Santa Maria is in the middle of one of the best bicycle climates in the United States. It’s mostly sunny with a climate much like that of the Mediterranean. Those who live in Santa Maria and Santa Barbara County often bicycle to and from work, school, shopping, and recreationally. One of the best bike trips in the country is from Santa Maria to San Luis Obispo. Vandenberg Air Force Base, wine vineyards, farms, and even cattle ranches dominate the area around the city. With more than 105,000 people living in Santa Maria alone, accidents with injuries are going to happen. Those don’t only involve cars. They include bicycles too.
Santa Maria Bicycle Accidents
Regardless of the fact that Santa Maria has implemented a bicycle path plan, bicyclists in and around the city are often sharing roadways with motor vehicles. As per section 21200 of the California Vehicle Code, bicyclists have the same rights and obligations on the road as drivers of those motor vehicles. Even if they’re riding defensively though, bicyclists are safe only when others on roadways also follow the rules of the road. Here are a few common causes of bicycle accidents that are caused by motorists:
- Vehicles turning left or right in front of a bicycle, especially at intersections.
- Changing lanes into the side or path of a bicycle.
- Failure to yield the right-of-way to a bicyclist at a stop sign or red light.
- Vehicle drivers or passengers opening doors into the path of an oncoming bicyclist.
- Drivers who are intoxicated, under the influence of drugs or both who misjudge the speed or distance of a bicyclist.
Common Types of Bicycle Accident Injuries
Other than maybe a helmet, bicyclists are unprotected. They’re no match at all for a 2,500=pound passenger car. The bicyclist is likely to feel at least two impacts. The first one is with the vehicle, and the second is with the cruel pavement. Here are some examples of some of the common types of injuries that bicyclists suffer:
- Skull fractures, penetrating or closed brain injuries and spinal cord injuries.
- Facial fractures and dental injuries.
- Femur and hip fractures.
- Damage to vital organs.
- Ankle, knee and shoulder injuries.
- Abrasions with infection.
Injured Bicyclists v. Insurance Companies
It’s standard insurance practice in California for an adverse insurance company to try and push off some or all of the liability for an accident over onto the victim. Doing so can substantially devalue or even be the basis for denying a claim in its entirety. That’s why you don’t want to give that opposing insurer a statement of any kind. California law doesn’t require you to give it one, and it’s only going to try and impact your case by using your statement against you in the future to try and devalue or even deny your claim. Preserve and protect your rights by contacting us at Maison Law, and we can arrange for a free and confidential consultation and case review.
Contact a Santa Maria Bicycle Accident Lawyer
When we talk, you can tell us about what happened, how it happened, and how the lives of you and your family have been affected by your accident and injuries. You’ll have questions too, and we’ll be happy to answer them. After that, we can discuss how we would recommend approaching the issue of pursuing compensation for your injuries. If we’re retained to represent you, our objective will be to obtain the maximum settlement or award that you deserve. Contact our Santa Maria bicycle accident lawyer here at Maison law as soon as you can after any bicycle accident.
