Maison Law represents Bell, CA, bicycle accident victims who have had their lives turned upside down by an accident caused by a careless driver. We are advocates for safe bicycle rides across Los Angeles County. We also want to stand up for victims who will need help paying for medical care and rebuilding their lives.
We provide a free, no-obligation consultation for all local injury victims. It’s a no-risk opportunity to find out what your injury may be worth and how to hold a reckless driver 100% responsible.
Should I Call a Lawyer After a Bicycle Accident
If your bicycle crash miraculously, only leaves you with only a few minor scrapes and bruises, you may not need a lawyer’s help for your case. But defenseless cyclists often suffer more serious injuries like broken bones and head trauma. When this is the case, you will often secure much more in support when allowing a skilled Bell Bicycle Accident Attorney to handle your case.
Car insurance providers will do their best to limit the compensation you receive for your recovery, especially when medical bills run high. Your Maison Law Lawyer will be a safeguard against this type of treatment. Your lawyer will also have evidence ready when an insurance adjuster attempts to blame you for what happened. You’ll also need protection when an insurance company tries to downplay your injuries and shortchange you on your medical bills. Maison Law demands the maximum in support available for you and your family.
Bell Bicycle Accident Dangers
Riders in Bell have access to the Los Angeles River bicycle path, or LARIO. But if they need to travel across town, they’ll have a hard time finding dedicated bike lanes in the area.
It means local riders will need to share the lanes with local drivers. California Vehicle Code (CVC) 21200 gives bicyclists the right to most lanes, just like a driver. The rider is also subject to any applicable traffic laws that drivers must obey.
It can work if drivers are aware of their responsibilities when sharing lanes and are paying full attention to the road. But drivers can be ignorant of the cyclist’s right to take a lane. They can also go too fast and try to pass riders in unsafe conditions.
These are just a few of the mistakes drivers in Bell can make that put local riders at risk:
- Left Turns into Oncoming Cyclists – Motorists looking to make a left-hand turn can get very nervous as they look for a chance to dart across the opposite lanes. They may only take a fleeting glance at oncoming traffic and hit the gas when they think they have an opening. Unfortunately, they don’t always take the time to spot an oncoming cyclist.
- Right Turns on Bike Lanes – It’s an unfortunate design flaw that leaves drivers having to cross into bike lanes to make a right turn. They can jerk the wheel to get over and fail to check mirrors and blind spots first. They may strike a rider or pull in front of a cyclist with no room to spare, leaving the rider without space to stop to avoid a rear-end collision with the vehicle.
- Dooring Accidents – Cyclists must often travel on the right side of the right lane, along a line of parked cars. A car occupant might take no care when they open a door in front of a cyclist traveling at full speed. It’s a wall of metal and glass for a cyclist to hit head-on. These accidents also occur when delivery drivers and rideshare workers park on bike lanes.
- Reckless and Aggressive Driving Mistakes – Los Angeles County is famous for its reckless motorists. These drivers can race through Bell well over the speed limit. They can switch two or three lanes at a time without checking mirrors and blind spots. These are all potentially deadly actions when a cyclist is nearby.
In some of these clear-cut cases, car insurance companies can still question the fault in a collision. They hope to convince the cyclist that their claim is hopeless and ridiculous. They can also delay responding to an injured cyclists claim. They do this to hopefully keep the victim desperate while their medical bills stack up. Then they make a “lowball” offer, counting on the victim’s desperation to get some help to make them sign off on any agreement.
Your Bell Bicycle Accident Attorney is your shield against this type of unfair treatment. We work to get the most out of your injury claim on your behalf, while providing as little disruption to your recovery process as possible.
Common Injuries Suffered by Bicycle Accident Victims
A strike from a car can be devastating for any bicyclist. Riders can suddenly endure an impact with the front of a car and then a second impact with the pavement.
