Our Los Angeles Bike Accident Lawyers
Award-Winning Bike Accident Lawyers Practicing, Riding and Living in Los Angeles
Call (888) 488-1391 to discuss your bike accident case today.
Riding a bike has a number of advantages. It is both climate and budget-friendly, health-conscious, and it is an easy way to getting from place A to place B. Especially in the hustling-bustling City of Angels, where space is limited and parking is dreadful. With more and more bike lanes opening up throughout L.A., it’s a cause for concern for Los Angeles bike accident lawyers, as injuries resulting from Auto-Bike crashes have been steadily rising.
In a 2016 Benchmarking Report, The Alliance for Biking and Walking reported that California is ranked fourth in the United States for commuters on bicycles. For fatalities, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that California ranked number one in 2013 with 141 deaths.
When a crash of any kind causes injury and death, you are entitled to compensation. In 2010, losses for medical costs and lost productivity to bicyclists cost America $10 billion.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident in Los Angeles, you deserve to be compensated for your damages. You don’t need to have insurance on your bicycle to deserve compensation after a bike accident. Call our firm’s Los Angeles bike accident lawyer team at (888) 488-1391, and we’ll give you a free case review on your accident.
Does v. California Farm (confidential) –settlement for a group of farmworkers who were killed when the car they were transported in to work flipped over in Merced County.– BENNY KHORSANDI
What Causes Bicycle Accidents
There are a number of causes of bike accidents. Lighting is the main cause of bike accidents, with 45 percent of bike accident fatalities occurring in the dark. The area also plays a role. Approximately 69 percent of accidents occur in urban centers, and 38 percent occur outside of an intersection zone, and 30 percent occur at intersections.
- Riding against traffic – Bike riders are required to ride with the flow of traffic. Failing to do so could cause a head-on collision resulting in permanent injury or death.
- Private driveway exits – Sometimes, a driver in a private driveway doesn't see the cyclist entering the road.
- Turning cars – If a car makes a turn into the path of a bicycle, the cyclist doesn’t always have enough space or time to stop.
- Overtaking bicycles – When a vehicle tries to overtake a bike that is legally on the road, an accident is often the result.
- Car doors opening into bicyclists – This type of accident is commonly called "getting doored" and is exactly what it sounds like. A lot of accidents happen this way.
- Red light collisions – Timing is everything here. Bicyclists to the right of vehicles at a red light will increase their risk of collision. Vehicles often pull out into the intersection at the wrong time, and an accident occurs.
- Bicycles on sidewalks – Bicycles should be on the roadways, but sometimes they are ridden on the sidewalks. Car drivers can't always see a bike on the sidewalk, sometimes due to the bicycle's location or its speed. Accidents here are common.
- Child bike accidents – Children do not have the cognitive skills of drivers and don't think ahead on roadways the same way, resulting in tragic accidents.
- Drinking and driving – The NHTSA states that alcohol was involved in 34 percent of bike accidents in 2013.
When you have been in a bike accident with a car, you are more likely to suffer worse injuries than the driver of the vehicle. The team at Arash Law led by Arash Khorsandi, Esq. has been working with Los Angeles bike accident victims for decades. Bike accident injuries can chase you for life, and you deserve compensation after this trauma. Call our Los Angeles car accident lawyers today at (888) 488-1391 to book a free consultation on your case.
Most Common Bicycle Accident Injuries in The City of Angels
- Brain injury – Traumatic brain injuries can range from a mild concussion to permanent brain damage.
- Head injury – Injuries to the head can include wounds, abrasions, lacerations, and fractures. These injuries can still occur without a helmet.
- Facial injury – The face can receive wounds, abrasions, and lacerations, any of which may lead to permanent scarring or damage and even maxillofacial trauma.
- Dental injury
- Amputation
- Bone fractures
- Joint dislocation – When your bike twists during an accident, your body will twist with it, resulting in joint injuries that could be permanent.
- Knee pain – Injuries to the patella and quadriceps are common during an accident on a bike, as the knees are exposed during a collision.
- Spinal cord injury – Spinal cord injuries are very difficult to treat and often painful and permanent. Paralysis is also possible.
- Neck injury – Neck injuries include permanent tendon or vertebrae damage.
- Nerve damage – Nerve damage is among the most painful injuries possible, and this pain will last the rest of your life. When nerves are pinched or damaged, you'll need lifelong pain management.
- Jaw injury – These injuries often lead to multiple surgeries and a severe impact on the quality of your life.
- Internal bleeding – When you have been in a high-impact collision, your organs may be injured or wounded, leading to potentially life-threatening internal bleeding.
- Road rash – This injury is common for motorcyclists, as well as bike riders. Road rash occurs when a rider's skin comes into contact with the road and is severely damaged, sometimes to the point of requiring skin grafting.
- Hand injury – You may experience hand injuries that impact your ability to work. When you fall, it's instinctual to put your hands out to slow down an impact. Doing so could impair you for a long time, perhaps permanently.
