Cycling in Bakersfield can be hazardous when riders must travel alongside drivers who may not be looking out for everyone else on the road. Someone on a bicycle has just as much right to the lane as a motorist, but some drivers can be oblivious to any object smaller than their vehicle also using the street.
This lapse in attention can be devastating for any cyclist suddenly forced into a collision. The injuries can be severe and it can be months before victims can attempt to get back on their bikes.
Bakersfield emergency responders know the dangers local bicyclists face each year. The city documented 82 bicycle accidents in 2019. 79 victims suffered injuries in those crashes and three cyclists tragically lost their lives.
Bicyclist Hit By Car in Bakersfield
A cyclist was struck by a car and badly injured on Wednesday evening in Bakersfield just north of Highway 58. KGET-TV reported the accident happened near the intersection of Verde Street and H Street on January 13, 2021.
The Bakersfield Police Department responded to the scene shortly after 5 p.m. The victim was taken to the hospital with major injuries.
The woman driving the car involved remained on the scene. Investigators are still determining how the crash occurred.
Support for Bicycle Accident Victims In Bakersfield
A cyclist can make themselves visible and follow all traffic laws and a distracted driver can still claim to have missed seeing them before they make a dangerous mistake. A lane switch without checking a mirror or even a driver looking at a phone can unknowingly cut off a cyclist’s lane.
People on bikes travel unprotected and defenseless and that’s why motorists are required to show them due caution no matter where they encounter them. When drivers cause collisions, victims or their families are permitted to file a claim for damages against their insurance company. This claim can help bicyclists pay for hospital bills and help keep them afloat financially while they have to miss time at work.
People hurt in bicycle accidents have up to two years to file this claim over their injuries, but it’s not advised that you wait that entire time to file. The sooner an attorney knows about what happened to you the easier it will be to gather evidence, secure witnesses, and request important documents. These details will all be necessary when you prove that a driver’s negligence was completely to blame for your injuries.
Contact a Bakersfield Bicycle Accident Lawyer
If you are the victim of a careless driver, you deserve time to heal and work towards getting back on your bike without the stress of mounting hospital bills on top of your normal monthly bills. At-fault drivers and their insurance providers should be front and center to provide anything you need as you recover.
Contact an experienced Bakersfield Bicycle Accident Lawyer such as Martin Gasparian for a free consultation and case evaluation. Mr. Gasparian takes a hands-on approach to every case. He believes that every bicyclist should work directly with their lawyer and get honest advice and personalized attention throughout their recovery.
