Folsom, California, is an excellent location for biking. The city and surrounding areas are well-known for their extensive biking trails, including Humbug Creek, Willow Creek, Folsom Rail Trail, Folsom Lake Trail, and the Oak Parkway Trail. While you may take every precaution, such as wearing a helmet, northern California drivers are notorious for reckless and aggressive driving. Often, these drivers do not notice cyclists sharing the road with them. This carelessness leads to most of the bicycle accidents that occur in Folsom. Each year, bicycle accidents cause 49,000 injuries and 726 deaths.

You deserve compensation for being injured in a Folsom bicycle accident caused by another driver. It’s not your fault you were hurt, and California law mandates that at-fault drivers accept responsibility and reimburse bicycle accident victims for injuries sustained in an unfortunate crash. 

We can assist you in pursuing this compensation. Our law firm has worked with Folsom residents on various personal injury cases, including cycling crashes. We will personally review your case, explain your options, and assist you with proceeding with your case. Call our injury lawyers from AutoAccident.com today at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for a free case evaluation.

Bicycle crashes are prevalent in Folsom when cyclists are forced to share the road with cars. Though the city of Folsom has made great strides in promoting cycling and ensuring safety, it is the driver’s ultimate responsibility to follow the laws.

Most Folsom bicycle accidents are caused by negligent drivers. Negligence is the legal term used to describe careless driving. A driver is reckless when violating a traffic law or not paying attention. This includes:

• Speeding
• Improper turns
• Failing to yield to cyclists
• Driving in the bicycle lane
• Cutting off cyclists
• Tailgating
• Failing to stop in time
• Driving while intoxicated
• Texting or talking while driving

Cycling crashes may also be caused by the local government’s failure to properly maintain roads or adequate signage and lighting. When the government is in charge of the upkeep of public roadways and bicycle lanes, it can be liable for negligence when it shirks this duty. Common examples include:

• Potholes
• Lack of proper signage
• Poorly configured intersections
• Lack of bicycle lanes
• Bumps or cracks on the road or sidewalk
• Lack of adequate lighting at nighttime

Bicycle accident injuries are often severe and commonly fatal because cyclists do not have the luxury of adequate protection from other cars and the road. While a cyclist can wear a helmet and protective clothing, nothing is between the cyclist and the pavement or another vehicle. Common bicycle injuries that we see in Folsom involve:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• The spinal cord, neck, and back injuries
• Chest injuries
• Internal bleeding and organ damage
• Road rash, cuts, and abrasions
• Bruises
• Broken bones

In the following video, three Hospital for Special Surgery doctors discuss the most common injuries bicyclists can sustain in a bicycle accident.