Placerville Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Bicycle accidents are a problem everywhere in California, especially in collisions with motor vehicles. Placerville offers many opportunities for bicycle enthusiasts and riders who use this mode of transportation to get around town. Because Placerville is located in the foothills of Sierra Nevada, the area offers great biking opportunities with varied elevations and plenty of scenic beauty. It draws not only locals but visitors from other places. When out enjoying the weather and being outdoors, it’s easy to forget that accidents can happen.

If you were in a bicycle accident caused by a negligent motorist, an experienced Placerville bicycle accident lawyer can help.

There are many great biking trails around Placerville, including the 28-mile El Dorado trail that starts on Mosquito Road, following the route around Sly Park Lake and the 8 Loop in Eldorado National Forest. Highway 50 and Highway 49 are the major routes to Placerville from locations such as Sacramento and South Lake Tahoe because of their scenic location. Because of this, traffic can interfere with a rider’s ability to safely navigate through the area on public roads.

Traumatic injuries are not uncommon when a negligent motorist collides with a bicyclist because of the rider’s lack of protection when compared with a vehicle. Some of the more common accident injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Broken bones
• Contusions and road rash
• Abdominal trauma
• Neck injuries
• Back and spinal cord injuries
• Chest trauma

When a motorist is in a collision with a bicycle rider, negligence is often the cause. Many times, the driver will say they did not see the bike rider. However, a driver has the responsibility to use a duty of care toward others on the roadway. When they fail at that duty, they can be held financially liable. Under personal injury law, an injured person may place a claim to cover all of their medical expenses, pain and suffering, and for their lost wages. This amount can be calculated by an experienced Placerville bicycle accident attorney and can include future damages if the injury is expected to continue. Some of the ways a motorist exhibits negligence that causes bicycle accidents include:

• Making a right turn at an intersection in front of a bicyclist can cause the rider to crash into the vehicle.
• Moving too close to a rider in violation of the California three-foot distance rule can cause a collision.
• A driver ignores the bicycle rider’s right of way, forcing the bicyclist to make an emergency maneuver and crash.
• A motorist backs out of a driveway or exits a parking lot without checking first for bicyclists.
• A driver parallel parked at a curb and opens their car door without checking to see if a bicycle rider is coming.
• A motorist stops suddenly in front of a rider, which can cause a rear-end collision, ejecting the bicyclist. 

Bicycle riders are at risk of severe injuries when involved in a crash with a motor vehicle. However, there are ways to increase their safety. These include:

• Always wear a helmet, even though they are only required for those under 18. Bicycle helmets have been proven to help prevent serious head injuries in an accident.
• Make yourself more conspicuous by wearing brightly colored clothing and never wear black after dark. It is too difficult for motorists to spot you.
• Ensure your bicycle is the correct size for you and in compliance with California law. That includes a white light in front, a red reflector in the rear, and pedal reflectors in yellow or white.
• Don’t drink or do drugs and ride a bike. 
• Don’t use earphones or earplugs while biking. This makes it more difficult to hear surrounding traffic.
• Obey traffic laws. They apply to bicycle riders just as they do to motorists.
• Use hand signals when turning.
• Avoid distractions and stay alert for problems.

Watch the following video on how to choose an attorney:

When bicycle accidents occur, the first people who arrive at the scene are the police and emergency responders with the fire department. We send our investigators to the crash site immediately to collect important evidence to support your injury claim. What they do includes the following:

• It is the responsibility of the police to make an accurate record of how the accident occurred by compiling accounts by those involved and witnesses. The police also gather evidence to corroborate those statements. Investigators for our law firm independently collect evidence to confirm witness statements and ensure the accuracy of the police report. 
• Performing accident reconstruction is an important part of an investigation involving bicycle accidents. Reconstructing the accident shows the positions of the motorist and bicycle rider before, during, and after the impact, which is a strong indicator of who was at fault. Evidence of this type is used by insurance companies and in court cases.
• Searching for videos of the accident: In some cases, an accident between a bicycle rider and motor vehicle is caught on tape by a nearby business, traffic camera, or even a homeowner’s security system. 
• Road damage evidence: Road damage caused by the driver in an accident can tell whether the driver tried to stop or not through tire tread marks left at the scene. This type of evidence can point toward speeding, drunk driving, a distracted motorist, and other causes.
• Government negligence: Because the upkeep of roadways is responsible for a government entity, neglect can come into play in bicycle accidents. Poor road design, potholes, obscured signs, and other types of negligence mean that the government entity can be held financially liable in an accident.

Once all the evidence is compiled, our lawyers use it to build a case in favor of our client. It can either be used when negotiating on the client’s behalf with the insurance company or preparing a strong case to present in court.

I’m Ed Smith, a Placerville bicycle accident lawyer. When you are injured by a negligent motorist, you have the right to claim financial compensation. If you would like to hear our free and friendly advice, please call us at (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400.

Reading client reviews and looking over cases a law firm has handled in the past is an excellent way to decide whether to call for legal advice. Information on our law firm is found below for your convenience:

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

Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay

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