bicycle accident attorney Los Angeles

If you were recently involved in a bike accident, you may be wondering what your next steps should be. While it’s essential to seek medical attention right away, speaking with an experienced Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyer is also important. You can get the guidance and support you need to move forward with your case.

An attorney can help ensure that you are fairly compensated for your injuries and losses. Contact a bicycle accident lawyer at Nordean Law today to get started.

Why Choose Nordean Law For Your Bicycle Accident Claim In Los Angeles?

We work relentlessly to get our clients the money damages they need to recover their out-of-pocket losses and rebuild their lives. We are not afraid to take on the billion-dollar insurance corporations or take your case to trial if the insurer refuses to pay a fair settlement.

You can count on an attorney who takes the time to listen to you and answer your questions. Our clients know that when we handle their personal injury claims, they get to devote their energy and attention to getting better because we take care of the rest.

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Do I Need A Lawyer For A Bicycle Accident Claim In Los Angeles?

California law does not force you to work with a personal injury lawyer on your injury claim, but doing so can be a smart decision. The at-fault driver’s insurance company has hundreds of claims adjusters, investigators, and defense lawyers working full-time for them. You should not have to go up against them by yourself.

Common Causes Of Bicycle Accident Injuries

Often, drivers of cars and trucks do not think to look for bicycles when changing lanes or making a turn. Instead, they might look for another full-size vehicle, but not for someone riding a bike. Also, some occupants of cars or trucks do not look for bicycles before opening a car door along a street or bike path. If there is a bike in the way of the door suddenly flung open, the bike rider can get severe injuries.

Distracted or drowsy driving makes people even more susceptible to hitting bicycles. For example, if a driver looks away from the road ahead to text, adjust the car stereo, check the navigation system, or read a text message, they might not see the bicycle in the street.

Some drivers do not realize that the law requires them to share the road with bicycles. For example, these drivers might think that the person on the bike is supposed to yield the right-of-way to the larger vehicle, but that is not the law.

Another cause of bicycle accident injuries is that some people are aggressive toward bicycles on the road. They do not think that bikes should be allowed on the street. Instead, these people try to force bicyclists off the road or into another traffic lane.

Bicycle Accident Statistics In Los Angeles

According to the Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) of UC Berkeley, there were 5,152 bicycle crashes in Los Angeles between 2015 and 2020. 2,669 had visible injuries from those collisions, and 423 sustained severe injuries. In the 5,152 accidents, 1,968 victims complained of pain, and 92 people lost their lives.

From some perspective, there were 56 pedestrian accidents in Los Angeles with no fatalities during the same time frame. Thirty-two of the pedestrians had visible injuries, with 12 suffering severe wounds and 12 complaining of pain.

What Should You Do After A Bicycle Accident In Los Angeles?

You should get immediate medical attention after a bicycle accident in Los Angeles. Untreated wounds could develop an infection or other complications that could worsen your condition. Also, some injuries do not display noticeable symptoms right away. For example, you could be bleeding internally and not realize it until the situation becomes a medical emergency.

Be sure to complete the medical treatment your doctor prescribes unless there is a compelling reason, such as an allergic reaction. In that event, get medical attention at once and ask your doctor to prescribe an alternate treatment.

Finally, talk to an Los Angeles bicycle accidents lawyer at the beginning of the process. Your lawyer can investigate the accident before crucial evidence disappears. They can also handle the insurance claims process so that you don’t have to.

How Does The Bicycle Accident Investigation Processes?

Your Los Angeles personal injury attorney can get a copy of the accident report and talk to potential eyewitnesses about what they saw. We can inspect the crash scene and look for factors that could be relevant to your injury case. For example, we can document the location of the crash with photographs and video when applicable.

We can work with accident reconstruction experts when needed. Sometimes, an at-fault driver will try to evade liability for injuring a bicycle rider by not telling the truth or blaming the bicyclist. Instead, experts can determine what happened by taking measurements, analyzing photographs and other evidence, and using calculations.

When the facts are contested, we can canvas the area and try to locate security camera footage from red-light cameras, video doorbell cameras, and security cameras at commercial sites or residences. Depending on the needs of the individual personal injury case, we might take additional steps to investigate the bicycle accident.

How Much Is My Bicycle Accident Case Worth?

Every bicycle accident case is different, so we cannot say how much you might collect in money damages for your injury claim. The compensation for accident victims will vary, even among people who got hurt in the same collision.

