A bicycle accident can leave a rider seriously injured. If a cyclist is involved in a collision with a car, the results may be catastrophic. A person on a bicycle may suffer a concussion, back and neck injuries, broken bones, or lost limbs. A cyclist may even be left partially or completely paralyzed.
If you were involved in an accident while riding a bicycle and were seriously injured, you may be entitled to a financial award to compensate you for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. A Long Beach bicycle accident lawyer may be able to assist you.
Ben Crump Law, PLLC, has helped people in California and across the United States seek justice after someone else’s negligence injured them. We may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf. Call our office at (800) 761-5225 to discuss your case with a member of our staff.
Who May Be Liable for a Bicycle Accident
Motor vehicle operators and cyclists must obey the law to prevent accidents. Cyclists should ride in bicycle lanes where they are available, and drivers should be on the lookout for cyclists and give them enough space to avoid a collision.
Accidents often occur because a person in a car or truck does not see someone on a bicycle. A driver may fail to spot a bicycle because of its small size, or a vehicle, a sign, a tree, or another object may block the bicycle from view. In some cases, a motorist is texting, reaching for something in the glovebox, changing the radio station, or doing something else instead of paying attention to the road. An alcohol or drug-impaired motorist or one who is tired after a long shift at work may not see a cyclist.
Drivers sometimes get impatient and cut off bicycle riders. That may happen if a motorist wants to make a turn and does not want to wait for a cyclist to pass. A driver may cut across a bicycle lane or come so close to a bicycle lane that the cyclist feels endangered and swerves to avoid a collision.
Cracked roads, potholes, and uneven surfaces can cause cyclists to lose control. If a person riding a bicycle swerves to avoid a hazard in the road, that person may collide with a vehicle in another lane. In that case, the government entity that is responsible for repairing and maintaining the roadway may be liable for the crash.
In some cases, a defective product causes an accident. If a bicycle had a design flaw or a manufacturing defect that made it unsafe, the company that manufactured or sold the bicycle may be held liable.
A cyclist may do something to cause a crash. For instance, a person on a bicycle may make a turn when a motorist has the right of way or ride outside a designated bicycle lane. A cyclist may fail to brake or take evasive action to prevent a crash, or they may ride a bicycle despite knowing that it needs repairs. In that case, the cyclist may be at least partly liable for the collision.
For a free legal consultation with a bicycle accidents lawyer serving Long Beach, call 800-761-5225
How a Long Beach Bicycle Accident Lawyer May Be Able to Help You Seek Justice
The team at Ben Crump Law, PLLC, may be able to identify any factors that contributed to the crash and figure out who is liable. We may review the accident report and speak with you and any witnesses who were in the area and who saw what happened. If a traffic camera at an intersection or a surveillance camera at a nearby home or business recorded the collision, that may help us determine liability.
We may also investigate road conditions at the time to find out if the pavement was uneven or if a pothole caused the accident. If so, the local government may be liable for the crash.
If you lost control while riding and believe that mechanical failure was to blame, we may hire an independent expert to inspect your bicycle and find out if it had a design flaw or a manufacturing defect. We may also find out if other riders of the same type of bicycle experienced similar issues. If so, that may help us establish that the manufacturer is liable for the accident.
Once we have figured out who was responsible for the crash, we may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against that individual, government, or company. We may be able to pursue a financial award to cover your costs for past and future medical treatment, lost income, and pain and suffering.
If you share some liability for the accident, we may still be able to secure a financial award for you. California is a pure comparative fault state. That means that someone who contributed to an accident may be entitled to compensation, no matter that individual’s amount of fault. The court may reduce a financial award to account for the plaintiff’s share of liability.
Long Beach Bicycle Accident Lawyer Near Me 800-761-5225
Contact Ben Crump Law, PLLC
In cases involving a collision between a bicycle and a car, figuring out who is liable is often difficult. The cyclist and the driver of the vehicle may point the finger at each other. One or both may be responsible for the accident, but the municipal government and/or a product manufacturer may also share liability.
At Ben Crump Law, PLLC, we do not shy away from tough cases. We can thoroughly investigate to find out why the accident happened and to hold the liable party or parties accountable. Our team may need as much time as possible to determine liability, which is why it may be in your best interest to contact us as soon as possible.
According to the California Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) § 335.1, the statute of limitations to file a personal injury lawsuit in California is just two years. If we determine that the City of Long Beach was liable for the accident, you will have just six months to file a claim under California Government Code (GOV) § 911.2. If you miss the relevant deadline, you may be unable to pursue compensation for your losses. Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC, today at (800) 761-5225, so a Long Beach bicycle accident lawyer can get to work on your case as quickly as possible.
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