Diamond Springs Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Bicycling is popular all around Northern California and not more so than in Diamond Springs. Whether you are using your bicycle for running errands, going to work or school, or for leisure activities such as enjoying a ride along Pleasant Valley Road, there is plenty to keep you busy.

If you have been injured in a bicycle accident in Diamond Springs or El Dorado County, call our injury attorneys at (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400 for a free case evaluation.

A Diamond Springs bicycle accident lawyer at AutoAccident.com stands by to help you when you've suffered an injury due to a negligent driver or other entity. It is common for riders involved in bicycle accidents to experience tremendous physical pain, emotional distress, and financial hardship due to their injuries. It's understandable if you feel overwhelmed and unsure how to proceed after suffering injuries in a bicycle accident.

First, you must concentrate on recovering from your traumatic experience. The impact of rising medical bills and lost wages makes recovering compensation important. Your bicycle accident and injuries may be legally pursued against the driver or other party, and our Diamond Springs bicycle accident attorneys at (925) 428-5220 or (800) 404-5400 can help you obtain the compensation you deserve.

Understanding the causes of bicycle accidents can help prevent future collisions. Bicyclist fatalities are more likely to occur at non-intersections and in the dark nationwide, according to a study by the National Safety Council. Types of negligence that often cause a bicycle injury accident include:

• Dooring: On busy streets, there are many accidents caused by dooring. Cycling near parked cars may be necessary if traffic is heavy. Bicyclists' paths can be blocked if parked cars are opened by drivers or passengers who fail to check to see if a rider is approaching.
• Rear-end crashes: A rear-end collision occurs when a car follows too closely or the driver isn't paying attention and cannot stop. Stop signs are often the site of these accidents.
• Sideswipe accidents: Bicyclists are often involved in sideswiping accidents because passing vehicles do not give them enough room. California law requires three feet of clearance to be maintained when passing a bicycle rider to prevent these collisions.
• Negligent right turns: When making a right turn, many drivers neglect to check their blind spots. If the driver of the car makes a right turn while a cyclist is in the bike lane, the vehicle can crash into the rider.
• Intersection crashes: Bicyclists are also frequently involved in accidents involving vehicles entering an intersection or exiting an alley or driveway. Most motorists don't see bicyclists because they are either distracted or not paying attention, so cyclists should always wear bright clothing during the day and light clothing at night to be more conspicuous.

A study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that 45 percent of fatal bicycle accidents involved a motor vehicle moving in the same direction as the bicyclist. Four in 10 serious bicycle crashes occur when a car rear-ends the cyclist. There is a higher risk of injury for bicyclists rear-ended by vehicles than in any other type of accident.

Another common cause of serious collisions is T-bone accidents, in which a car drives into a cyclist on its side. Cyclists suffer the most significant trauma in most collisions between bicycles and vehicles. Fatal accidents are common, especially when a car goes fast or a cyclist does not wear a helmet. Cyclists may suffer severe disabilities in injury accidents, which can include:

• Muscles, ligaments, and tendons that become stretched or torn
• Broken bones or crush injuries that can require surgical repair
• Traumatic brain injuries, including concussion, hemorrhage, or a diffuse axonal injury
• Damage to the spinal cord can result in temporary or permanent paralysis, accompanied by a loss of sensation
• Cervical strain or sprain can result in long-term pain in the neck and shoulders and difficulty in movement
• Dental trauma such as broken teeth
• Damage to organs and internal bleeding
• Facial trauma such as a broken nose, jaw, cheeks, or eye sockets
• Amputation of digits or a limb
• Scarring and disfigurement

An injury attorney in Diamond Springs can help you file a claim for economic and non-economic damages if you've been injured by someone's negligence. Monetary losses include medical bills and lost wages, which are economic damages, and Non-economic damage, such as pain and suffering, is more difficult to quantify because it is subjective.

However, it is essential to note that if you have suffered a severe injury, you might experience significant losses that affect the quality of your life and your future. An accident caused by another's negligent actions and injures a bicycle rider may result in the following compensation:

• Medical care: A full reimbursement of all the medical bills and expenses associated with the accident can be claimed, such as doctor's bills, hospitalization, medications, physical therapy, etc.
• Continued medical care: If your injury is expected to continue and requires additional hospitalization, surgeries, and other expenses, those can be factored into your settlement by your bicycle accident attorney in Diamond Springs.
• Wages: Compensation for lost wages due to your inability to work can be recovered, including tips, bonuses, insurance/pension benefits, and others. Self-employed workers may also recover compensation for lost wages if they can support their claim with tax filings and other documents.
• Lost earning capacity: If the injured party can no longer do their job due to an accident injury and has to take one that pays less, the wage difference is included in the compensation. If that person becomes permanently physically or mentally disabled from the accident, their wages are calculated until the age of retirement and can be recovered.
• Out-of-pocket costs: Out-of-pocket expenses are recoverable, such as missing work for medical appointments, taxi fares, or gasoline costs.
• Pain and suffering: You can recover compensation for your physical, emotional, and psychological distress and trauma caused by the accident. That is also recoverable if you have to have psychological or psychiatric treatment because of the accident.

Additional Resources ~

• Bicycle Accidents Involving Children
• Bicycle Accidents and Injuries to the Spleen

Here is what accident attorney Ed Smith says about the importance of finding a lawyer who will treat you like a family member:

Our dedicated injury lawyers at AutoAccident.com stand by to offer you free and friendly advice when a negligent driver causes your bicycle accident injuries. Call our experienced Diamond Springs bicycle accident attorneys at (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400. You owe us nothing until your case has been won. We can schedule a virtual or in-person appointment to review your claim, answer questions, and let you know about opportunities to recover compensation. Please feel free to reach out to us online.

^{Editor's Note: updated [10.24.23] Photo attribution: by Pexels from Pixabay cd [1190] bw cha}