Bike Accidents Caused by Potholes in Tulare

Maison Law represents victims injured in bike accidents caused by potholes. If a hazardous pothole in a bike lane or sidewalk has caused you to suffer serious injuries in Tulare, you are most likely struggling to pay your medical bills, make up for missed time at work, and get your life back on track. Fortunately, that’s where Maison Law can help.

At Maison Law, we stand up for injured bicyclists and protect their right to compensation. If you’re suffering injuries, financial losses, and mental trauma from a bicycle accident, our firm can help protect you from liability and ensure you’re compensated. To get immediate legal help for your bicycle accident injury in Tulare, contact Maison Law today for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.

Do I Need a Lawyer for a Bicycle Accident Caused By a Pothole?

Let’s say you were crossing K Street downtown, and your front wheel is stopped by a pothole, sending you flying over your handlebars. You’re seriously injured and have to go to the hospital. What are your options? Your injury requires surgery, you can’t work, and you’re considering legal action, but your not sure where to begin. That’s where Maison Law can help. We connect you with one of our attorneys, get you treatment, and get your case resolved by taking swift legal action on your behalf. So, while you focus on recovery, we ensure you receive financial compensation for the following damages:

• Economic damages: financial damages you incurred due to the accident.
  • Medical bills
  • Lost Wages
  • Loss of future potential earnings
  • Loss of property
  • Cost of property repair or replacement
  • Job displacement
  • Vocational training
• Non-economic damages: these are subjective, non-compensatory damages.
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Loss of consortium
• Punitive damages: these are damages awarded to serve as punishment to the at-fault party.
  • Reckless behavior (DUI, street racing)
  • Actions performed out of spite

Maison Law Legal Services for Tulare Bicycle Injury Victims

Bicycle accidents involving potholes can happen anywhere. They can happen while you’re riding on the sidewalk, crossing the street, or riding one of many outdoor Tulare bike trails. And in a single second, an injury can alter the course of your life, subjecting you to extensive medical treatment, loss of income, or even permanent disability. These are costly life changes that most people are not prepared to face alone. That’s why, at Maison Law, we offer the following services for bicycle injury victims in Tulare, to protect their physical and financial futures after suffering an injury:

• Investigate and determine wrongdoing or recklessness: personal injury accidents are complicated due to the number of victims and liable parties that may be involved. Typically, there will be several people to get statements from, and some parties may only be discussing their involvement through their attorneys. Maison Law can help manage this quickly and efficiently.
• Collect and preserve key evidence: Street cameras, dash cams, security footage, ring cameras, and witness statements are all key points of evidence for your case. Our team of personal injury attorneys will take the proper legal steps to obtain crucial information and strengthen your personal injury case.
• Communicate with insurance companies and other attorneys: It is recommended to have an attorney speak to the insurance adjusters on your behalf. Oftentimes, insurance companies will attempt to trick you into taking part of the blame or get you to say something that hurts your claim. Our attorneys can protect you from liability and ensure your right to fair compensation.
• Prove liability: With several parties potentially being involved in a personal injury accident, any number of them could have caused or contributed to the incident. This makes determining and proving liability challenging. The attorneys at Maison Law will assign a team of investigators and accident reconstruction specialists to determine the cause of your injuries, identify all liable parties, and hold those responsible for compensating you for your damages.

How Road Hazards Cause Bicycle Accidents

Hazards can form over time, or all of a sudden, but their usual cause is due to someone neglecting to repair them or make sure they won’t cause harm to another person. For cyclists, hazardous conditions can make it difficult to stay upright and avoid falling or colliding with other riders or passing vehicles. A hazard like a pothole will force cyclists to:

• Lose traction: The uneven terrain or sudden drop of a pothole can reduce tire traction. Without tire traction, a cyclist is unable maneuver safely or control where they are going, increasing the risk of a serious accident.
• Balance disruption: Sudden road surface changes like potholes can significantly impact a rider’s balance. Most cyclists are balancing on two tires at all times, so the slightest disruption can easily lead to them losing control of the bike.
• Sudden stopping: If a cyclist notices a pothole at the last minute, they may be forced to make a sudden stop. Even if they avoid a pothole, a sudden stop could send them over their handlebars and into the road.

Who is Liable for a Bicycle Accident Caused by a Pothole?

