The mild weather and flat roads surrounding Dixon, California, make the area a bicyclist’s paradise. Not only is cycling an environmentally friendly way to enjoy a beautiful day while getting some exercise, but it can also be a convenient form of commuting.

Safety risks occur whenever bicycles are ridden in areas with vehicle traffic, and too many bicyclists are injured or killed in collisions with motor vehicles annually.

When bicycling injuries or deaths occur, an experienced Dixon bicycle accident lawyer can help the injured cyclist or the grieving family recover monetary compensation from the negligent motorist. Call our law firm at (707) 564-1900 for a free consultation.

The bike rider will come out on the losing end in a crash involving a bicyclist and a motor vehicle. Such collisions often result in serious, even life-threatening, injuries to the rider. Severe injuries result in high medical bills, lost income, financial problems, pain, emotional suffering, and anxiety about the future. A skilled lawyer will help you navigate the complex legal process and ensure that your legal rights are protected and that the value of your case is maximized. The skilled attorneys at AutoAccident.com have the depth of personal injury experience that leads to outstanding results for our clients.

Dixon has a lot of rural roads on which one can usually avoid heavy traffic. Additionally, one can plan a route to include areas with bike lanes and safer streets. One such popular route is known as the Davis-Dixon Bikeway. While it is not a true bike path, it is a route that incorporates streets with bike lanes. An out-and-back excursion on the Davis-Dixon Bikeway is a nice ride. From Dixon to Davis, take the following route:

• Proceed north on First Street in downtown Dixon
• Right turn onto Vaughn Street
• Left turn onto Runge Road
• Right turn onto Tremont Road
• Left turn onto Old Davis Road

The route has stretches of gradual downhill. Going to Davis will take about 35 and 10 minutes longer on the way back due to the uphill segments.

One rider posted a coffee-based route on davisbikeclub.org that takes the rider from Peets Coffee on Covell in Davis to Solano Baking Company or Starbucks in Dixon round-trip, about 25 miles. The rider noted that the route is often windy but on relatively flat farm roads with very little vehicle traffic.

Of course, avoiding riding near vehicle traffic is not always possible. Always ride defensively on routes with cars nearby – assume that motorists do not see you. Because bicycles have lower profiles and are thus more challenging to see than other vehicles, that is often the excuse the motorist gives following a car versus bike accident.

Motorists are responsible for looking out for cyclists and pedestrians, who have just as much of a right to travel as those within cars. If an accident results from negligence by a vehicle driver, that driver is legally responsible for any damages caused to the bicycle and its rider.

An accident can happen under any circumstances, but below are some scenarios in which bicycle accidents commonly occur:

• A motorist turns left, not expecting a bicyclist, and strikes the bike.
• A motorist strikes a bicyclist while making a right turn after not checking to the rear or right of the vehicle to ensure that no one was traveling in the bike lane.
• A motorist strikes an oncoming bicyclist while pulling from a side street or parking area.
• A driver or passenger opens the car door into the path of an oncoming bicyclist. Car door strikes are common and can result in cyclists being thrown off their bikes.
• The risk of any type of collision increases when a vehicle operator is fatigued, distracted, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

For safe cycling tips, watch the video below.

The law in California requires that, whenever possible, a motorist keep at least three feet between their vehicle and a bike when passing a cyclist. When maintaining that space is impossible, the motorist must be cautious and slow down. Disregarding this rule is negligent and may result in a crash.

If you have been injured due to a negligent motorist’s actions, you are entitled to seek monetary compensation for your damages. Some of the categories of damages that are common to such a claim include:

• Medical expenses that result from the accident, both those already been incurred and for any future care recommended by your physician.
• Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity include the value of any lost benefits.
• Pain and suffering – this category is known as “non-economic damages.”
• If the injured person was married at the time of the accident, their spouse might be entitled to damages for loss of consortium due to the effects the injuries had on the marriage.
• If a cyclist is killed by a negligent motorist, his or her family may be entitled to pursue a wrongful death claim for damages.

Trying to manage a personal injury claim against a difficult insurance company is hard enough when you are not also trying to recover from injuries. Hiring a Dixon bicycle accident lawyer with the expertise to optimize your case value can take a lot off your mind and allow you to focus on getting well.

Call us for compassionate, free, and friendly advice if you or a loved one were injured in a bike accident due to a motorist’s negligence or carelessness. The sooner we can work on preserving valuable evidence, the better for your case. Our skilled injury lawyers are available by phone at (707) 564-1900 or (800) 404-5400.

^{Editor’s Note: updated [cha 8.8.23] Image by Luana Cappon from Pixabay mm [cs 993] cha}