After proving who was at fault in causing the accident that hurt you, you could seek money damages for your economic losses, like medical bills, lost wages, decreased future earnings, and long-term care. You could also recover compensation for more challenging things to measure in dollars but still have value, like disfigurement for significant scars, head injuries like traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), loss of enjoyment of life, and pain and suffering.

Contact A Top-Rated Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today

You don’t want to let the at-fault driver or his insurance company get a long lead on you and put you at a disadvantage. The sooner you give us a call, the sooner we can get to work on getting you the justice and compensation you deserve. Contact the experienced team at Nordean Law firm today for a free consultation.

FAQs About Bicycle Accidents In Los Angeles

Many people understand what happens after a car crash, but they are unsure about bike collisions. Some frequently asked questions about bicycle accidents in Los Angeles, California.

What Should I Do Immediately Following A Bicycle Accident?

You should call 911 for the police to come to the scene and make an accident report. Also, you should request an ambulance if anyone has significant injuries. If you can do so safely, you will want to take photos with your cell phone of all the vehicles and the crash scene.
Your police report should be available within days of the accident. Be sure to obtain a copy for your records. In addition, it's always a good idea to review the report to make sure it contains the correct information.
Get the contact information of everyone involved in the collision. Do not apologize or get into conversations with the other parties beyond exchanging contact and insurance information.
After getting the initial medical assessment and treatment for your wounds, you should protect your health by completing your prescribed medical treatment and talking to an Los Angeles bicycle injury lawyer.

What Should I Do If An Insurance Company Calls Me?

The insurance company cannot contact you directly after you have a lawyer on your side. Instead, tell the claims adjuster your attorney’s name and telephone number, then relax and let the lawyer do the work.

What If The Accident Was Partly My Fault?

California follows the rule of comparative fault rather than a contributory fault. For example, if we used the contributory fault approach, being responsible for even one percent of the total negligence in the accident would leave you with no compensation from the party who was 99 percent at fault. Still, thankfully, California does not use that approach.
In California, the comparative fault rule means that your financial award will be reduced in proportion to your negligence. Let’s say that you had $20,000 in damages and you were 10 percent at fault. You could recover $18,000 after the $20,000 got reduced by $2,000, representing your 10 percent of the fault.

Is There A Limit To File My Case?

You only have two years to file a lawsuit seeking compensation for the harm you suffered because of someone else’s negligence. Negotiating with the claims adjuster does not extend this deadline. You will need to file a lawsuit in court if your personal injury claim does not settle before the filing deadline. If you miss the deadline, you could lose the right ever to hold the at-fault party accountable for your injuries and other losses.

How Much Does An Los Angeles Attorney Cost?

We handle personal injury claims and lawsuits, including bicycle accident cases, on a contingency fee basis. You do not have to pay any upfront legal fees with this fee arrangement. Also, we pay the litigation costs like court filing fees, and we wait until the end of the case to get reimbursed.
Our legal fees and expense reimbursement come out of the settlement proceeds or jury award. So you could say that we bet our paycheck on the strength of your injury case.

Are Helmets Required For Bicycles In Los Angeles, CA?

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) recommends that everyone who rides a bike wears a helmet to prevent head and brain injuries. Still, helmets are only required for bike riders aged 18 years and younger.

Is Bicyclist Considered Pedestrian In Los Angeles, CA?

No, Los Angeles does not treat bike riders the same as pedestrians. Therefore, pedestrians have certain rights that bike riders do not have. Also, bicyclists are supposed to follow the same road rules as people operating motor vehicles.
Another difference between bike riders and pedestrians in Los Angeles is that bicyclists should use hand signals when turning left or right or when stopping or slowing. Pedestrians have no such requirements.

Is It Illegal To Ride A Bicycle On The Sidewalk In Los Angeles, CA?

Pedestrians have the right of way on sidewalks and other walkways in Los Angeles. Bicyclists are only supposed to ride on sidewalks if they do not have a safe option. Bike riders are prohibited from riding on sidewalks with a “willful disregard for safety.” When riding a bike on a sidewalk, the OCTA asks bicyclists to do so at a walking pace and pay close attention.

Do You Need A License To Ride A Bicycle In Los Angeles, CA?

No, Los Angeles does not require people to obtain or maintain a license to ride a bicycle, but all bicyclists are supposed to obey the rules that apply to bike riding and the same road rules as cars.
We are happy to offer a free initial consultation to people who got hurt in a bicycle accident. You can contact us today to get started.