The aftermath of a bicycle accident is a stressful time, usually because you most likely have suffered a painful injury and damage to your bike. The pain and confusion of these accidents are compounded when the other person involved in the accident leaves the scene. Hit and run accidents occur for a variety of different reasons, but a hit and run involving a bike accident is all the more egregious because your injuries are probably significant.
The main challenge in any hit and run accident is tracking down the responsible person, and a hit and run bike accident is no different. While you may have to rely on your own insurance company to cover your damages, the police may have to get involved to hunt down the responsible party. Hit and runs are definitely against the law in California, but there are ways that you can recover what you’re owed.
Los Angeles Hit and Run Bicycle Accident Lawyers Offering Free Consultations
Hit and run bike accidents have a tendency to leave victims feeling completely frustrated and powerless, with mounting medical bills and increased insurance premiums with little to no information on the other driver to file a claim.
Attorney Martin Gasparian, the founder of Maison Law, can help if you or a loved one have been involved in one of these frustrating accidents in Los Angeles. With years of experience in negotiating with insurance companies, we can make your case for compensation no matter the obstacles. In the event that we or police are unable to track down the responsible driver, we can shift gears and help you file a claim with your own insurance company.
No matter the circumstances, Maison Law works to make sure Los Angeles victims have what they need to get back on the road to recovery. If you have been involved in a hit and run bike accident in the Los Angeles area, contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
What Are Hit And Run Accidents?
When a driver causes an accident and they flee the scene, they will have committed an illegal hit and run. In 2019 alone, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) found that hit and run accidents accounted for over 20,000 reported injuries, with 337 of those accidents being fatal and 2,563 of these accidents involving the driver hitting a pedestrian or bicyclist.
California law has attempted to combat the danger and prevalence of hit and run accidents by punishing those that commit them. The California Vehicle Code outlines both felony and misdemeanor punishments for hit and run accidents. More specifically, the law dictates that drivers have three main responsibilities when they are involved in an accident that caused damage or injuries:
- They must immediately stop their vehicle.
- They must provide the other party with their name and address.
- They must provide their driver’s license and car registration if requested.
Thus, when a driver causes or is otherwise involved in an accident, they are legally required to stop and provide information to the victim. Further, there is no requirement for the level of damage to the victim. Even a minor amount of damage requires the driver to exchange or leave their personal and insurance information.
Why Do Hit and Run Accidents Happen in Los Angeles?
No matter the circumstances of a hit and run accident, the resulting injuries and damage are likely to impact the victim’s life, both in the short and long term.
Every accident is different, but the reasons for a hit and run accident typically revolve around the driver’s history or state of mind during the accident.
Some common underlying factors of why hit and run accidents happen include:
- Driving under the influence
- Falling asleep behind the wheel
- Invalid driver’s license
- The driver is on probation or driving with a suspended license
- The driver doesn’t have insurance
- There are warrants for the driver’s arrest
Regardless of why the driver decides to flee the scene of an accident, when they do so, they have broken the law. This carries not only legal ramifications, but they are still liable for any injuries or damages that you suffer. While tracking down the driver is the easiest way to begin a claim, you have options if that proves more difficult.
Common Hit and Run Bike Accident Injuries in Los Angeles
Accidents between a vehicle and a bicycle almost always result in injuries, especially for the person on the bicycle. This is because of the fact that a bicycle offers little to no protection from a moving car. Thus, when the driver of the vehicle leaves the scene of an accident, it adds to an already painful situation. Some of the more common injuries from a hit and run bike accident include:
- Whiplash
- Head, neck, and shoulder injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Lacerations
- Burns
- Fractures and broken bones
- Back strains
When vulnerable and unprotected bicyclists and pedestrians are involved in hit-and-run accidents, injuries are usually more severe. Those injuries can include open and penetrating skull fractures, fractured vertebrae and ribs, damage to internal organs, rib and hip fractures, and arm and leg fractures. These are the types of injuries that are often permanent.
Who Pays For My Damages After a Los Angeles Hit and Run Bike Accident?
The main question you’re probably asking yourself if you’ve been in a hit and run bike accident is who is going to help pay for my injuries and damages. The simplest answer is that the driver that fled the scene is responsible. However, with little to no information on them, it’s difficult to hold them accountable. Sometimes, they are never found, which means that your compensation would then shift to your own insurance.
California requires every person to carry a minimum amount of car insurance, usually through an uninsured motorist (UM) policy. However, since this usually only applies when you’re actually driving a car and not a bicycle, you may have to go through your home or renter’s insurance:
- Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage – California requires all drivers to carry at least $15,000 per person, $30,000 for more than one person, and at least $5,000 per accident in UM property damage coverage. In a hit and run accident, the other driver is considered uninsured, so you can turn to your UM insurance policy for compensation after a hit and run bike accident.
- Your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance – This coverage can pay for any damage to you or your property, including your bicycle and its equipment. While your claim may rest on the extent of your policy coverage and the circumstances of the accident, in a hit and run, you will likely not be at fault. Thus, your policy should be able to help with any damages.
Another option in this situation is your health insurance coverage. While it won’t pay for any damage to your bike, it can still help with costs associated with your medical treatment.
All told, a hit and run accident is far from an ideal situation. However, working with an experienced Los Angeles hit and run lawyer can help make sure that you get what you’re owed, either through an insurance claim or lawsuit.
Damages in Los Angeles Hit and Run Bike Accidents
Regardless of whether or not the driver is ever found by police, there are still available damages that you can try to recover in a Los Angeles hit and run bike accident.
In fact, that’s the whole point of uninsured motorist insurance. When you fall victim to a Los Angeles hit and run bike accident, the UM policy will be the primary means of paying for your or your loved one’s compensation.
Whether through an insurance claim or potentially a lawsuit, you can recover the following in a Los Angeles hit and run bike accident:
- Past and future medical bills
- Past and future lost earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Any permanent disfigurement or disability
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Funeral and burial costs in the event of a wrongful death along with other substantial damages
The physical and emotional toll that a hit and run accident can have on your or your family cannot be overstated. These accidents are among the most devastating to go through, because you have to deal with so many unknowns. Fortunately, our team of experienced Los Angeles hit and run bike accident lawyers will be with you every step of the way if you choose us to represent you.
Let Dedicated Los Angeles Hit and Run Bike Accident Lawyers Go To Work For You
Hit and run bike accidents, more so than almost any other type of car accident, are extremely demoralizing. Not only do you have to deal with your injuries and damage to your property, you have to go through the often agonizing process of trying to track down the responsible driver. In some cases, the driver is never found. But that doesn’t mean that they can get away with their illegal act.
The team of experienced and dedicated Los Angeles hit and run bike accident lawyers at Maison Law know how to handle these types of claims. Whether it’s finding and holding the driver responsible, dealing with the insurance companies, or helping you file a claim on your own policy, we can make sure that you get the support you need to recover from your injuries.
To learn more about how we can go to work for you, contact us for a free consultation.
