Maison Law is an advocate for safe bicycle rides for all San Luis Obispo bicyclists and we represent them when they are injured by the carelessness of local drivers. Our bicycle accident lawyers are committed to helping victims secure the support they need to fully recover. Schedule a free, no-obligation case consultation with a real lawyer to find out what you should demand from an at-fault driver’s car insurance company.
Do I Need a Lawyer After a Bicycle Accident?
If your bicycle crash only results in very minor injuries, you probably won’t earn more for your injury by hiring a lawyer. But defenseless cyclists often suffer much worse. If you suffer something serious like a disfigurement, fractured bones, or Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), and a careless driver is to blame, you should speak to a San Luis Obispo bicycle accident lawyer.
Car insurance providers will do their best to limit the compensation you receive for your recovery. Your Maison Law Lawyer will be a safeguard against this type of treatment. Your lawyer will also have evidence ready when an insurance adjuster attempts to blame you for what happened. You’ll also need protection when an insurance company tries to downplay your injuries and shortchange you on your medical bills. Maison Law demands the maximum in support available for you and your family.
How Many Bicycle Accidents Occur in San Luis Obispo Each Year?
California’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) reports that in 2023 there were 63 bicycle accidents involving injury in San Luis Obispo County. Thankfully, according to TIMS, no one was killed in a bicycle crash over the year. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case in 2022. In that year, there were 75 bicycle accidents recorded and at least 5 tragic deaths.
Bicyclists have plenty of local trails and paths to take advantage of, away from motorists. But some riders will be using bike lanes like along Broad Street, and yet still face dangers from speeding motorists. Riders using roads without bike lanes have every right to take a lane, just like a driver, but clueless motorists can be ignorant of the law and cause devastating collisions.
Speeding drivers and motorists looking at cellphones can veer over on cyclists or turn in front of them to cause a devastating crash. Riders can suffer a broken arm or leg in a collision with the car, and then again in an impact with the road surface. They may even be left vulnerable to getting run over by other vehicles and suffer brain trauma.
Cyclists suffer life-threatening injuries and could require weeks and months of hospital care and physical therapy. That’s not to mention the time they’ll need to wait to be able to ride again. A skilled Maison Law attorney makes sure injured cyclists are backed for every recovery cost for as long as necessary. Your lawyer also handles the frustrating claims process and settlement check negotiations, while giving you time to focus on getting better.
What Should I Do After Getting Hit on a Bike?
Bicyclists ride with little protection from the force of a collision with a car, SUV, or truck. Injuries are often severe, but if you feel strong enough after a collision it’s a good time to collect evidence that might not be there later. Once the scene is secure, you’ll want to gather details or ask someone with you or a helpful witness to do it for you.
Your lawyer will use this evidence to force an auto insurer to pay the maximum in compensation available.
Focus on collecting this evidence if possible:
- Call 911 and get a San Luis Obispo Police or California Highway Patrol response. Give a full account to dispatchers and police. Let an ambulance crew check you out completely. Go to the hospital if you need to.
- Take photos. Document the scene. Show vehicle and bike damage, and damage to your clothing. Get pictures of any visible injuries. Show your helmet if you were wearing one. Show bike lane markings and traffic signs that were ignored by the driver.
- Jot down the addresses of businesses or homes nearby that might have security cameras that recorded your accident.
- Find out what witnesses saw and find out how your lawyer can contact them later.
- Exchange information with at-fault drivers but don’t make any statements about the accident or your injuries to them. Insurance companies can use these statements against you later.
- See your own doctor in the days to come. Note any pain you didn’t feel on the scene but then noticed the next day. Get everything documented. See specialists if you are advised to.
- Keep your damaged bike. Don’t throw evidence out.
- Contact a law firm so your lawyer can get started investigating what happened and tracking down witnesses for testimony. Your lawyer will also want to request copies of any surveillance video that exists before it’s erased.
What Kind of Compensation is Available for Injured Cyclists After Being Hit by a Car?
A bicycle advocate at Maison Law will carefully build a complete list of the hardships you’ve suffered in recovery. This can go much further than just the totals of your hospital care and surgeon’s fees. Your bicycle accident settlement check must also include support for your other financial and non-economic damages.
These and other factors will determine the size of a bicycle accident settlement check:
- Help with medical bills now and those anticipated in the future.
- Expense for physical therapy sessions and any medical equipment necessary.
- Estimated lifetime costs for riders 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 while in a wheelchair or cast.
- A new bike and equipment replacement.
- Full compensation for lost wages and benefits at work while the victim is in recovery.
Families who lose a loved one to a bicycle accident are also able to file a claim against an at-fault driver. A spouse or a child of the victim would file a wrongful death claim and seek money to help pay for a funeral and to help pay off leftover medical bills. A San Luis Obispo Wrongful Death Lawyer could file this claim on behalf of all close relatives and seek money to help in the future when the family won’t be able to rely on the income the deceased would have provided.
Can I Seek Injury Support If I Wasn’t Wearing a Bicycle Helmet?
Contact a San Luis Obispo Bicycle Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one has suffered a bicycle accident injury due to a careless driver’s mistake, contact a San Luis Obispo bicycle accident lawyer with Maison Law. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation to all bicycle accident victims. It’s a no-risk way to find out what your bicycle accident injury is worth and what you should demand from an insurance company.
If you decide we can help you earn more for your bicycle accident injury, you won’t need to have any money now. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for you, and then our fee comes out of the settlement you receive.