Suisun City, California, is an excellent place for bicyclists. In fact, many residents of the area have increasingly begun to leave their cars at home and use their bicycles to get around. The activity is beneficial to one’s physical and emotional well-being. However, like many enjoyable activities, it does come with some risks – especially when riding in areas with other vehicle traffic. While riders may take every precaution, such as wearing a helmet, avoiding distractions, and wearing reflective clothing, they remain at the mercy of vehicle drivers, some of whom can be careless and negligent. According to the magazine Outside, at least 675 bicyclists were killed by motorists in 2020. Remember, that was during a pandemic with reduced vehicle traffic volumes.

Following a bike accident resulting in injuries or wrongful death, the victim or victim’s family must contact a Suisun City Bicycle Accident Lawyer with significant experience handling such cases. Legal advice should be sought as soon as possible following the crash to preserve critical evidence and protect the injured person’s legal rights. Insurance companies spring into action quickly following an injury-causing accident. The adjuster may want to take a recorded statement or urge a quick settlement. A skilled bike accident lawyer advocating for you will ensure that mistakes are not made. The injury lawyers at our firm know the tactics used by insurance companies. The insurance adjuster’s goal is to save the company money by paying injured claimants as little as possible. Our skilled attorneys can help maximize your compensation.

Any time it is possible to bicycle in areas closed to vehicle traffic, that option will be the safest. Suisun City has taken measures to provide some residents safe bicycle paths. In 2012, the Grizzly Island Trail was constructed. The trail provided locals a safe pedestrian and bicycle path between Grizzly Island Road and Marina Boulevard on the south side of Highway 12. This safe passage greatly benefited children traveling to Crystal Middle School and Crescent Elementary School. It also included an interesting feature- an outdoor classroom located at the halfway point of the trail and accessible to those who attend both schools.

The clip below documents a resident of Suisun City on a bicycle trip from his home to Peña Adobe Park in Vacaville.

Serious bicycle accidents can happen in any area where bicycles are forced to share the road with motor vehicles, including Suisun City. Motorists have a duty of care to look out for other types of commuters – including motorcyclists, pedestrians, and bicyclists – and to respect the lawful right-of-way of every other traveler.

Many Suisun bicycle accidents are caused by negligent motorists. Some examples of driver negligence include:

• Driving too fast for the conditions
• Failure to yield
• Traveling within the bicycle lane
• Improper or incorrect turns
• Passing a cyclist too closely (leave at least three feet of space)
• Tailgating
• Impaired driving
• Distracted driving (talking, texting, eating)

Sometimes, infrastructure conditions can lead to bicycle accidents. While claims against governmental agencies are more complex and often more challenging to prove, in some instances, it may be worth pursuing a claim against a public agency for failure to properly maintain a public area or allowing a dangerous condition to exist in a public space. The timeline for one to act to bring a governmental claim in California is only six months. Some examples of infrastructure issues that may cause injuries to cyclists are:

• Dangerously designed intersections
• Large potholes or sidewalks in disrepair
• Improper or misleading signage
• Lack of adequate lighting
• Visibility obstructions

Bicycle accidents often result in severe injuries because bicyclists have no external protection (besides, one hopes, a helmet). Some injury types frequently seen in bike accidents include:

• Concussion and other forms of TBI
• Injuries to the vertebrae or spinal cord
• Internal bleeding
• Lacerations
• Deep abrasions/road rash
• Contusions
• Broken bones

If a person suffers injuries in a bicycle accident caused by another person’s negligence, the injured party may be able to bring a claim for financial damages against the at-fault driver. Examples of the types of damages commonly sought in a personal injury claim include:

• Medical expenses – bills already incurred and for future care ordered by a physician.
• Lost income – for time lost from work due to injury and any loss of future earning capacity related to the accident.
• Pain and suffering – also known as non-economic damage. A skilled bicycle accident lawyer will be able to document how the injuries adversely affected your quality of life.
• Loss of Consortium – if applicable, the injured person’s spouse may be entitled to compensation for the harmful effect the injuries had on the marital relationship.

If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a bicycle accident caused by a negligent motorist, call our compassionate and skilled injury attorneys at (707) 564-1900 or (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly case advice. Please see our verdicts and settlements page for a sampling of our past case results.

^{Editor’s Note: updated [cha 9.26.23] Image by Dan Fador from Pixabay mm [cs 881] cha}