-fault party.
Bakersfield Bicycle Accident Statistics
Biking is becoming increasingly popular in Bakersfield, like many other California cities. However, bike accidents remain a problem in the city despite efforts to keep cyclists safe.
According to the United States Department of Transportation, traffic accidents killed over 800 bicyclists in 2019.
Unfortunately, the number of deaths is also increasing in Bakersfield and the Central Valley. More bicyclists died on California roads between 2016 and 2018. Kern County had 47 pedestrian and bicyclist deaths in 2017.
Bakersfield and Kern County continue to experience bicycle accidents despite efforts to promote bicycle safety.
Frequently Ask Questions About Bakersfield Bicycle Accidents
Does My Insurance Cover A Bicycle Accident?
If a vehicle driver is at fault, their auto insurance policy can cover the damages you’re suffering from. Claims proceed much like personal injury claims from two-car collisions. Insurance companies know they could be liable for a large amount of money. Without an attorney, accident victims are less likely to receive fair compensation.
Hiring the right Bakersfield bicycle accident attorneys could make all the difference in your case. We have a lot of experience fighting large and powerful insurance corporations. We demand full and fair compensation for our clients.
What If A Defective Bicycle Part Contributed To My Accident?
Bicycle auto parts that malfunction can cause serious collisions. Our bicycle accident lawyers in Bakersfield will investigate what most likely caused the defect. You could have your lawyer review recall data, blueprints, and schematics to figure out when the defect occurred. Anyone involved in the development or distribution of the part may be found liable for the defect.
In California, companies that manufacture bicycle parts can be held strictly liable for accidents caused by manufacturing defects.
What If The Bicycle Rider Is Partially At Fault?
In some cases, defendants may claim that the bicycle rider violated one of California’s bicycle laws. They may also claim the rider was otherwise responsible for the accident. However, even if that’s the case, you can still recover financial compensation for your bicycle accident.
Since California is a pure comparative negligence state, cyclists can still recover compensation even if they are partially at fault for their own accident. In this case, the cyclist’s damages will be reduced by their percentage of fault.
What Are Bicycle Safety Guidelines To Help Prevent Accidents And Injuries?
You can reduce your risk of accidental injury while cycling by:
- Wearing a bike helmet and other safety gear when cycling.
- Following all traffic rules as if you’re driving a car.
- Improving visibility at night by equipping your bike with reflectors and lights.
- Wearing bright colors.
- Not riding alone in bad weather, at night, or when visibility is low.
Get Full Compensation With Help From Our Top-Rated Bakersfield Bicycle Accident Lawyers!
Don’t face the insurance companies alone. Arash Law’s Bakersfield bicycle accident attorneys will work hard to maximize your financial compensation during the claims process. We will use our expertise and experience to hold at-fault parties liable for your accident and losses.
Contact our office at (888) 488-1391 right away to schedule a free initial consultation with the award-winning bicycle accident lawyers Bakersfield trusts. We also serve bicycle accident victims in Lost Hills, Lakeview, Stallion Springs, Molave, Reefer City, Shatter, Twin Oaks, Tehachapi, Golden Hills, Maricopa, Valley Acres, Grapevine, Bear Valley Springs, Fuller Acres, and McFarland.