Determining liability for a bicycle accident caused by a pothole can be difficult, but ultimately, the party responsible will be discovered through the details of the accident. For example, a road or sidewalk could be maintained by the following parties:

• Government entity: city or state agencies in California are typically responsible for the maintenance of the roadways, so if a pothole is left unattended, the government could be held liable.
• Construction companies: if a construction zone is poorly marked or maintained, resulting in a hazardous pothole, they can be held responsible for their careless actions.
• Private property owners: if a road hazard is on private property, such as a parking lot or driveway, the owner may be at fault if they fail to maintain the area.

Potholes left in the road are considered a premises liability because someone has allowed public or private property to be unsafe. So, once it is determined who is at fault, they can be served with a premises liability lawsuit. If you believe that a premises liability caused your bicycle accident, then please don’t hesitate to call, text, or stop by our offices for a free case review.

How to Strengthen Your Bicycle Accident Injury Claim

If you suffer a bicycle injury while riding due to a pothole, seek medical attention immediately. Nothing is more important than your health. Call out to another cyclist or pedestrian to help you get immediate medical attention. After you get medical care, it is recommended to:

• Report the injury to the Tulare Police or property owner (if applicable): It is recommended to always call the police after an accident, or report the incident to the property owner. An accident report of any kind will serve as evidence, as well as assign liability to one party or the other.
• Take your own photos of the scene and get witness statements. Any evidence you can gather to support your claim will come in handy later, especially if you decide to take legal action to pursue compensation.
• Follow up on your injuries with a doctor. Any injuries you’ve sustained from your accident will become a part of your case, and you will need a doctor to corroborate your injuries. Insurance companies will not consider compensating your injuries without verifiable medical documentation.
• Contact Maison Law to protect your rights to compensation. Most accident victims find themselves overwhelmed by the incident and fail to realize the enormous impact a serious bicycle injury can have on their lives. Our experienced attorneys can help you understand your options and get you the compensation you need to make a full recovery.

How to Report a Pothole in Tulare

For the most part, potholes will fall under the jurisdiction of the city of Tulare. The city of Tulare provides a straightforward way to report a pothole through their Public Works Department. This department is in charge of fixing potholes, road hazards, missing signs, or other street issues. Steps for reporting a pothole through the Public Works Department are as follows:

• Go to the official submission page: https://www.tulare.ca.gov/government/submit-your-citizen-request
• Provide details like the exact location (address, cross streets, landmarks), description of the pothole, and any photos if possible.
• Your request gets routed to the appropriate department for review and repair.

Right-of-Way Laws for Bicyclists in Tulare

California Vehicle Code 21200 awards cyclists the same rights and responsibilities as drivers. This entitles bicyclists to the right-of-way just like all the other drivers on the road. However, it is important to remain aware of motorists, as not all drivers recognize this law or respect the rights of bikers on the road. Other laws outlining the rights of bicyclists on the road include:

• California Vehicle Code 21209: this law prohibits other drivers from driving in the bike lane except to park in permitted areas, or when leaving or entering the roadway.
• California Vehicle Code 22517: this statute covers dooring. Dooring is when a driver opens their vehicle door into the path of an oncoming rider. Under this law, no driver shall open the door of their vehicle on the side that is available to moving traffic unless it can be done in a reasonably safe manner and without interfering with moving traffic.
• Bicyclists in traffic: cyclists are required to ride as close to the right side of the road as possible except when they’re trying to avoid a hazard, turn left, or when passing. They are also required to signal their movements when turning or preparing to change lanes.
• Riding on sidewalks and crosswalks: California allows cyclists to ride legally in crosswalks. Some cities permit cyclists to ride on sidewalks, but some cities have banned cyclists from using the sidewalks.

Contact a Tulare Bicycle Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident due to a pothole in Tulare, Maison Law can help. We understand how traumatic a bike accident can be, especially when you have to fight with the insurance company to get what you’re owed. But you’re not alone in this fight.

Our law firm is here to help restore your life and protect your right to the maximum amount of compensation you’re entitled to. Our firm has years of experience taking on the insurance company to protect the rights of injured bicyclists. If you’re concerned about the financial, physical, and mental impact a bicycle accident has had on your life, contact Maison Law today. We offer all injured victims a free consultation and case evaluation. There are no hidden fees for our services, and you will only be charged once we win your case.