Maison Law represents injured bicyclists in California. If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident, the Bicycle Accident Attorneys at Maison Law can help you recover the compensation you need.
Cyclists are highly susceptible to severe injury or death when in a collision with a vehicle. For that reason, it is essential injured cyclists partner with an experienced law firm to recover the maximum amount of damages. Contact Maison Law today for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.
Safety Precautions for California Cyclists Approaching an Intersection
When approaching an intersection on your bike, you should:
- Be prepared to stop for vehicles waiting at stop signs, turning, or pulling back out onto the street. Vehicle may pull out in front of you all of a sudden, so it is a safe practice to be prepared to stop at any moment at an intersection.
- Be prepared to take evasive action if a vehicle has just passed you and is preparing to turn right at the intersection, or if a vehicle pulls in front of you, taking a left turn.
- Use hand signals when making turns at intersections to warn the traffic around you.
- Signal a left turn by extending your left arm out
- Signal a right turn by holding your left arm up with your elbow bent
- Signal you are slowing down by extending your left arm down
How Does Fault Work in a Bicycle Injury Accident at an Intersection?
In California, fault is determined by a “comparative negligence” system. Comparative negligence allows an injured party who shares fault for their injuries to receive compensation, a legal action covered by the Comparative Negligence Law, which states:
“Under the pure comparative negligence rule, the state allows the plaintiff to claim damages for the 1% they are not at fault even when they are 99% at fault.”
For example, let’s say a bicyclist makes a sudden maneuver and turns right in front of a car who was following too close. If the vehicle’s dash cam, or witnesses show the cyclist’s sudden movement, then a judge and jury could find the cyclist partially liable for causing their injuries. The driver and the cyclist could both be comparatively negligent in causing the accident.
Continuing this hypothetical situation, let’s say a jury finds the cyclist to be at 40% at fault for making a sudden maneuver without signaling. This would leave the driver with 60% of the fault for following too closely.
So, if the final verdict rewards the injured bicyclist with $200,000, they will get $120,000 because their compensation will be reduced by the 40% they were found at fault.
Common Bicycle Accident Injuries in California
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, bicycle injuries account for 1.2 million doctor visits and 580,000 emergency visits per year. Collisions with motor vehicle are responsible for the majority of bicyclist injuries and fatalities. The most common bicycle accident injuries include:
- Brain injury: brain injuries are far more likely when bicyclists fail to wear their helmets. Although a helmet will not entirely protect you against a 3,000-pound vehicle, it can still reduce the risk of serious brain injury. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 62% of all fatal bicycle accidents involved bikers without helmets.
- Facial injury: bicycle injuries typically involve facial injuries due to the lack of protection on a rider’s face. Common facial injuries include:
- Broken jaw bone
- Missing teeth
- Fractured cheekbones
- Damaged eye sockets
- Spinal cord injury: considered one of the most dangerous injuries, spinal cord damage can most likely become permanent, affecting the entire body. A blunt hit to the spinal cord can cause:
- Loss of movement
- Loss of sensation
- Loss of bladder control
- Difficulty breathing
- Trouble with balance and walking
Contact a California Bicycle Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries due to a bicycle accident in California, the attorneys at Maison Law are here to help. Our law firm is experienced in bicycle accident law and will aggressively pursue fair compensation on your behalf. Too often, bicyclists suffer life-altering injuries, which is why they need experienced legal representation to receive full compensation for the drastic changes in their life. Contact Maison Law today for a free, no-obligation consultation and case evaluation. There are no upfront fees and you don’t pay a cent unless we win your case.
