With a vast network of paved bike paths, designated bicycle lanes on the city’s major roadways, and a host of competitive and recreational cycling events in the area, San Diego offers a number of opportunities for cycling enthusiasts to get out and ride their bikes, either as a form of exercise, as a leisure activity, or as a healthy commuting option. Unfortunately, motorists in San Diego are still not accustomed to sharing the roads and highways with cyclists, and extremely serious injuries have occurred as a result of accidents between motor vehicles and bicycles. If you have been seriously injured in a bicycle accident in San Diego, our personal injury attorneys at DAG Law Firm can help you pursue the financial compensation you deserve for your losses. Call us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Affordable San Diego Bicycle Accident Attorney
Cycling can be a safe and healthy leisure activity or mode of transportation, and more and more Americans are cycling to commute to work, for exercise, or just for fun. In fact, from 2000 to 2012, the number of people traveling to work via bicycle increased a whopping 64%. Sadly, more bicycles on the road means more opportunities for bicycle-motor vehicle collisions and a greater risk of life-threatening injuries for San Diego cyclists. Any person who has suffered serious injuries in a San Diego bicycle accident should enlist the help of a knowledgeable attorney who has experience handling personal injury claims. With the help of our skilled bicycle accident lawyers at DAG Law Firm, you can ensure that your legal rights are protected following a cycling accident, and seek financial compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other damages.
Common Bicycle Accident Injuries
Considering the average passenger car in the United States weighs more than two tons, it’s not difficult to imagine that an accident involving a car and a bicycle would cause devastating and possibly even fatal injuries to the cyclist. With only a helmet and possibly some knee or elbow pads to protect them from harm, cyclists are at an extremely high risk of injury in collisions with motor vehicles. They are also more exposed than motorists to the asphalt on a highway, concrete on a sidewalk or metal body of a motor vehicle should an accident occur. Some of the most common injuries resulting from a San Diego bicycle accident include:
- Head injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Traumatic brain injury
- Broken bones
- Internal organ damage
- Leg, knee or foot injury
- Shoulder, arm or hand injury
- Lacerations
- Fractures
- Neck injury
- Back injury
- Loss of limbs
- Wrongful death
Even bike riders who wear a helmet and other protective equipment while cycling can sustain head trauma and other serious injuries if they are struck hard enough in a bicycle-motor vehicle accident. Cyclists who suffer a closed head injury resulting from a collision with an automobile may experience headaches, fatigue, changes in personality or energy level, difficulty focusing on or completing tasks, and more, possibly without even knowing a serious injury occurred.
Possible Causes of San Diego Bicycle Accidents
Despite efforts by several agencies to promote bicycle safety and reduce the risk of bicycle-motor vehicle accidents across the state of California, cycling remains a dangerous activity in San Diego. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 818 cyclists were killed and 45,000 were injured in traffic accidents in the United States in 2015, and 129 of those bicycle accidents fatalities occurred in California alone. Although the majority of San Diego bicycle accidents occur due to the negligence of another driver, cyclists can also suffer serious injuries as a result of accidents caused by defective bicycle parts or unsafe road conditions. Some possible causes of a San Diego bicycle accident include the following:
- Speeding
- Unsafe lane changes
- Tailgating
- Bad weather
- Poor visibility
- Failing to signal before making a turn
- Making an illegal turn
- Failure to obey traffic signals
- Passing too closely to a bicycle
- Unsafe road conditions
- Drunk driving
- Failure to yield
- Defective bicycle parts
Cyclists have to periodically merge with motor vehicle traffic on San Diego roads and highways, which increases the risk of a collision if other motorists fail to pay attention to cyclists and make efforts to safely share the road. Motorists should always yield to cyclists as they would another automobile and give bicycles room on the road, yet this doesn’t always happen.
Determining Liability in San Diego Bicycle Accidents
Cyclists in San Diego enjoy the same rights and privileges as motorists, and any person who gets behind the wheel of a motor vehicle has a duty to practice safe driving techniques to avoid a car accident, especially when it comes to sharing the roadway with bike riders. Unfortunately, because bicycles typically have a low profile compared to other vehicles on San Diego roadways, they can be difficult for motorists to spot, especially in traffic congestion and especially when those motorists are distracted, drowsy or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The person or party found at fault in a San Diego bicycle accident may include:
- A motorist for failing to obey a traffic signal or stop sign
- A motor vehicle manufacturer for a defective automobile design
- A state or local transportation agency for failing to maintain safe road conditions
- A commercial property owner for an unsafe sidewalk, parking lot or driveway
- A helmet manufacturer for developing a faulty product
- A highway construction company for negligent construction or improper maintenance
In some situations, it may not be clear who is at fault for the accident, in which case our attorneys can help you identify the responsible party and seek the compensation you and your family deserve.
Seeking Compensation for a San Diego Bicycle Accident
Even when cyclists make every effort to safely and legally ride their bicycles on San Diego roadways, they can suffer devastating injuries due to the negligence of a motorist or another responsible party. In the aftermath of a serious cycling accident, it can be difficult to ensure your legal rights are protected and pursue compensation from the at-fault party while recovering from debilitating injuries, especially if those injuries result in permanent disability. Too often, victims of San Diego bicycle accidents are tricked into accepting a low-ball offer from their insurance company or have their claim flat-out denied, at which point having a reputable personal injury lawyer on your side is imperative. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a bicycle accident because of the negligence of another person, organization or agency, our experienced attorneys can help you bring a bicycle accident claim against the party found at fault in the accident. Even in the case of a hit-and-run accident, our attorneys at DAG Law Firm can help you seek the compensation you deserve.
Free Bicycle Accident Consultation in San Diego
More and more people in San Diego and throughout southern California are seeing the benefits of bike riding, either for pleasure, for exercise, or for commuting to work. While there are many benefits to this method of transportation, there are also unique safety challenges to cycling in San Diego, including the increased risk of injuries from collisions with motor vehicles. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a San Diego bicycle accident, you may have grounds to file a personal injury claim to seek financial compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, emotional trauma and other damages. Contact our experienced bicycle accident lawyers at DAG Law Firm today to discuss your legal options.
