Bicycle accidents are a problem everywhere in California, especially in collisions with motor vehicles. Placerville offers many opportunities for bicycle enthusiasts and riders who use this mode of transportation to get around town. Because Placerville is located in the foothills of Sierra Nevada, the area offers excellent biking opportunities with varied elevations and plenty of scenic beauty. It draws not only locals but visitors from other places. When out enjoying the weather and outdoors, it’s easy to forget that accidents can happen.

If you were in a bicycle accident caused by a negligent motorist, an experienced Placerville bicycle accident lawyer could help. Call our legal team at (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400 for a free case evaluation.

Placerville has many excellent biking trails, including the 28-mile El Dorado trail on Mosquito Road, following the route around Sly Park Lake and the 8 Loop in Eldorado National Forest. Highways 50 and 49 are the major routes to Placerville from Sacramento and South Lake Tahoe. Because of this, traffic can interfere with a rider’s ability to safely navigate the area on public roads.

Traumatic injuries are common when a negligent motorist collides with a bicyclist because of the rider’s lack of protection compared to a vehicle. Some of the more common accident injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Broken bones
• Contusions and road rash
• Abdominal trauma
• Neck injuries
• Back and spinal cord injuries
• Chest trauma

When a motorist collides with a bicycle rider, negligence is often the cause. The driver will often say they did not see the bike rider. However, a driver is responsible for using the duty of care toward others on the roadway. When they fail at that duty, they can be held financially liable. Under personal injury law, an injured person may claim to cover their medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages. This amount can be calculated by an experienced Placerville bicycle accident attorney and can include future damages if the injury is expected to continue. Some of the ways a motorist exhibits negligence that causes bicycle accidents include the following:

• Making a right turn at an intersection before bicyclists can cause the rider to crash into the vehicle.
• Moving too close to a rider violating the California three-foot distance rule can cause a collision.
• A driver ignores the bicycle rider’s right of way, forcing the bicyclist to make an emergency maneuver and crash.
• A motorist backs out of a driveway or exits a parking lot without checking first for bicyclists.
• A driver parallel parked at a curb and opened their car door without checking if a bicycle rider was coming.
• A motorist stops suddenly before a rider, which can cause a rear-end collision, ejecting the bicyclist.

Bicycle riders are at risk of severe injuries when involved in a crash with a motor vehicle. However, there are ways to increase their safety. These include:

• Always wear a helmet, even though they are only required for those under 18. Bicycle helmets have been proven to help prevent serious head injuries in an accident.
• Make yourself more conspicuous by wearing brightly colored clothing; never wear black after dark. It is too difficult for motorists to spot you.
• Ensure your bicycle is the correct size and in compliance with California law. That includes a white light in front, a red reflector in the rear, and pedal reflectors in yellow or white.
• Don’t drink or do drugs and ride a bike.
• Don’t use earphones or earplugs while biking. This makes it more difficult to hear the surrounding traffic.
• Obey traffic laws. They apply to bicycle riders just as they do to motorists.
• Use hand signals when turning.
• Avoid distractions and stay alert for problems.

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When bicycle accidents occur, the first people who arrive at the scene are the police and emergency responders with the fire department. We immediately send our investigators to the crash site to collect vital evidence to support your injury claim. What they do includes the following:

• It is the responsibility of the police to make an accurate record of how the accident occurred by compiling accounts of those involved and witnesses. The police also gather evidence to corroborate those statements. Investigators for our law firm independently collect evidence to confirm witness statements and ensure the accuracy of the police report.
• Performing accident reconstruction is an integral part of an investigation involving bicycle accidents. Reconstructing the accident shows the positions of the motorist and bicycle rider before, during, and after the impact, which strongly indicates who was at fault. Evidence of this type is used by insurance companies and in court cases.
• Searching for videos of the accident: In some cases, an accident between a bicycle rider and a motor vehicle is caught on tape by a nearby business, traffic camera, or even a homeowner’s security system.
• Road damage evidence: Road damage caused by the driver in an accident can tell whether the driver tried to stop through tire tread marks left at the scene. This type of evidence can point toward speeding, drunk driving, distracted motorist, and other causes.
• Government negligence: Because the upkeep of roadways is the responsibility of a government entity, neglect can come into play in bicycle accidents. Poor road design, potholes, obscured signs, and other types of negligence mean that the government entity can be held financially liable in an accident.

Once all the evidence is compiled, our lawyers use it to build a case in favor of our client. It can be used when negotiating on the client’s behalf with the insurance company or preparing a solid case in court.

You can claim financial compensation when you are injured by a negligent motorist. For free and friendly case advice, please call our experienced Placerville bicycle accident attorneys at (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400.

See our past cases of successful Settlements and Verdicts.

We are members of the National Association of Distinguished Counsel and Million Dollar Advocates.

^{Editor’s Note: updated [cha 8.15.23] Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay cd llo [cs 1058]}