Their injuries may be life-threatening, and victims may end up at one of the closest hospitals to Bell at Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center. When there are traumatic injuries involved, victims may be flown to the Level II Trauma Center at St. Francis Medical Center for life-saving care.
These are just a few of the types of injuries emergency room doctors may have to treat:
- Bone fractures — Particularly in the arms and legs. Victims can throw their hands out in front of them when knocked off their bikes. This can lead to broken hand and finger bones, and broken wrists.
- Skull Fracture – This is a break in the bones that form the skull (cranial bones). Pieces of the skull often wind up in the brain. The jaw, eye sockets, and other facial bones are considered part of the skull.
- Neck, back, and chest injuries — These injuries can sometimes lead to a life of pain and stiffness, making bike rides very difficult.
- Blood clots – Clots can form between the brain and the skull or result when the brain is bruised. Blood flow to the brain is cut off to cause strokes. The Cleveland Clinic reports that this blockage can cause severe symptoms such as a loss of control on one side of the body and even one side of the face. Patients who are unable to speak may be showing signs of a blood clot.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) – A serious injury caused by the rapid movement of the brain back and forth inside the skull. Victims experience memory loss, seizures, and a loss of control of certain parts of the body. They may have trouble speaking and communicating.
- Concussions – A concussion is a mild form of TBI. A loss of brain function is common but usually temporary.
- Skin and scalp damage – A rough landing on a road surface is often enough to tear skin from the head and scalp. Deep skin damage might develop into infections and permanent disfigurement. Hair does not always grow back after a severe laceration.
- Facial injuries. Victims can land on their faces, lose teeth, and suffer broken noses and jaws. We have an information page for bicycle accident victims dealing with mouth injuries.
What Type of Compensation Can Bicycle Accident Victims Receive?
Victims should receive full compensation for their economic damages, like medical bills and lost income, and their non-economic damages, such as the pain they have to endure.
Another non-economic damage is the emotional trauma victims have suffered. This can take the form of fear of returning to the road to ride. It might also include the loss of enjoyment of life you suffer while unable to ride.
These are just a few of the economic and non-economic damages your lawyer will demand for you in a bike accident settlement check:
- Past and future medical invoices.
- Long-term costs associated with permanent disfigurement and permanent disability.
- Support for the physical pain and emotional trauma you’ve suffered during your bike accident and a difficult recovery. Coping with being off your bike for weeks, months, or longer.
- Travel costs to see specialists and out-of-town doctors.
- Past and future lost earnings.
- Repairs to the bicycle or replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of support should I demand if my child is struck by a driver while riding a bike?
Children are too often the victims of careless drivers. Children are closer to the wheels of a car and can easily fall under a vehicle to suffer severe injuries. Maison law would demand additional financial support for any young victims. This is because their bodies are also still developing. An injury that seems to heal now may affect how they mature in their teen years. Future surgeries and physical therapy could be necessary. That’s why additional support is usually needed to make sure young bicycle accident victims have the support necessary to deal with future consequences.
Can my family receive support after losing a loved one to a fatal bicycle accident?
Yes. Families should file a wrongful death claim against an at-fault driver. This claim seeks assistance with burial costs and in paying any remaining medical fees left behind. Close relatives must also get help in replacing the income the victim can no longer provide in the future.
How long do I have to file a bicycle accident injury claim?
The statute of limitations on a bicycle crash injury is two years. If you wait longer to file a claim with an insurance company, the insurer is usually allowed to reject it. Your recovery bills could be your full responsibility.
Contact a Bell Bicycle Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one has suffered a bicycle accident injury due to a careless driver’s mistake, contact a Bell bicycle accident lawyer with Maison Law. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation to all Los Angeles County bicycle accident victims. It’s a no-risk way to find out what your bicycle accident injury is worth and what you should demand from an insurance company.
If you decide we can help you earn more for your bicycle accident injury, you won’t need to have any money now. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for you, and then our fee comes out of the settlement you receive.
