Lemoore cyclists struck by careless drivers can seek full compensation for their hardships. That should include money to pay all medical bills and to cover time lost at work. Unfortunately, insurance companies don’t always make it easy for injured riders to get the help they need.
Victims may require the help of a skilled, local attorney to earn full compensation. Contact Maison Law of Lemoore to set up a free, confidential case review to find out what your injury is worth and how to hold a car insurance company 100% accountable.
How Do I Know If I Need a Lawyer for My Bicycle Accident Case?
If you were hit by a vehicle and somehow came away with only minor injuries, like scratches or bruising, you may not need the help of a lawyer. It’s when you suffer serious harm, like a bone fracture or a Traumatic Brain Injury, and a reckless driver caused the crash, that you may need the protection of a Lemoore Bicycle Accident Lawyer.
When the cost of medical bills starts to rise, auto insurance adjusters will fight even harder to get out of having to provide support. They may try to imply that you caused the accident. They’ll question the severity of your injuries to get away with providing you with less. Your Maison Law attorney is a safeguard against this treatment. Your lawyer will fully investigate your accident and submit all evidence to force insurers to accept responsibility. Then we demand the maximum in benefits available.
Your Maison Law attorney can often secure much more for you than you could by taking on a giant insurance company yourself.
Are California Cyclists Protected by State Law?
According to California Vehicle Codes (CVC), you have equal rights to the road with motorists when you are on a bike. You should always use bike lanes when they are available, but they aren’t in place everywhere in Lemoore.
This means riders must often join traffic and share the lanes with fast-moving cars, SUVs, and trucks. California protects cyclists by granting them the same rights to use lanes and vehicles. Riders are also subject to the same traffic laws as drivers when the laws apply.
CVC 21200 (a) (1) A person riding a bicycle or operating a pedicab upon a highway has all the rights and is subject to all the provisions applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this division, including, but not limited to, provisions concerning driving under the influence of alcoholic beverages or drugs, and by Division 10 (commencing with Section 20000), Section 27400, Division 16.7 (commencing with Section 39000), Division 17 (commencing with Section 40000.1), and Division 18 (commencing with Section 42000), except those provisions which by their very nature can have no application.
You can join vehicle traffic even if there are bike lanes under certain circumstances. If you’re moving as fast as traffic, you can make use of a lane like any other vehicle. Even if you’re moving slower than traffic, and a bike lane is blocked, you’re still entitled to a traffic lane and protected by the law.
Vehicle codes go further to protect cyclists traveling alongside heavy, fast-moving vehicles. According to CVC 21760, drivers are also required to allow at least three feet of space to pass a bicyclist. If this space isn’t available, they should not pass. Motorists must also switch to the left lane if there’s one open before passing.
Of course, despite the laws, drivers may be ignorant of their duties or may not even be paying attention. A careless driver will forever be the most dangerous threat to anyone on a bike. Defenseless riders can be struck while going to work or school and left with major injuries.
A Kings County bicycle accident lawyer mounts a fight for you. Maison Law wants to give you a chance to focus on healing while avoiding the worry of dealing with car insurance adjusters.
Lemoore Bicycle Accident Dangers
Lemoore offers some bike lanes, like those along 19th Avenue. There are also bike paths around some local parks where riders can escape the threat of vehicles.
Unfortunately, riders do come in close proximity to cars on most trips.
According to California transportation officials, Kings County sees too many serious bicycle accidents each year, and some of these accidents end in tragic fatalities.
- 2024: 14 bicycle accidents involving injury for the year in Lemoore and across Kings County, causing at least one death.
- 2023: 21 serious bicycle collisions, but no fatalities reported.
- 2022: 17 bicycle accidents involving injury, and one fatality.
Dangerous encounters between cars and bicyclists happen every day. They can be alongside distracted drivers who can veer over on a rider, or turn right in front of a defenseless bicyclist.
Children are at risk as they ride through local neighborhoods when drivers are speeding and not paying attention to the lanes.
What Type of Things Should a Bicycle Accident Settlement Cover?
Your California bicycle accident attorney will demand support for every hardship victims endure since the moment of the accident. The support should extend to cover any care that’s needed in the future if injuries flare up, taking riders off their bikes for even longer.
These and other factors will determine the levels of compensation you can expect in recovery:
- Help with medical bills now and those anticipated in the future.
- Estimated lifetime costs for victims who must adapt to life with a permanent disability.
- Physical pain and emotional trauma suffered in the accident and during a difficult recovery. For riders, this can include the anxiety of getting back out on a bike and riding in traffic.
- Compensation for a loss of enjoyment of life. Being unable to get back on a bike, at least in the short term.
- Travel costs getting to and from doctor visits and surgery consultations.
- A new bike and equipment replacement.
- The replacement of all lost earnings and benefits at work while the victim is in recovery.
- Wrongful death benefits. Families who have lost a loved one in a bicycle collision can file a wrongful death claim to receive support with burial expenses. They’ll also earn help replacing any income the deceased used to provide for the family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I seek support if I wasn’t wearing a bicycle helmet when I was hit?
Yes. California does not require riders 18 years old and older to wear a helmet. The fact that you weren’t wearing a helmet does impact your ability to seek damages from a careless driver. It doesn’t remove blame from a careless motorist. If a helmet may have lessened some of your injuries, a judge may reduce the compensation you receive, but a driver could still owe you substantial recovery support. And remember, your Lemoore bicycle accident lawyer would be fighting to keep the finger of blame pointed 100% at the driver.
Why does a child bicycle accident victim need more support?
Children’s smaller bodies are more vulnerable in bicycle collisions. They can also struggle to fully heal and deal with developmental issues years down the road. It’s why Maison Law would be careful to demand the proper amount for a young victim in a bicycle accident. That settlement check must cover the potential for future surgeries and physical therapy if an old injury suddenly causes issues as the child matures into the teen years and adulthood.
How long do I have to file a bicycle accident injury claim?
Two years. Bicycle accident victims have two years from the date of their bike crash to file a claim against an at-fault driver. But victims shouldn’t wait years to explore a lawsuit or injury claim. They should go over their case with a lawyer as soon as possible. This gives the attorney time to collect fresh evidence before it disappears and keep track of witnesses before they become harder to locate.
Support for Lemoore and Kings County Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Contact Maison Law to schedule a free, confidential consultation with a real Lemoore Bicycle Accident Attorney. We want to hear what happened to you. We’re going to answer your questions and make sure you are prepared for the insurance tactics you’ll face so you don’t forfeit valuable support.
You’ll know what your injury is worth before an insurance adjuster tries to convince you it’s worth nothing at all.
Maison Law also understands that victims often struggle financially after a devastating cycling accident and won’t have the money to pay a lawyer. It’s okay. You can still afford powerful legal protection. You don’t pay Maison Law unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement that a car insurance company must pay.
