Clearlake, California, is known as a bicycling town. Locals and tourists can bring their own bikes, rent a beach cruiser, and take a 14-mile ride around the lake. As the city host of the annual Bicycle, Blues, & BBQ event, Clearlake welcomes riders worldwide.

Although there are plenty of safe bike trails and lanes for riders, an accident with a motor vehicle can cause serious injuries. Cyclists injured in a bicycle accident can usually claim compensation for damages from the negligent parties.

If you have sustained severe injuries in a bicycle accident in Clearlake, our injury attorneys are available to give you advice about your legal options and help you move forward with getting the compensation you deserve. Call our Clearlake bicycle accident lawyers at (707) 564-1900 for a free consultation.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that in 2019, over 840 bicyclists were killed by motor vehicles, and about 417,000 bicyclists were injured and treated in the emergency room. This doesn’t report the total number of injuries since many bicycle accidents were not reported, and the injured party didn’t seek medical care.

Most bicycle accidents are caused by negligent drivers. Driver negligence is reckless driving behaviors. Motorists are considered negligent when they don’t pay attention to the road or violate a traffic law. Careless driving behaviors include:

• Cutting off a cyclist
• Driving in bike lanes
• Driving under the influence
• Driving while distracted
• Failure to apply brakes in time to avoid a crash
• Failure to yield
• Improper turning
• Speeding
• Tailgating

Bicycle accidents can be caused by hazardous and defective road conditions. City and state governments in charge of maintaining the roadways can often be liable for negligence when they fail to keep roads and bicycle lanes safe. Some common roadway hazards include:

• Lack of bicycle lanes
• Inadequate lighting during the night
• Insufficient signage
• Poorly designed intersections
• Potholes
• Severe bumps or cracks in the road

Cyclists rely on their bikes to work correctly; faulty brakes or pedals can lead to severe crashes. When a defective bicycle part causes an accident, the manufacturer can be considered liable for damages. Injured cyclists can claim product liability against the defective part’s maker, retailer, and seller.

In a bicycle vs. vehicle accident, cyclists are prone to suffer many injuries because they don’t have the same protection as passengers in a vehicle. Many of our past clients have sustained the following types of injuries in bicycle accidents:

• Bone fractures
• Chest trauma, including lung damage
• Internal bleeding
• Nerve damage
• The spinal cord, back, and neck injuries
• Traumatic Brain Injuries

Watch the following video for more essential safety tips for bicyclists and motorists.

Recovering after a bicycle accident takes time and money. Injured cyclists often have high medical expenses and need extensive therapy to fully recover. This can cause significant stress on wounded individuals and their families. For this reason, injured bicyclists can seek compensation for various damages, including:

• Emotional distress
• Lost income
• Loss of income potential
• Medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Punitive damages

Your Clearlake bicycle accident lawyer can help you get compensation for the damages you experience after a bicycle accident. Your attorney will investigate the accident and examine the site for issues that may have caused the incident. Once the necessary evidence is gathered, your attorney will build a strong case against the at-fault party. Your accident lawyer will represent you in negotiations with the insurance company to get the maximum compensation you deserve.

There is a limited time to file for a bicycle accident claim in California. This time limit is the statute of limitations, two years from the accident date. If the crash involved a road defect or a government vehicle, the deadline is six months from the date of the accident. For this reason, it is wise to reach out to an experienced bicycle accident lawyer as soon as possible to find out about your legal options.

If you or a family member has sustained severe injuries in a bicycle accident in the Clearlake area, please call our experienced Clearlake bicycle accident attorneys at (707) 564-1900 or (800) 404-5400 for free friendly advice. See our past verdicts and settlements.

^{Editor’s Note: updated [cha 9.5.23] Photo by Munbaik Cycling Clothing from Pexels cha llo [cs 766]}