Being in the San Juaquin Valley, one of the largest agricultural areas in the United States, Madera is a terrific location for bicyclists. Madera County wine country has vineyards dotting the landscape. An enthusiast can bike to many of those vineyards, or that person might want to ride on any of the county’s 47 miles of bike trails. What comes to issue is that maybe other than a helmet, bicyclists are exposed and unprotected in the event of a traffic accident. Drivers of motor vehicles sometimes either don’t notice them or don’t notice them until it’s too late.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Madera
Whether you ride your bike to commute or for exercise or recreation, you’re confronted with risks every time that you’re on or near a roadway. In California, bicyclists have the same right to the road as motorists, but many motorists ignore or disregard that right. That behavior translates into accidents and serious injuries. A bicyclist on two wheels is no match for a driver of a passenger car, SUV, or van weighing 3,000 pounds or more. Here are some common causes of bicycle accidents in and around Madera:
- Turning left in front of a bicyclist who is traveling straight ahead.
- Turning right into a bicyclist who is between a driver and the curb.
- Failing to come to a stop and yield the right-of-way at a stoplight or stop sign.
- A vehicle driver or passenger opening a door in the path of a bicyclist.
- A bicyclist being sideswiped and forced off the road by a vehicle making a lane change.
- Following a bicyclist too closely and hitting him or her.
- Drivers who are intoxicated, high, or both who fail to see bicyclists and yield to them when required by law.
Common Injuries Suffered by Bicyclists
When there’s an impact between a motor vehicle and a bicyclist, the rider’s injuries are often serious. Here are some common injuries that are suffered by bicyclists in traffic accidents:
- Skull fractures and traumatic brain injuries along with facial fractures and dental injuries.
- Rib fractures and internal organ damage.
- Damage to vertebrae, spinal disc herniation or displacement.
- Fractures to both the upper and lower extremities, especially the legs.
- Joint damage to the shoulders, hips and knees.
- Road rash with the possibility of dangerous of infections.
Contact a Madera Bicycle Accident Lawyer
After being injured in a bicycle accident as a result of the negligence of the operator of any motor vehicle, call 911 and ask that both police and paramedics be dispatched to the scene. The investigating police officer can compile a report, and paramedics can treat you at the scene and transport you to a nearby emergency room. After you’re finished in the emergency room, contact us here at Maison Law for a free consultation and case evaluation.
Don’t give any information at all to the insurer of the person who hit you. Its representative will only try to use what you say against you in order to try and shift some or all of the blame for the accident over onto you. After you tell us about what happened, we’ll answer your questions, and then we will advise you on how we think your case should be approached. Upon retaining us, our goal will be to obtain the maximum settlement or award that you deserve. Contact us at Maison Law as soon as you can after being injured in any Madera bicycle accident.