- Achilles tendonitis – A ruptured Achilles tendon is very common in high-impact bike accidents.
- Lower-back problems – Lower back problems are common after many car accidents. The effects of an injury to the lower back could be permanent and severely hamper your ability to work.
- Death – In 2019, there were 846 bike fatalities in America. We can help.
Whether you have PTSD or not, you are going to suffer emotional pain and suffering after a bike accident with a car. These are injuries that are as compensable as a back injury or head injury.
Our award-winning law firm knows that you deserve to be compensated for these. You may not have bike insurance, but you can still file a claim against the driver for all of the injuries that you suffered as a result of your accident. Call our Los Angeles bike accident lawyers at (888) 488-1391 to book a free consultation, or leave your information online with us if you can’t call yourself. We’ll get back to you to book a free review of your case. You are never out of pocket and don’t pay until we win.
California Bicycle Law Requirements
The bicycle requirements for California are stipulated by California Vehicle Code VC 21201. Your bicycle must have:
- Working brakes – It is illegal to ride a bike without them.
- Handlebars – The bike must be fitted properly for you or your child. The handlebars can not be above the shoulder.
- Appropriately sized to the rider – The bicycle must not be too large for the rider to be able to stop it safely, while still being able to keep one foot on the ground so that the ride can be restarted safely.
- White headlamps – These must be used in the evening and must be visible at least 300 feet to the front and sides of the bicycle.
- Red reflectors or solid flashing red lights – Reflectors must be used on the rear and be visible at least 500 feet away.
- Pedals with reflectors – The pedals must be equipped with white or yellow reflectors; alternatively, the reflectors can be worn on the shoes of the rider or the tires of the bike.
California Bicycle Accident Law
California bicycle accident law is very similar to car accident law when it comes to personal injury. It is a myth that bicycle riders have the right of way all the time. Bike riders have to follow the same right of way laws that vehicles do.
That is important when it comes to discussing who is at fault in a car accident case, even one where there is a bicycle. Many bicycle accidents happen at intersections. You have to follow the same laws that a vehicle would. Whoever arrived first at the intersection has the right of way.
When it comes to damages and compensation in a bicycle accident, you still have the right to sue for damages., even if you aren’t insured the way a vehicle driver would be insured for an accident.
Our personal injury law firm knows that you deserve compensation after a bicycle accident. Some of your injuries may impact your quality of life for the rest of your life. Our Los Angeles accident lawyers know how to pursue the compensation you deserve. You don’t have to fight this alone. Call (888) 488-1391, and we’ll review your case for free.
Negligence and Fault in Bicycle Accidents
California is a comparative fault state, which means that the party in an accident that is most at fault will pay for the bulk of the damages. For example, if the other party is determined to be 70 percent responsible, they will pay for 70 percent of the damages. You will pay for 30 percent of the damages.
In a personal injury case, the fault is determined by either a judge or a jury. If it is found that you could have prevented the accident even partially, your settlement will be reduced by a certain percent.
This legal concept is called the duty of reasonable care to others on the road. Failure to act reasonably will mean that party will be found to be negligent. Many car accidents are the result of negligence, such as distracted driving or running a red light.
- Medical and hospital bills, and for future bills as well
- Prescription medication
- Property damages
- Lost wages
- Loss of work, if you are unable to return to work right away
- Pain and suffering
If you have been in a bicycle accident with a vehicle and aren’t sure what to do next, give us a call at (888) 488-1391. Our personal injury law firm has been representing bike accident victims in California for decades. We can help you to get the compensation that you deserve.
2019: $27M confidential settlement in a case involving multiple plaintiffs.– BRIAN BEECHER
Statute of Limitations for Bicycle Accidents
If you have been in a bicycle accident, you’ll need help ensuring that the statute of limitations has been adhered to. When you or someone you love has been in a bike accident, a personal injury attorney will fight for you to get the compensation you deserve. Call our Los Angeles bike accident lawyers at (888) 488-1391, and we’ll give you a free review of your case.
Recovering From Bicycle Accident Injuries
Our firm wants you to feel like you have support every step of the way. We will help you to recover compensation for every minute of pain and suffering that you have experienced as a result of your bike accident. Contact our bike accident team of lawyers at (888) 488-1391. We won’t stop fighting for you.
Contact an L.A. Bike Accident Lawyer Today
Going through a bicycle accident is a traumatizing event that happens to thousands of Americans every year. Hundreds in California have died from this. The attorneys at Arash Law headed by Arash Khorsandi, Esq. has been winning millions for accident victims for decades.
If you have been injured, we expect you to win. Our experienced teams of accident lawyers know how to get the result you deserve after this trauma.
Call us today at (888) 488-1391 to book a free review of your case. If you are unable to call, leave us your information online, and we will be in touch for a free consultation. We don’t get paid until you win your bike injury claim.
