The City of Salinas can be liable for bicycle accidents involving damaged sidewalks in public areas like parks and government buildings. But property owners can also be liable for accidents on sidewalks outside their homes and businesses.
The aftermath of an accident can be confusing, but a skilled Salinas Bicycle Accident Lawyer can help you determine who should be responsible if a sidewalk crack causes you to crash. You can receive full compensation for your medical bills and for the time you are out of work. Contact Maison Law to set up an absolutely free case consultation. It’s a no-risk way to find out what your injury is worth and how to hold property owners and operators financially responsible.
Who Is Responsible for a Sidewalk Bicycle Accident in Salinas?
Homeowners and business owners in Salinas are generally responsible for sidewalk maintenance outside their homes and businesses. This can include the sidewalks along a storefront or the sidewalks within an apartment complex.
Grocery store chains, landlords, or property management companies could be responsible for recovery costs for anyone who gets hurt by a sidewalk in need of repair. Property owners are usually also responsible for damage caused by city trees.
Salinas city government can be liable for sidewalk accidents in city-controlled areas. The city might face liability for any sidewalk hazard that has been reported, but crews have failed to repair it in a reasonable amount of time.
These are a few of the sidewalk hazards that can leave owners and operators responsible for bicycle accidents:
- Cracks in sidewalks
- Large gaps in sidewalks and the curb
- Crumbling concrete
- Uneven surfaces
- Roots growing through concrete
- Construction project damage to sidewalks
Salinas residents and business owners can request sidewalk repairs from the city, done on a first come first serve basis. Property owners may also have to get the repairs done themselves, by a licensed contractor. In some cases, Salinas will pay part of the cost for the work in the 50/50 Sidewalk Replacement Program.
The Bottomline: Cases involving sidewalk liability can be complex, and if you are seriously injured, it’s a good idea to go over the case with a skilled Salinas attorney. A lawyer can help you identify the at-fault party, prove liability, and help secure the maximum in a settlement check for you.
Are Bikes Allowed on Sidewalks in Salinas?
Salinas allows cyclists to use sidewalks in most parts of the city. However, there are some areas marked by signs prohibiting riders on sidewalks. These sections are mostly in areas with a lot of businesses and foot traffic, like Oldtown.
When riders use the sidewalk, they must be careful around pedestrians and always yield to them. Riders on sidewalks must also obey traffic laws around intersections and crosswalks.
Winning Support for Injured Bicycle Riders in Salinas
Riders on Salina’s sidewalks can suffer devastating injuries when hitting a rough patch of concrete or even a non-existent section. Victims can have their bicycle tires get caught in sidewalk cracks and gaps along curbs, sending the rider flying over the handlebars.
Victims might hit a tree root growing through the concrete and be sent off-course and into the street. Uneven sidewalk surfaces might also cause sharp edges and dangerous conditions for riders going full speed.
Injuries can include bone fractures in the arms, legs, and hip joints. Victims can suffer facial lacerations and lost teeth. They may endure head injuries, even with a bicycle helmet on.
A skilled attorney would make sure victims received support for these recovery factors and others:
- Past and future medical care expenses.
- Physical therapy and the costs of required medical equipment to help riders return to their bikes.
- Estimates on future expenses for any permanent disfigurement or disability resulting from your cycling accident. These estimates have to consider medical care, home care, and the inability to work over a lifetime.
- Pain and suffering. This pain you endure in a crash and during recovery. Emotional trauma suffered in recovery, and the anxiety and depression caused by the changes in your lifestyle. The inability to participate in family activities and perhaps being off a bike for months or a year should earn additional compensation.
- Past and future lost paychecks while you are unable to perform your job duties.
- Personal property and bike replacement.
How Long Can I Wait to File an Injury Claim Against the City of Salinas?
When filing a lawsuit against a government entity, the statute of limitations comes quickly. Governments are protected by special legal safeguards when facing litigation. You may only have months, often six months, to file your claim or lose your chance to get help. In a normal personal injury claim against a homeowner or business owner, victims have up to two years to file a lawsuit.
Contact a Salinas Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today…
Your lawyer immediately begins investigating your case. Maison Law files your claim on your behalf so you can focus on recovery, allowing you to return to your bike rides as soon as possible.
To get started, Maison Law offers a free case consultation to all California accident victims. It’s a confidential meeting, and there’s never any obligation.
It’s important to note that you don’t have to have a lot of money to afford legal protection. Maison Law doesn’t get paid unless you get paid. It means we only get paid for our work if we win your case. Then, our fee comes out of the settlement check that an insurance company must write for you.
