Bakersfield, California, is known for its great bicycle trails and attractions. The city encourages its citizens to partake in bicycle commuting whenever possible, in downtown and around the town perimeters. To that end, the town has created bike paths, routes and even bike lanes in traffic. Biking is encouraged through neighborhoods as well as industrial districts, promoting good health, savings and pollution reduction. Cyclers come from all over the country to participate in year-round bike races and events. While some of these trails go for miles without crossing much road terrain, so many more cyclists must deal with traffic and whatever road conditions they come upon.
Bicycle Accident in Bakersfield
Bicycling commuters, joy riders and serious cyclists in Bakersfield must negotiate riding alongside motor vehicles at some point. California statistics for bicycle accidents are included in pedestrian statistics. Because the street design of many California streets are built like highways, speeding is more likely, making safe crossing and walking for pedestrians not only tougher, but putting cyclists who are poorly protected from a two-ton road sharer at higher risk. Bakersfield is the first in the list of cities listed with high pedestrian fatalities in the state, followed closely by other Central Valley cities such as Fresno. This number has risen over the years. You don’t want to be hit by a car or truck when riding, but if you are, you need to know how to deal with the aftermath of the accident. Make sure you:
- Get medical help Bicycle vs car is not in your favor. Don’t mess around, even if you feel ok.
- Police report Get the details of the incident and your injuries documented. Make sure the police furnish you with a report copy or go get one after the fact. It should include contact information for the vehicle driver.
- Other documentation Be sure to get photos of the incident, your injuries, your bike, their vehicle, the area and any pertinent marks. Make sure you also get witness names and information. You might be incapacitated if you are hurt badly, but try to get a friend or family member to the site to help you. An attorney would be very useful right about that time, as well. The longer you wait to get the details, the harder it will be to document your side of it.
- Save everything Every single bill, expense, report, receipt, agency document and medical record needs to be collected to one place. Again, if you have your attorney at this point, this is exactly what they will do with you.
- Hire an attorney If you haven’t done this by now, don’t wait another moment to do so.
Some regular cyclists in the area go proactive, hiring their bicycle accident attorney ahead of time. Don’t be skeptical. If cycling is a passion, and you do it often, you are at higher risk of having a serious accident. Essentially, a biker is a pedestrian who can collide with vehicles at a faster velocity, with only a helmet and a few joint pads to protect them. The opportunity for devastating life-altering injuries is there. It’s always better if you have that attorney to call when the time comes, taking your stress and worry away, allowing you to focus on recovery and letting them sort out what damages you are entitled to. Don’t wait. Contact the Maison Law Firm to make sure your rights as an injured party are protected.
