When you’re riding your bicycle in Los Angeles, there are a number of different things you need to watch out for. Obstacles in the road, pedestrians, and even other bicyclists are all challenges you can face when riding your bicycle in any parts of the city. However, by far the most common cause of bicycle accidents in Los Angeles is other vehicles. Not only that, but there are a number of different types of accidents you could be in.
One of the most frequent types of bicycle accidents in Los Angeles is a right hook accident. These accidents happen when a car passes you on the left and then makes a right turn in front of you and you can’t avoid colliding with the car. Worse yet, these accidents can occur anywhere on the road, including parking lots.
Free Consultations For Bicycle Accident Victims in Los Angeles
Like any bicycle accident between a car and a bicycle, injuries can occur. If you have been injured in one of these unfortunate accidents, you have rights. At Maison Law, our team of experienced Los Angeles right hook bicycle accidents can help you take the steps you need to get the support you are owed.
To learn more about how we can help you, contact us today for a free consultation
How Do Right Hook Accidents Happen in Los Angeles?
A right hook bicycle accident occurs when:
- A driver collides or strikes you or another bicyclist that is headed in the same direction by turning right into the person on the bicycle.
The most common causes that lead up to a right hook accident is a driver passing a bicyclist going in the same direction and then making a right turn and colliding with the person on the bicycle. Drivers can frequently misjudge the speed of a bicyclist or the distance between them and the person on the bicycle. Then, as the vehicle slows to make the turn, you often have a chance to catch up so you and the vehicle are at the intersection at the same time, leading to a collision. A right hook bicycle accident typically play out in the following ways:
- A vehicle turns right, directly into a bicyclist, colliding head-on with them.
- A vehicle turns right in front of a bicyclist, causing the person on the bicycle to collide with the side of the vehicle.
- The bicyclist passes a slow vehicle on the right, then the car turns right into them.
- Both the vehicle and bicyclists are waiting at a red light. When the light changes to green, the driver turns right into the bicyclist.
Obviously, as with any accident between a bicycle and a vehicle, injuries can result. This is especially true in right hook bicycle accidents, because they frequently involve contact on the side of either the vehicle or the bicycle, where a bicycle offers even less protection than normal.
Common Injuries in Los Angeles Right Hook Bicycle Accidents
Right hook bicycle accidents have the ability to cause problems and injuries for any bicyclist that suffers them. Moreover, with such an overabundance of drivers and different vehicles on the road in Los Angeles, there are many different opportunities for these accidents to occur. Some of the more common injuries in right hook bicycle accidents include the following:
- Skull fractures
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
- Broken bones, especially on the lower body
- Soft-tissue injuries and ligament tears
- Back injuries
- Road rash, cuts and scrapes
- internal organ damage
- Wrongful death
While every accident is unique and has its own circumstances, a right hook bicycle accident could easily lead to injuries that take months or even years to recover from, if at all. In the event of permanent injury or death, our team of experienced Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyers can help you understand your rights and how you can begin the process for recovering damages from the at-fault party.
Should I Get a Lawyer After a Los Angeles Right Hook Bicycle Accident?
In California, there is no legal requirement or rule that says you have to hire a lawyer to handle your claim. However, working with our team of experienced Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyers can make the claims process much easier and simpler. Most victims of right hook bicycle accidents quickly learn that the process of seeking fair compensation against the at-fault party and their insurance company can be overwhelming.
That’s where Maison Law and our team can help. We provide expert legal services and a compassionate, client-first approach to every claim, and are proud to offer free consultations with no obligation for you to hire us. In your initial consultation, one of our lawyers can explain the claims process, and give you a roadmap for what to expect from your right hook bicycle accident, like:
- Determining who was at-fault
- Gathering necessary evidence
- Interviewing witnesses and experts
- Communicating with the at-fault party’s insurance company
- Negotiating and filing a lawsuit for damages, if necessary.
Because every accident is unique, so too is the claims process (or lawsuit, if it gets to that point). What doesn’t change, though, is Maison Law’s approach. We apply our same, client-specific approach to every case that we handle. We take pride in our ability to get our clients the much-needed compensation that they are legally owed.
Damages Available in a Los Angeles Right Hook Bicycle Accident
Right hook bicycle accident injury claims in Los Angeles cover two main categories: economic and non-economic. Economic, or monetary, cover actual financial losses that you suffered because of the accident, like your medical bills and lost wages from not being able to work, or having to work at a reduced rate.
Non-economic damages include compensation for mental anguish or pain and suffering that resulted from the injuries, which are not as easy to quantify. Not being able to enjoy bicycle riding as you once did is an example of the mental anguish that can arise from these accidents.
No matter the extent of your damages, Maison Law’s team of experienced and dedicated Los Angeles right hook bicycle accident lawyers can help you recover these costs. Damages in these types of accidents typically include the following:
- Costs relating to medical treatment
- Costs related to physical therapy
- Lost wages from missed work
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
While the economic and non-economic damages that result from your right hook bicycle accident are certainly tangible, it’s important to understand that the claims process can take time. That’s why our team at Maison Law takes such pride in our services. We offer every client the support and validation they need in what can be an extremely difficult time.
Experienced and Dedicated Los Angeles Right Hook Bicycle Accident Lawyers
When you’ve been in a right hook bicycle accident in Los Angeles, you may feel helpless and overwhelmed. Being injured only adds to the confusion and pain you’re going through, which means that you could use the help of experienced and dedicated Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyers
At Maison Law, we know how to not only handle these types of claims, but give you the support and attention you and your claim deserve. Being injured in a bicycle accident is never an ideal scenario, but when it happens, our team can make sure that you and your family are provided for.
We are proud to offer free consultations for any potential client, contact us here to learn more.
