Common Causes of Bike Accidents in Orange County
Be careful when riding your bike on roads in OC! Avoid these common pitfalls to stay safe!
Get Legal Help After a Bicycle Crash
While riding a bike around certain streets in Orange County can be a fun and relaxing way of getting around, there is always the risk of getting into an accident with a motor vehicle. Unfortunately, many drivers are not wary of cyclists out on the road, and in many instances, this leads to traffic collisions. While the motor vehicle and driver come usually come out with minimal damage, the same cannot be said for the individuals riding bicycles.
At Allen Flatt Ballidis & Leslie, we have been fighting for the rights of injured cyclists since 1974. For over four decades, we’ve been providing legal services to bike riders who have been involved in accidents, and over the years, we’ve seen patterns in how bike accidents tend to occur. If you need legal help after being involved in a cycling crash, give us a call at (949) 752-7474 to set up a free consultation with an Orange County bicycle accident lawyer.
Riding Against Traffic
Bicycles are “vehicles” when on the road and must obey traffic laws like every other form of transport on the street. Cyclists who ride against traffic are not only breaking the law, but are acting in a very dangerous manner. Motor vehicle drivers don't expect to see bikes coming the wrong way, and that leaves those cyclists susceptible to collisions. Also, when a cyclist rides against traffic, there is often little time to maneuver away from a crash.
Accidents at Stop Signs
At stop-sign intersections, there are times when motorists do not yield to oncoming bikes. This typically occurs when a motorist is driving in a distracted manner or is not looking outside the vehicle at the surrounding scene. These accidents are common at intersections where the cyclist has the right-of-way without a stop sign and the motorist has a stop sign and is required to yield. After “stopping” at the stop sign, the car then drives out into the intersection in front of the cyclist, and causes an accident.
Exiting from a Private Drive
These crashes occur when a bicyclist comes from a private drive, alley, side street, or sidewalk and enters a roadway. Accidents of this nature occur mostly in residential areas, when a cyclist is just entering the road.
Vehicle Overtaking the Cyclist
This occurs when a bicyclist is legally occupying the roadway and gets hit from behind by a motor vehicle. Injuries are usually severe, and fatalities aren’t unusual in these instances. Most of these crashes occur at night when the driver of the motor vehicle either didn’t see the bicycle in the road or was distracted. Drug and alcohol impairment on the part of motor vehicle drivers also contributes to many of these accidents.
Left-Turn Accidents
These accidents typically occur when the motorist and bicyclist approach an intersection from opposite directions. As they both enter the intersection, the motorist turns left, striking the cyclist going straight. Usually the motorist did not see the cyclist or misjudged the cyclist's speed before hitting him or her.
Right-Turn Accidents
These accidents tend to take place when a bicyclist riding on the right side of a lane of traffic is approaching an intersection. The cyclist might be in a driver’s blind spot when the driver starts making a right turn. Sometimes the motorist even passes the bicyclist and makes a right turn in front of the oncoming bike.
Dooring Accidents
Dooring accidents occur when a driver parks on the street and opens his door to exit the vehicle, and an oncoming bicyclist slams into the open door. These accidents are fairly common in urban areas and areas of high traffic. Car drivers and passengers both need to double-check before opening their doors.
Contact an Orange County Bicycle Accident Attorney Today!
Allen Flatt Ballidis & Leslie has won millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for victims of bike accidents over the past 40 years. We know the ins and outs of bike accident litigation and we get results for our clients time and time again. We always examine a claim for its strengths and weaknesses and figure out how to get you and your family the compensation you deserve. For a free consultation, please call (949) 752-7474 today.
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