Many people enjoy the outdoors by riding a bicycle, and you can find bikes anywhere in California. Some bikers mostly use the City of Rancho Cordova’s bicycle network, which includes class I bike paths, class II bike lanes, and class III bike routes. The bike lanes connect various parks, recreational areas, and the American River Bike Trail.

Many bike lanes are alongside Folsom Blvd, Douglas Rd, Coloma Rd, Routier Rd, Old Placerville Rd, International Drive, and more. 

Most drivers are aware of sharing the road with cyclists, but when motorists are negligent and lead to a collision, the resulting injuries can be severe for bicyclists.

A person on a bicycle does not have the protection of a steel cage. In most cases, they also wear lightweight clothing, so there is not even that layer of protection. This leads to severe injuries and fatalities in far too many cases. Some of the most common types of injuries include:

• Concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Fractures or broken bones, including painful and slow-healing breaks to arm and leg bones
• Severe spinal injuries leading to paraplegia or quadriplegia
• Severe abrasions from road or sidewalk surface contact are often called “road rash.”
• Injuries to internal organs

These injuries frequently require months, if not years, of continuing treatment and rehabilitation. Many bicycle accident victims can no longer work in the career they pursued before the accident. This means that there are bills that they cannot pay without even factoring in the medical and other costs associated with the accident. Further, a person may no longer enjoy their life before the accident. There must be some recognition of this pain and suffering. At the Edward A Smith Law Offices, our Rancho Cordova bicycle accident attorneys are committed to getting our clients’ results to move forward with their lives. We also are passionate about holding responsible parties accountable for the harm that they caused.

There are many different types of bicycle accidents, but some of the ones that we encounter most often include:

• A driver negligently opens a door into the path of an oncoming bicyclist.
• A vehicle turns left before a bicyclist proceeds straight through the intersection. In many of these cases, the driver was not paying sufficiently and simply did not see the bicyclist or thought they could complete the turn before the bike got through the intersection.
• Backing into the roadway. As with any time a vehicle backs up, the driver must ensure the path is clear. This is particularly important with a bicyclist who might be hard to see.
• Merging into the path of a bicyclist. Bicyclists often are less visible, and a driver may not see the bike until they have moved into another lane and impacted the bike and rider.
• Unsafe passing. A motorized vehicle driver must provide ample space when passing a bicyclist, but people often are reckless in these situations, traveling too close and at high rates of speed. These collisions regularly lead to devastating injuries and fatalities on the roads throughout Rancho Cordova and the surrounding areas.
• Unsafe road conditions. When a municipality does not maintain the roads and allows hazards such as potholes, debris, and protrusions to make the roadway dangerous, it can lead to serious bicycle accidents.

Bicycle accidents can cause extensive physical and emotional trauma. It is essential to take care of yourself or a family member.  

The video below provides safety tips for bicyclists sharing the road safely with other vehicles.