Orangevale Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Orangevale is part of Sacramento County and is best known for its incredible Sierra Nevada mountain range views. As a result, Orangevale is a popular area for bicyclists. Because of this, bicyclists often share certain roadways with cars, trucks, and SUVs. This creates the risk of severe collisions between bicyclists and motorists on busy roads like Greenback Lane, Hazel Avenue, or Madison Avenue.

Unfortunately, bicyclists are at a much higher risk of suffering an injury in an accident with a motorist in California. California leads the country in the percentage of cyclists involved in accidents with motorists. 

If you or a family member was hit by a motorist while riding your bike, there are specific actions you can take to help strengthen your potential personal injury claim and your legal rights in general. Call our experienced Orangevale bicycle accident accidents today at (916) 921-6400 for a free case evaluation.

The first thing that should be on your mind after an accident is seeking medical attention and treatment for your injuries. The actions described below should only be taken if you are physically able:

• Make sure to contact the police and request an accident report.
• Get the name, address, phone number, license number, and auto insurance information of the motorist that hit you.
• Get the names and contact information of any witnesses who may have seen the collision.
• Look around to see if there are any convenience stores or other businesses that may have video surveillance footage of the accident.
• Write down a summary of what occurred from your vantage point, including notes about road and traffic conditions.
• Take photographs of your injuries, your bicycle, and the street where the collision occurred.
• Preserve all of your medical bills and the amount of time you were forced to miss work due to your injuries.

When a bicyclist is hit by a car, truck, or SUV, the bicyclist is often left seriously damaged. This is because a bicycle offers little-to-no protection when a collision occurs. This is in stark contrast to a driver who has the luxury of a seatbelt and airbags.  As a result, bicyclists may wind up suffering some, or a combination, of the following types of injuries:

• Brain trauma or open head wound
• Spinal cord injury leaving the bicyclist paralyzed
• Low back injury
• Shoulder and/or knee injury
• Lost limb
• Internal bleeding

If you or a loved one take legal action against the motorist that hit you, it is possible to pursue financial restitution for the following types of harms and losses stemming from the bicycle accident:

• Medical bills incurred due to the accident
• Lost wages that would have been earned had it not been for the accident
• Future income (if you are partially or totally disabled as a proximate result of the collision)
• Pain, suffering, mental anguish, and other non-economic harms

In every state, there are certain laws in place that limit the amount of time an injured party has to file a lawsuit against the party they allege caused their injuries. This is known as the statute of limitations. Under the California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, an injured bicyclist has two years to file a lawsuit, starting from the date of the accident.  This is why it is so important to take action sooner rather than later.

Watch the video below for safety tips on how to share the road while riding a bike.

When a bicyclist is involved in an accident with a motor vehicle, the consequences can be devastating. Please do not hesitate to contact our Orangevale bicycle accident lawyers right away if you or your loved one has been injured. We can be reached at 916.921.6400 or 800.404.5400 and online for free and friendly advice. 

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

See our client reviews on Avvo, Yelp, Google, and our past verdicts and settlements.

Editor’s Note: This page has been updated for accuracy and relevancy [cha 10.12.21] 

Photo by bruce mars from Pexels

:sid rey [cs 837]