South Sacramento is home to many bicycle commuters and is generally a great place to ride a bike. There are many safe residential routes throughout the city to avoid riding along the heavier-trafficked streets, such as Stockton Boulevard and Florin Road. Despite the many positives of bicycle commuting in South Sacramento, this pleasant outdoor activity will always be associated with safety risks.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gathers statistics related to traffic accidents. The agency noted over 850 fatalities related to bicycle accidents in the United States in 2018. More than 450 cyclists were killed in California from 2016 to 2018. Men make up most of those fatalities – eight men were killed on bicycles for every one woman.

If you or someone you love has suffered injuries while riding a bicycle, we recommend that you promptly seek the advice of a skilled and experienced South Sacramento bicycle lawyer. If the accident was caused by a negligent driver, you might be entitled to monetary compensation. 

Many bicycle accidents are caused by carelessness and negligent motorists. Some examples of vehicle driver errors that can lead to a collision are:

• Failing to yield the right-of-way to a cyclist
• Turning at an intersection without checking for approaching cyclists
• Failing to entirely stop at a traffic control device and striking a cyclist
• A distracted driver, looking at a phone, veering into the bike lane
• Throwing open a car door without checking for approaching сусliѕtѕ
• Impaired driving (alcohol, drugs, or prescription medications)

Bicycle versus car accidents can result in devastating injuries, as one might expect, given the physics involved and the cyclist’s lack of protection. Common injuries that are often sustained as a result of a bicycle accident include: 

• Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries
• Back and neck injuries
• Deep abrasions (road rash)
• Fractured bones
• Lacerations
• Spinal cord damage
• Paralysis
• Limb amputation
• Nerve damage
• Death

Clearly, some of the above injuries can be catastrophic and life-changing. Injuries of that magnitude can affect every aspect of a person’s existence. If the injury was caused by another party’s negligence, the negligent person or entity should be held responsible for the massive damages.

If you have suffered severe injuries in a South Sacramento bike accident, it is important to promptly seek legal counsel. Not only will having a professional advocate allow you to focus on your physical recovery but moving swiftly will ensure that all crucial evidence is preserved. The faster your legal rights are protected, the better for your case.

California has a two-year statute of limitations for most personal injury cases. However, if your accident was caused or partially caused by a governmental or public agency, that time limit is much shorter. You must act within six months to preserve your legal rights. This is another reason that delaying seeking legal help can harm your case.  

Severe injuries such as those often caused by bicycle accidents usually result in extensive medical bills. Sometimes the dollar amount ends up being mind-blowing. Additionally, serious injuries often require future medical treatment and result in job loss, income loss, or loss of earning capacity. It is obvious how detrimental an accident can be to one’s finances. Medical bills and income loss are economic damage that may be recoverable through an insurance claim or lawsuit. Other elements of damage fall within the non-economic category, which includes compensatory payment for your pain and suffering.  

Watch the YouTube video below with tips for navigating city traffic on a bike.

Unfortunately, bicycle accidents occur with regular frequency throughout the South Sacramento area. We have handled many such cases in the 38 years our firm has advocated for injured Northern California bicyclists. Act quickly following a bicycle crash to preserve your legal rights and have a skilled attorney navigate the legal process. When a vehicle driver is negligent and causes harm to a bicyclist, they should be held accountable. Our injury lawyers can dispense compassionate, free, and friendly legal advice. Just call us at (916) 921-6400. If you call from outside the local area code, use our toll-free line: (800) 404-5400. If you prefer to send your inquiry electronically, use our online contact form.

See our case successes on our Verdicts and Settlements page.

^{Editor’s Note: updated [cha 7.18.23] Image by F. Muhammad from Pixabay mm [cs 747] cha}