Bicycling around Livermore is almost a rider’s paradise with numerous trails, bike paths, races and events scheduled every year. However, accidents do happen and can result in serious injuries or fatalities. A bicyclist died this year in a head-on collision along Mines Road with an SUV. The previous year, a woman was riding her bicycle on a crosswalk along Stanley Avenue when a gravel truck hit and killed her while making a turn at the corner. If you are injured or a loved one dies as a result of a negligent motorist or other entity, you have the right to claim damages with the help of a Livermore bicycle accident lawyer. 

Thirty-two bicyclists were either injured or killed in traffic collisions in 2019, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety. Within Alameda County that year, 496 bicyclist injuries and fatalities were reported, with 63 of them children under the age of 15. 

The injuries sustained in such an accident can be serious, and a Livermore bicycle accident lawyer can assist you in getting the compensation you deserve. If another vehicle is involved in a bicycle accident, both the driver and their insurance company might try to avoid accepting responsibility. Furthermore, a third party might be responsible if the driver was operating a government or work vehicle. 

Many bicycle accident claims have been successfully handled by the injury attorneys at AutoAccident.com. The tenacity and experience that we have will help you win your case. We can help you with your claim by contacting us at (925) 428-5220 or (800) 404-5400 to arrange a free consultation either virtually or in person. 

In the event you suffer an injury in a bicycle accident caused by a negligent driver, you may face high medical costs, an inability to work and the accompanying pain and suffering, which should also be compensated. With the assistance of a bicycle accident lawyer in Livermore, those who have been injured can recover the following:

• Medical expenses from your ambulance service to hospitalization, testing, medications, specialists and surgeries can be recovered. Should your injury not be resolved and medical costs will arise in the future, those can be factored into your settlement.
• Lost wages due to your inability to work while you recover can be compensated, including your extra benefits such as insurance and pension. If you receive extra income from tips, bonuses or others, those are recoverable also. If you are an independent contractor, your income can be calculated using your tax returns and employer records. Your accident attorney can calculate your losses.
• If the injured person has to take a lower-paying job, the difference in earnings is calculated and added. If the injury results in permanent disability, the injured party can claim their wages to retirement age.
• Compensation for your pain and suffering can be recovered, including psychological and emotional trauma. If you had to see a professional to deal with the traumatic aspects of your injury, the cost is recoverable.
• If the injury was egregious or done on purpose, the injured person may request punitive damages. However, this should be discussed with your bicycle accident lawyer from Livermore, who can provide more information on the requirements. 

Often, motorists who have collided with bicycle riders claim that they didn’t see the rider. Nevertheless, motorists have a duty of care to ensure that bicycle riders are safe on the road. Drivers who are negligent may be held accountable for bicycle riders’ injuries or for wrongful deaths if cyclists are killed in collisions. The following are the most common causes of bicycle accidents caused by driver negligence:

•  Bicycle riders risk accidents when motorists make right turns at intersections. At the light, a driver may overlook a bicyclist in the middle of the crosswalk if they look left to see oncoming traffic.
• A motorist commonly strikes a bicycle rider while attempting a left turn. When turning left, drivers are not always watching for bicycle riders in crosswalks. Prior to making a left turn, the driver must make sure they are aware of everyone in the intersection who is crossing the street.
• A bicycle rider can be injured in an accident if a motorist ignores the California three-foot distance law. Drivers often cause serious accidents when they move into the bicycle lane without checking first that it isn’t occupied by a rider. 
• A bicycle rider is at risk of serious injuries in a rear-end crash. Often, riders are thrown from their bicycles, causing serious injuries. It is common for drivers who strike bicycles from behind to be distracted or fatigued when they hit them.
• Bicycle riders are injured in accidents caused by parallel parking drivers. Drivers or their passengers who open a car door on the street side without checking first may cause a bicycle accident, including harm such as traumatic brain injuries.
• Vehicles exiting side streets or parking lots hit people on bicycles. Drivers who are haphazard about checking their rearview and side mirrors before backing up cause this type of accident. 

In order to support a personal injury claim, evidence must be gathered through an investigation. The following are some of the areas in which we conduct investigations:

• The first thing our investigators do is go to the accident site to collect evidence such as paint smears left by the vehicle and any pieces of metal that were dropped. These can be used to identify the make and model of the vehicle and tie it to the bicycle accident.
• The accident could have been recorded by CCTV cameras at nearby businesses and traffic lights, which provides good evidence of fault in the accident and how it occurred.
• As part of the investigation, investigators examine the police report for errors and speak with witnesses for corroborating information.
• Insurers and courts accept accident reconstruction performed by our investigators to explain how crashes occur and how bicycle riders and vehicles were positioned.
• Skid marks on a road can also indicate whether a driver attempted to stop before striking a bicyclist. A lack of tread marks could indicate a distracted driver, someone driving drunk or speeding, for example. 

Following the evidence collection, our accident attorneys use it to construct a compelling case for compensation on behalf of our clients. This evidence can be used when negotiating with the at-fault party’s insurance company or in court if negotiations are unsuccessful. 

As Livermore bicycle accident lawyer Ed Smith explains in the video below, you need the help only an attorney can provide:

When you’ve been injured because of a negligent driver, a Livermore bicycle accident attorney can help you get the compensation you deserve. Our injury lawyers can give you free and friendly advice when you call us at (925) 428-5220. If you’re calling from elsewhere in Northern California, reach us at (800) 404-5400 or by messaging us online. We can arrange a free consultation for you to review your case and let you know what options are available to recover damages. To see how we’ve helped others, look at our Verdicts and Settlements page.

Photo attribution: Image by Pexels from Pixabay

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