Riding a bicycle is a popular and economical way for Napa residents to get around town, exercise, and enjoy nature. Some people use bicycles to get to work and for leisure. However, bicycle riders are injured or killed every year when they are involved in a motor vehicle or truck accident. With the help of an experienced lawyer, a bicyclist injured by a negligent driver can obtain compensation to pay for their lost time at work, medical costs, and pain and suffering.

Bicycle accidents cause serious injuries, and when you face high medical bills and other expenses, you can benefit from the guidance and help of an experienced attorney. A bicycle accident with another vehicle can be complicated, especially if the driver is at fault but trying to avoid liability. Third parties can also be involved, such as the insurance company for the driver or their employer, if the accident happened during business hours. At AutoAccident.com, we have handled numerous bicycle accidents and have the experience you need to collect fair compensation for your bicycle injury.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more bicycle riders and pedestrians died in accidents in 2018 than in the three previous decades and represented a 6.3 percent increase. Although bicycle riders only represent around 1 percent of the vehicles on the roadway, they face a high risk of severe injuries if involved in a collision, especially with a motor vehicle.

When a motorist collides with a bicyclist, they respond that they did not see the cyclist. However, it is the motorist’s responsibility to watch for bicycle riders. When negligence causes a collision, they can be held liable for any injuries caused to the rider or wrongful death. Some of how a motorist can be negligent and become involved in an accident with a bicycle rider include:

• The bicycle rider is struck by a motorist turning left. Many bicycle accidents happen this way when a vehicle turns left and doesn’t spot the oncoming bicyclist. If the bicycle rider and motorist move in opposite directions, the driver is less likely to spot them. However, the motorist has the responsibility to look carefully before turning.
• A motorist is turning right and strikes a bicycle rider. This happens if the motorist is careless or forgets to check for a bicycle rider before turning. Drivers who fail to see a bicycle rider with the right of way are negligent if they cause an accident.
• A vehicle pulls out from a parking lot or side street and strikes a bicyclist. Again, the motorist is responsible for ensuring that the way is clear before pulling out.
• A driver parks on the side of the street and opens their car door without looking. This type of accident can cause injuries to a bicycle rider because they can be thrown from their bike, causing severe head injuries, bone fractures, and other trauma.
• A motorist hits a bicycle rider in the rear. Bicyclists also get involved in rear-end collisions with motor vehicles. These types of accidents often occur if the motorist is driving distracted, fatigued, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Ignoring the three-foot rule causes many bicycle accidents. All motorists must keep a three-foot distance from a bicycle rider in California. If a driver comes too close to a rider and causes an accident, this is a form of negligence.

Stay safe on the road by learning bicycle safety tips in the video below.

If you’ve been injured by a negligent motorist in a bicycle accident, you can face high medical bills and other expenses and cannot work, so you face lost wages. Under California personal injury law, someone injured by a negligent person or entity has the legal right to pursue compensation. Damages that your Napa bicycle accident attorney can recover include:

• Medical expenses, including prescriptions, hospitalization, rehabilitation, home health care, and future costs of medical care
• Lost wages, including bonuses
• Compensation for a permanent injury such as scarring or disfigurement
• Loss of consortium, emotional distress, psychological trauma, and other areas that affect a person’s quality of life
• In some cases, punitive damages are allowed if the injury was intentional or resulted from egregious negligence

Our investigators are immediately sent to the Napa bicycle accident site to uncover evidence to support your claim. They perform accident reconstruction, which is widely used by insurance companies and courts to show how a collision occurred and the vehicle’s and pedestrian’s placement. The investigators examine the report by the police for errors and speak to the witnesses looking for corroborative statements. Business and traffic cameras are a good source because they might have captured the accident on tape. Clues found on the roadway are evidence such as skid marks or lack of them, which shows whether or not the driver tried to stop. A lack of tread marks can indicate a distracted driver, inebriated or speeding, and other signs of negligence. When the evidence is gathered, our lawyers construct a strong case for compensation in favor of our client. This evidence is valuable when negotiating with the insurance company or presenting a case in court.

Call our experienced Napa bicycle accident lawyers for free and friendly advice if you were injured in a bicycle accident by a negligent motorist. We can be reached at  (707) 564-1900 or (800) 404-5400 if you are outside the area code. See our past cases of Settlements and Verdicts.

^{Editor’s Note: updated [cha 8.22.23] Photo Attribution: by Leonardo Vasquez on Pexels cd llo [cs 969]}