California Bike Accident Lawyer

Our California bike accident attorneys help bikers who have been injured in bicycle crashes and bike-related accidents. Traffic accidents killed over 400 cyclists in California from 2016 to 2018. Accident victims and their families deserve fair compensation for their losses.

Common causes of California bike accidents include poor weather and road conditions, drivers not yielding the right of way, and motorists not following applicable traffic laws. Serious bike accidents can result in head and brain injuries, broken bones, and lacerations.

Our bicycle accident lawyers can file a bike accident lawsuit on behalf of injured cyclists. We typically file these suits against:

• negligent drivers,
• bike manufacturers (in product liability cases),
• property owners (in premises liability cases), and
• governmental entities (if responsible for poorly maintained roads or bike paths/lanes).

Note that personal injury lawyers can also help bike accident victims by:

• informing them of their legal rights and California bicycle laws,
• managing their medical care and treatment,
• gathering evidence to identify all liable parties, and
• filing a bicycle accident claim with an at-fault party’s insurance company.

A California bike attorney can even negotiate an injury claim on behalf of their clients.

The Shouse Law Group is a California-based personal injury law firm that represents people in bicycle accident cases. Our experienced attorneys work tirelessly for all our clients and seek to get you the biggest settlement possible. Call today to get the legal representation you deserve.

What are common causes of bike accidents and common injuries in bicycle collisions?

Unfortunately, bike accidents and injuries are all too common throughout California. Consider that from 2016 to 2018 455 bicyclists died due to traffic accidents. This figure translates into about 3.9 bike accident fatalities per million people, the highest rate over any three-year period since the mid-1990s, before many cities built extensive bike lanes and networks.¹

Common causes of bike crashes and California bicycle accidents include:

• poor weather,
• poor or hazardous road conditions,
• car accidents,
• motorists cutting in front of bikers to make a right turn,
• drivers failing to yield the right of way to bike riders,
• cyclists running into car doors,
• motor vehicles ignoring stop signs at intersections,
• drivers not following traffic laws or certain California Vehicle Code Sections, and
• bicycle riders not following bicycle laws or refusing to properly share the road with drivers.

Note that if a bike rider contributes to a bike collision or bike-related accident, he/she can still receive compensation if injured in the incident. However, the final payout will get reduced in accordance with California law on comparative negligence.

Personal injury cases involving bicycles can result in serious injuries. Common bicycle accident injuries include:

• brain injuries,
• neck injuries,
• concussions,
• broken bones,
• sprains and strains, and
• lacerations.

Cyclists can help promote bicycle safety by:

• wearing a helmet,
• wearing bright clothing
• following the rules of the road,
• using appropriate hand signals when turning, and
• staying alert when riding.

Who are common defendants in bike accident cases?

Our California bicycle accident attorneys can file a lawsuit on behalf of bike accident victims. We typically file these suits against:

• bike manufacturers,
• property owners,
• government entities, and
• negligent drivers.

“Negligence” is a legal term that means a driver failed to act reasonably under the circumstances or violated a California traffic law.

If successful in bringing a suit, injured cyclists can receive compensation for:

• medical bills and medical expenses,
• lost wages,
• lost earning capacity,
• property damage, and
• pain and suffering.

If a biker was killed in a cycling-related accident, the party’s surviving family members can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the party responsible for causing the accident. Damages can include (but are not limited to):

• burial and funeral expenses,
• amounts the deceased would have earned as income, and
• compensation for the loss of the deceased’s companionship and support.

What is the role of a bicycle accident attorney?

Experienced attorneys can help injured bikers in a variety of ways.

A skilled lawyer interviews injury victims to learn the facts of a case and assess their medical needs. In serious bicycle accidents, an attorney can help a victim manage their ongoing medical care and treatment.

Injury lawyers can also help clients gather evidence to help learn of all negligent and liable parties. An attorney can also appoint experts in complex cases to assist in presenting this evidence to a judge or jury.

At-fault parties in these cases are often insured. An injury lawyer can help an injured biker file an injury claim with the applicable insurance company. He/she can also negotiate the claim on the victim’s behalf.

Finally, lawyers can file lawsuits in these cases and work to receive favorable verdicts on behalf of their clients.

What are the benefits of a California bike accident lawyer?

Put simply, our attorneys help clients maximize their compensation following bike crashes and bicycle-related accidents.

Lawyers know how much cases are worth. They can then hold liable parties to pay their fair share of a victim’s damages.

A skilled injury attorney can also find hidden value in a case (for example, by finding an additional negligent party or uncovering favorable evidence). Extra value translates into a bigger payout for clients.

Personal injury law firms start managing a case from the first minute they take the case on. The result is that injury victims can focus solely on healing from their injuries.

Note that most bike accident lawyers provide free case evaluations. A free initial consultation means that injured parties do not have to pay a cent to learn their legal options.

Also, communications between an injured cyclist and his/her attorney are protected by the attorney-client relationship. A lawyer cannot disclose personal information without first obtaining his/her client’s consent.

For additional help…

If you or a loved one was injured in a bike accident, we invite you to contact our law firm at the Shouse Law Group. Our attorneys provide both free consultations and legal advice you can trust.

We work tirelessly to get you the maximum compensation available for your case. Our lawyers represent clients throughout California, including those in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and across southern California.

See our related article our our California bus injury lawyers.

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