Regardless of the time of year, people in Sacramento enjoy riding their bicycles. Maybe you bike to work. Or, you may like to ride your bicycle for exercise. It doesn’t matter why you’re on the road; people on bicycles are at a high risk of getting seriously hurt if they’re involved in an accident. Thankfully, the Sacramento bicycle accident lawyers at TorkLaw can help.
It may not seem fair, but most motorists do not pay attention to people on bikes. They’re used to sharing the road with other cars and SUVs – not bicycles. This is why Sacramento has named May as “Bicycle Awareness Month.” They know they need to remind drivers that there are people out there on their bikes. And they need to pay attention; otherwise, people can get seriously hurt or even killed.
If you’re involved in any type of bicycle accident, odds are, you’re going to sustain pretty serious injuries. You’ll have to get medical treatment and will likely take weeks or months to recover. The last thing you’ll want to do is waste time and effort fighting with the other driver’s insurance company. You should hire one of our experienced Sacramento bicycle accident lawyers to handle all of this for you. This way, you can focus on what counts- getting better.
Sacramento Bicycle Accident Lawyers at TorkLaw Recommend What to Do Immediately Following Your Crash
If you’re involved in a bicycle accident, you should do the same things you would do if you were involved in a car accident. You need to do three things:
- Contact the police: You need to call the police if you’re involved in a bicycle accident. If you’re unable to do this yourself due to your injuries, then you need to have someone do it for you. The police will come out and do a thorough investigation of the crash scene. They’ll also check to make sure the person who hit you has a valid license and valid insurance. They’ll also arrange for you to be transported to the local hospital for treatment.
- Go to the emergency room: Whether you think you’re hurt or not, you need to get checked out by a doctor. You could have internal injuries. If these go untreated, they can be dangerous or even fatal. Plus, your Sacramento bicycle accident lawyer will need proof that you were hurt.
- Call one of our seasoned bicycle accident lawyers: You really don’t want to handle something like this yourself. Call our office right away, and you can schedule your free initial consultation. This way, you know your claim will be handled correctly from the start.
If you don’t do these three basic things, you can make it harder for your Sacramento bicycle accident lawyer to get you the money you deserve.
What are the Most Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Sacramento?
It would be easy to blame all bicycle accidents on other drivers. However, there’s a good chance the defendant’s attorney will argue that you were at fault. The reason they do this is because the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has confirmed that some of the most common causes of bicycle accidents include the following:
- Crossing where there isn’t a crosswalk
- Failure to yield to a vehicle
- In the road improperly
- Not visible to motorists
- Improper crossing
- Darting or dashing into the road
As you can see, Sacramento bicycle accident lawyers can have their hands full when it comes to proving your case. Thankfully, our lawyers have decades of combined experience doing just this. They’ll use whatever evidence is available to them in order to prove your case. This could include your own statement or the statements of other witnesses or a video recording of the incident.
Your Sacramento Bicycle Accident Lawyer Will Fight to Get You the Compensation You Deserve
If you’re injured in a bicycle accident, you’re probably entitled to damages. In order for us to tell you how much your case is worth, we would need to review your case. The worse your injuries – the greater your damages. You can also recover damages for any damage caused to your bicycle. In California, you are entitled to the following types of damages:
- Medical bills
- Future medical bills
- Property damage
- Lost income
- Lost future income
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
Of course, not all of our clients are entitled to every type of damage listed here. Every case is unique. Your compensation will depend on the particular facts of your case. When you first meet with our lawyers, they can give you a better idea of what your claim may be worth.
Can You Be Found Partially at Fault for Your Bicycle Accident in California?
As we mentioned earlier, there are times when the bicyclist is found to be partially at fault. The good news is that, in California, even if you’re partially at fault, you can still recover damages. This is because our state follows something called the comparative negligence rule. This means that your claim will be reduced by your percentage of fault. However, you can still recover damages, no matter what percentage of fault you’re found to be responsible for.
Our Sacramento bicycle accident lawyer will review your case and let you know if there’s a chance that you’ll be held partially at fault. They’ll keep this in mind while they’re negotiating a settlement of your lawsuit.
Contact Our Sacramento Office as Soon as Possible After Your Bicycle Accident
When people are involved in a bicycle accident, they tend to suffer bad injuries. You won’t be in a position to deal with the insurance company on your own. You may be out of work for a while. It’s important that you talk to one of our seasoned Sacramento bicycle accident lawyers at TorkLaw as soon as possible after your crash. This way, you can make sure that your case is handled properly from day one. Call our office and schedule your free initial consultation today.