Riding a bike is an excellent alternative to driving, and it combines green transportation with endless health benefits, creating unique risks for bicyclists. This is primarily due to a bicycle rider’s lack of physical protection if they get struck by a vehicle. As a result, some bicyclists may suffer injuries such as amputations, bone fractures, facial lacerations, internal trauma, spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, or even death in some extreme cases.

Most collisions can be prevented if bicyclists and motorists watch out for each other and follow the rules of the road. Below are some of the safety tips cyclists should exercise while sharing the road with motor vehicles:

1. Bicycle Selection and Maintenance: Choose a bicycle that suits you well, as bigger bikes can be more challenging to control. Ensure your bike is in good working order before each ride by checking the brakes, tires, chain, and other components.
2. Follow the Rules of the Road: Bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers on the road. This means that cyclists must ride with traffic flow and stop for stop signs and traffic light signals. Bicyclists are also responsible for avoiding the use of anything that diverts their attention from the road and traffic, such as texting or listening to music with earbuds.
3. Helmet Use: Cyclists under 18 are required by state law to wear a helmet. Although helmet use is not mandatory for older cyclists, it is still recommended that they wear one since most cyclist fatalities have been shown to involve severe injuries to the head. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 51 percent of cyclists who passed away in 2016 were not using helmets.
4. Increase Visibility: Install reflectors and LED lights on your bike to increase your visibility to oncoming traffic at night. Wearing bright-colored or reflective clothing can also be helpful when riding during the day or at nighttime.
5. Plan Your Travel: Consider taking routes with less traffic congestion and slower speeds to reduce your risk of an accident. The best choice would be to avoid riding in traffic altogether, preferably on a bike path or in a bicycle lane.
6. Stay Sober: Alcohol use is attributable to many cycling crashes. Bicyclists who ride under the influence of alcohol can be arrested and charged with a fine and misdemeanor under California Vehicle Code section 21200.5. Those under the age of 21 who ride a bicycle while drunk risk receiving a charge of cycling under the influence and having their driver’s license suspended.
7. Watch for Road Hazards: Look for hazards such as broken glass, dogs, leaves, gravel, puddles, and potholes. All of these hazards have the potential to cause an accident. When riding with family or friends, be sure to communicate and point out any danger ahead to ensure the safety of yourself and your loved ones.

The following video discusses the responsibilities of bicyclists and drivers on the roads in California.

Bicycle crashes are not always avoidable for cyclists and are often caused by driver negligence. The following are the most common causes of these accidents:

1. Distracted driving, such as talking or texting on a cell phone while behind the wheel
2. Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
3. Failure to yield to bicyclists
4. Opening a car door in the direct path of a cyclist
5. Speeding
6. Traveling in the bicycle lane
7. Unsafe lane changes or improper turns

Bicycle accidents in Tracy may also be caused by insufficient road maintenance, traffic signs, and street lighting. Government entities are generally responsible for upkeep of bicycle lanes and public roadways.

When a government entity fails to do so, it can be held financially liable for negligence in the event of a collision caused by a roadway defect such as:

• Cracks or bumps on the sidewalk or road
• Improper roadway signage
• Inadequate lighting for bicyclists riding at night
• Lack of bicycle lanes
• Potholes
• Poorly designed streets or intersections

The types of damages available in a bicycle injury claim may include the following:

• Medical Bills: All past and future medical bills related to injuries sustained in an accident are recoverable. All forms of treatment and care may be considered, such as ambulance expenses, hospital stays, primary physician visits, physical therapy, surgery, and diagnostic testing.
• Wage Loss: A bicyclist has the right to recover the loss of earnings resulting from their injuries. This may include bonuses, commissions, and all other wages. If the injuries resulted in permanent disability, a bicyclist could also recover for the value of the reduction in wage loss. This is calculated from losing earning power over the remainder of a bicyclist’s working years.
• Disfigurement: Bicyclists will likely suffer severe scarring or disfigurement following an accident. Skin grafts or cosmetic surgery are often required to fix the damage. While these surgeries can be expensive and may not always effectively reduce the appearance of the scarring, a victim can recover damages for the embarrassment and humiliation related to that disfigurement.
• Loss of Consortium: When severe injuries from an accident cause damage to a marital relationship, the victim and/or their spouse may be entitled to recover for the loss of affection, society, conjugal fellowship, and society. The impairment of romantic/sexual relations may also be considered in this damage.
• Pain and Suffering: The right to collect compensation for mental anguish and physical pain resulting from an injury sustained in an accident is considered the most valuable element of a bodily injury claim, known as pain and suffering. There is no specific way of determining the value of this damage as it varies from case to case.
• Punitive Damages: In some cases of accidents involving motor vehicles and bicyclists, punitive damages may be recovered if the crash resulted from a criminal act such as drunk driving.
• Wrongful Death: When a bicyclist suffers fatal injuries in an accident, family members of the deceased may recover damages for wrongful death. These may include funeral and burial expenses, end-of-life medical care, lost inheritance, household services, and future financial support. Those related to the decedent may also recover the mental and emotional pain they have suffered due to losing their loved ones, such as loss of affection, comfort, companionship, and more.

Under California Civil Code of Procedure section 335.1, a bicyclist injured in an accident caused by a negligent driver must file a personal injury lawsuit within two years from the date of loss. If the crash was caused by the negligence of a government entity, a claim must be brought within six months or 180 days of the injury-causing incident. If a government entity rejects the claim or fails to respond within 45 days, a lawsuit must be filed within 180 days from the date of rejection. In the case of a minor, the statute of limitations is “tolled” or suspended for some time. This means that when a minor reaches 18, that individual has two years from that date to bring a claim for personal injury.

Those concerned about filing a bicycle injury claim should promptly contact an experienced personal injury attorney to understand their rights and legal options.

I was injured in a bicycle accident caused by a hit-and-run driver. What now?

A bicyclist who has suffered injuries in an accident caused by a hit-and-run driver is not necessarily without recourse in recovering damages. An injured rider can file a claim against their automobile insurance policy if they have uninsured motorist protection. This type of insurance usually covers a bicycle, car, or pedestrian accident caused by a driver without insurance or hit and run. If the bicyclist lives in a household with a family member with uninsured motorist coverage on their car insurance policy, the victim can file a claim against that policy for losses so long as they are not excluded from the policy.

My child suffered injuries while riding their bicycle. What options do we have?

Drivers are held to a higher duty of care in observing children on the road, and this means that motorists are obligated to drive more cautiously when children are riding bicycles in the area. Even if the driver of the vehicle that struck your child was not determined to be negligent in the accident, you might still be able to recover some damages on your child’s behalf.

What if I was not wearing a helmet at the time of a bicycle accident and suffered a head injury as a result. Do I still have a claim?

A bicyclist may still recover from some head injury claims even if not wearing a helmet during an accident. However, insurance companies of the responsible parties may dispute your head injury claim by hiring an expert, such as a biomechanic, to testify that the lack of helmet use caused your head injury. Retaining an experienced attorney in these cases is essential to protect your best interests.

The injury lawyers at AutoAccident.com have protected the legal rights and best interests of cyclists injured in crashes since 1982. To learn how our law firm can help you today, call (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly case advice from one of our Tracy bicycle accident attorneys. See our past cases on our Verdicts and Settlements page.

^{Editor’s Note: updated [cha 8.31.23] Photos: “MabelAmber” and “JamesDeMers” via Pixabay under CC0 Creative Commons ds [cs 1604]}