The City of Newman, California, is becoming increasingly bicycle-friendly. Newman has been awarded a grant from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to update the Newman Highway 33 Specific Plan document, initially created in 1996. The plan outlines future development along the Highway 33 corridor over the next two decades. Projects will focus on improving bicycle, pedestrian, and vehicle transportation.

It is necessary to address bicycle safety because many motorists do not exercise the required vigilance and caution to safely share the roads. When a vehicle-versus-bicycle accident occurs, the cyclist often suffers severe injuries. Retaining an experienced Newman bicycle accident attorney following a crash will protect the injured cyclist’s legal rights and ensure that he or she receives fair compensation. Still, it will also allow the cyclist to focus on recovery and a return to good health.

For a motorist to be found legally and financially responsible for injuries caused to a bicyclist in a California accident, there must be evidence that the driver acted negligently. Under California law, that means that the driver owed a legal duty to the bicyclist, failed to act reasonably about that duty of care, and, as a result, caused the cyclist’s injuries. In essence, that means that a driver is negligent if they acted recklessly or carelessly and that their actions resulted in physical harm to the bicyclist.

The law concerning motorist negligence in an accident with a bicycle is essentially the same as with other types of car accidents. A motorist may, for example, run a red light, fail to yield the right-of-way, or change lanes unsafely – these are all examples of negligent behavior that may cause an accident and result in injuries or death.

In addition to the above examples, here are other common scenarios that can cause a collision between a motor vehicle and a bicyclist:

• Veering into a bike lane and sideswiping the cyclist
• Hitting a cyclist when opening a vehicle door
• Colliding with a cyclist while turning at an intersection

These types of incidents are preventable, and the updated Newman city plans may result in improvements that reduce the number of vehicle-versus-bicycle accidents in the region. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that bicycle accidents will ever be wholly eradicated. As more and more people take up bicycling as recreation or alternate forms of commuting, the number of annual bicycle accidents could increase.

Watch the YouTube video. Below is a video released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on bicycle safety.

Many complexities are associated with filing a California personal injury lawsuit. The legal process is notoriously confusing and often frustrating. The time in which an injured person must file a personal injury lawsuit in California (or settle the case ultimately) is most commonly two years. There are exceptions to this two-year time limit, known as the statute of limitations. If the negligent party being sued was a governmental employee or entity, formal action must be initiated within six months of the accident to preserve the claim. If the injured person was a minor child when the incident occurred, the statute does not begin to run until he or she turns 18. Missing the deadline to file a lawsuit will result in the claim being dismissed.

After a lawsuit is filed, there will likely be written discovery, oral depositions, and a demand for the injured person to attend a medical examination. Because there are so many ways in which your claim can be negatively impacted during the discovery process, it is advised that you speak with an experienced and skilled personal injury lawyer. A reasonable attorney will protect your legal rights and maximize your financial compensation.

Monetary damages that may be available to an injured cyclist in a personal injury claim include:

• Medical Expenses. This includes bills already incurred and projected future medical bills based on physician recommendations.
• Income Loss. Severe injuries following a bicycle accident often keep the cyclist from returning to work for some time. Catastrophic injuries may result in permanent disability. A negligent party that caused the injuries is financially responsible for the cyclist’s lost income and loss of future earning capacity.
• Pain and Suffering. A skilled attorney will document how the injuries caused physical pain and emotional suffering and resulted in a loss of enjoyment of the cyclist’s life.
• Loss of Consortium. If applicable, the injured person’s spouse may be entitled to monetary compensation due to the adverse effect of the injuries on the marital relationship.

If the cyclist was killed in the accident, the next of kin may file a claim for wrongful death.

If you have been hurt or someone you love has been injured or killed in a bicycle accident caused by a negligent motorist, please do not hesitate to call our law office for compassionate, free, and friendly legal advice at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400.

^{Editor’s Note: updated 11.22.23 Image by F. Muhammad from Pixabay mm [cs 854] cha}