Orange County Bicycle Accident Lawyers
In addition to colliding with motorists, cyclists face other risks on the road, including bike lanes undergoing construction, roadway debris, and car doors suddenly opening into their path.
Get Legal Help After Suffering Injuries Because of a Driver
As a bicyclist, you were getting your exercise and doing your part to help the environment when the unexpected happened. Now, you’re hurt and don’t know what to do. Allen, Flatt, Ballidis & Leslie may be able to help. When you call our Newport Beach office, we’ll get you set up with a free consultation. If you’re too hurt to visit us, we can come to your bedside. If we can pursue compensation for you, we will do so at no upfront cost. Since 1974, we have been helping Orange County residents and visitors recover after a serious accident. Call our Orange County personal injury attorneys today and see if we can do the same for you.
How Were You Injured?
Given the lack of a vehicle occupant cage, bicyclists have nothing but a helmet protecting them from other motorists on the road, increasing their likelihood of suffering serious injury in a collision. Orange County has seen a decided increase in the number of fatal and injury accidents involving bicyclists, even though the county has over 1,000 miles of dedicated bike trails. Injuries we often see include:
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord damage
- Traumatic brain injury
- Soft tissue injury
- Ruptured organs
- Internal bleeding
- Road rash
The more severe the trauma, the greater the expenses associated with your recovery, including medical bills, lost earnings, and pain and suffering. When our personal injury lawyers take your case, the only thing we want you to worry about is healing. We will answer all your questions, and can refer you to medical specialists to meet your needs.
Who Is At Fault?
Identifying what factors caused your accident can prove pivotal to your case, and sometimes, more than one party may be liable for your injuries. For example, the motorist who struck you may share fault with a particular city, which failed to properly maintain the roadway. For example, if a stop sign was hidden by foliage, it could have contributed to the accident. A defective part on the bike may mean the manufacturer or bike shop shares the blame. But most bicycle-car collisions are caused by the inattention of the driver. If he or she:
- Failed to obey traffic laws
- Was distracted by a cellphone
- Moved into an intersection unlawfully
- Backed out of a driveway or parking space without looking
- Didn’t check blind spots before merging or turning
- Was under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Was making aggressive maneuvers or speeding
Such behavior was negligent, and you have a strong claim for compensation. A major case we handled involved a cyclist who was stuck by a truck approaching from behind, causing a spinal fracture and significant rehabilitation time. We settled for the defendant’s policy limits of $1,150,000.
If You Have Questions, Don’t Hesitate to Reach Out
If you have suffered an injury in a bicycle accident, there are certain steps you should take to maximize your chances of receiving compensation. Firstly, you should contact us as soon as possible, as there is a “statute of limitations” on personal injury claims in California, cutting off your ability to file a claim after two years, except in certain circumstances. At the scene of the accident, if possible, you should:
- Contact the police as soon as possible
- Obtain medical treatment immediately
- Obtain the driver’s name, telephone number, address, vehicle information, and the name of his or her insurance company (if you were struck by an automobile driver)
- Obtain the names and contact information of any witnesses
- Use your cell phone to take pictures of the scene, damage to your bike, and of your injuries
If you’re missing one of these elements, or if you’re afraid you’re partially at fault for the accident, don’t worry.
Allen, Flatt, Ballidis & Leslie has won hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for clients over the past 40 years. We understand what to do because we’ve handled hundreds of bicycle accidents in Orange County. California has a doctrine called “comparative fault” wherein your amount of fault will diminish your verdict, proportionally. If the jury thinks you were 10% at fault after awarding you $200,000, you would take home $180,000. We always examine a claim for its strengths and weaknesses, and figure out how to get the optimal results. For a free consultation, please call (949) 752-7474 today.
Additional Information
Bike Accident Verdicts and Settlements
- $1,150,000 - Cyclist suffered spinal fracture
- $100,000 - Cyclist hurt by drunk driver
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